MaineBusiness.com

Little River Lighthouse in Cutler Maine honored caretakers Rodger and Linda Van Tatenhove with a hand-painted plaque of the lighthouse painted and designed by local artist, Pam Britton.

In presenting the plaque to Rodger Van Tatenhove, Tim Harrison, (left) chairman of the Friends of Little River Lighthouse thanked the couple for their 2nd season of volunteering at the remote island lighthouse.

The couple, who herald from the small farming community of Grant Michigan, spent nearly four months living on the island this past summer where they greeted and took care of all the overnight guests who stayed at the lighthouse and made hundreds of trips in the station’s boat to transport visitors back and forth to the island.

As well as acting as volunteer caretakers they took on numerous repair and maintenance projects that needed to be done at the old historic property. Harrison said they did everything from mowing the lawn, to painting the rooms, making boat repairs, purchasing supplies and materials and “more than we can ever properly thank them for.” He went on to say, two of the biggest projects that Rodger undertook were the design and construction of a secure museum exhibit area inside the keeper’s house where visitors to the island will be able to view the many artifacts that have been donated and updating the old dilapidated upstairs 70-year old bathroom.

To learn more about the lighthouse you can visit their web site at www.LittleRiverLight.org or write to them at P.O. Box 671, East Machias, ME 04630. (Photograph by Kathleen Finnegan.)