Category: Drum Point

Keeper Bio: Goeshy, Beatrice Evelyn

Date of Service: 1931- 1955 1910:  Beatrice Evelyn Seward is born on September 10th, to parents Howard & Alice Seward in Baltimore, MD. 1930:  In the U.S. Census, Beatrice (21), lives with her sister in Baltimore, MD. Her occupation is listed as Stenographer. 1930:   William M. Goeshy marries Beatrice Seward on December 28th, in …

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Keeper Bio: Goeshy, William Marion

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 …

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Keeper Bio: Stowe, Cale Ballance

Keepers

Date of Service: 1913-1924 1889:  Cale Ballance Stowe was born on April 12, 1889, to parents Henry B. & Jane Burrus Stowe in Hatteras, NC. 1910:  In the U. S. Census, Cale’s occupation is listed as a sailor. 1912:  Marries Frances Swain on May 21, 1912, in Hatteras, NC. 1913-1914: Serves as First Assistant at …

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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 …

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Keeper Bio: Yeatman, William

Date of Service: 1904-1939 1872:  Born on July 26 to parents William M. and Anna Yeatman, 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 survive. …

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Keeper Bio: Gray, Benjamin Nathaniel

Date of Service: 1882-1907 1851:  Born in Maryland 1885:  Marries his wife, Sarah. 1882:  Served as First Assistant at Cove Point Lighthouse in MD.  His salary was $420/year. 1883:  Served as the first Keeper at Drum Point Lighthouse in MD.  His starting salary was $540/year and ending salary of $575/year. 1890:  Served as Keeper at …

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Keeper Bio: Nelson Stanley Atherton

Date of Service: 1937-1965 1903: Born March 30 in Hallieford, Mathews County, VA.1920: Begins service in the Merchant Marine and as a crew member on the Steamer Pennsylvania. The vessel stopped at Old Point Comfort Lighthouse in route between Cape Charles and Norfolk, VA.1929: Married Arlys Hurst on August 26. The couple raises one daughter, …

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Timeline: Drum Point Lighthouse

(Located on grounds of Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons, MD) 1883 Forty-six foot tall, white hexagonal 1 1⁄2 story cottage on seven wrought-iron screwpiles constructed on the north side of the mouth of the Patuxent River in ten to twelve feet of water, 70 feet offshore. Exhibited a fixed red light with 4th-order Fresnel lens. 1933 …

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Drum Point Lighthouse

  Drum Point Lighthouse was originally located along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay at the northern side of the mouth of the Patuxent River. Efforts to place a light at this location began in the 1850s due to the need for a light to mark the location of shoals around the point. Disputes …

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