Contractors Repairing Two Bush Island Light November 13, 2008 USFWS photo by Brian Benedict

On November 13, 2008, Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge Deputy Manager Brian Benedict transported two workers from International Chimney by boat from Rockland, Maine to Two Bush Island.  The lighthouse there has developed serious cracks, which needed immediate attention prior to impending winter storms that would allow water to get inside the five layers of brick, freeze and thaw, and make the problem even worse.  The workers spent the full day on the island, rappelling down the structure to install three cables around the top third of the lighthouse tower and spray expandable foam into all masonry cracks on all four sides of the tower.  Due to the oncoming winter, even though the crew worked through lunch, the work was not completed until after dark, and the group made it back to the dock at 6 p.m. after a cold 11 hour day.