Arrowsic in the Springtime

Bath, Maine has been known as the city of ships for many, many years.  It was about 1743 when the first ship was reported to have been built and today Bath Iron Works continues to produce ships for the U.S. Navy.

En route to Bath along Route 1 North, the towering cranes of Bath Iron Works loom on the horizon before the city of Bath comes into view.  As you approach the city there is a striking contrast between the modern shipyard to the south of Route 1 and the historic city streets of Bath to the north of the highway.

Bath Iron Works, building Navy Ships in Bath, Maine.

Our visit to Bath started out with a half hour trolley tour that was part of their spring celebration.  It was a warm spring day and the streets bustled with people perusing the sales and shops downtown.  We caught the second to last trolley and enjoyed the ride up Front Street and back down Washington Street.  For those interested in architecture, Washington Street is an neat place lined with Federal, Greek Revival and Italianate styles.  A few of them are inns/bed and breakfasts, so if you want to know what it feels like to live in one of these lovely mansions, you might consider booking a weekend.  And don't miss the Maine Maritime Museum during your stay.  They've been preserving Maine maritime history for 50 years.

After Bath we took a little drive down one of the many peninsulas found along Maine's mid-coast.  Many of these fingers of land that jut out into the Atlantic serve up a taste of history and escape from the hustle and bustle of Route 1.  We chose to take Route 127 to Arrowsic.

Doubling Point Light

Arrowsic, Maine is one of those communities that most people pass through on their way to someplace else, namely Reid State Park, a popular beach destination in the summertime. Our objective was to visit a couple of lighthouses and see what we see along the way.

Doubling Point was the first lighthouse we sought out.  It is down a side road off Route 127.  The dirt road meandered through the woods to a number of residences along the water.  Just about when we were thinking we might have taken a wrong turn, we saw a small white sign with an arrow to the lighthouse.  We drove down to the parking area that was big enough for about 4 vehicles and started to explore.

My son peeking in the window of the tower.

Doubling Point was one of four lighthouses that were built in 1898 to help ships navigate up the Kennebec River to Bath.  If you look north from the base of the lighthouse tower, you get an unobstructed view of Bath Iron Works (See above photo).

The setting is quite peaceful among the trees along the Kennebec.   On the grounds are a couple of short footpaths that follow the shoreline of the river and give you a different perspective on the lighthouse.

Our next stop was Squirrel Point Light.  The lighthouse is a two-thirds-mile trek through the woods.  The trail head begins in a dirt parking lot where Bald Head Road dead-ended.  From there, the path meanders down through the woods to the river's edge.

Meandering path through the woods to Squirrel Point Light.

Along the way there are a couple of scenic overlooks.  One looks across the river to a church in Phippsburg, and from another vantage point you can see the lighthouse down river.

One of the overlooks with views of Squirrel Point Light.

The 640-acres around Squirrel Point are owned by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Nature Conservancy.  The trails are well marked and the woods and rock ledges along the trail were beautiful. Going out to the light we took our time, stopping at the various overlooks and enjoying the views.   As we approached the lighthouse, we came across a lonely porcupine waddling down the trail in search of food.  After visiting the lighthouse grounds for a bit and watching our new porcupine friend, we headed back to the car.  Walking directly back from the lighthouse took us about 15 minutes.

Squirrel Point Light with Phippsburg church across the river.

The lighthouse tower, boathouse and keeper's house were a bit worn, with peeling paint, overgrown grass and other debris, but we enjoyed the walk and the setting.  If I didn't live an hour away, I'd probably become a volunteer since this is such a picturesque setting that is worthy of preserving.  If you'd like to help, please contact the Citizens for Squirrel Point.  I'm sure they would appreciate your support as they work tirelessly raise money to maintain this piece of Maine history.

One final note.  If you go, be sure to bring some good insect repellent as the deer ticks were quite plentiful.  We had quite a few of these unwanted hitchhikers clinging to our clothes along the way.