The St. Augustine lighthouse-The Keepers Walk
The second version of two Lighthouses in St Augustine
The new tower was completed in 1874, and put into service with a new first-order Fresnel lens. It was lit for the first time in October by keeper William Russell. Russell was the first lighthouse keeper in the new tower, and the only keeper to have worked both towers.
For 20 years, the site was manned by head-keeper William A. Harn of Philadelphia. Major Harn was a Union war hero who had commanded his own battery at the Battle of Gettysburg. With his wife, Kate Skillen Harn, of Maine, he had six daughters. The family was known for serving lemonade out on the porches of the keepers’ house, which was constructed as a Victorian duplex during Harn’s tenure.
On August 31, 1886, the Charleston earthquake caused the tower to “sway violently”, according to the keeper’s log, but there was no recorded damage.
During World War II, Coast Guard men and women trained in St. Augustine, and used the lighthouse as a lookout post for enemy ships and submarines which frequented the coastline.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Empress and I!
Thanks for stopping
Risto
23 Dec 2013The beautiful staircase. Merry Christmas.
Jim Denham
23 Dec 2013Love lighthouses, staircases and fish eyes – great combo Wiz!
Bob Lussier
23 Dec 2013I love me some stairs! And I love the history behind them.
Dave Wilson
23 Dec 2013Fabulous. That is all (except for Merry Christmas!).
Len Saltiel
23 Dec 2013I really love lighthouses Mike and am always looking for new ones to shoot. The composition and processing on this is killer, my friend. The lines and curves are amazing.
Jimi Jones
23 Dec 2013What a great shot, Mike.
Outstanding image!
Merry Christmas to you and the family. :-)
Edith Levy
24 Dec 2013What can I say that hasn’t already been said. Outstanding! Merry Christmas to you and the Empress!
Mark Garbowski
24 Dec 2013Love the intersecting curves. Merry Christmas to you, the Empress, and the pups.
atmtx
27 Dec 2013Love the wonderful lines and curves In this photo.
Toad Hollow Photo
31 Dec 2013Love this shot, Mike, what a terrific composition!!