Fog Bell Tower Proves Function Can Include Beauty

A different kind of house: a structure attached to a lighthouse makes for a striking local landmark.

By Brian Vanden Brink

The fog bell tower at Hendricks Head Lighthouse on Southport Island, Maine, is such a cool structure. Built in 1890, its purpose is to provide a stable platform for the fog bell attached to it. Erected on stilts to survive extra high tides, the building also has space for equipment related to maintaining the bell. Its visually pleasing architecture is a nice plus for a utilitarian building, and, with the attached lighthouse, serves as a lovely landmark to the vessels that sail past. This could have been just an unattractive but functional utility pole upon which to hang a fog bell, but someone went to the trouble of making it look nice.

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Fog Bell Tower Proves Function Can Include Beauty

A different kind of house: a structure attached to a lighthouse makes for a striking local landmark.

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