January storms create new history to Pemaquid Point Lighthouse [Video]

The back-to-back storms that hit Maine’s coastline in 2024 were among the costliest and hardest-hitting in history.New Harbor is home to the iconic Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, which is nearly 200 years old. Although it was constructed and later rebuilt in the 1800s, no major storm caused significant damage until the early 1990s and again in the 2020s.The storms in early January 2024 brought strong winds, surge, and high tide all at once.Claude Pendleton, the parks commissioner, and Shelley Gallagher, the parks director, were there to witness the storm’s power.”The first storm took out the fencing and part of the wall” explains Pendleton.”By the January 10th storm, the overnight high tide was what did the most damage.” says Gallagher. “So, between the high tide, the big high tide, plus the storm surge, it went 20 feet higher than normal.” explains Pendleton. Neither had seen a storm cause this much damage, and …