Alki Position: Kerosene Lantern to Lighthouse

In 1868 Hans Martin Hanson and his brother-in-law Knud Olson ordered the 260 acres of land from Dr. David Maynard. The purchase value was $450. Later Hanson and Olson divided the assets with Hanson's part currently being The purpose.

Legend has it that someday over the 1870s farmer Hanson hung a brass kerosene lantern from a post. He did this to be able to mark the dangerous shoals of Alki Point for the mariners of Puget Sound who were being expanding in figures.

In 1887 the Federal Lighthouse Board decided that Alki Stage was very hazardous to maritime visitors they usually replaced Hanson's kerosene lantern by using a "submit lantern". "Post lanterns" ended up employed at many spots until finally a lighthouse could b e designed.

As the lantern was on his home, Hanson was appointed light-weight keeper. His income was $fifteen.00 per month. For this he stuffed the fuel tank, cleaned the glass, trimmed the wicks and lit and extinguished the lamp everyday. He was aided by his son, Edmund, his 6 daughters, and his niece Linda Olson.

Mr. Martin's little ones inherited his 320-acre farm when he died on July 26, 1900. In addition they inherited The sunshine keeper's work which nevertheless paid only $15. per month. Edmund and his cousin Linda Olson in conjunction with Edmund's small children held the lamp burning for one more a decade.

In 1910 the U. S. Lighthouse Provider acquired the one.5 acre pie-formed piece of land at Alki Point for $nine,999. A
37-foot-tall Prevod sa srpskog na engleski octagonal concrete and masonry tower by having an connected fog signal setting up was designed on The purpose. Powering the lighthouse was Develop two large households for the lighthouse keepers as well as their people. To be able to guard the buildings from large swell all through storms and higher tides the contractors introduced in about seven,000 yards of sand and gravel an d included to The purpose.

This expected the assistance of two lighthouse keepers performing 12-hour shifts 7 times weekly for which they have been Every compensated $800 a year plus housing.

Over time various advancements had been made from the lighthouse process and alterations in staff had been built right up until in 1970, Albert G Anderson, the last civilian lighthouse keeper retired just after shelling out 20 years at Alki Issue.

Each of the light preserving was completed manually at the point until eventually the 1980's. Coast Guardsmen stood guard on 8-hour watches, 24 hrs a day, 7 days each week. The keeper turned the airway beacon on a single-half hour ahead of sunset and turned it off 1-50 % hour right after sunrise. The Main Lighthouse Keeper's house was occupied because of the Commander in the thirteenth Coast Guard District.

The Alki Issue Lighthouse was entirely automated in Oct 1984. The modern VRB-twenty five marine rotating beacon operates 24hours every day, flashing as soon as just about every five seconds.. An crisis mild Found on the outside of your tower is operated by 12 volt batteries. Two electric powered fog horns are activated when visibility drops beneath a few miles.

The Coast Guard Museum, Pier 36, 1519 Alaskan Way S in Seattle is in which you can see, on Show, the aged publish lantern which was placed on Alki Place in 1887 from the Lighthouse Assistance.

The Alki Stage Lighthouse, 3201 Alki Avenue SW, is among eight lighthouses on or in close proximity to Puget Sound open up to visitors.

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