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President Thomas Jefferson appointed the first Cape Hatteras keeper in 1802, Adam Gaskins, a year before the light was finished. The last keeper, Unaka Jennette, ended his days at Hatteras in 1936 when the striped tower was darkened and a light was put atop a steel tower in Buxton Woods because erosion threatened the original light station. Between these two men were 83 others who also kept the light. And interwoven from the first to the last man is the history of “America’s Lighthouse.”
The keepers’ names will be engraved into the old foundation stones of the first plinth at the original site in time for the Hatteras Keepers Descendants Homecoming, May 4-6, 2000, as an interpretive exhibit. The idea of engraving the names on the stones was suggested to the National Park Service by Cheryl Shelton-Roberts, cofounder of the event’s cosponsor, the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society. The park service has agreed to move the engraved stones when they are threatened by erosion.
“The initial response to the homecoming announcement has been unbelievable,” says Lynn Jennette, wife of Rany Jennette, son of the last Keeper. “Many of these grandchildren and great grandchildren will be visiting for the first time.”
“So far, over 700 descendants say they are coming, and we really haven’t reached half of the people who are grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We have identified more than 8,000 persons who are descendants of Hatteras Keepers through the extensive research of Board-certified genealogist Sandra Clunies, and the Hatteras Island Genealogical and Historical Society. We will be doing additional mailings in the next three months,” Lynn adds.
One of the messages received by Mrs. Jennette exemplifies the appreciation for the planning committee’s efforts to bring the Cape Hatteras keepers’ descendants home as one big family. Jim Midgette writes, “...by the time this event is held, I’m sure most of us will find that we are related to many keepers by blood and marriage. All of us owe each of you a great deal of thanks and gratitude for what you have undertaken. The memories have been most enjoyable that this process has rekindled. I just wish that some of the older generation were still alive to enjoy the Homecoming. May you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving.”
The Outer Banks Lighthouse Society announced it has received funding support from its lead corporate sponsor, Bank of America. Additionally, another grant has been provided by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau to help with the event.
The Outer Banks Lighthouse Society is asking keepers’ descendants to search their attics and family records in the hopes of finding old photos and other information about family life at the lighthouse. A book about life at the Cape Hatteras Light Station will be published in March 2001, Hatteras Keepers: Oral and Family Histories. This book will be given to descendants at the Homecoming in May.
Saturday evening, May 5, 2001, the National Park Service will hold a rededication ceremony at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in conjunction with the homecoming and to bring to a close the successful move of the light station. The public is invited to the rededication and the lighthouse will be open for climbing the entire weekend.
The Outer Banks Lighthouse Society is still searching for more names and addresses. If you are related to a Keeper, please forward your email address to hattkeep@outer-banks.com. A website for the homecoming event can be accessed at http://www.outer-banks.com/hatteraskeepers. Mailing address for the planning committee is Hatteras Keepers Descendants Homecoming (HKDH) P.O. Box 550 Buxton, NC 28557 or call 252/995-6891.
This story appeared in the January 2001 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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