Notes:
(1) Wood Island Light was the Twenty-first Massachusetts Lighthouse* built to mark the entrance to Wood Island Harbor and the Saco River.

      Biddeford Pool was the site of Maine’s first recorded settlement when Richard Vines weathered a winter at the mouth of the Saco river in a place called Winter Harbor from 1616-1617.  Permanent settlers arrived in 1631 yet, the town remained sparsely settled due to frequent wars with the Natives and the French.

      The safe harbor became prosperous after the American Revolution and a 45-feet high octagonal wooden Lighthouse was built in 1808 to guide mariners into the busy fishing port of Winter harbor (Wood Island Harbor) using hanging spider lamps 53-feet above sea level..  A revolving eclipser produced a “slow flash” every 1.5 minutes.

      In 1839, a new 45-feet conical granite tower was built to replace the original wooden structure weaken by the harsh sea weather. The new Light was fitted with Winslow Lewis Patent Magnifying and Reflector Lanterns using a eclipser to “flash” the Light.

      In 1858, the Lighthouse was refitted with a Fourth-order Fresnel lens and Tower was renovated to support the weight of the new lens and the height was increased to 47-feet.  Although conflicting sources claim a new Lighthouse was erected, the original 1839 Granite Tower was never rebuilt.  Wood Island Light is Maine’s second oldest Lighthouse.


      From 1840 to 1925, numerous shipwrecks continued to occur near Biddeford Pool and Wood Island.  One Wood Island Lighthouse Keeper, Eben Emerson, was awarded for his heroism in saving the whole crew from the Brig Edyth Ann shipwrecked on Washburn Ledge near Wood Island Lighthouse in severe storm on March 16, 1865.

      In 1896, Howard Hobbs, a intoxicated Wood Island resident, carrying a shotgun killed a Lobsterman Frederick Milliken who tried to disarm him.  The drunken man was advised by Light-keeper Thomas Orcutt to turn himself in to the mainland authorities.  Instead, he returned to his shack and committed suicide.  Many believe Wood Island Lighthouse is haunted by the ghosts of Hobbs and Milliken.  Light-keeper Thomas Orcutt, a former sea captain and former Saddleback Ledge Light keeper, served 19 years at Wood Island Light with his legendary dog, Sailor, who was famous for ringing the fog bell with his teeth to passing vessels according to the newspapers.

      In 1970, 28 acres of Wood Island were deeded to the Maine Audubon Society for a Bird Sanctuary.

      In 1972 , the Tower’s lantern and 1000 watt 600,000 candlepower Fourth-order Bullseye Fresnel lens was removed, and replaced with a FA-251 rotating aerobeacon.  After numerous complains from mariners, the lantern was reinstalled on the “headless” Lighthouse and automated with a VRB-25 Marine Rotating Beacon in 1986.


      During the Spring of 2003,The Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation, was formed to restore and preserve Wood Island Light.

      Today, the small harbor is home to lobstermen and vacationers who enjoy sailing, boating, bird watching, the beaches, and hiking.

*The Lighthouse was ceded to Maine on Mar 15, 1820.

(2) Emergency light (Fl G 10s) of reduced intensity.

(3) The Lantern was removed in 1972 and replaced by a FA-251 rotating aerobeacon.  Wood Island Light’s Lantern was restored in 1986 and the Light was automated.

(4) The Bell Tower was destroyed by a storm in the 1960s. The original 1872 Fog Bell was recovered and displayed at the Union Church in Biddeford.  Currently, the Bell can be viewed at Vine’s Landing in Biddeford Pool.

(5) Both the Lighthouse and Wood Island are closed to the public except during the summer when the Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse offer Guided Tours.
     Wood Island Light is best viewed by boat or from East Point, Biddleford Pool on the mainland.

Directions from Interstate 95:
From I-95 (exit 32) to ME-111, travel East towards Biddeford, Turn Left onto ME-9 (ME-208, Pool St) and travel Southeast (5.3-miles), Turn Left onto ME-208 (Bridge Road) toward Biddleford Pool, Turn Left at the T-intersection onto Mile Stretch Road (ME-208), Bear right onto Lester B. Orcutt Boulevard through Biddleford Pool to the end of the street and East Point Sanctuary.  There is limited Off-road parking near the gate of the Audubon Society Preservation.  An Audubon trail (paralles the Abenakee Golf Course), a 0.35 mile hike, leads to the shore of East Point where the Lighthouse is best viewed using binoculars.

During the Summer, the Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse provide Guided Tours of Wood Island and the Lighthouse for a recommended $10 donation per person and reservations are required. For more information, please visit their Tour Schedule.