August 2009 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 9.
Waterfront News
LAHOOD STATES IMPORTANCE OF MARITIME INDUSTRY
On July 9th, the Congressional Ship- being pursued by the Department of Trans- economic stimulus legislation enacted earlier The respective House and Senate bills
building Caucus, co-chaired by Representa- portation, particularly investment in this year, funding in support of commercial authorize the Administration’s procurement
tives Gene Taylor (MS) and Rob Wittman “America’s Marine Highway,” which he shipbuilding programs was omitted. In order request for: one Virginia attack class subma-
(VA), hosted a meeting with Secretary of deemed a priority of the Administration. The to elevate the importance of investing in rine, one DDG-51 class multi-mission de-
Transportation Ray LaHood to discuss the goal is to relieve congestion on the country’s America’s shipbuilding industrial base, the stroyer, three littoral combat ships (LCS), and
goals of the new Administration with respect surface highways and rail networks by shift- Secretary strongly urged Members of Con- one joint high speed vessel. The House bill
to the U.S. maritime industry. Other Members ing cargo transportation to America’s gress to speak to the President and his eco- also authorizes funding for the two T-AKE
of Congress attending the meeting included coastal and inland waterways. Rep. Roscoe nomic advisors directly on the importance of combat logistics force ships requested by the
Representatives Rodney Alexander (LA), Bartlett applauded the initiative, noting the shipbuilding as a tremendous engine for Navy. In contrast, the Senate bill cut the
Roscoe Bartlett (MD), Jo Bonner (AL), important role that the U.S. maritime industry good paying job creation across the country. funding request for the T-AKE class by $400
Madeleine Bordallo (GU), Henry Brown (SC), plays in providing the lowest cost means of House and Senate Reveal Navy Shipbuilding million, reducing the FY 2010 procurement
Joseph Cao (LA), Gregg Harper (MS), Walter transportation. Rep. Rob Wittman com- Priorities request from two ships to one. The House
Jones (NC), Steve Kagen (WI), Rick Larsen mented that while investment in the marine On July 2nd, the Senate Armed Services and Senate bills also authorized the funding
(WA), and Bobby Scott (VA). highway is a good idea, the role of shipbuild- Committee completed work on its version of to complete the third DDG-1000 destroyer,
In his opening remarks, Secretary ing must be factored into the program. Rep. the FY 2010 National Defense Authorization and the tenth LPD-17 amphibious transport
LaHood stressed the importance of Wittman also stressed the importance of the Act (S 1390). The Senate bill authorizes $11.7 dock ship. Both of these programs were split-
America’s maritime transportation infra- Title XI ship loan guarantee program in meet- billion for seven naval vessels; one ship and funded by Congress last year, with the direc-
structure, commenting that “the maritime in- ing the Administration’s objectives. $400 million below the Administration’s re- tion given to the Navy to budget for their
dustry is the economic engine of the coun- The Secretary acknowledged that while quest. The House version of the legislation completion in FY 2010.
try.” He discussed some of the initiatives many maritime initiatives benefited from the (HR 2647), which passed the House of Rep- The full Senate is expected to consider
resentatives on June 25th, fully funds the the FY 2010 National Defense Authorization
Administration’s request for eight vessels Act this week.
Castine Classic Yacht Race to Host
and adds $220 million to the budget request.
Symposium of Maine Boatbuilders
Bring your boat.
CASTINE—To launch its annual classic
Boat Yard; Abigail & Carter, a 43’
yacht celebration, the Castine Yacht Club
gentleman’s lobsterboat from John’s Bay
will host on Tuesday, July 28th a symposium
Boat Company; Fairweather, a 52’ sloop from
We’ll supply the rest.
featuring many of Maine’s leading
Lyman Morse; Moon Watcher, a 40’ Talaria
boatbuilders. The symposium, chaired by
from Hinckley; and Hokulani, a Stanley 36
Cruise the coast or spend the summer onboard at your slip, surrounded by all the
Gary Jobson, the renowned sailor, author
lobsteryacht from John M. Williams. Morris
luxuries of home and protected by our huge breakwater.
and TV commentator, will include
Yachts will have on exhibit the full M-Series
Easy slip access • Washers and dryers • Power to 100 amps
Wireless internet and cable TV • Fuel dock • Comfortable shoreside lounge
representatives from Hodgdon Yachts, The
of its yachts: M29, M36, M42 and its recently
Water and ice • Convenience store • Brand new showers
Hinckley Company, John M. Williams
launched first M52, Hope. The calmest dockage in Casco Bay!
Company, Brooklin Boat Yard, John’s Bay
The tenth annual Castine Classic When the season ends, we can store your boat right here,
Boat Company, Lyman Morse Boatbuilders,
Yacht Race to Camden will set sail from the
SLIPS AVAILABLE
with 35,000 square feet of heated indoor storage space, 30-
Morris Yachts, Rockport Marine and Sabre
Castine Harbor bell at 11:30AM on
FOR 2009 foot-high doors, and the best service and repair, anywhere!
Yachts.
Thursday, July 30th. This 18 mile race, which
Come by for a visit, see our website at www.maineyacht.com, or give us a call!
The symposium will start at 4:30PM at
feeds into the Eggemoggin Reach Regatta, is
Maine Maritime Academy’s Delano
expected to attract a magnificent fleet of
MAINE YACHT CENTER
Life is good.
auditorium. The public is invited.
100 Kensington Street, Portland, Maine 04101 • 207.842.9000
Classic and Spirit of Tradition yachts,
Yachts from these Maine builders will
according to David Bicks and Bob Scott,
be on public exhibition at the Castine Town
chairmen of these Castine events. Race
Dock on Wednesday, July 29th, starting at
notice/entry form and sailing instructions
1:00PM. These will include Bequia, a
are available on www.castineyachtclub.org.
recently launched 90’ yawl from Brooklin
Letter to the Editor: Minots Light
To the Editor: storm. These assistants often brought the
The mention of the first Minots Light in bent supports to Amos Tilden’s ironworks
the Maritime History section of the April, in Cohasset Harbor to be straightened and
2009, Maine Coastal News caught my eye declared that they would never return.
and interest. Having lived in Cohasset and Recently, a search was made off
Scituate, Mass. and having relatives who Cohasset for the old tower claimed to still be
help build and man both Minots Lights, I there by a local historian. He said that he
have collected quite a lot of data on these never found any documents for its removal.
beacons. I did years ago – the stumps and remains of
The problem with the first tower was the old tower were removed on June 20, 1855
that it was too small due to the area of the so as not to discourage the workers starting
ledge it was built on. The 75 foot tower was the new tower. The ironwork went to a West
topped by waves in a number of storms, not Bridgewater nail factory and the old fog bell
spray but solid white water. It took a gale of is now in the Bryant’s Pond Baptist Church.
the ferocity of the Portland Gale to tear the Why that historian never found the
tower down, the iron legs were ripped apart documents may be explained thusly. During
just a few feet above the ledge. the U. S. Bicentennial of 1976, history
Isaac Dunham was transferred to became a status symbol and old “useless
Minots from Pemaquid Point Light and the junk” became valuable relics and soon the
tower did shake very badly. In storms, thieves were out. The F. B. I. did catch one
keepers were knocked out of their beds and guy who had looted the National Archives
a large barrel of drinking water in the tower and was trying to sell the priceless
was often half-emptied. The two keepers in documents to a second hand book dealer.
the tower when it went over wrote their last One wonders how many were never caught.
words in a noted stating: “The tower won’t A lot of history has disappeared.
stand over tonight. She shakes 2 feet each One further note, just before the first
way now.” Minots Light was destroyed, plans for a
John W. Bennet, the second keeper similar but much larger lighthouse has been
found his bravado challenged but his first approved: Sand Key Light, Florida, which to
storm out there and it failed. Builder, Capt. this day.
William Swift (U. S. Engineers) lost faith in
Bennet but he, too, now feared for the safety Sincerely,
of the lighthouse. As he was in an argument Robert Fraser
with Bennet, Swift wrote to the assistants Belfast, Maine
about the state of the structure after each
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