The Cuckolds Lighthouse, built in 1892 and dismantled by the Coast Guard in 1977, remains an active and visually distinctive aid to navigation. Standing 15 feet above the high water mark on about seven acres of ledge just south of Cape Newagen, this rugged lighthouse atop the rocks marks the approach to Boothbay Harbor. Although currently unoccupied, it may not be for long. Plans are underway to restore and expand on the lore of the Cuckolds Lighthouse. If the changes that have taken place over the last 10 years at Burnt Island are any indication, the Cuckolds are probably about to have a makeover.

Jim Roche, a former Cuckolds' resident, has recently released a book entitled, "The Cuckolds Lighthouse: A challenge to all except the Mariner." The book, a self-published paperback, provides an in-depth history of the Cuckolds. Although the volume contains much detailed information about construction, history, and lighthouse operations, it also offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of those who lived there. For the non-detailed oriented among us, the pictures of Roche's family and stories of daily life on the island may be the most intriguing. The book suffers some for editing, but overall, the author's passion about his subject makes it worth the effort.

Roche, following in his father's footsteps, served 20 years in the Coast Guard and as a Coast Guard historian has published two books previously. He says that he started his research for this book, unbeknownst to himself at the time, when he was 16 years old and working as a tour guide at the Eaton's Neck Lighthouse in New York. "I did a lot of research on lighthouses then, and actually cleaned the light and did other lightkeeper tasks. I was doing hands-on research at that time for this book," he says. Roche is very detailed oriented and calls himself "a pit bull with a bad attitude" when it comes to research. That attitude is evidenced by the meticulous attention to small details throughout the book.

Roche was only three days old when he first arrived at the lighthouse, and then spent his early years there with his parents, Jim and Pat Roche, lightkeepers from 1966-68. Although Roche remembers little of his time at the Cuckolds, lighthouses, and the Cuckolds in particular, are extremely important to him. He reports being moved to tears when he witnessed the relighting of the Cape Canaveral Light in Florida. "To see it lit up again…it's like a child being born to me. There's life in that lighthouse again," says Roche. Roche wants to see the Cuckolds Lighthouse rebuilt and to be part of the restoration effort. "To see her (the Cuckolds) back in her glory would be one of the most memorable events of my life," says Roche. Some of the proceeds from this book will go directly to restoring the Cuckolds.

In 2002, Roche had the opportunity to return to the Cuckolds. On a family vacation to the area, Roche was thrilled when he went to Sherman's Bookstore, and for the first time in his life he found books, T-shirts, and other items related to the Cuckolds. In his book, Roche recounts his shock at learning from Louise Dill that the Coast Guard, not a storm, had demolished the lighthouse, as well as his subsequent joy at being able to actually visit the Cuckolds again. Roche says that when he stepped once again on the island he said aloud to the open air, "I will see this lighthouse shine again."

The Cuckolds shining again seems like an emerging possibility, maybe even a probability. In 2004, the Federal government invited interested entities to apply to acquire the Cuckolds Island Fog Signal and Light Station. In August 2004, a regional coalition formed to protect and restore the Cuckolds and submitted an application to return the Cuckolds' ownership to the community. In 2006, the Secretary of the Interior authorized the local Cuckolds Council to take control of the Cuckolds. On May 8, 2006, Gerry Gamage, on behalf of the community and the Cuckolds Council, accepted the deed to the Cuckolds.

The Council's mission statement is "to restore, rebuild, preserve, and maintain the Cuckolds primarily as an historic and educational facility so that residents and summer visitors alike can learn about our region's rich maritime traditions and history." Their restoration plan envisions historic preservation, interpretive education programs, youth development and involvement, and recreational opportunities. Janet Reingold, one of the founding members of the Cuckolds Council, reports that Gamage and Skip Rideout have recently rebuilt the slipways, which now allows safe access to the island once again.

Reingold hopes that the Cuckolds restoration will be a community wide effort. To improve communication and outreach, the Council has just launched a new Web site, www.cuckoldslight.org , which provides details on restoration plans and opportunities. The Web site also provides a link for anyone interested in Roche's book. Most importantly, the Cuckolds Web site provides information on how to become a part of "seeing the Cuckolds shine again."