Wed, 08/08/2018 - 8:15am

Members of the Down East Yacht Club and friends at the Burnt Island picnic! Courtesy of Jean McKay

On Sunday, Aug. 5 the Down East Yacht Club held a benefit picnic for the Burnt Island Lighthouse Restoration Fund. Turns out it was a great decision to change from the originally scheduled date! It was a beautiful sunny day, a bit too warm, but a big improvement from Saturday's heavy rains and fog. What a difference a day makes! 50 members and guests enjoyed a perfect summer afternoon on wonderful Burnt Island thanks to our gracious hosts, The Keepers of Burnt Island Light!

Members were shutlled out to the island on members’ private boats and were greeted by the Keeper Muise and his wife, Annie Muise (played by Bob and Jean McKay) and two of their children, Ann and Prudy (played by Azalea Bennett and Katie Cladis). The keepers Muise welcomed guests to climb the tower to enjoy the stunning view from the lantern room of Boothbay Harbor, Ocean Point, Squirrel Island and more.

Keeper Muise explained how the workings of the light and the horn have changed since 1821, when the light was built. Annie and the daughters dressed in period attire were washing clothes in the hand-powered wringer washing machine and welcomed members into the keeper's dwelling and into the well-kept kitchen. On the wall over the enameled kitchen table was a 1950 calendar.

Ann and Prudy performed their skit about their lives and experiences on the island. Members listened to the family talk about coal burning stove, lack of refrigeration, indoor plumbing, the bathtub in the pantry, and how water was collected in the cistern.

The meal was of course beyond expectations. Rather than the usual “Dogs and Burgers” DEYC P/C George Hamilton brought supplies ashore earlier in the day to prepare two 20-pound turkeys in a deep fryer as well as 2 large baked hams. George, with a few volunteer assistants, watched patiently over the fryers while other members set out a large array of appetizers, casseroles, salads, baked beans and an assortment of scrumptious deserts.

To conclude the day, DEYC Commodore, Susan Pope presented Mrs. Muise with a generous check for the Burnt Island Lighthouse Restoration Fund.

For more information on the restoration of Burnt Island, and how you can help, visit www.keepersofburntislandlight.com.