Erosion forced the tower to be rebuilt again with double walls in its present location in The first lighthouse keeper was Samuel Crosby — , followed by Benjamin Metcalf — and then Capt. P Hungerford — , whose family survived the terrible hurricane of by escaping to the attic but fifteen others in the dwelling drowned.
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See all lighthouse keepers. Ann Dudley — , who became the first woman light keeper at St. Three large hurricanes hit the lighthouse in the s. One destroyed the foot- long sea wall, six- feet thick and ten- feet high that had been built in Her petition to Congress for compensation went unheeded. David Kennedy became the keeper in which he held before, during and after the Civil War. In March a fleet of 16 ships landed around 1, Union troops near the lighthouse. Their defeat at Natural Bridge on March 6 kept Tallahassee from being occupied by the Union forces during the war.
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After the war, the tower and keeper's house were rebuilt and light keeper David Kennedy relit the lamp on January 8, A new fourth-order Fresnel lens had been installed. This lens has recently been restored, and it is on display in the Refuge Visitor Center.
In yet another hurricane forced the family into the tower where they survived the night. Later repairs were undertaken to the house and tower and the porch, still extant, was added.
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Light keeper George Gibson left in , and he was replaced by Charles O. One of her daughters, Lela Fine was born there, married there and lived most of her life there after her husband, John Young Gresham, becamekeeper in During Gresham's tenure, a cistern, kitchen, outhouse, picket fence, boathouse and dock, and a maintenance building were added.
For the first time, the keeper's children were educated by a teacher in a one-room combination house and school room. Marks Migratory Bird Refuge was created in , as was the road leading to the lighthouse. Also at this time, in , the U. Treasury Department issued an instructional list for all keepers of lighthouses. His son, Alton Gresham succeeded him in and so became the last light keeper at St. Marks, as the light was automated in In , the St.
The light from the Fresnel lens was extinguished in when the USCG installed a modern solar powered light. Marks Lighthouse was transferred from the U. Coast Guard to the U. Fish and Wildlife Service. The official ceremony on the transfer occurred March 28, Initial funding from the Florida Lighthouse Association allowed for an important condition assessment and taking necessary steps to protect the historic Fourth Order Fresnel lens in the lantern room.
The condition assessment provided the basis for estimates of costs needed to restore the lighthouse.
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The lens was removed from the lantern room in November Through volunteer efforts by the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse Preservation Association, the lens was faithfully cleaned and conserved and is on display at the Visitor Center. The Friends, with assistance of Wilderness Graphics, conducted a successful crowdfunding campaign to raise additional funds needed to supplement the costs of restoring the lantern room.
Additional funding will also provide restrooms, reconstruction of the historic cistern, picket fence, brick walkways and relighting the lens inside the lantern room. Donations are gratefully accepted to help us continue lighthouse restoration. Historic Haunts of Long Island: Haunted Pensacola Haunted America.
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