Some time ago, I was asked to look into lighthouses in the Apostle Islands along Lake Superior. I discovered that, strangely, nobody knows exactly why this chain of islands is so named, as there are 22--not 12--in all. Partly because of its name, and its cheerful, cherry red roof, I chose Raspberry Island as the locale for my next lighthouse adaptation to needlepoint.
By the 1850s, maritime commerce on Lake Superior was booming, and a need was identified for an aid to navigation from Duluth, Minnesota to Bayfield, Wisconsin. The U.S. Lighthouse Service carved a clearing out of the forest on a bluff at the southwest point of Raspberry Island, and by 1862, construction was completed on a two-story single-family keeper's house with a short, square wood tower rising from the center of the roof. It wasn't until the following year, however, that the Fifth Order Fresnel lens finally made its way from France and the lighthouse became fully operational.
By 1906, the lighthouse boasted of a head keeper, his two assistants and their families, which necessitated extensive renovation of the original house and tower to the duplex you see here. In 1947, the light was converted to automatic operation; 10 years later, the Coast Guard installed a battery-operated beacon on top of a tall pole on the grounds. Congress appropriated funds for another renovation in 2006, which included measures to prevent further erosion to the bluff upon which the lighthouse sits.
This should prove to be an interesting lighthouse to stitch! There'll be no needle-blending of the sky on this one--there's not that much sky to work with. The trees in the background and the slope leading down to the water will be a challenge, however, so do check back in a couple of days!
5 comments:
This is unusual from the average "concept" of a light house, and quite pretty. I'm looking forward to seeing it in progress as you stitch it. I like that raspberry red roof!!
Anne,
While reading a bit of the history about this beautiful lighthouse, I started wondering about life for these people and the fact also that they added two assistants with their own families.
In your research, what have you learned about the lives that these people would have had and what were their duties.
Why the need for so many people working at this particular lighthouse?
I love hearing about the history behind those things.
Pierrette =^..^=
Pierrette-
To answer a few of your questions: the primary duty of the head lighthouse keeper was to keep the light operational at all times. Sometimes (but not at this lighthouse), he was assisted by his wife, who was occasionally rewarded by a salary of her own from the government. The head keeper here became stranded in 1887 adrift in a boat, and fortunately was saved by a passing Native American. After this near-catastrophe, he was given an assistant. Several years later, when a fog signal house was added, the second assistant was appointed.
The head keeper and 1st assistant, along with their families, lived in the structure you see here; the 2nd assistant and his family lived in a cottage behind the duplex. At the very least, living arrangements on the island were cozy!
Thanks Anne for the additional information.
I knew that the main duty was to keep the light operational at all times, but started wondering what other duties that he had to perform to warrant the need to get two additional assistants. Now thanks to you, I am getting a better picture.
Wondering if all these people needed to have other external jobs as well in order to make a decent living, though with the house being provided, that surely took care of a big portion of the expenses. Remained food and clothing, but perhaps they had a vegetable garden in the back and nothing prevented them to do odd jobs here and there in order to make more money too, I would think.
Do you know of good places either on the internet or in books to read more about the daily living of a lighthouse keeper in those times.
Was rescuing part of their jobs or just notifying the proper authorities, another question that comes to mind.
Pierrette =^..^=
EEEEW pity the poor keeper who had to live in that thing at Galveston. LOL I too love the history you're giving us.
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