refresh!

An alternative site would be the Portland Observatory, run by Greater Portland Landmarks. It's not a lighthouse but one of the last remaining wooden signal towers, a ninety-foot high octagon which is a delight to sing in. It located on Munjoy Hill in Portland.

Here's a song I composed which commemorates its renovation a few years ago (copy and paste into WORD/TIMES/12 to line up chords):

Words by Charlie Ipcar © 2000/2007
Inspired by traditional tune: "Bonny Ship the Diamond"


The Portland Observat'ry


Chorus:

Dm----C-F----C-Dm
Here's to Capt'n Moody,
-------------G-C
Heave with a will!
-----Dm---------------G---C---G----Am
Who raised the Port-land Ob-servat'ry,
Dm--G-F----C---Dm
High on Mun-joy Hill.


'Twas in the year eighteen-o-seven
Ol' Moody had a plan,
To build a signal tower
On Portland's highest land.
With his telescope in the lantern room,
He'd scan the Bay around,
Then hoist a signal up the mast
When a vessel there he found. (CHO)

'Twas in the War of 1812,
Moody watched a thrilling sight,
As the Enterprise beat the Boxer;
It was one brutal fight.
In the Civil War, in '63,
The Rebels made a play,
From the tower we tracked the Cushing,
As she fled through Casco Bay. (CHO)

In nineteen hundred and twenty-three,
The tower's work was through,
But hordes of tourists climbed the stairs,
To enjoy the view.
In nineteen hundred and ninety-five,
The tower was condemned,
But plans were made and money raised,
From hundreds of her friends. (CHO)

Now the tower stands again,
Stronger than before,
And she's sure to raise our spirits high –
For a century or more. (CHO)2X

Cheerily,
Charley Noble