Lighthouse Keeper Residence

The Head Keeper and his family resided in the Main House and the two Assistant Keepers lived in a separate duplex east of the main house.

The Lighthouse Keeper’s main duty was to maintain the light to make sure it burned as brightly and cleanly as possible. In the days when oil and kerosene were used to light the lamp, Keepers and their Assistants were needed to trim the wicks, replenish fuel, wind clockworks and perform maintenance tasks such as cleaning lenses and windows. In 1890, the Head Keeper would make around $8oo a year (approx. $22,000 in 2019) and had two Assistant Keepers. It took 3 Light Keepers to run the station.

The Light Station would receive food and coal supplies by Tender Ship every 3-4 months. Often a Lighthouse Inspector was on board to make sure everything was running properly. The Station had it’s own garden, cows and chickens to provide the necessary fresh foods. In addition to food and coal, the Tender Ships would also provide books for the children living at the Light Station.