Lighthouse off the coast of Maine gets sold at auction. During an auction on Sunday, the federal government was able to find a keeper for the historical lighthouse located on Bone Island near Cape Neddick, Maine. The new keeper of the 133-feet lighthouse paid $78,000.
On July 16th, 2012, the United States government revealed via a press release that they had plans to sell a historical lighthouse located about 6 miles off the coast of York, Maine.
Maine has a total of 57 active lighthouses. About 2 years later, an auction was held and after a tough bidding war between 12 people or groups; the lighthouse was sold for $78,000.
The name or names of the buyer (s) will be revealed in 30 days when the deal will be closed according to Patrick Sclafani, spokesman for the General Services Administration.
The Coast Guard, which currently owns the dilapidated property will continue to maintain it until the ownership is turned over next month.
The lighthouse also known as Boon Island Light, which is more than 200 years old is considered the tallest lighthouse in both Maine and New England at 133 feet.
The construction of Boon Island Light was first brought up by sailors/merchants in 1710 after the infamous Nottingham Galley ship wreck.
After the wreck, ten of the fourteen English crew members were forced to become cannibals in order to survive on the tiny island for almost one month during the harsh winter cold.
Almost 100 years later, President James Madison authorized the construction of the gray conical tower dubbed Boon Island Lighthouse during the War of 1812.
The last known keeper of the lighthouse was Fred Kendall who resided on the barren piece of land from 1973 to 1975.
The lighthouse originally had several keepers dwellings that were completely destroyed in the early 1980s due to harsh winters and storms.
In the last 14 years, the federal government has sold more than 100 lighthouses with Graves Island Light Station near the Boston Harbor being the most lucrative.
Graves Island Light Station was sold for nearly $1 Million in 2013.
