Rock formations lead to Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse in Acadia National Park in Maine
Vengeful Worker and Other Spirits Haunt Bass Harbor Head Light in Acadia National Park in Northern Maine
Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse was established in 1858 to assist mariners in navigating the treacherous Bass Harbor Bar and guide them into Blue Hill Bay. The station initially featured a hand-rung fog bell, which was later replaced in 1898 by a 4,000-pound fog bell equipped with specialized striking machinery that still stands beside the lighthouse, alongside the original oil house. The lighthouse rises 56 feet above the water on rocky cliffs in Acadia National Park and is one of America’s most photographed and iconic beacons. It is said that a vengeful construction worker, among other spirits, haunts the lighthouse.
Bass Harbor Lighthouse above rocky cliffs.
When construction began on the lighthouse in 1858, one worker suddenly vanished from his duties and was never heard from again. Sometimes, workers either do not get along with their coworkers, find the work too difficult, or face other issues that may lead them to leave the site. Very little is known about this person, but it is reported that his coworkers discovered a bloodied axe hidden near the construction site, with no explanation for how the blood appeared. As some stories do, it seems a page may have been taken from an Edgar Allan Poe tale (The Cask of Amontillado). Many believe the missing worker is entombed within the foundation walls of either the tower or the keeper’s house. It’s possible that he was killed after an argument with a coworker, after which his body was concealed inside the walls and subsequently cemented over.
Though the worker was never found and no one was held accountable for the possible crime, it appears the spirit has taken its vengeance on keepers and caretakers over the years by attacking their bodies. Many have succumbed to lethal diseases like typhoid fever or have experienced long-term illnesses, heart attacks, or strokes. Still, others have been involved in strange accidents, such as falling off ladders, suffering severe cuts, or tumbling onto the rocks below.
The lighthouse’s location offers an extraordinary view of the ocean beneath the rocky cliffs, making it one of the most desirable places for a lighthouse keeper and his family to live. However, what adds intrigue to the story is that most keepers only stayed at the station for a few years, and many fell seriously ill while stationed there, which is quite unusual. It has been reported that there have been ten tragic deaths near the beacon.
Reports indicate other paranormal activity near the lighthouse. Some claim to have seen an apparition of a man sitting on a stump or log outside during snowfall. A female entity has been observed rocking in a chair through the windows of the keeper’s house. Others have seen a large deer prancing through the snow towards the lighthouse, only for it to disappear. When observers search for tracks, none can be found.
Sunset behind Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse in Maine.
Happy exploring!
Allan Wood
Books to Explore
Book – New England’s Haunted Lighthouses: Ghostly Legends and Maritime Mysteries
New England’s Haunted Lighthouses:
Ghostly Legends and Maritime Mysteries
Discover the mysteries of the haunted lighthouses of New England! Uncover ghostly tales of lingering keepers, victims of misfortune or local shipwrecks, lost souls, ghost ships, and more. Many of these accounts begin with actual historical events that later lead to unexplained incidents, including details of the hauntings at Bass Harbor Light mentioned above.
The Rise and Demise of the Largest Sailing Ships
The Rise and Demise of the Largest Sailing Ships:
Stories of the Six and Seven-Masted Coal Schooners of New England
In the early 1900s, New England shipbuilders constructed the world’s largest sailing ships amid social and political reforms. These giants were the ten original six-masted coal schooners and one colossal seven-masted vessel, built to carry massive quantities of coal and building supplies, and measured longer than a football field! This self-published book, rich in color and vintage images, showcases the historical accounts that accompanied these mighty ships.
Available also from bookstores in paperback, hardcover, and as an eBook for all devices.
Book – Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions in Southern New England: Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts
Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions of Southern New England:
Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
This 300-page book offers memorable human-interest stories from each of the 92 lighthouses, including Boston Light. You can explore plenty of indoor and outdoor coastal attractions, including whale-watching excursions, lighthouse tours, windjammer sailing tours, parks, museums, and even lighthouses where you can stay overnight. You’ll also find plenty of stories of hauntings around lighthouses.
Book – Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions in Northern New England: New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont
Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions of Northern New England:
New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont.
This 300-page book provides memorable human interest stories from each of the 76 lighthouses. It also describes and provides contact information for numerous indoor and outdoor coastal attractions and tours. These include whale watching, lighthouse tours, unique parks, museums, and lighthouses where you can stay overnight. There are also stories of haunted lighthouses in these regions.
Copyright © Allan Wood Photography; do not reproduce without permission. All rights reserved.
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