America’s Last Lighthouse Keeper
By Sue Clark on May 29, 2008 in Lighthouse Keeper Jobs, The Light Side 
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Reuters India has a story on Sally Snowman, the civilian lighthouse keeper at Little Brewster Island. Thanks to Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass), the light at Boston Harbor will always be tended to by a keeper. Snowman was hired in 2003 when the Coast Guard decided a civilian could do the job.
Although the job is completely different from past days, Sally does have her work cut out for her. Even better, she dresses the part. A lot of her job has to do with groundskeeping, maintenance of the house, making sure the light stays lit (although now it’s a 1,000 watt bulb rather than a flame) and tending to the many tourists that come out to view the lighthouse.
Why do people love lighthouses so much? Sally’s theory, which I totally agree with, is:
“For many, it has a sense of hope and spirituality, not religion, but spirituality,” she said in an interview atop the tower, looking out over Boston Harbor. “They look at it and see it as a coming home and safety.”
Check it out, it’s a nice story.
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1 Comment(s)
By Anna Hope Shelmidine on May 18, 2009 | Reply
Iam searching for info on my Stepfather, Trueman Cook. He was a civilian Lighthouse Keeper, from 1946 to the 1960’s Since my Mother passed I lost contact. I am sure he has passed also. I lived w/them on Sentinal Island in SE Alaska, and PT Pinos in Pacific Grove, CA. He was one of few remaining Keepers of the Lighthouse Service under the US Treasury Dept. If anyone has any info I would greatly appreciate hearing from them