Owl’s Head Lighthouse, Part ll

This old lighthouse stands on a rocky cliff overlooking Rockland Harbor in Maine.

Old postcard of Owl's Head Lighthouse

One view from Owl's Head

Visitors today follow a very rough road to reach the lighthouses’ parking lot. They then have to walk through pine trees, for a quarter of a mile. Along this hike, the visitor has an incredible view of the beautiful, peaceful scenery.

This calm atmosphere for some does not last. For once they reach this old lighthouse two ghosts are waiting to greet them.

These two spirits are said to be a former keeper’s wife, called the “Little Lady,” and the other is believed to be an old lighthouse keeper.

The ghostly wife is seen standing outside the lighthouse and in the kitchen where she is heard rattling silverware and slamming doors. In the kitchen, she is seen out of the corner of the eye or just as a shadowy figure.

The ramp leading up to
the lighthouse.

The former keeper often follows a pattern. When it rains or snows, his footprints are spotted in the mud or snow. They always lead up the ramp to the tower, where lightkeepers would then see the door open, despite it being locked.

These witnesses then watched this ghost walk up the steps in the tower. Later they would find the lens and brass at the top had been freshly polished.

This makes sense since a keeper’s whole life was spent making sure the light was maintained, for if this was not done, it could cause a disaster for passing ships.

From 1980 until 1989, Coast Guard keepers and their families lived at Owl’s Head. These families shared more specific details about the hauntings.

Andy Germann and his wife Denise lived at Owl’s Head in the early 1980s. This couple had a strange encounter late one night. Denise had retired for the evening when she felt Andy lay down in bed beside her.

She asked her husband a question, but when he didn’t answer, she turned over, only to find no one in bed with her. There was an “indentation of a body” next to her that was moving as if a person was shifting position.

Andy, the next morning told her just before she saw this strange sight he had been standing outside their bedroom. He saw a cloud of smoke hovering over the floor that passed right through him. It then headed into their bedroom.

Andy and Denise warned the next Coast Guard keeper, Gerald Graham and his wife, Debbie about this haunting.

Fog over Owl's Head

One night Graham’s two-year-old daughter, Claire announced, “Fog’s rolling in, time to put the foghorn on.” Andy found this strange because his young daughter didn’t use adult vocabulary.

Over the next two years, Claire’s parents discovered she was conversing with a man she stated had a beard and wore a seaman’s cap. Her parents never saw this man.

Malcolm Rouse was the last Coast Guard keeper before the light was automated in 1989. His wife insisted that she saw a person dressed in white standing at one of the windows.

Owl's Head with
light on.

The Rouse’s son mentioned when he woke up, he sometimes saw a strange woman sitting in a chair in his bedroom.

Owl’s Head Light State Park is open to visitors year-round. The tower and residence have been renovated, and the American Lighthouse Foundation uses it as an education center. There is also a gift shop and museum on site.

Since the light is still in use visitors are encouraged, while in the tower, not to touch the lens.

In Owl’s Head Lighthouse, Part l I share two of my favorite stories about this lighthouse.

Owl’s Head Lighthouse, Part l

Owl's Head Lighthouse

Owl’s Head is considered one of Maine’s most beautiful Lighthouses. It is at the south entrance to Rockland Harbor and is surrounded by water.

This lighthouse was built in 1824 and sits on seventeen and a half pine-covered acres. The tower is only 15 feet high, but its light can be seen for 18 miles because it sits atop a high cliff.

The original tower was replaced in 1895.

It is still in use today with an automated light. To reach the top of the tower, visitors must climb a 50 step steep staircase, but this climb is worth it for the 360-degree view from this vantage point is spectacular.

Opposite view of Owl's Head.

Owl’s Head like many lighthouses has several fascinating stories connected to it. The following are two of my favorites.

One involves a man and woman found encased in a block of ice.

In the winter of 1850, a small schooner was anchored in the harbor, was caught in the worst snowstorm of the season. The captain had gone ashore leaving his mate, Richard Ingraham, a crewmember, Roger Elliot, and Lydia Dryer, Ingraham’s’ fiancée aboard the ship.

Photo of Owl's Head taken in 1932.

As this storm intensified, the schooner was torn from its mooring and was dashed against the rocks at Owl’s Head. As the boat broke apart, the 3 occupants huddled under blankets to keep warm.

Elliot managed to swim through the frigid water and climb ashore. A keeper, out riding a sleigh found him half-dead and carried him into the lighthouse, where he was able to briefly revive him.

Elliot managed to choke out that two others needed help and then lost consciousness. A search party was formed.

Ingraham and Dryer were found frozen in a block of ice. Their rescuers at first thought they were dead but decided to not give up. They chipped the ice away and poured cold water over the couple.

They then massaged their limbs as they slowly poured warmer and warmer water over them. After one hour, the couple began to show signs of life. After two hours, Ingraham opened his eyes, and in a confused daze started to ask questions.

Months later, the couple regained their health. They married and had four children. As for Elliot, who had alerted the keeper to their whereabouts, he sadly didn’t recover.

Another favorite story of mine involves a dog, named Spot, and a fog bell.

From 1935 to 1945, Gus Hamor was the keeper at Owl’s Head, but it is his springer spaniel that is remembered fondly.

Gus’ two daughters, Pauline and Millie trained Spot to pull the rope that rang the fog bell. Whenever a boat would pass Spot would ring the bell, and then the vessel would respond by blowing their horn.

Spot’s favorite visitor to the lighthouse was, Stuart Ames, the skipper of the mail boat. Ames always gave Spot a special treat when he delivered the mail.

Spot anticipating these visits learned to recognize the sound of Ames’ boat engine and then he would pull the bell.

During one awful winter blizzard the snowdrifts were so high on the cliff they muffled the sounds of the fog bell.

Ames on his boat in the harbor was trying to deliver the mail to the lighthouse, but he couldn’t hear the fog alert, because of this he wasn’t able to determine the position of his vessel. He was afraid his boat would be smashed against the rocky cliff.

Spot heard his engine through this storm and whined and scratched at the door to be let out. When the door was opened, he dashed to the shore and barked loudly until the mail boat’s whistle replied.

Ames, through Spots’ persistence found his way and delivered the mail safely.

In Part ll of Owl’s Head Lighthouse, I share two hauntings connected to this lighthouse.