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Keeper Bio: Matthews, Robert Harold “Hallie”
Date of Service: 1918 – 1941 1873: Born on October 14 in Mathews County, VA. Marries Edna Earle Brooks. The couple raises one child – Mary Elizabeth. 1918- 1920: Serves as First Assistant Keeper at Deep Water Shoals Lighthouse (VA). Starting annual salary – $480; ending – $720. 1918: On August 7, First Assistant …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-robert-harold-matthews/
Keeper Bio: Sadler, Andrew Broaddus
Date of Service: 1903 – 1930 1867: Born in Mathews County, VA. 1887: Serves as an oysterman. Marries Willia Peters on February 27. The couple raises one child – Edith Pearl. 1903 – at least 1913: Serves as Assistant Keeper at Stingray Point Lighthouse (VA). Starting annual salary – $420; ending – $480. 1915: Serves …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-andrew-broaddus-sadler/
Keeper Bio: Sadler, Charles Franklin
Date of Service: 1925 – 1954 1892: Born on July 3 in Mathews County, VA. 1914: Marries Emma Lewis on October 10. The couple has two children – Eileen and Weldon Lewis. 1917: Works as a fisherman – Gwynn’s Island, VA. 1925: Works for the United States Lighthouse Service as a foreman for the Shipping …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-charles-franklin-sadler/
Keeper Bio: Brumfield, Georgiana (Georgia) Sherwood
Date of Service: 1895 – 1919 1849: Born on August 24 to parents John and Rebecca (Sherwood) Crouch in Cecil County, MD. 1865: Moves to Turkey Point Lighthouse, MD., where her father is appointed Keeper. 1870: Marries William Brumfield on September 23 at the lighthouse. They raise at least 6 children. 1873: Georgiana’s father, Keeper …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-georgiana-brumfield/
Keeper Bio: Crouch, Rebecca
Date of Service: 1873 – 1895 1825: Born on November 17 to parents Philip and Ann Sherwood in Baltimore, MD. 1840: Marries John M. Crouch. They raise 3 children. 1850: In the U.S. Census John Crouch is 33 years old, married to Rebecca, age 25. His occupation is listed as a laborer. 1865: Rebecca’s husband …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-rebecca-crouch/
Keeper Bio: Crouch, John M.
Date of Service: 1865 – 1873 1817: Born on April 10 in Cecil County, Maryland. 1840: Marries Rebecca Louisa Sherwood. They raise 3 children. 1850: In the U.S. Census John Crouch is 33 years old, married to Rebecca, age 25. His occupation is listed as a laborer. 1853: Listed as Constable for the 5th District …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-john-crouch/
Keeper Bio: Bowling, James Thomas
Date of Service: 1873 – 1879 1839: Born June 9 in Baltimore, Maryland to parents Thomas & Susana Bowling. 1860s: Marries his wife, Margaret. They raise 4 children. 1863–1868: Served as Ensign for the Union Navy, where he was stationed on the USS Allegheny, a receiving ship. 1873–1874: Served as Principal Keeper for Craighill Channel …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-james-thomas-bowling/
Keeper Bio: Humphreys, Loch Weems
Date of Service: 1901 – 1914 1874: Born November 2 to parents Richard and Mary Drusilla (Bunting) Humphreys in Calvert County, MD. 1897: Marries his wife, Ellen Delilah “Nellie” Lusby on August 25. They go on to raise 4 children – 2 sons and 2 daughters. 1900: In the U.S. Census, Loch Humphreys is married, …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-loch-weems-humphreys/
Keeper Bio: Weems, Sr., James Locke
Date of Service: 1887 – 1918 1888: Born January 18 to parents James & Margaret Weems in Calvert, MD. 1878: Marries Mary Alice Ireland on February 21, 1878, in Calvert, MD. They had 5 children. 1887–1890: Served as First Assistant at Cove Point Lighthouse, MD. His salary was $420/year. 1890–1891: Served as Principal Keeper at …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-james-locke-weems/
Keeper Bio: Messick, Harold McKnett
Date of Service: 1939 – 1960 1900: Born January 3 to parents William and Elizabeth Messick in Wicomico County, MD. 1918: Per the 1917-1918 U.S. Draft Card, Harold is 18 years old, single, and his occupation is listed as a streetcar conductor. 1930: In the U.S. Census, Harold lives with his wife, Alice, and their …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-harold-m-messick/
Keeper Bio: Gray, Paul B.
Date of Service: 1921 – 1925 1887: Born on March 5 to parents Benjamin Nathaniel and Sarah Gray, in Drum Point, MD. 1900: In the U.S. Census at age 12, he is listed as living with his parents, Nathaniel, and Sarah. His father, Nathaniel, is the Principal Keeper at Cove Point Lighthouse, MD. 1905: Serves …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-paul-b-gray/
Keeper Bio: Leikam Sr., George Henry
Date of Service: 1940 – 1960 1902: Born on March 4 in Baltimore, MD 1940: Stationed at Norfolk, Virginia as Quartermaster on the U.S. Coast Guard Tender, Violet. 1942 to 1943: Keeper Leikam begins service as 1st Assistant Keeper at Holland Island Bar Lighthouse, Maryland. Salary – $1,440 a year. 1943 to 1945: Keeper Leikam …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-george-henry-leikam/
Keeper Bio: Tune, Helen C.
Date of Service: 1877 – 1883 1854: Helen Dodge was born in October 1854 in Vermont 1871: Marries Thomas Steptoe Tune on June 21 in the District of Columbia. 1872: Daughter Lorena Elizabeth is born on June 22 in the District of Columbia 1877: Helen is hired as acting Keeper in March for the Piney …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-helen-c-tune/
Keeper Bio: Slacum, William Kirwan
Date of Service: 1892 – 1914 1833: Born on November 8, 1833, in Church Creek, Dorchester County, MD. To Barzillai and Julia Ann Slacum 1862: Marries Margaret Jane Christopher on February 4, 1862, in Dorchester County, MD. 1880: Occupation listed as a clerk in Baltimore, MD. in the U.S. Census. 1892: Serves as Assistant Keeper …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-william-kirwan-slacum/
Keepers Mascot: Kassie Conway
Mascot # 118, Kassie Conway, lives with John Conway. He provided this bio: Kassie is an 11-year-old female, fawn boxer. They are often referred to as brindle boxers. They have a pale tan coat with white markings and a black muzzle. Kassie was born and still resides with me, in Northern Virginia. While boxers are …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keepers-mascot-kassie-conway/
Choptank River Station
There are no photos of LV-25 marked as Choptank known to exist. If one is found, please contact the Chapter Historian. (See contact information at the bottom of this page) Choptank River Station, 1870-1871 LV-25 was placed at the entrance to the Choptank River at the junction with the Tred-Avon River in January 1870 to …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/choptank-river-station/
Pooles Island Bar Light
Pooles Island Bar Light is located off the southern end of Pooles Island and east of Hart-Miller Island, Maryland. Congress appropriated $24,000 in 1927 to construct a light off Pooles Island to replace the Pooles Island Flats gas buoy. The light is a black skeleton tower attached to a black caisson structure. It is fitted …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/pooles-island-bar-light/
Bethel Bridge Lighthouse (Replica)*
Bethel Bridge Lighthouse was one of at least six small wooden lighthouses located at various locations along the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal to warn ships of the various locks and bridges along the canal. The canal was fourteen miles wide with a channel that was 10-feet deep and 36-feet wide. In 1927 the lighthouse was …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/bethel-bridge-lighthouse-replica/
Timeline: Greenbury Point Shoals Lighthouse
1879: The U.S. Lighthouse Board recommends building a lighthouse at the end of the shoal of Greenbury Point to replace the existing lighthouse on land that is quickly eroding and in need of extensive repairs at a price of $25,000. 1889: After years of requests from the U.S. Lighthouse Board, Congress appropriates $25,000 to construct …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/template-timeline-greenbury-point-shoals-lighthouse/
Timeline: Somers Cove Lighthouse
1867: Congress appropriates $10,000 to construct a screwpile lighthouse at Somers Cove, MD on March 2. 1867: Somers Cove Lighthouse, a square screwpile, is completed. 1880: Somers Cove Lighthouse is repainted. 1891: Four of the diagonal girders are repaired. 1898: Keeper William Insley is seriously injured on December 22. 1899: New model fifth-order lamps are …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/template-timeline-somers-cove-lighthouse/
Timeline: Mathias Point Lighthouse
1873: The United States naval steamer Frolic went ashore near Mathias Point, MD in the summer and remained grounded for some time. The U.S. Lighthouse Board recommends an appropriation of $40,000 to build a lighthouse at this extremely dangerous part of the Potomac River. 1874: Congress appropriates $40,000 to build a lighthouse or day beacon …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/template-timeline-mathias-point-lighthouse/
Timeline: Sharkfin Shoal Lighthouse
1887: The U.S. Lighthouse Board recommends building a screwpile lighthouse on Sharkfin Shoal at a price of $25,000. This light station would take the place of Clay Island lighthouse, which is being washed away due to erosion and needs many expensive repairs. 1889: Congress appropriates $25,000 to construct the lighthouse at Sharkfin Shoal. Borings are …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/template-timeline-sharkfin-shoal-lighthouse/
Timeline: Ragged Point Lighthouse
1896: The U.S. Lighthouse Board recommends that a lighthouse be built at Ragged Point, MD on the Potomac River to mark a shoal at a dangerous turn in the river. The Lighthouse Board requests $20,000 to construct the light and fog signal station. 1901: After multiple requests to establish a light at Ragged Point over …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/template-timeline-ragged-point-lighthouse/
Timeline: Maryland Point Lighthouse
1887: The U.S. Lighthouse Board recommends that a lighthouse be built at Maryland Point, 50 miles upriver from the Bay where there is a narrow bend and only 10 feet of water at a shoal. They request an appropriation of $25,000. 1888: The request is repeated, with an increased appropriation of $45,000 to construct a …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/template-timeline-maryland-point-lighthouse/
Keeper Bio: Bounds, Otho
Date of Service: 1892-1939 1867: Born on September 27, 1867 in Allen (Wicomico County) Maryland. 1889: Marries Esther E. Hopkins. The couple raises eight children. 1892: Serves as First Assistant Keeper at Craighill Lower Front Range Lighthouse (MD). Annual salary – $435. 1892-1893: Serves as Keeper at Lower Cedar Point Lighthouse (MD). Annual salary – …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-otho-bounds/
Timeline: Love Point Lighthouse
1834: A request is made to construct a lighthouse on Love Point, Maryland at a price of $5,500 on June 30. 1837: The request to build a lighthouse on Love Point is rejected. Captain Claxton of the Navy Commissioners Office writes in a letter: “it would be totally useless for vessels passing up or …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/template-timeline-love-point-lighthouse/
Timeline: Janes Island Lighthouse
1850: Congress appropriates $8,000 for a lightboat to be stationed off the southwest point of Janes Island on September 18. 1852: John T. Tardy & Phillip Auld are awarded the contract to build the lightship at Janes Island with a low bid of $5,990. 1853: The lightship is constructed and put into service. The …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/template-timeline-janes-island-lighthouse/
Timeline: Great Shoals Lighthouse
1882: The Lighthouse Board recommends the construction of a lighthouse at the Great Shoals near the mouth of the Wicomico River at an estimated price of $15,000. 1883: Congress appropriates $15,000 on March 3, to construct a square screwpile lighthouse at the entrance to the Wicomico River on the Great Shoals. Borings are made by …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/template-timeline-great-shoals-lighthouse/
Timeline: Hambrooks Bar Light
1900: Representative Kerr of Maryland, introduces a bill to the Committee on Commerce to establish a beacon light on Hambrooks Bar and two range lights to show the entrance to Cambridge Harbor, Choptank River, MD on December 11. The Treasury Department recommends revising the bill to include “at a cost not to exceed $10,000.” Representative …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/template-timeline-hambrooks-bar-light/
Keepers Mascot: Miss Pepper Collins
Mascot # 119, Miss Pepper Collins, lives with Betty & Ron. They provided this bio: Miss Pepper Collins is a one and a half-year-old rescue cat that we acquired from the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society in 2019. More than anything, she loves to eat! We quickly learned that Pepper’s meals need to be measured out, so …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keepers-mascot-miss-pepper-collins/
