Separate pay for women was not an issue because they were few in number. They filled five percent of positions. Neighbors and towns often advocated for the appointment female of light keepers.

Harriet Colfax the light house keeper at Michigan City Light, Indiana was said to have gotten her position through political influence. She served as a dedicated light keeper for 43 years before retiring at the age of 80 years. 

Lighthouse keeping was a family affair. Wives, daughters and sons sometimes fulfilled the duties of a light keeper without pay. Often the Lighthouse Board would eliminate one position and moved a family out to join of the remaining keeper. 

Wives and daughters filled in when the light keeper was absent or died. After they death of a spouse, female light keepers sometimes became light keepers because of economic necessity. “They worked long hours, raising families while also attending the light and cleaning both their home and lighthouse equipment.”

To see my lighthouse exhibit, “Before Women Could Vote,” visit the Town of Orange Park, Florida located at 2042 Park Avenue, Orange Park, Florida. It is open, Monday-Friday; 8am-5pm thru March- May. For free a tour of the exhibit, call 954-281-2894. 

Women Who Kept the Lights by Mary Louise Clifford and J. Candace Clifford. Women’s Work: Female Lighthouse Keepers by Virginia Neal Thomas.