The Role of a Lighthouse Keeper

DescriptionA lighthouse keeper is someone responsible for taking care and tending a lighthouse, especially the lens and lighthouse platform in the old days when clockwork and oil lamps were used. Usually lighthouse keepers were called “wickies” due to their job of tending the wicks of the lighthouse. A lighthouse keeper was also responsible for lighting the inner portions of the lighthouse in order to allow people to pass through and get to the platform. Keepers also took important roll in maintaining the general safety of the lighthouse. For example, keeping the interior of the lighthouse clean, in order to allow the sea creatures to live in it and not cause damage.

lighthouse keeper

The duties of a lighthouse keeper weren’t restricted only to the maintenance of the lighthouse. Like any other keeper, they had to keep an eye on the weather, especially the tides. The keeper’s house was also very important, since they had to tend to the various needs of the keeper such as food, blankets, clothes, wood, etc. Most lighthouse keepers worked on their own, but some were employed by large corporations as part of the employees. In some cases, a lighthouse keeper’s duties would include working during a hurricane, in case the main lighthouse was damaged or destroyed.

Most lighthouse keepers enjoyed long walks along the beach going over the history of the lighthouse and talking with many of the local fishermen, islanders and travelers. They also enjoyed telling stories about their adventures along the way. Keeping the lighthouse clean and running well was a difficult task as it required specialized cleaning materials and many dangerous chemicals. In order to keep everything running smoothly, the keeper had to have the right connections and quite the knowledge of how everything worked. Today, lighthouse keeping is still an interesting and rewarding career.