Alki Point: Kerosene Lantern to Lighthouse
In 1868 Hans Martin Hanson and his brother by marriage Knud Olson bought the 260 sections of land from Dr. David Maynard. The price tag was $450. Later Hanson and Olson isolated the property with Hanson's piece being the point. Rumors have spread far and wide suggesting that at some point during the 1870s rancher Hanson hung a metal lamp fuel light from a post. He did this to check the perilous sandbars of Alki Point for the sailors of Puget Sound who were expanding in numbers. In 1887 the Federal Lighthouse Board concluded that Alki Point was very perilous to marine traffic and they supplanted Hanson's lamp oil light with a "post lamp". "Post lamps" were utilized in numerous areas until a beacon could be constructed. Since the lamp was on his property, Hanson was delegated, to the flight attendant. His compensation was $15.00 every month. For this, he filled the gas tank, cleaned the glass, managed the wicks, and lit and stifled the light day to day. He wa...