Where we last left off ... White Island, Isles of Shoals
Such a beautiful place, and for many years the home of famous poet, Celia Thaxter, whose father was the lighthouse keeper at White Island. In later years she married and moved away but eventually returned to reside on Appledore Island, also one of the Isles of Shoals.
The lighthouse, and keepers home, are in much need of repair. Back in 2002 Lighthouse Kids Incorporated was formed by a group of 7th graders at the North Hampton Elementary School. Their goal is to try to raise as much money as possible to help preserve the White Island Lighthouse Station.
Still, the 1859 lighthouse struggles and is in extremely poor condition as evidenced by these photos.
I'm not sure if someone is currently residing on the island but judging by the laundry on the line it does appear as though someone stays there now and then.
Since 1997 the White Island Tern Restoration Project has been ongoing.
The goals of the Tern Restoration Project are to protect, manage and enhance the breeding population of common (state endangered), roseate (state and federally endangered), and arctic terns (state threatened) on Seavey Island and protect the population on White Island. Efforts have been largely successful since the implementation of the program. In 2006, SML took on management of the Tern Restoration Project with support from the State of NH and NH Audubon.
~ Shoals Maine Laboratory (link)
If you're interested, here is a great article chronicling the success of the Tern Project and their run-in with a White Owl that threatened the success of the population
This photo was taken from the back side of the island looking towards the seacoast.
In the next post we'll see a bit of of Star Island.
