Guardians of the Lights: Stories of U.S. Lighthouse Keepers - Softcover

De Wire, Elinor

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1561641197 ISBN 13: 9781561641192

Publisher: Pineapple Press, 1996

Synopsis

In a charming blend of history and human interest, this book paints a colorful portrait of the lives of a vanished breed—the lighthouse keepers—from the year 1716, when the first lighthouse was established in America, to the early 1980s when automation replaced the last human “guardian of the light." A wealth of material from the archives of the 19th and 20th centuries—primarily letters, diaries, and newspaper accounts—provides vivid stories about lighthouse keeping in this country: the daily work; coping with fog, storms and other catastrophes; legends and ghosts; women's and families' roles; lighthouse children and pets; the natural world around lighthouses; and the diverse characters of those who held the job. Lighthouse keeping was a unique occupation, now obsolete, and this book is a fitting tribute to these tough, usually solitary, and dedicated heroes who kept the lights burning every night, without fail.

About this title

About the Author:

Elinor De Wire, one of the most distinguished lighthouse historians in the USA, has been researching and photographing lighthouses for more than 25 years. She is the author of Lighthouses of the South and Lighthouses of the Mid-Atlantic Coast, both published by Voyageur Press. Elinore De Wire lives in Seabeck, Washington.

Review:

"Charming blend of history and human interest."

"An important contribution to the protection of the lighthouse] keeping legacy."

"A delightful addition to any library, whether [you're] a lighthouse lover or not!"

""A delightful addition to any library, whether [you're] a lighthouse lover or not!""

About this edition

• Publisher: Pineapple Press
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 1561641197
• ISBN 13: 9781561641192
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 332