Date of Service: 1901 – 1914
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- Keeper Loch Humphreys with his wife Ellen and son Ellwood – Photo Courtesy April Havens
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- Loch Weems Humphreys – Photo Courtesy April Havens
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, and his occupation is listed as day laborer, working as a waterman.
1901: In April, Loch Weems Humphrey worked as a laborer at the Cove Point Lighthouse, where he received $33.75 for his services. On November 16, he took a probationary appointment as Assistant Keeper with an annual salary of $420.
1901-1905: On December 30, Loch Weems Humphrey took an Oath of Office as the Assistant Keeper at Bloody Point Bar Lighthouse.
1905: Serves as Principal Keeper at Maryland Point Lighthouse until October 1, 1907, with an annual salary of $576.
1907: The Rear Admiral of the Navy sent a letter to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor:
The Board has the honor to state that under date of 9 Sept., ’07, the Inspector of the Fifth Light-House District, recommends that the rations allowed the Maryland Point, Md. Light-Station, be discontinued for the four winter months and that the pay rate of the keeper and assistant keeper be increased from $560 to $576 and from $420 to $435 a year, respectively, to date from 1 Oct., ’07. That Inspector states that this recommendation is made because the cost of delivering rations to this light-station is excessive and inconvenient to the service.
The Board therefore asks that Messrs, Loch W. Humphries, of Maryland and Thomas L. Fulcher, of North Carolina, Keeper and Assistant Keeper of Maryland Point Light-Station, with pay at the rate of $560 and $420 a year, respectively, be given new appointments to date from 1 Oct., ’07, with pay at the rate of $576 and $435, respectively. (Dept. of Commerce and Labor via the Dept of Treasure files at National Archives-Missouri)
1907-1909: On November 4, Keeper Weems once again takes the Oath of Office at Maryland Point Lighthouse.
1909-1911: Serves as Principal Keeper at Point No Point Lighthouse, MD beginning August 18. His annual salary was $600.
1911: Keeper Humphreys composes a letter to the Lighthouse Inspector in Baltimore, MD., on November 11:
Sir,
Your letter of November 8th requesting to know if I desire to be transferred to Piney Point Light or Fishing Battery received. And in reply will state that I will accept Piney Point with many thanks.
Respectfully, Loch W. Humphreys, Keeper Point No Point Light Station
1911-1912: Serves as Principal Keeper at Piney Point Lighthouse, MD. His annual salary was $552.
1912-1914: Serves as Principal Keeper at Cedar Point Lighthouse (ruins), MD. His annual salary was $552.
1912: Keeper Humphreys notifies the district office that a storm caused the beach on the south side of the lighthouse to erode. The boardwalk that connected the bell tower and oil house had also washed away. Keeper Humphreys expressed his fear for the safety of the bell tower due to 3-feet of the foundation being exposed.
1913: On August 28, a letter was sent from Keeper Humphreys to the Lighthouse Inspector in Baltimore:
Sir,
By request of Keeper I wish to stat that on Wednesday 27th during a N.W. squall we sighted a launch in distress containing 4 men. My son and I rendered assistance. After getting the boat securely landed in Cedar Creek I gave the men food and shelter and made them as comfortable as possible. The launch, Afhelope(difficult to read) was enroute from Washington D.C. to Chesapeake Beach and had in tow an Indian canoe. The canoe was lost.
Respectfully, Mr. L.W. Humphreys
1914: On August 18, Keeper Humphreys received an efficiency star while stationed at Point No Point
1914: On November 3, Keeper Humphreys resigns as Keeper of Cedar Point Lighthouse at $552 per annum to take effect December 9.
1918: On the WWI draft card, Loch Humphreys occupation is listed as a ship carpenter with the Maryland Shipbuilding Company, Baltimore, MD.
1920: In the U.S. Census his occupation is listed as a millwright at a grain elevator company.
1930: In the U.S. Census, his occupation is listed as a carpenter for a contractor.
1940: In the U.S. Census, his occupation is listed as a carpenter for the U.S. Army in Baltimore, MD. His annual salary was $2,400.
1948: His wife, Ellen, dies on June 5.
1955: Died March 21 at age 80. He is buried at Loudon Park Cemetery, Baltimore, MD.
Sources: Chesapeake Chapter Keeper database, J. Candace Clifford Research Catalog; Familysearch.org; Newspapers.com; Annual Report of the Secretary of Commerce, 1914; Maryland Lighthouses of the Chesapeake Bay, F. Ross Holland, 1997; Dept. of Commerce and Labor via the Dept of Treasure files at National Archives-Missouri; April Havens, Piney Point Lighthouse Museum
