[GANONG] DOCHET (ST. CROIX) ISLAND 217 
re-established in October, 1869, since which time the keepers have 
been,— Jacob F. Young (November 10, 1869 — December 17, 1875), 
Harrison Keen (January 11, 1876—April 28, 1880), and Joseph 
Huckins, appointed May 4, 1880, and now in charge, an efficient and 
popular official. The lantern carrying a white light flashing every 
thirty seconds is built upon the keeper’s house, and is 74 feet above 
the sea. Long may it shine for the guidance of good mariners! 
Not long after the erection of the lighthouse an attempt was 
mad: to re-name the island. The only account of the ceremony 
known to me is contained in a footnote in Godfrey’s “ Centennial 
Celebration of the Settlement of Bangor,” Bangor, 1870, page 20, 
which reads as follows: 
This has been called Neutral Island, and Dosquet’s Island. The ‘ Con- 
gressional Voyagers ” in the U.S. Cutter Mahoning, along the coast of Maine, 
in 1866, having with them Mr. Hilgard, of the U. S. Coast Survey, and several 
gentlemen of the Maine Historical Society, voted that the island be hereafter 
called Demont’s Island, at the same time giving the proper salute. 
The history of this abortive name has been mentioned earlier 
in this paper (page 145). 
The sale of a part of the island to the United States in 1856 
left the remainder still in possession of the heirs of Stephen Brewer. 
On May 5, 1869, however, they 
in consideration of one hundred dollars paid by Charles H. Newton, Joseph 
A. Lee, Herbert Barnard and Benj. F. Kelley .. . . remise release and 
forever quit claim . . . . the southerly part of Big Island so called in St. 
Croix River, beginning at a mark (x) in the ledge in a small cove on the 
westerly side of theisland near highwater mark thence running S. 63°E about 
22 rods across the island to a marked birch tree on the easterly bank or shore 
of the island, thence following the shore southerly westerly and northerly 
around the southerly part of the Island to the mark in the ledge : 
containing three acres of upland more or less with the beach and flats per- 
taining to the same—meaning to convey all that part of Big Island so called 
not heretofore conveyed to the United States of America to the said Newton 
ete. (Washington County Deeds, Vol. 122, page 162.) 
In the possession of these purchasers, or of their heirs, the 
property now stands. It is well known locally that their object in 
acquiring the island was to make of it a summer resort, but nothing 
was done toward this end beyond stopping the injury done it by the 
removal of sand. In this unimproved condition it remains at this 
day, a pasture for the light-keeper’s cow, and a picnic ground for 
all who care to use it. 

ing. I may add that visitors still (1902) take away fragments of ‘ French 
brick ”’ to such an extent, as the lightkeeper informs me, that he cannot keep 
brick on the island to repair his chimneys ! 


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