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Geographic coordinates: 43° 49' 22" N 69° 41' 23" W
Nearest town: Southport. Located on the east side of the entrance to the Sheepscot River.
Established: 1829. Present lighthouse built: 1875. Deactivated: 1933. Relighted: 1951.
Height of tower: 39 feet. Height of focal plane: 43 feet
Earlier optic: Fifth-order Fresnel lens. Present optic: 250 mm.
Characteristic: Fixed white with a red sector.
The first lighthouse here was a granite keeper’s dwelling with the tower on its roof. Jaruel Marr, who was born the same year the lighthouse was built, became keeper in 1866, after returning from the Civil War.
A famous tale of this lighthouse concerns a vessel wrecked in a March gale sometime around 1870. The keeper and his wife could see those on board the wrecked ship hanging to the rigging, practically frozen to death. The rough seas made it impossible for the keeper to launch a dory. As evening arrived, the keeper saw a bundle floating toward the shore. He snatched the bundle from the waves with a boat hook and discovered that it was actually two featherbeds tied around a box. Opening the box, the keeper discovered a tiny baby girl.
The keeper and his wife adopted the girl, according to the story as it is usually told. Some local historians question whether the events ever took place, but according to some of the descendants of Jaruel Marr, the story is true. Some say the baby—named Seaborn—was adopted by a doctor and his wife, who were summer residents. The debate over the veracity of the story may never be settled, but it is one of New England’s most enduring lighthouse stories.
The present square brick tower replaced the first lighthouse in 1875. Jaruel’s son, Wolcott Marr, succeeded his father as keeper in 1895. In 1914, he rescued the crew of a wrecked schooner with the help of his sons.
Fascinating Fact 
Keeper Wolcott Marr had an unusual distinction: he was born, married, and died in the same room at this light station.
The light was discontinued in 1933, and the light station property was sold to a private owner. After electricity came to the house in 1951, the Coast Guard decided to reactivate the light, as boating traffic in the area had increased. In 1991, Benjamin and Luanne Russell of Alabama bought the property, and they subsequently restored all of the structures. Ben Russell has a web site for the lighthouse at www.benrussell.com/HH-home.htm.
Hendricks Head Light can be seen from a small beach. To reach the beach, take Route 27 south through Boothbay Harbor to West Southport. About 2 miles south of the intersection of Route 27 and Route 238, bear right around a triangular intersection with a statue and flagpole, past the Southport General Store. Where the road dips downhill onto Dogfish Head Road, bear left onto Beach Road and continue for a half-mile to the public beach. The view of the lighthouse tower from here is partly blocked by the keeper’s house.
The lighthouse can also be seen distantly from across the river at the village of Five Islands. From Route 1 in Bath, head south on Route 127 and follow to the end, and walk out on the wharf for the view. (While here, you can get a meal or snack from the Five Islands Lobster Company.) In addition, you can get good views from cruises offered by the Maine Maritime Museum (207-443-1316, www.mainemaritimemuseum.org) in Bath, and by Cap’n Fish’s Whale Watch and Scenic Boat Tours (207-633-6605, www.boothbayboattrips.com) in Boothbay Harbor.
