Contributed by Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse
Description
Thomas Henry Orcutt was the keeper at Wood Island Light Station from 1886 to 1905. It is believed that this photo was taken ca. 1896.
He maintained the lighthouse for 19 years, the longest tenure of any Wood Island Lighthouse keeper. He was born in Brooksville in 1833 and died in 1906. He and his wife, Hannah, had five children.
During his tenure a murder/suicide took place on Wood Island. A man named Hobbs rented a small residence on Wood Island from a man named Milliken, who was a very big and strong man. It is reported that Milliken went to collect the rent and found Hobbs drunk and brandishing a rifle.
Milliken attempted to disarm the dangerous Hobbs and was fatally shot. Hobbs was distraught and went to keeper Orcutt's house to turn himself in. It is believed that Thomas Orcutt's 17-year-old son opened the door. He or perhaps his father told Hobbs to turn himself into authorities on the mainland.
Instead Hobbs returned to his abode and took his own life.
The photo resides with Roderick Jeffers, a descendent of Thomas Henry Orcutt.
About This Item
- Title: Thomas Henry Orcutt, Wood Island Lighthouse, ca. 1896, ca. 1896
- Creation Date: circa 1896
- Subject Date: circa 1896
- Location: Wood Island, Biddeford, York County, ME
- Media: Photographic print
- Collection: Private collection
- Object Type: Image
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Islands--Maine
- Wood Island Light (Me.)--People
- Lighthouse keepers--Maine--Biddeford
- Wood Island (Biddeford, Me.)--History
- Lighthouses--Maine--Biddeford
People
Other Keywords
- aid to navigation
- beacon
- beam
- Biddeford Pool
- Colonial Lighthouse
- lens
- mariners
- Negro Island
- Saco
- Saco Bay
- Sailor
- Stage Island
- tower
- warning
- Winter Harbor
For more information about this item, contact:
Friends of Wood Island LighthousePO Box 26, Biddeford Pool, ME 04006
(207) 286-3229
Website
Use of this Item is not restricted by copyright and/or related rights, but the holding organization is contractually obligated to limit use. For more information, please contact the contributing organization. However, watermarked Maine Memory Network images may be used for educational purposes.
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