Great Duck The wreck of a schooner carrying lumber out of Lubec in 1890 prompted the building of Great Duck Island Light. This 42 foot granite lighthouse held a fifth order Fresnel lens. In 1901 a fog signal building and an oil house plus three keeper's houses were built. One of the keepers that served from 1902-1912 had 16 children and attended the one room school house along with the children of the other keepers. The 250 acre island also was home to about 500 sheep. Large flocks of ducks were attracted to the island because there was a pond at the very center of the island, hence the name Great Duck Island. 1986 the Fresnel lens was removed and the light was automated, and most all outbuildings were destroyed by the Coast Guard.