Date of Service: 1916 – 1955
1896: Walerian Marion Gorsky (aka William Marion Goeshy) is born on April 22 in Wielke, Austria.
1909: William (Walerian) (age 16) arrives at Ellis Island with his father Piotr Gorski on October 22 on the vessel President Lincoln.
1915: William receives his “Certificate of Efficiency to Lifeboat Man” on October 29th. This is issued by the Department of Commerce Steamboat Inspection Service.
1916: Serves as a Seaman on the vessel, Juniper (a lighthouse tender). His salary is $420/year.
1916-1918: Serves as Seaman on LV-045 stationed at 35-Foot Channel Lightship Station, VA. His salary is $360/year.
1918-1920: Serves as Seaman on LV-101 stationed at Cape Charles Lightship Station, VA. His salary is $360/year.
1920: William Goeshy applies for a Declaration of Intention, to become a citizen of the United States.
1921-1923: Serves as Seaman on LV-101 stationed at Cape Charles Lightship Station, VA. His salary is $1,020/year.
1924: William Goeshy is issued a Certificate of Naturalization on November 18th.
1926-1927: Serves as Seaman on LV-105 stationed at Diamond Shoal Lightship Station, NC. His salary is $810/year.
1928-1929: Appointed Principal Keeper at Cobb Point Bar Lighthouse, MD. His beginning salary is $1,320/year and ending salary $1560/year.
1929-1930: Appointed Principal Keeper at Craighill Channel Lower Range Front Lighthouse, MD.
1930: William M. Goeshy marries Beatrice Seward on December 28th, in MD.
1930-1931: Appointed Principal Keeper at Drum Point Lighthouse, MD. His beginning salary is $1,320/year and ending salary $1440/year. (His wife Beatrice Goeshy serves as Laborer)
1931-1955: Appointed Principal Keeper at Piney Point Lighthouse, MD. His beginning salary is $1,260/year and ending salary $1320/year. (His wife Beatrice Goeshy serves as Laborer)
1939: William Goeshy is awarded the Commissioner’s Efficiency Star. This Star is awarded to Keepers who have won the Inspector’s Star for three consecutive years.
1939: The United States Lighthouse Service is abolished and incorporated into the United States Coast Guard, along with William’s position on October 6th.
1940: William Goeshy broke his arm while moving the refrigerator in the station on July 22nd but did not miss a day of work.
1941: William Goeshy is awarded the Commandant’s Efficiency Star.
1942: Enlisted into active service with the U.S. Coast Guard as Boatswain’s Mate Second Class on February 25th., where he remained until he was issued an honorable discharge in 1945.
1945: Authorized an extension to reenlist in regular establishment Boatswain’s Mate First Class at Piney Point Light Station, MD. on February 25th for three years until February 25, 1948.
1948: Enlisted as Boatswain’s Mate First Class at Piney Point Light Station, MD. On February 25. He served on active duty at the Piney Point Light Station until February 26, 1951. He received a salary of $249.90/month.
1955: William M. Goeshy died while in service of the United States as a member of the United States Coast Guard on March 31. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.
Keeper William Marion Goeshy Anecdotes
William Marion Goeshy came to the United States with his father when he was 16 years old and just six years later, joined the Steamboat Inspection Service (to safeguard lives and property at sea). For the next 39 years, William was employed by the United States Lighthouse Service, and then the United States Coast Guard, where he remained until his death in 1955. He also served as the last official Keeper of Piney Point Lighthouse. Through these years, he served at 3 different lightship stations and 4 different lighthouses. William Goeshy was 5-feet, 7inches tall, weighing approximately 147 pounds. He had brown hair and blue eyes.
Sources: Chesapeake Chapter Keeper’s Database; familysearch.org; uslhs.org; National Archives:
