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 was helped by his child, Edmund, his six little girls, and his niece Linda Olson.

Mr. Martin's kids acquired his 320-section of the land ranch when he passed on July 26, 1900. They likewise acquired the light manager's work which actually paid just $15. a month. Edmund and his cousin Linda Olson alongside Edmund's kids kept the light consuming for an additional 10 years.

In 1910 the U. S. Beacon Service bought the 1.5 section of land pie-molded real estate parcel at Alki Point for $9,999. A 37-foot-tall octagonal cement and stone work tower with a connected haze signal structure was based on the point. Behind the beacon were constructed two enormous homes for the beacon managers and their families. To safeguard the structures from weighty swell during tempests and elevated tides the project workers achieved 7,000 yards of sand and rock a d added forthrightly.

This expected the help of two beacon guardians doing 12-hour shifts seven days per week for which they were each paid $800 per year in addition to lodging.

Throughout the long term, different enhancements were made in the beacon framework and changes in staff were made until in 1970, Albert G Anderson, the last nonmilitary personnel beacon manager resigned in the wake of expenditure of 20 years at Alki Point.

The light keeping was all done physically at the point until the 1980s. Coast Guardsmen stood monitor on eight-hour watches, 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The manager turned the aviation route guide on a one-half hour before nightfall and switched it off a one-half hour after dawn. The Chief Lighthouse Keeper's home was involved by the Commander of the thirteenth Coast Guard District.

The Alki Point Lighthouse was completely robotized in October 1984. The cutting-edge VRB-25 marine turning reference point works 24 hours per day, blazing once at regular intervals. A crisis light situated outwardly of the pinnacle is worked by 12-volt batteries. Two electric haze horns are actuated when perceivability dips under three miles.

The Coast Guard Museum, Pier 36, 1519 Alaskan Way S in Seattle is where you can see, in plain view, the old post lamp that was put on Alki Point in 1887 by the Lighthouse Service.

The Alki Point Lighthouse, 3201 Alki Avenue SW, is one of eight beacons on or close to Puget Sound open to guests.

Katy Beacher is resigned enrolled nurture. She has chosen it's more enjoyable to run a site and compose articles than it is to sit and sew. She depends on her lifetime experience at home improvement on a careful spending plan and investigation of patterns to work her site. She cherishes creatures and is intrigued by nature and marine life and seaside living.