Keeper's House
Marblehead Lighthouse and Original Keeper's House - 1859 Photo from National Archives
Marblehead Lighthouse, 1955 Photo by USCG
The present Keeper’s House which replaced the original stone keeper’s dwelling, was constructed in 1880 and was the home to four principal keepers and four assistant keepers and their families. The house became a duplex in 1903 with the keepers living downstairs and the assistants living upstairs. After the last keeper retired in 1943, the U.S. Coast Guard maintained the Lighthouse. Some guardsmen and their families lived in the Keeper’s House and kept the light, then later it was used by the State of Ohio, Division of Parks and Recreation as a dormitory. In 1968, a Lt. Irish of the Coast Guard told the newspaper that the Keeper’s House was not fit to live in and should be demolished. See out About Us Page to find out why it was not demolished.
STEP INSIDE
The Keeper's House houses the Lens Room, the Marblehead Room, the Gift shop and the Gallery.
Video by Jones Drones Cleveland
LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS
From 1822 to 1943, fifteen principal keepers and five assistant keepers tended the light. (Since one man was an assistant before he became the principal keeper, there were really only 19 people instead of twenty.) Marblehead boasts the first female keeper on the Great Lakes and has had two women maintain the light over the years.
​​​Marblehead Light Keepers:
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Benajah Wolcott
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Rachel Wolcott
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Jeremiah Van Benschoten
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John Roderick Williston
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Charles Ferris Drake
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Lodrick Colly Brown
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Jared Bradley Keyes
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David L. Dayton
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Thomas Dyer
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Russell Douglas
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Thomas Julius Keyes
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George H. McGee
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Johanna H. McGee
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Charles A. Hunter
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Assistants- D. Clinton Egelton, Charles E. Perry, O. Earl Mapes, Andrew Turinsky, Edward M. Herman
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Edward Martin Herman​
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Keepers by the Numbers
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Oldest - Dyer at age 72
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Youngest - Turinsky at age 15
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Longest serving - Hunter, 30 years
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Shortest serving - Turinsky, 2 months
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Babies born while lightkeeper-16
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Had the most children Van Benschoten-14
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Had no children - Hunter and Herman
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Served in the military-7
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Wolcott, Drake, T. Keyes, Egelton, Perry, Turinsky, Herman
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Born in: New York-5, Ohio-5, Connecticut-2, Massachusetts -1, New Jersey -1, Illinois -1, Pennsylvania -1and Kansas -1.
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Not born in the United States- 2,
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Douglas - Canada and Wolcott - Connecticut British Colony.
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Died while keeper-3
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Wolcott, Dyer, G. McGee
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More information on the Keepers can be found at: https://marbleheadkeepers.glideapp.io
Inside the Keeper's House
The Lens Room
This room showcases the last Fresnel lens to operate in the Marblehead Lighthouse. The 3 ½ order lens was in used at the Lighthouse until it was removed in 1969 and placed in storage in Detroit. The U.S. Coast Guard and some local citizens were instrumental in bringing it back to Marblehead. It was displayed at the town hall and then the Coast Guard Station. Since the spring of 2004, it has been on display at the Marblehead Lighthouse Museum.
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Explore how the lens works and learn more about the history of the lighthouse and its keepers.
The Marblehead Room
This room depicts community life and industry of the area, with major focus on limestone quarrying, which was the primary industry during the 1800's. Artifacts representing fishing and the early practice of medicine in the community are also featured in this room.
Gift Shop
The Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society has both an onsite and online gift shop with a wide assortment of lighthouse themed gifts and clothing. Many of our items come from local artists or other small businesses. Our online shop carries most of the products you will find in the Keeper's House shop. All profits from your purchases will be used for the betterment of the Marblehead Lighthouse State Park and/or to enhance the visitors' experience.
GALLERY
A great place to look around or relax while your family members shop. Feel free to spend a little time out of the heat in the air conditioned gallery while you check out some photos from local photographers, watch your loved on at the top of the lighthouse on the live webcam, or make yourself a pinched penny.