Lynne Macco and Tim Mount knew the job they were looking for when they subscribed to The Caretaker Gazette three years ago. Tim spent some time sailing along coastal Maine and on one of his trips stopped at Seguin Island, about 2½ miles offshore, near the mouth of the Kennebec River. The island is known for its lighthouse, the only operating 1st order Fresnel lens north of Virginia, and for the panoramic 360 degree views of the area. He went ashore and met that year’s caretakers who stay on the island from Memorial Day to Labor Day. He learned that the caretaker position for the Seguin Island lighthouse is advertised in the Gazette and that’s how the caretakers got it.
Although they weren’t ready to take the summer off, when Lynne and Tim subscribed to the Gazette, they began fantasizing about the worldwide opportunities advertised. Then in a spring issue of the Gazette, the ad for the Seguin caretaker position was was again posted in the Gazette for next year's season and they responded.
The Friends of Seguin were looking for a compatible couple with some boating experience, who would be willing and able to maintain the grounds and buildings, perform repairs and show visitors around the lighthouse. In addition, the caretakers were required to make a presentation at the organization’s annual meeting during the summer. The light and foghorn are maintained by the Coast Guard.
Tim is a college professor and choral conductor and Lynne is a physician and acupuncturist. Tim grew up on a farm and had lots of outdoor experience and Lynne spent time restoring old houses and has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. Newlyweds and avid sailors, they spent a month cruising on their sailboat -- a 32 foot catamaran -- and found it was a good test of their ability to get along in close quarters. They both have their captain’s licenses.
After the application and interview process with the Friends of Seguin, the not-for-profit organization that took over Seguin Island in 1986, Tim and Lynn were selected as caretakers for the season. They downsized and packed up their remaining possessions into a storage container. Lynne doesn’t miss her hectic commute to Manhattan where she worked in a busy medical practice. She loves to knit and cook on the island, including pies made from freshly picked berries.
When they arrived in Bath, Maine for their journey to Seguin, they quickly learned one of the most important things about island living: you may not get to travel as planned. While the weather was beautiful, high seas made the journey in a boat laden with gear unsafe and the start date was pushed back two days. So instead of arriving on a weekend, when there would be volunteers available to help get their belongings up the 136 foot climb to the lighthouse keeper’s quarters, they were assisted by their boat captain and last year’s caretaker, who had gone out to the island to open the house before their arrival, and start the “donkey engine” which powers the only working tram in Maine since the late 1890’s.
Their initial duties included a lot of mowing. There are five breathtaking and varied hiking trails on the island, which need clearing and the grass around all the buildings needs to be cut. The Friends of Seguin have a wish list of projects they would like to see accomplished but give the caretakers discretion to use their creativity. Tim decided to conquer some big projects on the lighthouse tower itself. The 53 foot tall granite tower, built in 1857, had sustained major damage to the entrance doors and an upper window in a storm in 2007 and these had been boarded up since then. They repaired them and now visitors can enter the tower through the main entrance. Tasks abound.
Although the island is offshore, it is actually on the grid because an electric cable runs under the water to the island. The water for washing comes from a well downhill from the house and cisterns in the house need to be kept full. The composting toilets need to be maintained. The well water is not used for drinking and potable water is brought to the island each week when they go ashore to shop and run errands. There is always something that needs to be replaced, repaired, or painted.
Some families who visit the island have had an annual picnic atop the hill for decades and return with new generations of children. Sailboat cruisers like to tuck into the cove and pick up a mooring for the night. The cove composting outhouse, maintained by Lynne and Tim, is known as the finest on the Maine coast. Everyone wants to know if the ghost stories that circulate about Seguin are true.
There is plenty of time to stop and enjoy the island, one of the most beautiful spots on the planet: hiking, picking the bountiful berries, bird watching, boat watching, knitting, baking, reading, and writing. Friends of Seguin limits their caretakers to only one season. Thus Lynne and Tim continue to peruse every issue and email updates of The Caretaker Gazette for that next caretaking opportunity, wherever it may be.
