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Lighthouse Service Flag Flown in 1973 Recalled Retirement

Stewart Edward, 92, of Grand Haven, Michigan recently shared with us this old newspaper photograph of his retirement from the United States Lighthouse Service. Unfortunately, he did not have the original photograph which explains the poor quality of the reproduction.

Edward is shown here (right) with his old friend Harold D. McLean (left) at their retirement. Both started their careers at the Sault Ste. Marie Lighthouse and Coast Guard Base as skilled laborers-watchmen. Both had been stationed at the same site until their retirement, with their duties eventually making them specialists in aids to navigation, mostly lighthouses, with their jobs taking them all over the Great Lakes.

When he joined, Edward said he was classified as a skilled laborer and for three or four years he and McLean, between them, put in a 24-hour shift, seven days a week, with each getting a day off every other week. He said that they could also quite possibly lay claim to the fact that they were the first radio operators on the northern Great Lakes. As a matter of fact they even gave weather reports over their own radio station, WRJ switching off being announcers.

Edward joined the U.S. Lighthouse Service in 1936 and McLean joined the Service in 1934. When the Coast Guard took over the U.S. Lighthouse Service they both remained as civilian employees. At their retirement McLean said he had no immediate plans except to do some snowmobiling with his wife Hilmar. Edward said he would continue working in the General Store (which he did part time while still in the Coast Guard) in Dafter, which had been founded by his late father. However the store was in the process of being sold which would allow him some time to do some traveling with his wife Muriel.

At the time of their retirement party at the Sault Coast Guard base, Capt. Robert J. Bloxsom, commander of the base, ordered that an old U.S. Lighthouse Service Flag be flown in their honor.

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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