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We recently discovered an original newsletter dated February 15, 1952, from a group called, "Active Retired Lighthouse Employees Association." The group had a post office box mailing address in South Portland, Me. and their bookkeeper was Robert E. Lee.
The newsletter appeared to deal with problems of civilian lighthouse keepers who had originally started employment with the U.S. Lighthouse Service prior to its demise and take over by the United States Coast Guard in 1939.
This issue dealt a lot with medical benefits and retirement asking members to write their Congressmen for help . . quoting from the newsletter, "Tell them of the great need for hospital treatment and care of the dependents of lighthouse employees. Explain to them the terrible sufferings undergone by those who received such low pay while in the service, that it was impossible to put aside savings to take care of sickness and old age."
Since this newsletter was dated 47 years ago we are sure many of the members of this association are no longer alive. What happened to the records and files of the association?
If any of our members can help us out, please, let's hear from you. It would be important to the lighthouse community to have any and all information to save for future generations and put some of it on display in our museum and other museums.
Help us solve the mystery. Write to Editor, Lighthouse Digest, P.O. Box 1690, Wells, Maine 04090.
This story appeared in the October 1999 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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