Fundraising effort begins to restore Stage Island Monument

Stage Island Monument has stood proudly in Saco Bay for 200 years, and a local effort is in place to ensure it will stand at least another 200 more.

Stage Island is located off the coast of Biddeford, about a mile from Wood Island. On the island is the Stage Island Monument, a navigational tool constructed in 1825. The 60-foot-high stone tower was built as a day beacon – it does not light up like a lighthouse, and was a visual landmark that could be seen during the day, marking the northern entry into Wood Island Harbor.

“It’s more than just this curiosity that sits out on the island. When Stage Island Monument was built, it truly had a purpose, it truly protected mariners, local fishermen, pleasure craft, what have you,” said American Lighthouse Foundation Executive Director Bob Trapani on Monday night at the First Parish Meetinghouse in Biddeford.

About 100 people gathered at the former church to celebrate Stage Island Monument’s 200th birthday. The evening included a slide show, discussion, birthday cake and party hats.

Stage Island Monument off the coast of Biddeford. PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

When the Stage Island Monument was established, there were only 13 lighthouses along the coast of Maine, said Trapani. The Stage Island Monument was constructed 17 years after the nearby Wood Island lighthouse was built. The government spending the money to create the day beacon just one mile away from the Wood Island lighthouse is an indicator that the federal government felt the area was important, he said.

Biddeford resident Peter McPheeters is leading an effort to raise money so the monument will be around for at least another 200 years.

“We think it’s something that everybody enjoys seeing when they’re out on the water or on the mainland at Biddeford Pool or Hills Beach,” he said.

McPheeters showed a photo of the monument he took last fall, showing invasive plants and other vegetation growing between the stones in “large swaths” of the structure.

“It’s perfectly clear that the monument needs some help,” said McPheeters.

The 60-foot tall tower is made of rubble stone bound with lime mortar. The tower is 20 feet in diameter at its base and four feet in diameter at the top with a capstone that is 5 feet 8 inches in diameter.

The monument is owned by the United States Coast Guard and licensed to the American Lighthouse Foundation. It sits on a 60 by 90 foot parcel owned by the Coast Guard. Between the parcel and the shore is land owned by the Audubon Society.

“The logistics of this project are going to be interesting,” said McPheeters.

Materials will need to be transported to the island. This will include water needed to mix with mortar, as there is no water source on Stage Island. McPheeters said he had to crawl under brush to get to the monument, and some vegetation may need to be cleared so the area is accessible to workers.

A rough estimate for a restoration project is $300,000. A fundraising effort is underway. To make a donation go to https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=T3WLZYGTBJNC2 .

Saco Bay News Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.