SOUTH HARPSWELL, Maine - The top bidder in a government auction for a Maine lighthouse is willing to pay $283,000 for the 1871-built structure.
The bid would be the highest ever for a Maine lighthouse if accepted. The federal General Services Administration shut down the auction for the Halfway Rock Light Station on Saturday. The government will now take from a week to a month reviewing the bid before deciding if it will be awarded. The agency typically identifies the winning bidder after the sale is approved.
The lighthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places and is located on a ledge in Casco Bay. It is called Halfway Rock because it is roughly halfway between Cape Elizabeth and Cape Small. The lighthouse is 76 feet tall and located off of South Harpswell.