On a crystal-clear early October day, the Chapter honored seven well-deserving Chesapeake Bay lighthouse keepers who served at 14 different Virginia stations, three in Maryland, and two Coast Guard tenders. The weather on October 3 in Mathews County was “picture-postcard-perfect”. With a color guard from Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 66 and three Coast Guardsmen from …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/lighthouse-keeper-recognition-ceremony-october-2020/
Date of Service: 1900 – 1937 1872: Born on August 10 to parents George B. and Nancy Clark Sterling in Lawsonia, Somerset County, MD. 1891: Marries Sally Marian Riggin on July 28. They raise 6 children. 1900: Serves as First Assistant at Solomons Lump Lighthouse, MD. His salary is $420/year. 1900-1901: Serves as First Assistant …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-henry-columbus-sterling/
Date of Service: 1879 – 1900 1831: Born in Maryland 1875: The first Solomons Lump Lighthouse is constructed. It was a square, screwpile on five wrought iron piles. It was painted white with a brown roof and black lantern and exhibited a fixed white light. 1879-1893: Serves as Keeper at Solomons Lump Lighthouse, MD. …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-lorenzo-dow-evans/
Date of Service: 1895 – 1908 1862: Born on February 14 in Queen Anne’s County, Eastern Shore, MD. 1869-1870: Family moves to Gloucester County, VA. 1880: Works as a farmer. 1888: Works as a lumberman. Marries Virginia E. Davis on December 26. The couple raises three children, Lessie, Linwood, and Estelle. 1895-1901: Serves as …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-walter-m-shawn/
Date of Service: 1919 – 1954 1884: Born on April 2 at New Point, Mathews County, VA. Keeper Dow was part of the 8th generation of Dows originally immigrating from England. 1909: Marries Hattie May Brooks on December 25. The couple raises two children, Walter Carroll, and Elizabeth Snow. 1910: Works as a sailor on …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-henry-luther-dow/
Date of Service: 1875 – 1919 1855: Born on April 15 in Mathews County, VA 1875: Serves as Second Assistant Keeper at Windmill Point Lighthouse (VA). Annual salary – $400. 1875-1876: Serves as First Assistant Keeper at Windmill Point Lighthouse (VA). Annual Salary – $440. 1876-1907: Serves as Keeper at Windmill Point Lighthouse (VA). …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-james-garnett-williams/
Date of Service: 1909 – 1923 1853: Born on September 3 in Mathews County, VA. 1878: Marries Lucy Jane Marchant on January 31. The couple has six children - Egbert, James, William, Thomas, Golden, and Gladys. 1900: Works as an oysterman. 1909-1911: Serves as Assistant Keeper at Cobb Point Bar Lighthouse, MD beginning November …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-william-thomas-brooks/
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/
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/
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/
Even with the curtailed tours and preservation events Thomas Point Lighthouse has been getting some TLC this season. As John Potvin, Lighthouse Manager and Director of Preservation for the Thomas Point restoration efforts reports, work resumed in May to replace the steel beams and tie rods for the under-structure. This work was done by contractor …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/workday-thomas-point-workday-august-21-22-2020/
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/
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/
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/
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/
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/
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/
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/
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/
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/
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/
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/
Work re-started in the beginning of May to replace the steel beams and tie rods at Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse. The contractor, Marine Solutions, Inc. endured some nasty weather, extreme high tides, rain, cold and wind during this second phase of the work. You will recall that we replaced a wood beam under the privy …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/thomas-point-shoal-lighthouse-news/
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/
Regional Lighthouse Challenge and Festival Dates.
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/lighthouse-challenge-festival-dates/
This information was provided by personnel from the various organizations listed below and may be subject to change. Last Update: April 2, 2019
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/chesapeake-bay-and-coastal-lighthouseslightships-lifesaving-station-information/
Date of Service: 1904-1939 1872: Born on July 26 to parents William M. and Anna Yeatman, Sr., in St. Mary’s County, MD. 1900: His occupation is listed as a blacksmith in the U.S. Census. Early 1900s: Marries Julia Courtney. 1903: Wife Julia gives birth to a daughter, Mary on December 10. Neither mother or daughter …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-william-yeatman-jr/
Date of Service: 1871-1908 1830: Born on October 1 in Richmond County, VA. 1862: Marries Anna Maria Lamb on May 12 in St. Mary’s County, MD. They go on to have 12 children. 1871: Appointed Keeper at Point Lookout Lighthouse, MD on September 22. His beginning salary was $520/year. 1874: A Novia Scotian schooner, Etta, …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-william-m-yeatman-sr/
Preservation Work From Home If you’re a Chapter member we already know you love lighthouses. But if you are also a history buff and you’re looking for something to do while at home we have a tailor made project for you. Several years ago the Chapter had a project to help update the lighthouse histories …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/lighthouse-histories-workday-at-home-on-a-date-and-time-of-your-choice/
Date of Service: 1884-1918 1852/1853: Born in Virginia to parents G.W. & Mary Wilkins. 1884: Served as First Assistant at Watts Island Lighthouse, VA. His salary was $420/year. 1890: Appointed Keeper at Tangier Sound Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was $575/year. 1892: Marries his wife, Lida, on June 12 in Northumberland, VA. They …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-francis-e-wilkins/
