Light  Seguin #8

Instructions to the Keepers of Light Houses within the US   -1835 Stephen Pleasanton, 5^th Auditor of the Treasury

The first of 9 obligations:

“You are to light the lamps every evening at sun-setting, and keep them continually burning, bright and clear, till sun-rising.”

In January 1856, fourteen-year-old Abbie Burgess famously kept the Matinicus Rock Light burning for a month after her father left the island for re-supplies that had failed to arrive the previous September. Through a gale that kept her father from returning and that eventually destroyed the Keeper’s quarters, she, 3 younger sisters, and invalid mother sheltered in one of the two light towers. Throughout the ordeal, which repeated the following year for 3 weeks, Abbie made sure the light stayed on.

Much less heroic than Abbie, when I noticed Seguin’s light out, I simply texted Chris at FOSIL who contacted the Coast Guard. It was disorienting and a bit worrisome to be at a lighthouse that went dark on my watch. You don’t really want to be the one on duty when the 168-year-old light goes out. But even during these dark nights, there was plenty of light. The stars shone brighter with the milky way cutting across the sky and the tuna boat floodlights punctuated the water on the near horizon- floating like fallen stars on the water.

Happily, Colton and Sean, two young US Coast Guard personnel came up the hill with their work kits and began to trouble shoot. Po, of course, supervised and followed them everywhere. Knowledgeable and affable, the service members conducted a thorough check of all systems: solar, the light itself, and the foghorn. The pair concluded some of the solar storage batteries were no longer up to the task and would need replacement. They re-aligned the existing battery array and promised to return with new parts. The light, thank goodness, is back on every night.

With the light attended to, it was possible to relax and return to enjoying the ever-changing light of the sky. Perched so high up, Seguin offers big sky vistas more often associated with being out west or on mountain tops. Storm fronts, sunsets, and a rainbow just out-front make the sameness of Seguin different every day.

This week the North Trail got some overdue attention, and the main path seems to have widened every Wednesday when I return from town.

Visitors log- We had four Lighthouse aficionados overnight at the house last week who livened up our evening and shared their generous company and sumptuous food. Also, Mike and Theresa Haggett made it out Saturday. Mike is the great-grandson of Herbert Spinney (1862-1943), long time Seguin Keeper and naturalist.  Mike was a wealth of information about Spinney’s professional and civic contributions. Herb, as he was known by neighbors and colleagues, worked both for the ‘coast service’ and later the State Agriculture Department. An avid birder, he donated to the state his collection of over 200 specimens of taxidermy, shells, and wood. His image was featured in the FOSIL newsletter last spring.

The light at night, fewer foggy days, and increased warmth are a trifecta of July goodness. Let’s hope this trend continues in the coming weeks.

To read more about: Abbie Burgess: Women Who Kept the Lights by Mary Louise Clifford and J. Candace Clifford and, one of many children’s books, Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie by Peter and Connie Roop.

To read more about Herbert Linden Spinney: a google search with find a grave.com or visit his Georgetown grave site