Lighthouse Keepers

My husband of 18 years has always wanted to live on the coast, there was a show on T.V. last night about lighthouses in Maine that are empty, they have no lighthouse keepers, we (I) would like more information on how to be a lighthouse keeper, I would like to be able to forefill a life long dream for him to live in a lighthouse. Any information would be muchly appreciated.

Welcome to the Forums Belinda. Your husbands wish is probably shared by a lot of people.


Here's the best I could find on the Internet, courtesy of the USCG:

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/FAQS/Lighthouse_Keepers.html


Here's the Employment Service listed on the USCG Site:

http://www.lhkeeper.com/


[This message has been edited by JChidester (edited 10-31-2001).]

Thank you for the welcome in, Yes my husband probably does share with many people about maintaining a lighthouse on the coast.
Thank you for the link, there is alot of information there.

Welcome to the Forums Belinda.

There many lighthouses that you can be a keeper for a week or two. The Lighthouse Digest magazine has some in their adds occasionally. In fact Brown's Point Light in Washington had an add in the October issue. Brown's point lights phone number is 253-927-2536.

Many of the people here on the Forums belong to lighthouse preservation associations. Maybe we can get some of them to respond to this with names and phone numbers of contacts. You can get involved with some of them that are working to restore, maintain or repair old lights.

Once in a while the Light house digest even has privately owned lighthouses for sale. They tend to be very expensive.

Hope this helps. Check the lighthouse links in the Forums. there may be some listed there.

|8-{ )
Dale

Welcome to the forum Belinda.
And keep us all in formed of your quest to fill your husband's dream.

Welcome Belinda...hope the dream is realized one day...
Derith

Welcome to the Forums Belinda. I also hope that you find a lighthouse where you and your husband can be keepers. If you come across one and there are assistant keepers quarters you may want to consider sharing the duties with another couple. MJ and I would love to be keepers (or assistants) at a lighthouse. Keep us in mind, after all, you would need to get away from the lighthouse from time to time and sharing the duties would mean more time for other things.

Ron & MJ
(CT Keepers)

During the Florida Lighthouse Assoc. Quarterly meeting, we had a group of Coast Guard Aux. that were looking for volunteers to be lighthouse keepers. I would contact the CG Aux in Pensacola,Fl. for further information! Good Luck!
Please keep us posted on your quest

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That would be great, keep me posted when you find out, thanks to all of the responds, It is muchly appreciated, luv ya all.

Found this while searching fo a few lights to visit this weekend. Thought you might be interested.
I'm not sure how to post it as a link but here is the web address of the New Dungeness Light in Washington that routinely allows people to coe out and tend the ligth for a week or so. http://www.maine.com/lights/dungenes.htm

I have to tell you...I walked out to New Dungeness yesterday and was very impressed with the volunteer keepers. The men were named Nelson and Scott (Dad and son) and they were from N. Carolina. Scott home schools his children and thought this would be a great experience. The kids will spend the week looking for birds and seals on the property as well as learn about weather. They are responsible for upkeep of the light and are required to polish the brass often. They seemed to be very happy there. They waited a year and a half for the opportunity. And the cost? Around $125 for the week.
The walk out to the light wasn't bad. The walk back was tough! I think I found my limit...10 miles. Unfortunately the round trip was 11. But well worth it. I had a great time!! I'll try to post pictures when I get back home.