Ladies Sip Tea, Talk Lighthouse History

Dozens of women gathered Thursday afternoon for tea and tales of the sea as historian and recently published author Patricia Majher presented her first book, Ladies of the Lights, at the .

The book features some 50 women who served as lighthouse keepers for more than a century, from 1849 to 1954.

As the state boasting the most lighthouses, Majher said it makes sense that Michigan once held the title of having the most female keepers. But the women who had the distinction of caring and operating lighthouses often did so at tremendous risk, which often came after a close personal loss.

For instance, three women included in Majher’s book – Hannah Thomas, one of the first known female lighthouse keepers; Rachel Wolcott, the first known female keeper in the Great Lakes; and Catherine Shook, the first female keeper in Michigan – all took their positions to take over responsibilities after their husbands died.

“Though no particular dress was required of service women, fashions from 1870 to 1910 … dictated that they wear floor-length skirts or dresses and high-heeled footwear,” Majher states in her book. “An uncomfortable and unsafe manner of dress for someone required to climb steps, tote oil containers, light lamps, and repair machinery.”

Majher, who became interested in female lighthouse keepers while serving as curator at the Michigan Women’s Historical Center in Lansing, also tracked down one of the last known female keepers for her book. The woman, Frances Wuori Johnson, is credited with saving a drowning swimmer. Majher said she was able to deliver a copy of her book to Johnson before she passed.

Mary Cornetious, a member of the historical society for 46 years, said she enjoys volunteering for the society. 

“My husband was the treasurer for the organization, and we used to always volunteer at these functions together,” she said. “Now that he passed away, I like to continue our tradition.”  

The Troy Historical Society features tea discussions on the last Thursday of each month. The next tea will feature Detroit historian Michael Hauser, who will explore legendary department store J.L. Hudson’s through photographs and artifacts.