Keeping the Light: Lighthouse Keepers, Status, and the St. Augustine Lighthouse
Author(s): P. Brendan Burke
Year: 2018
Summary
In 1874 a new lighthouse tower was completed in St. Augustine, Florida to replace an older lighthouse imperiled by coastal erosion. A brick triplex constructed at the station in 1876 provided housing for light keepers and their families. From 1874 until 1889, Head Keeper William Harn and his family occupied the station, living in the Keepers’ House. Archaeology undertaken at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum before, and during, construction work located a midden likely associated with the Harn family. In comparison to later light station occupants, a dwindling association with gentility is witnessed through a decline in the number and status of ceramics. This paper explores the role of a lighthouse keeper during the late 19th century in Florida and compares family engagement with material culture to later keepers and shifting roles in status affiliation.
Cite this Record
Keeping the Light: Lighthouse Keepers, Status, and the St. Augustine Lighthouse. P. Brendan Burke. Presented at Society for Historical Archaeology, New Orleans, Louisiana. 2018 ( tDAR id: 441454)
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Keywords
General
19th Century
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Lighthouse
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Status
Geographic Keywords
North America
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United States of America
Temporal Keywords
19th Century
Spatial Coverage
min long: -129.199; min lat: 24.495 ; max long: -66.973; max lat: 49.359 ;
Individual & Institutional Roles
Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology
Record Identifiers
PaperId(s): 916