The Ghost of Burnt Island Light

The Burnt Island Light 1821

The first lighthouse built in the State of Maine was Burnt Island Light, in Boothbay Harbor. Maine became a state in 1820 and this was built in 1821.

It was called Burnt Island because they used to burn it yearly to keep the grass for sheep to feed on.

Keeper Joshua Cushing first lit the lantern on November 9, 1821, and has since been followed by 30 other keepers.

The original keeper’s house was granite and replaced the current wooden structure after 35 years. The rubble stone lighthouse tower is original. The boathouse, oil house, and fog bell were added at various times later. 

The island and the light station have been the site of numerous paranormal mysteries, many of them happening in the wee hour of 2 a.m.

Ethereal Woman in White

The island’s oldest haunting may be that of Martha McCobb, wife of James who was a keeper for almost 20 years in the late 1800s. James recorded in his log that Martha died, notably perhaps at 2 a.m., of “congestion and cankers throughout her body.”

Her ghost has been reported many times over the years, manifesting as an ethereal woman in white seen floating on the grounds in and around the house, again often near 2 a.m. The wispy white figure has also been observed at a lilac bush near the front porch of the house.

There is even a little humor in the hauntings at Burnt Island. One of the instances occurred on the watch of one of the last keepers who woke in the wee hours of the morning and saw what he thought was his wife in the hallway. He figured she was going to tend a child and thought he’d take advantage of the extra room in the bed. He rolled over to stretch out, and rolled on top of his wife – to the surprise of both of them! He searched the house for the elusive intruder, but found no one!

Step into the Shadows of Burnt Island Light

Our Burnt Island tour invites you to uncover the ghostly tales surrounding Maine’s oldest lighthouse. From the mysterious apparition of an ethereal woman in white to unexplained sightings and sounds at the witching hour of 2 a.m., Burnt Island is a place where history meets the supernatural. Explore Maine's haunted maritime past with us.

Check our Portland, ME ghost tour reviews on Google to see what others are saying. Ready for a haunting adventure? Book your Burnt Island Light tour today!

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