The Keeper's Wife Exhibit

Identifier

1328

Title

The Keeper's Wife Exhibit

Description

A Keeper's Wife not only took care of the family needs, she tended the gardens and livestock, cooked for the various working men and visitors, nursed the occasional survivors of shipwrecks and scrubbed the quarters clean at all times for surprise inspections.
She also expected t help the Keeper polish the brass, keep the lens clear of soot, as well as fulfilling her husband's Keeper duties when he was unable to perform or had passed. Containers of oil from the oi house needed to be arried up a 49 step circular staircase and 2 ladders to the top of the tower daily, the lantern wicks had to be adjusted and trimmed and the fog signal apparatus regularly maintained.

The Lighthouse was an important part of the Jamestown community drawing people when there was a storm or an emergency. Because of so many visitors, life was not lonely, orten quite hectic.
Being a Keeper's Wife posed many challenges in a harsh but beautiful environment. 

Source

Created by Ursula Michael

Type

Picture/Photo w/Description

Files

TheKeepersWifeExhibitSmall.jpg

Citation

“The Keeper's Wife Exhibit,” Archives of the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association, accessed November 5, 2024, https://beavertaillight.org/archives/items/show/1328.

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