Lighthouse service, life saving, coast guard, revenue cutter. Located on lake erie, it is the oldest operating lighthouse on the. The octagonal structure near robbins reef lighthouse is not the base of the original 1839 tower but rather a sewer outfall that. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. In 1919, at the age of 71, walker reluctantly retired as the robbins reef keeper, as required by a federal law passed the previous year. Robbins reef lighthouse the noble maritime collection. The couple married, and john walker soon received a keepers appointment at robbins reef light with kate as his assistant keeper.
No one does a better job portraying how a man thinks and loves than james does. Superb print is from the painting of robbins reef lighthouse by new york state historical and marine artist len f. The robbins reef light station may soon see life as a museum. After losing her job, and her man, she returns to her home town of starlight cove to refurbish a. The kill van kull is a tidal strait between staten island, new york and bayonne, new jersey that connects upper new york bay with newark bay.
Robbins reef lighthouse was located on the west side of the main channel in upper new york bay. Listed in the national register of historic places, robbins reef is of historical significance to staten island and new york harbor because of its location, history, and architecture. The restoration of the actual lighthouse is an ongoing program of the noble maritime collection. The katherine walker wlm 552 was launched on september 14th, 1996. Statue honoring lighthouse keeper kate walkerold salt blog. In rollicking detail, dolin treats readers to a memorable cast of characters, from the pennypinching treasury official stephen pleasonton, who hamstrung the countrys efforts to adopt the revolutionary fresnel lens, to the indomitable katherine walker, who presided so heroically over new york harbor as keeper at robbins reef lighthouse that. Kate recalled her initial impression of the isolated lighthouse in an interview stating, when i first came to robbins reef, the sight of water, which ever way i looked, made me lonesome. Ive discussed robbins reef lighthouse and its colorful history in a 2011 forgottenslice. A year later, they were assigned to the robbins reef lighthouse in the new york harbor and she had a daughter less than a year after that. Katherine walker was a boundary breaking lighthouse keeper in new york harbor. From the first keeper program in 2005 with volunteer keepers, the program was increased to 38 keepers in 2006 and further expanded to 59 keepers in 2007. I have been an avid lighthouse aficionado and this book taught me the impact that lighthouses made in america. The lighthouse keeper by cynthia ellingsen, was a story about dawn conners, a girl that grew up with treasure hunting parents and a family secret that had yet to be solved.
Lighthouse service and its legacy was the best synthesis of us lighthouse history, brilliant beacons is the closest weve come to a true monograph on the same subject. The robbins reef lighthouse, familiar to staten island ferry riders as it sits at the confluence of upper new york bay and the kill van kull, was originally built in 1839, with the present tower built in 1883. He taught her english and also showed her how to tend the light at sandy hook. Katherine walker was a germanamerican lighthouse keeper. So, right away she had that work, then assisted her husband, but then he died in 1886, which was only a few years after they got to robbins reef light. Assistant keeper at robbins reef 18831886 keeper at robbins reef 18861919 not officially appointed until 1894.
See more ideas about lighthouse, michigan and great lakes. In the lighthouse community, the most famous lady in the new york harbor was kate walker, keeper of robbins reef for over thirty years. At first, she hated the place and refused to unpack her suitcase. By her own account, kate saved fifty people from drowning during her years at the lighthouse, but estimates by others range as high as seventyfive. Women lighthouse keepers and other female employees of the u. The lighthouse perhaps pales in nyc popular lore when compared to the jeffries hook, or little red lighthouse, which sits in the shadow of the george washington bridge ion upper manhattan and was the subject of a popular childrens book, but robbins reef has, perhaps, an even more compelling history.
Though it looks small from the ferry, it is 46 feet high. Lighthouses of southern new york harbor forgotten new york. As gravely ill robbins reef lighthouse keeper john walker, who had been the keeper of the robbins reef lighthouse since 1885, was gently bundled up and. Kate was one of only 142 women who received official lighthouse keeper appointments between 1830 and 1947, when the last female keeper retired. In 1839, the first lighthouse to mark this navigational hazard was constructed. Have you heard of katie walker, the tiny german gal who married a lighthouse keeper and lived on robbins reef lighthouse in new york harbor. An illustrated history of female lighthouse keepers has been so popular that we prepared a condensed version for younger readersmind the light, katie. The robbins reef is a sand bar located beneath the lighthouse at the entrance to kil van kull, an important highway for. Marking the eastern end of the kill is the robbins reef lighthouse. She was appointed keeper at robbins reef lighthouse off the northern tip of staten island in new york harbor after her husband died in 1886.
Walker is one of a handful of women lighthouse keepers. The cover of mind the light, katie has been painted expressly for this book by artist susie gach peelle of locust valley, new york, and shows kate walker in1890 waving goodbye to her husband and son from the balcony of the robbins reef lighthouse. In sandy hook, new jersey, she met and married a civil war navy veteran and lighthouse keeper who moved her to the even less comfortable robbins reef lighthouse about a. Robbins reef lighthouse is on the west side main channel in upper new york bay. Feb 07, 2008 rafael alencar takes you into a video clip tour to visit robbins reef lighthouse in new jersey nj. It is far out in raritan bay, about 3 miles from the staten island shore, and was placed in service in 1893. Established in 1839, this sparkplug type tower was erected in 1883 when this bell was installed. John, official keeper of the robbins reef lighthouse, never returned.
Apr 18, 2016 in rollicking detail, dolin treats readers to a memorable cast of characters, from the pennypinching treasury official stephen pleasonton, who hamstrung the countrys efforts to adopt the revolutionary fresnel lens, to the indomitable katherine walker, who presided so heroically over new york harbor as keeper at robbins reef lighthouse that. In 422 pages, dolin presents a moderately comprehensive history from colonial times to the present. Mar 25, 2019 have you heard of katie walker, the tiny german gal who married a lighthouse keeper and lived on robbins reef lighthouse in new york harbor. She is currently home ported in bayonne, new jersey, within sight of robbins reef lighthouse. Apart from a few more trees, point fermin lighthouse has not changed significantly since its construction in 1874. The lighthouse keeper is the first book by james pratt that i read. For long island items, see also our long island page. Photo by candace clifford completed in 1926, point vicente used reinforced concrete in the construction of the tower. The detour reef lighthouse keeper program is increasingly popular with lighthouse lovers and boat watchers. Katherine walker took over lighthouse duties when her husband died in 1890. The exhibition includes the history of the lighthouse, particularly at the time of its most famous keeper, katherine walker 18481931, the process of its current. In fact, after husband died, katie became the keeper of the light.
The 144 women who served as principal keeper for more than a year are listed in the longer book. Tending the light at the robbins reef lighthouse in a busy. Lighthouse reef a pelican pointe novel book 4 kindle edition by vickie mckeehan author visit amazons vickie mckeehan page. Katherine walker was appointed the official keeper of the light by president benjamin. The robbins reef lighthouse located on the new jersey side of the hudson river, and viewable on the staten island ferry, was originally built of granite in 1839. Sep 20, 2011 the lighthouse perhaps pales in nyc popular lore when compared to the jeffries hook, or little red lighthouse, which sits in the shadow of the george washington bridge ion upper manhattan and was the subject of a popular childrens book, but robbins reef has, perhaps, an even more compelling history. Sharing women lighthouse keepers littleknown stories whyy. The lucky lighthouse by jessica kratz, kathy trimarco. During her tenure at robbins reef, in addition to her duties as lighthouse keeper, she rescued 50 people and a dog from the waters around the light, and rowed her two children to and from school on staten island. Kate became the assistant lighthouse keeper and adjusted to an. Mar 12, 2019 in sandy hook, new jersey, she met and married a civil war navy veteran and lighthouse keeper who moved her to the even less comfortable robbins reef lighthouse about a mile off shore in new york. Saving robbins reef light a noble effortold salt blog. Staten island museum expected to be granted ownership of.
A monument for katherine walker, lighthouse keeper amnewyork. New york items lighthouse service, life saving, coast guard. Written in vivid verse with detailed illustrations, and accompanied by clever puzzles and games, the lucky lighthouse depicts what life was like for kate walker and her family, who lived in the house from. The tower and integral keepers quarters were built in 1883. The history of thirtythree female lighthouse keepers.
He also animates american military history from the revolution to the civil war and presents tales both. The noble maritime collection is the proud steward of robbins reef lighthouse. Cypress communications announces the publication of mind the light, katie. Isbn 0963641271 3 poems from robbins reef light, joel lewis, jacket magazine 23, august, 2003. Robbins reef lighthouse bayonne, new jersey lighthouse. The brown and white cylindrical lighthouse stands as monument to the lady who kept the good light for over 30 years. See more ideas about lighthouse keeper, lighthouse and 1900 clothing. The robbins reef lighthouse, familiar to staten island ferry riders as it sits at. Kate and 32 others who have left records of their lives are included in this book. In1883, the second robbins reef lighthouse 1886, the famous lady liberty located on the new york harbour constructed three years later. Keeper of the port jefferson breakwater lights august 5, 1896 to sept 21, 1901 keeper at stratford shoal september 21, 1901 to october 6, 1909 and november 28, 1909 to november 1, 1909. Herman westgate was the last keeper of the lighthouse before it was finally automated.
Assisted by her son jacob, kate kept the robbins reef light until 1919. Originally named robyns rift by early dutch settlers in new york because it was a gathering place for seals, the lighthouse stands on a rocky reef located off staten islands north shore. Keeper at robbins reef 1883 to 2281886 died from pneumonia walker, katherine nee gortler. After emigrating from germany to america, she met john walker, then assistant keeper at sandy hook lighthouse. Walker tended the robbins reef light in new york harbor for more than 30 years after the death. Kate walker, keeper of robbins reef light, 18941919, national lighthouse museum, 2001. Once a year, a lighthouse official would stop by the lighthouse to drop off a few tons of coal, barrels of oil, and an envelope containing her wages. The history of thirtythree female lighthouse keepers, mary louise clifford and j. Brilliant beacons eric jay dolin 9780871406682 netgalley. Robbins reef is off constable hook at the entrance to the kill van kull, a strait connecting to the heavily used newark bay.
Jim is a moral compass in a world that knows only shades of gray. Lighthouse service, life saving, coast guard, revenue. The history of thirtythree female lighthouse keepers, a nonfiction book for readers age 12 and up. Completed in 1854 seahorse key lighthouse was designed and constructed under the district lighthouse engineer lt. Frank schubert, the longtime coney island lighthouse keeper, served at old orchard for three years. The robbins reef light station is a sparkplug lighthouse located off constable hook in. Women lighthouse keepers united states coast guard.
The noble maritime collection became the steward of robbins reef light station. Postedupdated by bryan penberthy on 20150614 the kill van kull is a tidal strait between staten island, new york and bayonne, new jersey that connects upper new york bay with newark bay. Robbins reef lighthouse lighthouses of the new jersey shore. Johns last words to his wife were, mind the light, katie. Kate was 44 years old when her son jacob rowed his stepfather, john walker, ill with pneumonia, to staten island for medical treatment. She was appointed keeper at robbins reef lighthouse off the northern tip of staten island in new york harbor after her husband died in. New york items lighthouse service, life saving, coast.
Department of general services granted the deed to robbins reef lighthouse to the museum in 2011. Then they were stationed at robbins reef light station in new york, where kate was actually hired initially as the assistant keeper. Her name was kate walker and the captains in the harbor affectionately refer to robbins reef as kates light. The octagonal construction next to the robbins reef light station is an outfall of a sewer built in 1915 and wasnt there in 1839. The robbins reef light station is a sparkplug lighthouse located off constable hook in bayonne, hudson county, new jersey, united states, along the west side of main channel, upper new york bay. Lighthouse boardservice one of the first nonclerical u. The lucky lighthouse is a historical coloring book based on the sparkplug lighthouse in the upper new york bay, the robbins reef lighthouse. November 25, 1848 february 5, 1931 was a germanamerican lighthouse keeper walker tended the robbins reef light in new york harbor for more than 30 years after the death of her husband, captain john walker, who had been appointed keeper of the light in 1885. Kate walker, who would become one of the most famous lighthouse keepers in the world, was born katherine gortler in germany in 1846. One woman who did receive a government appointment was katherine kate walkerrobbins reefs most famous lighthouse keeper. A wellpreserved example of an offshore spark plug style lighthouse, robbins reef primary historical significance lies in the story of katherine walker, keeper from 18951919. Sep 23, 2012 frank schubert, the longtime coney island lighthouse keeper, served at old orchard for three years. Robbins reef data for station id 8530973, physical oceanographic realtime system noaa.
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