Honoring Keepers in October After a three-year hiatus – due to Covid and some relocation – the Chapter and its Virginia Lighthouse Keeper Grave Marker Team are resuming honoring Chesapeake Bay light keepers on October 7. We have scheduled six ceremonies on the first Saturday in October in Mathews County, VA. We will be joined …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/upcoming-lighthouse-keeper-recognition-ceremonies-october-2023/
2023 Project Scheduled Date(s) Notes Historic Ships of Baltimore Must be a Chapter Member to participate. Work will be on the Lightship Chesapeake in Baltimore Inner Harbor. May 6, 2023 Completed June 17, 2023 Completed October 7, 2023 November 4, 2023 Contact: preservation@cheslights.org
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/2023-preservation-schedule-1/
James and Margaret Bowling were one of many married couples who served together as Lighthouse Keepers, in their case at the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse near the entrance to the Patapsco River near Baltimore. James had previously served as the Head Keeper of the Lower Craighill Channel Front Range Lighthouse from 1873 to 1874, …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/lighthouse-keeper-recognition-ceremony-wible-may-2022-2/
Seaman Sven Olsen Grave Memorial with the USLHS and Lightship Crew marker installed. Seaman Sven Olsen served on three Lightships during his time in the U. S. Lighthouse Service. In April a Lighthouse Service Grave Marker was installed on his memorial marker in Holly Hill Memorial Gardens Baltimore. The rules for the veteran’s section there …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/lightship-crew-grave-marker-installation-for-sven-olsen-april-2023/
It was a pleasant day to be out and about in Maryland this past Saturday so it was a nice day for the Chapter volunteers who showed up for the first preservation work day of 2023 on the Lightship Chesapeake in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The ship is in need of some TLC and that …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/workday-historic-ships-in-baltimore-may-8-2023/
Despite the cold of December, we were able to honor Lightship and Lighthouse Tender Capt John H. Tawes with a U. S. Lighthouse Service Grave Marker. Lightship Crew Capt John H. Tawes served as the Mate, then Master of Lightship #71 on the Diamond Shoals and Tail of the Horseshoe light stations from 1900 …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/lighthouse-keeper-installation-tawes-december-2022/
The last Lighthouse Historical Displays of 2022 were provided to the Skipjack Heritage Museum on Deal Island in Chance, MD. These three displays tell the histories of the Clay Island, Sharkfin Shoal and Great Shoals lighthouses in the upper Tangier Sound of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The Skipack Museum already had a large model of …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/historical-placards-for-stingray-point-and-windmill-point-lighthouses-provided-to-the-deltaville-maritime-museum-2/
Four volunteers showed up on a bright clear November day to do a little work on the Lightship Chesapeake. This was the largest work crew from the Chapter to work on the National Historic Landmark up in Baltimore since the Pandemic slowed things down. It will be a surprise to no one that it involved …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/workday-historic-ships-in-baltimore-november-5-2022/
We are just a few weeks away from the big online auction to benefit Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse to undertake preservation projects for this treasured National Historic Landmark. The A NIGHT FOR THE LIGHT Fundraiser auction will be live from Wednesday, September 14 at 8am (EST) until Wednesday, September 21 at 10 pm (EST). Items …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/can-you-support-the-preservation-of-thomas-point-shoal-lighthouse-via-our-on-line-auction-14-21-september/
The Deltaville VA area is near the entrance to the Rappahannock River. Also near the entrance to that river are the Stingray Point and Windmill Point lights. Although both of the cottage-style screwpile lighthouses are gone, replaced by modern cement caisson style lights, their long history is not but it is fading. To help residents …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/historical-placards-for-stingray-point-and-windmill-point-lighthouses-provided-to-the-deltaville-maritime-museum/
The years first two indoor display placards were presented in May 2022. They included the Great Wicomico and Smith Point Lighthouses. The Reedville Fishermen’s Museum integrated the two displays into their existing “Beacons On The Bay” exhibit. The Reedville Fishermen’s Museum is located at 504 Main St in Reedville, VA. See their web site for …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/historical-placard-great-wicomico-smith-point-lighthouses/
The Chesapeake Bay was home to a large number of lighthouses. Each one was maintained by a dedicated group of public servants, Lighthouse Keepers. One of these public servants, Keeper George M. Wible, was honored on Saturday May 14th in Crisfield, MD. The chapter installed the first U. S. Lighthouse Service marker of 2022 at …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/lighthouse-keeper-recognition-ceremony-wible-may-2022/
It was a beautiful Saturday at the Loudon Park Cemetery in Baltimore. The family and friends of Keeper John Phillips gathered for the U. S. Lighthouse Service Grave Marker dedication ceremony to honor his service as a Lighthouse Keeper from 1869 to 1877. His grave marker was installed by a family member with an assist …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/lighthouse-keeper-recognition-ceremony-phillips-november-2021/
After two years volunteers returned to Cove Point to do a little touch up work on the porch of the keeper’s house. It was a small crew of four people who showed up on a sunny and breezy Saturday. The museum has just completed replacing the old, battered chain link fence that stands between the …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/workday-cove-point-lighthouse-march-19-2022/
Winter Update A hardy group of volunteers hung holiday wreaths in November. They were removed in January to be replaced by ice. It has been quiet this winter as we all hibernate and wait for spring to arrive. By the time you read this, we will have started our spring Docent training program and our …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/thomas-point-shoal-lighthouse-news/
Mascot #128 is Charlie Martin. members Eric andSusan provided this info: Charlie is an all-black, cat. He was about 7 months old when we adopted him two years ago. We picked him out of the bunch because we learned that black cats are the least adopted. One of Charlie’s favorite spots to regally sit is …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keepers-mascot-charlie-martin/
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Photos by: Steve Ormsby, President of the Watermen’s Museum York County Sign Shop Lead Daniel Howard featured in two of the photos 2021 Outdoor Lighthouse Historical Displays Installed by Programs Chair Greg Krawczyk The Lighthouse Historical Display program has a board-approved annual budget for both its indoor displays and outdoor displays. During the third …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/historical-placard-displays-yorktown/
Southern Maryland Lighthouse Keepers Honored by Greg Krawczyk St. Mary’s County is home to a number of lighthouses, located in the Potomac River and directly on the Chesapeake Bay. Two keepers of these lighthouses, William M. Yeatman and William Yeatman , were honored on Saturday September 25, 2021. The Chapter installed U. S. …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/lighthouse-yeatman-gravemarker-ceremony-september/
Mascot 127 is George Leikam. Owner Mary provided this info: George Leikam is a golden, shih tzu with an intense personality that came to me through a road trip from the East. George is 7 years old now and is perpetual motion. He chases balls, chews water bottles and is constantly wanting more playtime. His …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keepers-mascot-george-leikam/
On a rainy day in Annapolis, Maryland, the Chesapeake Chapter celebrated the U.S. Postal Service dedication of the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse Forever Stamp. The stamp is part of a set of five Mid-Atlantic Lighthouses. Along with Thomas Point Shoal in Maryland it also features, Montauk Point, New York; Harbor of Refuge, Delaware; Navesink, New …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/thomas-point-shoal-lighthouse-forever-stamp-issued/
Mascot 126 is Moana Elliott. Owner Jim provided this info: Moana is a Snowshoe cat, and, like her ancestors the Siamese, is apointed cat, meaning she is short-haired with light-colored areas in seal or blue, four white feet and blue eyes. Moana came into our lives in September of 2017 when someone left her secured …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keepers-mascot-moana-elliott/
The Greenbury Point Lighthouse indoor placard was presented in August 2020. It will be displayed in the crew lounge at the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Annapolis, Maryland
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/historical-placard-greenbury-point-lighthouse-us-coast-guard-station-august-2020/
The Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse indoor placard was presented in August 2020. It is displayed in the U.S. Coast Guard Station Crew Lounge in Annapolis, Maryland.
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/historical-placard-thomas-point-shoal-lighthouse-indoor-us-coast-guard-station-august-2020/
Date of Service: 1890-1925 1855: Born June 27th in Germany. 1869: Immigrates to the United States from Germany. 1880: Occupation is listed as a Sailor living in Baltimore with his wife, Annie, in the U.S. Census. 1890–1891: Serves as First Assistant at Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse, MD. His salary is $420/year. 1891: Serves as First …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-william-raabe/
Date of Service: 1883-1922 1857: Born December 10th to in Anne Arundel County, MD. 1876-1879: Serves as an apprentice as a Brass Finisher in Baltimore, MD., at J.H. Register & Sons. 1879-1883: Works as a Fireman with the United States Lighthouse Service. 1883: Serves as Assistant Keeper at Currituck Beach Lighthouse, Corolla, NC., from February …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-joseph-francis-talbott/
Date of Service: 1902 – 1927 1862: Born May 19 to parents Thomas and Mary Wingate in Dorchester County, MD. 1880: Occupation is listed as Sailor in the U.S. Census 1889: Henry is discharged from the Army on November 16 (Spanish American War) 1890: Marries Nettie J. Dodge. 1900: Occupation is listed as day …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-henry-clay-wingate/
Our second ceremony of the day on May 8th 2021 at 2pm and was the “second” one in more ways than one. It was the second one that day, the second one in Asbury Cemetery, plus it was for the second husband-wife team we have honored, Noah and Nancy Lawson. Noah Lawson had been …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/lighthouse-keeper-recognition-ceremony-lawson-may-2021/
The ceremony was held at noon on May 8th 2021 for Keeper Charles C. Tyler who is buried in Asbury Ceremony in Crisfield. Starting in 1905 he served at five different lights, Thimble Shoal, Great Shoals, Janes Island, Watts Island and Holland Island Bar, some more than once as both an Assistant Keeper then later …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/lighthouse-keeper-recognition-ceremony-tyler-may-2021/
A total of four indoor placards were presented in May 2021. Those four include the New Point Comfort, Stingray Point, Wolf Trap & Windmill Point Lighthouse. They are displayed in the Gwynn’s Island Museum, Gwynn, Virginia. Tom Edwards, Director of Gwynn’s Island Museum, accepting delivery of the four indoor placards in May 2021.
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/historical-placard-new-point-comfort-stingray-point-wolf-trap-windmill-point-lighthouse/
