Linda’s Monthly Monday Morning Moaning’s for October 2, 2023
The “big ones” that hit near Southwest Florida were Donna 1960, Charley 2004, Wilma 2005, Irma 2017, and Ian 2022, not even counting the hurricanes that happened before they started giving them names, which puts in doubt the “every ten years” myth.
Created in a metal factory in New Jersey in 1883. Loaded on a ship which ultimately sunk two miles from Sanibel. Salvaged from the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico by a crew of hard hat divers from Key West it would be lit for the first time on August 20th, 1884, the historic Sanibel Lighthouse became one of the first lighthouses on the Gulf Coast. Image below circa 1941.
The Sanibel Lighthouse is located on the eastern end of the 12-mile long island. The idea to build the Lighthouse was first proposed by some of the settlers of the island in 1833, when they petitioned for one to be built. Along the way there were other recommendations for a lighthouse to be built. After the Civil War, there was a request made with the idea that it would cause an increase in trade, and travelers would be able to find the Island more easily. However, no real action was taken until 1883 when Sanibel finally received that $50,000 they needed to fund construction. The building of the Lighthouse finally started in February of 1884. Although they faced complications along the way, in only a few short months the Lighthouse was finally completed. It was first lit on August 20th, 1884 with kerosene oil. In order to get to the top of the Lighthouse, the lighthouse keeper had to walk up an external spiral staircase.
The original keeper was Dudley Richardson, who was the keeper from 1884-1892. In 1888, Henry Shanahan moved to the Island and became the assistant to the keeper. After Richardson retired, Shanahan applied for the role as keeper, and eventually was given that position. Along the way there were other people who lived on the island who took over the job. In 1946, a Coast Guardsman by the name of Bob England took over the job. A hurricane had hit the Island while he was keeper and it caused a lot of erosion to the Lighthouse. Due to the fact that there was so much erosion it was decided that the Lighthouse would become automated. England’s job as keeper was discontinued when the Lighthouse became officially automated in 1949.
In 1972, the Coast Guard had proposed to discontinue the running of the Lighthouse, however mariners and people that lived on the Island had opposing ideas. They ended up convincing them not to move forward. In 1982, people were able to live in the development by the Lighthouse for free in exchange for helping to maintain the area around it. After being owned by the Coast Guard, the Lighthouse was finally given to the City of Sanibel in 2004. The City had raised money to fix up the Lighthouse, and in 2013 they finally raised enough money to restore the building. Hurricane Ian in 2022, would finally finish the job of removing the keepers and out buildings supporting the light. A supporting leg on the light was blown away, but a repair was enabled and the light tower itself, saved once again. Images below, circa 2023.
Many thanks to the United States Coast Guard for their images, Sanibel Island Holliday info, Florida Memory info, 1947 vintage Sanibel Island Light postcard part of the authors collection.
On that ‘wee note’ till next time, Monday November 6, 2023.
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Linda Osborne Cynowa 