Ram Island, along with the other island jewels of Saco Bay, played a large part in the early history of America. The first
explorers seeking gold, silver, and a route to the Pacific Ocean found none of these, but they found a bonanza in fish. What attracted fish by the billions to these waters 400 years ago? The same phenomena which still make the Grand Banks and Georges Bank, two of the best fishing grounds in the world today. Water over these banks is shallow, less than 200 feet, compared to 2,000 feet in the ocean just off the banks. This means sunlight can reach to nourish plant growth on the ocean floor. The plant life is the main attraction to the enormous schools of fish. Europeans came each summer to cash in on the treasure. It was especially important because most of Europe was Catholic and half the days on the Catholic church calendar were decreed meatless days - that meant fish on the table. The fishing boats came by the score. Half of these men aboard fished while the other half came ashore and built "stages" on the coastal islands (apparatus to dry fish). They salted and dried the summer's catch for return to Europe in the fall. Soon, those on the islands wintered over and developed communities to prepare for the next summer fishing season. Many of Maine's islands were settled years before the Mayflower brought the "Pilgrims" to Plymouth. These island communities even provided a ship filled with food to save the Plymouth group from starvation in the winter of 1621.





In 1806, 8 acres of land was purchased off of Saco Bay. In 1808, Wood Island had a functioning lighthouse beacon
installed. It was 45' from the base to the floor of the lantern room. It was equipped with an eclipser, which caused it to be seen flashing, and a set of hanging spider lamps. In 1835, plans for a new lighthouse were constructed due to the harsh weather of the island. During 1857 and 1858, the tower was rebuilt once again to accommodate a new lens and the keeper's house was torn down and built bigger. The light was now brighter. In 1905 Thomas Henry Orcutt was in his 19th year of working as a keeper when his dog, Sailor, died shortly before Thomas himself. Sailor, upon hearing the call of the passing ships, would ring a bell by grabbing the rope with his mouth and pulling it. It was also in this era that Wood Island was thought to become haunted. A man named Howard Hobbs shot Frederick Milliken and then turned the gun on himself, taking his own life. The murder suicide was said to be over un-paid rent and drinking was thought to be involved. Unexplained mysteries have happened on the island since and have thought to be the work of the two men's ghosts. In 1906, the keeper's house was remodeled. In the late 60's, the lantern room was removed to make way for a rotating aero beacon. It was then referred to as the "headless tower". The last keeper of the lighthouse took down the American flag posted when he left his duty. It was then re-raised as a sign of reactivation during a ceremony put on by the Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse on September 19th, 2004.