![]() ![]() No story, photograph, or any other item on this website may be reprinted or reproduced without the express permission of Lighthouse Digest. Michigan’s First Female Light Keeper and Husband Honored with Historical Lighthouse Service MarkersĪll contents copyright © 1995-2023 by Lighthouse Digest®, Inc. ![]() Jeff Shook, in the middle with the blue shirt, served at the Master of Ceremonies for the event. Michigan’s First Female Light Keeper and Husband Honored with Historical Lighthouse Service Markersĭescendants of lighthouse keepers Peter and Catherine Shook gathered for a group photo at the gravestone after the Lighthouse Service marker was placed. Maria Andreu’s legacy, like the light in St. Andreu opened the door for women in the Coast Guard like myself.” Augustine Record, Dykman said, “Maria Andreu’s leadership and perseverance as keeper of the lighthouse inspired generations of women to shine as female employees within federal service. Marilyn Dykman was the first Latina woman to pilot a Coast Guard aircraft. By reclaiming Maria Andreu’s story, the museum demonstrates her influence on generations of Latina women who have served and continue to serve in the Coast Guard. The museum has included her in their on-site and online exhibitions. Augustine’s journalists to educate the community about Maria Andreu. Curators from the lighthouse have collaborated with St. Today, the lighthouse’s museum team works to educate visitors about her extraordinary story. Relatively little historical information is known about Andreu outside of her time at the Old St. Maria’s recognition also validated the work of many other women across the country who had long played an important role in helping run lighthouses, such as the spouses and family members of male keepers who helped with maintenance and emergency support. The Coast Guard officially formed in 1915 and, years later, they honored Maria Andreu and other lighthouse keepers as members. ![]() After this victory, the last few years of Andreu’s life are harder to trace, though historians believe that she spent the rest of her life with her family in Georgia. The lighthouse was restored to working order and relit in 1867. Augustine in 1862, they recovered the lens, which had been buried. The Confederates ordered that the Fresnel lens be removed. Confederate sympathizers wanted to extinguish the lighthouse to avoid drawing the attention of Union soldiers. Anna became the keeper of the Presque Isle Harbor Range Lighthouses in 1903 at the age of 31 and served until her death on May 21, 1937, at the age of 65. ![]() Augustine’s lighthouse keeper for three years until the Civil War interrupted. Andreu had to manually maintain this light by carrying heavy buckets of lard oil up hundreds of steps in rain and tropical storm winds.Īndreu served as St. The light shone in all weather conditions. They often balanced their keeper duties and growing their own gardens for food. At the time, lighthouse keepers lived on a meager annual salary of around $350. Augustine as the first Latina American woman keeper marked a new and important opportunity for women in maritime service.Īndreu’s job was demanding. Maria Andreu and the Women of the Lighthouse That’s why lighthouses are all painted differently.” The original complex housed the lighthouse itself, the keeper’s home, and a storage building. Augustine Lighthouse, explains this spiral design: “This is a specific paint schematic so when seen by a sailor, they know where in the world they are. Maria Mestre de los Dolores Andreu (Ap after 1860) was an American known as the second US Coastguard female employee. Jason Titcomb, the chief curator of the St. However, the lighthouse is unique because of its black-and-white spiral design and bright red lantern gallery. The 165-foot-tall building is structurally similar to other lighthouses built in that time. Pittee finished the new lighthouse in 1874, and it remains the tallest and oldest brick structure in St. He was the superintendent for Atlantic Coast lighthouse construction. Pittee oversaw the construction of a second lighthouse stationed further inland, on Northeast Anastasia Island. It collapsed into the ocean in 1880 because it was built too close to the shore. Unfortunately, the coquina tower had a relatively short life as an actual lighthouse. ![]()
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