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Port Washington
Historical Society Ozaukee
County, Wisconsin |
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150
Anniversary of the 1860 Port Washington Light Station List of
personnel by Linda
Nenn "Lighthouse Linda" To start our story, it’s only polite to
introduce you to the USLHS and Coast Guard Personnel and Families that called
Port Washington their Home. This list is incomplete. Contact Lighthouse Linda
if you can contribute additional information, such as photos, names of family
members, or simply corrections. Light Station Port Washington was
established in 1849, when our City’s first Lighthouse was built. This
structure was demolished in 1860 and replaced by newer light and a much
larger keeper’s quarters. This is a list of the personnel that manned the
Port Washington Lights and a few more that just hung their hats at the site
after the Station closed. Cyrus B. Worth, wife and children USLHE
May 8, 1849 – April 29, 1853 (Resigned) David Tuttle USLHE April 29, 1853 – May
28, 1857 (Resigned) Barnard Schoomer (Shumer, Schommer) wife
Margarethe and children USLHE May 28, 1857 – January 11. 1860 (Died) Margarethe Everard Schoomer (sp?) and
children USLHE January 11, 1860 – August 6, 1861 (Resigned). Margarethe was
the first of our keepers to live in our 1860 lighthouse, 150 years ago. At
the time, she moved into the new lighthouse with children Nicolas (11), Henri
(9), Lambert (7), Anna (6), Nicolas (5), Bernard (3) and Mathias (2). To date,
where Margarethe disappeared to in 1861 remains a mystery. Probably a new
husband was the reason for her resignation. It appears, in census records,
that some of her children remained in the area, possibly working as farmhands
or wards of their relatives in the Holy Cross area. Fauntleroy Hoyt USLHE August 6, 1861
–January 2, 1866 (Resigned). Was keeper during the Luxembourg draft riot in
1962. Station was briefly a target, but dissidents quickly turned their ire
elsewhere. Fauntleroy, an easterner, had married a wife from New Orleans
years earlier, and then moved north. When the War broke out, one son joined
the Confederate forces and the other fought for the Union. Fortunately, both
sons survived. Patrick Kehoe USLHE January 2, 1866 –
October 22, 1874 (removed from post). Kehoe, from the St. Finbars area,
arrived a wounded Civil War veteran. His papers were suspect, but it took the
government 8 years to decide to remove him from office. Charles H. Lewis Sr., wife Mariah and son
USLHE October 22, 1874 – May 3, 1880 (Died). New information connects Charles
Sr. with fairly prominent New Englanders. His whaling past is verified in
writing, but why he left the seas for a life as a keeper, is still unknown. Mariah Lewis recommendation for appointment
denied Charles H. Lewis, Jr., wife Linda Teed
USLHE May 3, 1880 – 1924 (retired) Charles H. Lewis, Jr. Head Keeper,
pierhead light added to duties, October 3, 1889 1924 Station closed down,
Lewis and wife remained on site as caretakers until 1934. Linda died in 1935,
Charles in 1937. Their granddaughter Jeannette Lewis Dallmann last visited
the Station in October, 2009. She is 96 years old. It is the Lewis home that
we portray, because of their long tenure at the Station. Linda Teed Lewis spent
her life in Port Washington. Her family was one of the early influential
Easterners that moved west to the Wisconsin Territory. Several of the Teed
homes are still standing, including the home known as the Eghart House. George H. Rathbun, 1st Asst. October 3,
1889 – February 16, 1894 (Died) Delos H. Smith, 1st Asst. February 26,
1894 – April 19, 1894 (Resigned) Good chance Delos quit to go fishing! William H. Duen. 1st Asst. April 30, 1894
– October 31, 1903 (Resigned) Station remodeled, tower and lantern
removed and dwelling converted to duplex, first and second floor apartments
Station reactivated 1934 Arthur Almquist, wife Mae Almquist and
children 1934-1946 USLHS Head Keeper, retired as USCG: Officer in Charge.
Almquist children, now deceased, were the first of our keepers’ families to
contribute their memories, starting back around 1998. USLHS absorbed by USCG, 1939. Some
keepers were allowed to finish their careers as civilians. Delphius (George)
Pelletier was Port Washington’s last Lightkeeper, retiring in 1958. The Coast
Guard did not use the rank of Lighthouse Keeper as this was exclusively used
as a civilian designation. Lester Struble, wife and children
1934-1941 USLHS Assistant Keeper. Lester donated a USLHS brass dustpan and
photos to our archives in 1999, at age 100. Marvin Cornell, wife and children May
1942-April 1945 USLHS Assistant Keeper Robert Nelson December 1945 – Assistant,
USCG Charles Carpenter Winter 1946 – July, 1947
Chief BM USCG Joseph Breisbacher July 1946 – USCG:
Officer in Charge Olsen, wife and children, Chief Boatswain
Mate November 1947 - March 1948 USCG Michael Stanley Drezdon, wife and
children USLHS Assistant Keeper 1948-195?. Michael’s daughter, Virginia, is
an annual visitor. Delphius (George) Pelletier (Pelky) and
wife, Gladys Briggs USLHS Head Keeper March 1948 -1958, Port Washington’s
LAST civilian Lightkeeper. Laverne “Pete” Ortendahl circa 1956 USCG Leland Scanlan, wife Virginia and
children 1958-1961 USCG: Lee has contributed photos and artifacts from his
stay. Wayland Charles Graham, wife Shirley and
children 1958-1962 USCG: Officer in Charge. Charlie’s daughter, Julie,
contributed photos, memories and Charles’ military records to our archives. Don Jenquin 1962-1964 USCG and brother
Keith Jenquin (not really supposed to be living with brother.) John Curran, wife Sondra and children
1964-1966 BM1 USCG: Assistant. John’s son, who worked on our pier, has
donated photos. Roy Neal USCG Jim Midgett and wife, Estelle USCG Narvel F. Kubena 1968 USCG David Hays, wife and children 1969-1970
USCG: Officer in Charge. First former Coastie to donate his memories and
entire USCG service record to the Light Station circa 1995. Bobby Phillips USCG Morris USCG Light Station Port Washington deactivated
circa 1976. Pierhead Light is fully automated. Dwelling continues to be
utilized as housing for Coast Guard Station Milwaukee personnel and their
families. Men commuted to Milwaukee from Port Washington. Light maintained by
Milwaukee Robert Robert, wife Veronica and children
1980’s USCG. Robert reconnected with former Masons at LS, around 2006. Terry Kenyon USCG Bosman, wife and children USCG. Visited
Light Station during restoration Michael Burgau, wife and children USCG Don Dunn and wife, Betty 1980’s USCG Walt Faria USCG. Visited in 2008. Watch for the next installment of the
history of our 1860 restored Lighthouse, located at Light Station Port
Washington, high above our city on Lighthouse Hill, as the area was known
before the Catholics decided to overshadow the government site with a rather
magnificent edifice. |
The Port Washington Historical Society is a volunteer, non-profit organization