Black Rock Harbor lighthouse in Bridgeport, Connecticut
Great Genes! Lighthouse Keeper Catherine Moore Lived to 95, Father Lived to 100, at Black Rock Harbor Lighthouse in Connecticut
It must be those genes!
Black Rock Harbor lighthouse, also known as Black Rock Harbor Light, was built in 1808 and is sheltered by Fayerweather Island, making it ideal for marking the harbor entrance.
After his death, Stephen Moore, who replaced the first keeper, John Maltbie, and his daughter Catherine (Kate), tended the lighthouse between 1817 and 1878 for over 70 years. Catherine (Kate) Moore took over the complete duties of the lighthouse when her father became disabled in 1819. Her father remained the official Keeper until 1871, while Catherine remained his assistant to tend the lighthouse until his death at 100. Yes, the lighthouse was tended by both father and daughter for over 70 years! A similar situation also happened with Rhode Island’s lighthouse keeper, Ida Lewis, of Lime Rock Light.
Catherine Moore was appointed Keeper to secede from him when she was 66 and remained at the station for another seven years. During the 62 years she spent tending the light for her father and as keeper, Kate is credited with saving 21 lives at the lighthouse.
Many survivors were brought to the lighthouse and provided food and shelter, but neither Kate nor her father were reimbursed for their expenses. As was the case for most keepers in those days, she and her father also had the daunting, emotional, and exhausting task of recovering the bodies of those who had perished in the wrecks.
In addition to tending the lighthouse, Catherine cared for a flock of sheep, carved and sold duck decoys, and had a little oyster business. She had no problem flaunting a shotgun to those who might trespass on her oyster beds, claiming that, as a representative of the United States Government, the oyster beds were her property.
She lived to be 95 years old and spent her remaining years living at a cottage across from the local yacht club, where she had a relaxing view of Fayerweather Island.
Books to Explore
The Rise and Demise of the Largest Sailing Ships
The Rise and Demise of the Largest Sailing Ships: Stories of the Six and Seven-Masted Coal Schooners of New England. In the early 1900s, New England shipbuilders constructed the world’s largest sailing ships amid social and political reforms. These giants were the ten original six-masted coal schooners and one colossal seven-masted vessel, built to carry massive quantities of coal and building supplies and measured longer than a football field! This self-published book, balanced with plenty of color and vintage images, showcases the historical accounts that followed these mighty ships.
Available also from bookstores in paperback, hardcover, and as an eBook for all devices.
Enjoy a 10% discount on the hardcover version. Printed and distributed by IngramSpark.
Book – Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions in Southern New England: Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts
Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions of Southern New England: Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. This 300-page book provides memorable human interest stories from each of the 92 lighthouses, like the story of Catherine Moore of Fayerweather Island Light. You can explore plenty of indoor and outdoor coastal attractions, including whale-watching excursions, lighthouse tours, windjammer sailing tours, parks, museums, and even lighthouses where you can stay overnight. You’ll also find plenty of stories of hauntings around lighthouses.
Book – Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions in Northern New England: New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont
Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions of Northern New England: New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. This 300-page book provides memorable human interest stories from each of the 76 lighthouses. It also describes and provides contact info for plenty of indoor and outdoor coastal attractions and tours. These include whale watching, lighthouse tours, unique parks, museums, and lighthouses where you can stay overnight. There are also stories of haunted lighthouses in these regions.
Book- New England Lighthouses: Famous Shipwrecks, Rescues & Other Tales
New England Lighthouses: Famous Shipwrecks, Rescues & Other Tales contains over 50 stories. This image-rich book also contains vintage images provided by the Coast Guard and various organizations and paintings by six famous Coast Guard artists.
You can purchase this book and the lighthouse tourism books from the publisher Schiffer Books or in many fine bookstores such as Barnes and Noble.
Copyright © Allan Wood Photography, do not reproduce without permission. All rights reserved.
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