The "Keeper of the Lighthouse"Story

One of my Turkey Point Lighthouse Polaroids.  I have
another that features both the lighthouse and the oilhouse.

It was an ordinary day.  Just dropped off eight of my Polaroid manipulated prints at Kathy's Corner in Northeast, MD.  Kathy has been selling my photos for about five years now and the majority of the prints that she sells are of the Turkey Point Lighthouse which is about 10 miles to the south of her store in Elk Neck State Park.  My drop-off today included one 24"x24" double-matted and framed lighthouse, three 14"x14" double-matted and framed lighthouses and three 8"x8" single matted and framed lighthouses.  One of my 14"x14" Concord Point Lighthouses was also included in the drop-off.  Carol and I first discovered the lighthouse about 25 years ago while passing it on the Elk River while riding in a motorboat with our friends Gary and Sandy Howry.  

Lighthouse as it appears today.

Wasn't until a few years later that we journeyed down RT. 272S from Penn- sylvania into Maryland.  After reaching Northeast, which is directly on RT. 272S, we followed the road to it's end at Elk Neck State Park.  

Lighthouse perched on a 100-foot cliff.

Parked the car and walked through the high grasses for about five minutes, then through a heavily wooded area until we reached the 100-foot high grassy bluff where the lighthouse and oilhouse sit.  The oilhouse was used to store the kerosene to prevent fire.  The Turkey Point Lighthouse was authorized by Congress in 1831 and built in 1833 with a 35 high tower that had 31 wooden steps and keeper's quarters.  It is situated on the 100-foot bluff were the North East and Elk Rivers converge.  

Early photo of the lighthouse with the oilhouse, bell house
and keeper's house.  Notice the turkeys in the foreground. 

Both rivers lead into the Chesapeake Bay and if you pass from the Bay into the Elk River you will then travel through the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal (C&D Canal) to the Delaware River.  The beacon of the lighthouse was visible for 13 miles and was the highest of the 74 lighthouses on the Chesapeake Bay, even though it was only 35 feet tall.  The light still flashes every five seconds at night through the use of a solar-powered unit.  One interesting fact about the Turkey Point Lighthouse is that it has had more female lightkeepers, four, than any other lighthouse on the Bay.  

Plaque giving you information about the lighthouse.

The last one, Fannie May Salter, was installed in the early twentieth century at the personal request of President Calvin Coolidge.  Seems Fannie's husband was the keeper and when he died she wanted to take over the job, but she was said to be too old to do the job.  She appealed to her Senator who in turn talked to the President and that's all that was needed.  Four times a night she would haul a copper kettle filled with kerosene up the 31 steps of the lighthouse and then climb the iron ship's ladder that led to the lantern.  

Old postcard showing the lighthouse complex.  Not sure
what the message says. Click on the photo to see the message. 

She also had to wind a heavy fog bell that would send out signals if the weather provided poor visibility.  She retired in 1947 after 22 years of service.  For years there was a lighthouse keepers quarters as well as farm land that was used to raise vegetables and for keeping sheep, chickens, pigs and some turkeys.  This was necessary since the closest store was 14 miles from the lighthouse and transportation wasn't as it is today.  In 1972 the keeper's quarters were torn down because of vandalism and neglect.  My photo was taken after 1972 so it only shows the lighthouse and oilhouse.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.