The Republican journal., 1904-10-27
LIGHT KEEPER AT 80.
Capt. Burgess of Browns Head Light.

Capt. Burgess OF Browns Head Light.
When old keeper Ellsworth of the Ip-
switch lighthouse died, few years ago,
the record of being the oldest lightkeep-
er in the service passed to Benjamin
Elbrldge Burgess of Browns Head, Me.
Capt. Ellsworth was aged 80, and held
his position by sufferance at the last,
while the entire work of the station
was done by members of his family.
Mr. Burgess, who will be 81 in Decem-
Der this year, is still in active service at
the station to which he was appointed
July 4, 1867, just 81 years ago.
Year after year the quiet, faithful
keeper at Browns Head has held his
own, undisturbed by political parties
coming into power and going out of
power.
Now at the end of his strength, the
old keeper looks wistfully back along
the busy and honorable years and feels
60 to younger man. 1t is a wrench
to make the change. His life has I'M
folded there at the station and the roots
lie deep.
Mr.. Burgess was born in the town OF
Hope, Me-, and while still a child was
taken to live at Matinicus. Like all
sons and daughters of that wonderful
little island in the sea he dwells upon
it fondly still, although he has been
back but once in the 60 years since he
lift it. Hagking back in memory to
Matinicus, he says it is more ''home'
than any other place.
Unlike the keepers drawn from the
war ranks, or marine service, Mr.. Bur
CESS has moved about but little
AS a young man he settled in North
Haven, where his children were born
before he was appointed keeper at the
light.
Since then the little station has seen
tiny world of JOY and grief. Mr.. Bur
CESS married his second wife in the lit
tie station paror, ana has reared at the
station, besides his own seven children,
three little grandchildren, whose young
mother died suddenly.
He still speaks with unhealed sorrow
of the death of three daughters in four
years.
Several grown-up grandchildren and
his wife, who is still strong and active,
help him about the station duties.
Browns Head light, almost as pictur-
esque in appearance as the much-pic-
tured Owls Head, stands perched on the
inner side of high. rounded point, de-
SlSLeuIy Out VI slRHC nun VIC ouCCI
side, to open out to the pilots view
only as he approaches the thoroughfare
by the safe channel.
1le little l4-foot tower, shorter than
the dwelling house it nestles against.
carries light visible at a distance of
only II miles, guiding into the western
end of the thoroughfare the North
Haven and Vinal Haven steamers,
steam packets and the numerous sail
ing vessels plying between Rockland
and the large islands of Penobscot bay.
Two Lodges of rock in the channel are
marked by red sectors in the lantern,
two red rays streaming out, leaving a
white ray between. Vessels entering
or leaving the western end of the
thoroughfare clear both dangerous
Lodges by keeping in the white light.
The station at Browns Head carries
also a most important fog signal, re-
curing the constant presence of some
one at the house. Fogs skirt in so
quickly round the point, especially in
the summer, that vessel passing in
by a bright sunlight may be suddenly
wrapped round with fog that hides
tower and lodges and all other helps
and hindrances alike.
Years ago there used to be very
much magnited dinner bell, standing
in the front hall of the station dwell
ling house, and the troubled footing of
some utterly befogged vessel close in
would be answered at once by the
assuring ding-dong of the bell, rung at
the house door by the first one of the
household who could catch it up and
get the door open.
A larger bell is now in use. hung in
hall +r.lf, TOD tl,.i
by rope.
Browns Head light, so unpretentious
Ill appearance was established in 1887,
tolioNin. soon after the great coast
lights of New England, such as Cape
Cod and Seguin and Portland Head.
The light has been till recently mere
ly very small white light, hardly more
than house light in a window But
now it ranks as fourth order, small
but exceedingly brilliant light
The care of the light itself, and even
OF the baby tower, are but small part
of a keepers work at Browns Head.
There is not level foot of ground on
the reservation. 1t is up hill and down
dale to the wood pile, to the oil house.
TO the boat ways.
In winter the windows against the
hillside are darkened with snow, and to
get to the hilltop at all flight of snow
steps is kept cut out, climbing up
against the stone wall.
Straight up the sun-dried field life
saving man-rail reaches. You come
over from the garden and jump at the
rail and slide down to the house on
grass polished soes in summer, or ice
i'll winter, and on mud in spring
Once at the house you may walk
about safely on the labyrinth of plank
paths and unexpected steps that lead
here and there to the various points of
the days history
Mere navigation in such a station is
difficult and mildly dangerous, and to it |
may be laid much of the keepers fail |
ing strength.
The great and much-broken extent of |
surface demanding yearly whitewash
and paint is also to be reckoned with,
and the exquisite neatness and order
are greatly to the credit of the keeper
and his family.
Mr.. Burgess will leave the station
with record of honorable service-a
good man, good servant of Uncle |
Sam and SavQr Of uponuntod Evoc