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If you have not yet stopped by the West Quoddy Head Light Keeper’s Association’s Visitor Center & Museum at the red and white-striped lighthouse in Lubec, Maine, be sure to place it on your ‘must do’ list.
Amidst the Museum’s exhibits of sparkling brass artifacts, vintage images and spiffy uniforms – all paying tribute to the era of the U.S. Lighthouse Service, a story within a story of how one person’s dream to save and share our nation’s rich lighthouse heritage with the general public, gleams bright.
Who was this person committed to creating a museum at West Quoddy Head Lighthouse? Timothy Harrison – a name known far and wide within both the national lighthouse preservation movement and the Downeast Maine community!
Tim was no novice when it came to lighthouse collections and exhibits. He created the American Lighthouse Foundation’s Museum of Lighthouse History in Wells, Maine, in the 1990s. When this museum later merged with the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland in 2007, Tim was there in the years that followed to lend his expertise to what became the largest collection of lighthouse artifacts in the country.
Back in 2006, Tim Harrison said, “Almost from the time I got interested in lighthouses, I realized that writing about them was not enough. As interest in lighthouses started to grow I met a number of people that were collecting lighthouse artifacts for their own personal collections. While I had no real objection to this, I soon realized that the artifacts in these private collections would never be shared with the general public, and most, if not all, would remain in private collections forever.”
Harrison went on to say, “Learning from what Ken Black had started with the Shore Village Museum, which is now the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland, Maine, I started to make a concentrated effort to locate historical artifacts that pertained to lighthouses.”
However, throughout Tim’s time collecting and exhibiting lighthouse artifacts, it was evident what captured his attention the most. Lighthouse Keepers! Tim esteemed the stories of lightkeepers and their families, especially those from the time period of the venerated United States Lighthouse Service.
You could hear his admiration for the Service and these heroes in his lectures – as well as feel it in his writings. Tim’s love of the human aspect of lightkeeping was the driving force behind his museum aspirations. There was an important story to tell – and Tim was determined to do so!
Tim also realized one more thing – time was slipping away. He felt strongly that we all needed to act in the present to save as much of our lighthouse history before it disappeared altogether.
The uniforms, devices, utensils, apparatus, equipment and other fascinating odds & ends of the United States Lighthouse Service – they were all once essential aspects of lighthouse keeping. As time passed, these common items were lost in the passage of time and became quite rare to find. Tim not only understood the historical value of these lighthouse items turned artifacts, but I believe he fully comprehended their physical and emotional connection to a bygone way of life.
Many years ago, I remember Tim expressing the following to me: “A museum can share and interpret the history of lighthouses, the reasons why they were built, the story behind the people that designed the structures and the keepers and families who actually lived, grew up and survived the elements at lighthouses while doing their job of tending the lights, but I believe it is vital to preserve the stories behind the lighthouses as well, otherwise, lighthouses themselves are simply cold, empty structures without a soul.”
This focus on the stories of lighthouse keepers and their families was the central theme upon which Tim fashioned the exhibits at the West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association’s Visitor Center & Museum (WQHLKA). Of course, no museum has the exhibit space to share the wealth of history associated with lighthouses. Tim knew this – but he wanted to make visitors curious – spark their interest in learning more about lighthouses and their keepers, and maybe, even help lighthouses too.
“The last big project that Tim undertook to promote and preserve lighthouse history and honor keepers was at West Quoddy Head Lighthouse,” said Kathleen Finnegan-Harrison. “At the time of his death on August 19, 2023, Tim was serving as president of the board of the West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association, as well as serving on the board of the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland.”
Finnegan-Harrison went on to note, “He had just finished creating new exhibits focusing on the history of West Quoddy Head Light for the visitor center museum, located in the former keepers’ house. The project took over two years to complete, and became a priority as Tim’s health began to fail.”
Kimberly Ashby, WQHLKA Executive Director, said, “Tim’s passion for lighthouses and dedication to preserving their history was truly inspiring. His contributions were immeasurable.”
Whether viewing time-stained photos of lighthouse keepers that speak of honor, pride and devotion to duty, or admiring priceless artifacts retaining an unmistakable sparkle that time cannot erase, it is worth remembering that one person can make a lasting difference in helping save our lighthouse heritage.
It seems only fitting that Tim’s last efforts were at the West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, the easternmost location in the continental United States and a place where the sun rises first. For the sun will continue rising here on the love, admiration and pride that Tim Harrison had in his heart for the Unites States Lighthouse Service – and West Quoddy Head Lighthouse. Nearly every person that walks through the Visitor Center and Museum now and in the future will leave having learned at least one new thing about lighthouses thanks to the dedicated efforts of Tim Harrison.
“We will forever cherish the memories we made with Tim, whether it was discussing the latest lighthouse restoration project, museum ideas or simply enjoying his infectious laughter. He had a way of bringing people together and getting things done,” said Kimberly Ashby. “Let us honor Tim’s legacy by continuing the work he started. Let’s keep shining a light on the importance of lighthouses and their rich history. We will remember Tim as a beacon of knowledge and kindness.”
After Tim’s passing in August 2023, his wife, Kathleen Finnegan-Harrison, said, “He looked at the Museum as part of his final legacy in fulfilling his never-ending commitment toward public education and preservation for the future.” For this, both lighthouse enthusiasts and the Lubec community are forever grateful. In hindsight, Tim may have viewed his efforts at the time as the culmination of three-plus decades of service to lighthouses, but instead, his passion and commitment were transformed in something even more amazing – they have become enduring!
This story appeared in the
Sep/Oct 2024 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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