NEWSLETTER
Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse
PO Box 26, Biddeford Pool, ME 04006
photograph by Bill Edmunds
We are very saddened to report that Bill Edmunds passed away on October 7th, 2008.
Besides a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and photographer, he gave untold hours to
FOWIL in the capacity of website tech support.
We are so very sorry for his family's loss.
Who is This?
Dave Winchester
Keeper 1963-64
Keeper Winchester is polishing the brass on the fourth order fresnel lens in the tower at Wood Island Light. This photo is the only one we have of this lens actually in the tower. We believe that the lens served mariners for over 100 years, magnifying and creating characteristics for the beam which shone from the light.
Wood Island Light Characteristics:
Alternating White and Green
every 10 Seconds.
F.O.W.I.L General Meeting
August 16, 2008
Kyle Noble
Dave Curran
The creators of our fantastic new handrail system in the tower explained exactly how they found the material to do the job and how they got it installed.
Fourth Booklet
Various members of our History Group have written booklets about historical interests surrounding the lighthouse. This year Carol Bassett completed her work:
Thomas Henry Orcutt - Wood Island
Keeper of the Light
Wood Island Light
1886-1905.
Thomas Henry is Carol's Great Grandfather
A Gift pack of all 4 booklets is available.
any of our booklets .
Birthday Parties
The Friends of Wood Island Light celebrated Wood Island Lighthouse's 200th birthday with a Party at Hatties in Biddeford Pool. A beautiful cake was made by Reilly's bakery and music was provided by the "Shennachie Band."
Great fun was had by all.
"Shannachie" with Caryn Firebaugh
Happy Birthday WIL!
2008
200th Birthday Year
for the lighthouse.
then on to the next 200 years!
A Birthday Party in 1979
Lighthouse Inspires Artwork
This quilt was created and donated by Isabel Oleson of Biddeford Pool, ME.
She has created many quilts rendering houses and she thought adding the lighthouse to her repertoire would be fun. It is for sale, if you are interested, let us know at sheri@woodislandlighthouse.org
Many birthdays were celebrated on the island by the families of the keepers. Here is one birthday party held in 1979. Damian McQuade is one year old! What a cake! Most likely made by Keeper Michael McQuade's wife, Patsy.
Jeff Leman is last visitor to tour Wood Island Light 2008
Even with all the rain, we took over 700 visitors to Wood Island this year. Jeff said it was a lot of fun and he looked forward to bringing guests out on the tour next year.
Jeff Leman
The Friends of
Wood Island Lighthouse
is a chapter of the
American Lighthouse Foundation.
It was formed in the Spring of 2003 specifically to
preserve and restore the Wood Island Light Station.
Please visit our website.
Many thanks to all of our volunteers.
Captains - Crew - Hosts - Woodchucks - Flower Committee - Work Day Crews - Executive Committee - Website Staff - Newsletter Staff - Photographer - Merchandise committee and sellers - Red Geranium - Capture the Coast artists and volunteers - Nonantum Resort - Power Point creator
and those who do other things on and on and on.
See you next year!