17 days ago
Ever wonder where the sun first shines in the state of Maine? We dispatched observors to West Quoddy, Cadilac, Katahdin, and Mars Hill to find out. We'll talk with Maine Astronaut Chris Cassidy, about his adventures in space. Plus re llok back on the life of Franklin Pierce.
THIS WEEKS BLOG,
Written By Bill Green
2009-15 October 3, 2009
Notre Dame football or golf has to run long. Something has to go wrong. This is one of our better shows ever and we can't seem to get it on the air.
The first segment is called "Sunrise."
Like every other Maine kid, I have heard the arguments about the first place to greet the rising sun. I've heard a lot of mathematicians postulate about where is the first spot to greet the rising sun. I'm a pretty good mathematician. I know the answer generated by a formula is only as good as the information you put in that formula. I wanted to contribute to the debate with some practical information-Maine boy style!
For the record, on September 2, 2009 the sun rose in the following places at the following times, according to my observers.
John Smith and Bill Green at West Quoddy Head 5:49:20
Steve Hitchcock and Travis Karney at Mars Hill 5:51:15
Rich Elliot on Mt. Katahdin 5:50:17
Earl Brechlin on Cadillac Mountain 5:49:10
My purpose in doing this story wasn't to prove definitively where the sun rises first. It was merely to add to the coffee shop debate which has gone on for centuries.
I had heard in college that UMaine professors did some work on this years ago. They decided that the sun rises first somewhere on the rolling hills behind West Quoddy Head light.
I agree with this, although I acknowledge that it may change at different times of the year.
We got to West Quoddy the night of September 1. We walked around looking for the best place to set up. West Quoddy is on the coast. There is a hill behind the lighthouse. The road down to the lighthouse approaches at an angle. It is difficult therefore, to be on the hill and see the sun. (I would have to climb a tree.) There was one point north of the light, where we could have been in the woods, on the coast and higher than the light-a spot where I believe we would have seen the sun first. However, this spot didn't seem all that practical as it would have looked like we were standing in the woods, not at the iconic West Quoddy Head Light. I didn't think a few seconds would matter. It did.
However, I am absolutely convinced that the first place that the sun shone on Maine on September 2, 2009 was "somewhere on the rolling hills behind West Quoddy Head."
Part 2 is an interview with Chris Cassidy. He is such a fine person. He's the All-American boy and it is always refreshing to be around this kind of guy. His story of three space walks speaks for itself and I hope he gets an extended stay on the Space Station and a walk on the moon someday.
The third segment is out of the archives. There are 35 or so cougar sightings every year. This one was a good one. There may be a cat in that area. However, I think when Mountain Lions come back to Maine, they will emerge from the northwest. I certainly hope the big cats do come back, but I doubt we'll see any meaningful population of them in my lifetime.
The Franklin Pierce story is fascinating. I simplified it in that I did not discuss the most important law he signed. He signed the Kansas-Nebraska act which probably made the Civil War unpreventable. FP's was a Jacksonian Democrat who believed in States' Rights. I love the idea of States' Rights. However, when states want to continue such practices as slavery, the States' Rights argument loses a lot of its shine. I want to learn more about Franklin Pierce, who had such tremendous ability and ended up living a very unhappy life.
The Franklin Pierce homestead is the future President's boyhood home.
http://www.franklinpierce.ws/homestead/homestead.html
The Pierce Manse, which is the only home he ever owned, is open by appointment.
http://www.politicallibrary.org/Pierce-Manse/Visit.aspx
I hope you enjoyed our show. I think it's one of our best ever. Thanks for watching and for reading this blog.
If you have any comments don't hesitate to send them to me at
Many thanks,
Bill
