7/30/2023 0 Comments Lighthouse keeper jobs 2021![]() Her name was Maria De Los Delores Mestre Andreu. She then moved her family to town for a few years before moving back to her home state of Maine.īefore Kate Harn, another woman served as head lighthouse keeper at St. ![]() Kate was supremely qualified to step in, and did so for six months. Serving as a second assistant keeper allowed Kate to support her six daughters until she received William’s pension. She almost certainly helped him throughout their 14-year tenure. Harn’s wife Kate Skillen Harn became Second Assistant Keeper after his death. His military records list many health problems. Harn probably contracted TB while he was a Union officer in the American Civil War. Augustine Lighthouse, Head Keeper William Harn passed away in 1889 from tuberculosis. She even appeared on the cover of Harper’s Weekly in 1869 (right).Īt the St. ![]() Ida was also among the most well paid head Lighthouse keepers at $750 per annum. Ida’s heroism in rescuing people from the sea earned her national fame. Her father had a stroke not long after moving to the Lime Rock Light Station off Newport, RI. In some cases, keepers’ wives and daughters took over for husbands or fathers no longer able to perform their duties. Of course, had housing, fuel oil and other necessities provided. She made $400 a year, and Alexander made $600 or about $13,314.00 today. Johns River Light, Francis McDonald served with her husband, Alexander. The Bradwells earned the same respective pay as the Conners. Sophronia Bradwell was the assistant keeper to her husband, John at the Wolfe Island Range Light in Georgia. Patrick made $560 or about $12,430 in today’s dollars. Bridget Conner was the assistant keeper to her husband, Patrick at the Daufuskie Island Range Light in South Carolina, making $400 a year. Augustine Lighthouse, agents noted three women keepers. In the Sixth District, which included the St. Treasury agents provided salaries to several wives and daughters who were assistant keepers. The 1883 United States Treasury Register lists the nation’s lighthouse keepers. ![]() In some instances, women became official guardians of the light. With a mandate to keep the light on no matter what, wives and daughters no doubt lit the lamps as well. If a station won an efficiency pennant from the Lighthouse Service, then it was because of everyone’s effort. Women helped pass the white glove inspections when supply ships carrying inspectors visited. They tended a garden, fed livestock, managed supplies, and inventoried equipment including household goods. Keepers’ wives assisted their husbands in critical capacities. When conditions permitted families to live on a light station everyone helped. It was often necessary for women to serve too even though many were not rewarded officially. Even though entire families worked from dawn until dusk at light stations across the country, males made up the overwhelming majority of government appointed lighthouse keepers, who received pay for the work they performed. The Lighthouse Service was no exception to this rule. While both sexes had worked equally hard on the frontier during the 17th and 18th centuries, the Industrial Revolution cemented for the next 200-years western views of men’s role as the worker and women’s role in the house. Who do you imagine did these tasks?ĭuring the lighthouse boom of the 19th century, jobs requiring a rugged self-reliance would have been male dominated endeavors. Lighthouse keeping meant a hard life, especially as we think about it today. Alternatively, perhaps it is a long day spent painting the lighthouse tower. When you think about lighthouse keepers, what comes to mind? Maybe it is long, lonely nights dutifully keeping the lamps burning for ships unseen. The piece of fabric hangs above a nightstand.Alphonso Daniels, 2nd Assistant Keeper, 1928 St. [A small square piece of fabric with a crocheted border hanging on the wall. Works made during my residency stay at Røst Air.
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