It's Bill, 5/18/25: And Bill Said... "Let there be a lighthouse!"

A Lighthouse Rises on the Edge of the East

And behold, there in the southeast corner of West Quoddy Station, where the sun greets the day, a lighthouse arises. It has come to be known as Clark’s Folly Lighthouse. Finishing touches are underway in the interior, the exterior lighthouse tower awaits its 19th-century lighthouse lantern.

“No More Buildings…” Famous Last Words

Of course, there’s an untold story here. Where to start? I think we’ll start with “Is this your last building?” “Yes, absolutely, no more after this, can’t do anymore!” Well, this is where I found out I could lie. Particularly to myself. That was seven buildings ago. I polished my act. After each building, I was consistent: NO more.

A Spot Too Perfect to Ignore

Now it’s 2024. Six more buildings have been built. And there’s a buildable lot available. Front and center, out by the road, there is the perfect spot, across from The Meetinghouse with a bell tower. Hmm-m, what else has a tower? And where do my guests want to stay? Hmm-m. A lighthouse. Hmm-m. With friends, family, accountants and bankers questioning my decision, we’ve named the new building Clark’s Folly Lighthouse.

Designing a Dream

I had some fun creating my lighthouse. I wanted a square tower with a lantern light on top with the Keeper’s Quarters in an attached ell. The tower is shingled, 2 stories, 20’x20’ square, about 22’ tall with a red hip roof similar to West Quoddy’s USCG buildings. The attached Keeper’s Quarters ell is 1 story, 30’x14’. The exteriors are local white cedar shingles, the roofs are red.After designing my lighthouse, I discovered Grindle Point Lighthouse in Penobscot Bay on the island of Islesboro, with a square tower attached to the ell.

The 19th-century lantern that will crown Clark’s Folly Lighthouse.

Inside Clark’s Folly

Clark’s Folly has 3 bedrooms: 1 King, 1 Queen, 1 Double. A fully equipped kitchen. There is a full bathroom on each floor. Radiant heat on the first floor, modern radiators in the second-floor tower. 3 TVs, Wi-Fi. You enter the lighthouse through the Keeper’s Quarters door. The ell is striking with its 10’ ceilings and exposed 6’x8’ beams throughout. On the left is a small bedroom with a yellow log double bed. Directly through the door is the kitchen with a center island extending on the right into the dining room with the living room beyond. There are wood walls and 8”x6” beamed ceilings. You enter the tower on the first floor from the living area into the tower King bedroom. The tower Queen bedroom is accessed by a long, enclosed staircase just off the kitchen.

Bill toasts the latest (and possibly final?) addition to West Quoddy Station.