Primary Keepers:
Alfred A. Berghell / Thomas Knight / Charles Seabrook / Benjamin F. Stone / Thomas Knight / Harlie Fleming / Warren Bennett / William T. King / Bryant J. Williams / John S. Childs / Ernest V. Bryan / Clarence L. Miller / William A. Edelkamp / Frank Tucker / John D. Evdokimoff / Donald F. Thurston / Frank Warren / John D. Lloyd / John T. Rogers / Donald H. Steerman / Donald W. Partridge / Luther M. Jacobson / Michael B. Sutton / Jerry S. Vosburgh / Thomas M. Golembeski / Mike D. Helms / Larry G. Jesse / David L. Sparkenbaugh Roger Koger
1st Assistants:
Henry A. Keys / Thomas E. Albury / Clifton H. Lopez / Ramon Pinder / George B. Nauman / John H. Minges / Clarence Malloy / Reinhard Heisser / Jesse E. Powell / Guthrie Phelps / Clarence W. King / Benjamin F. Stone / Reinhard Heisser / Judge B. Isler
2nd Assistants:
Robert H. Thompson / Austin R.A. Curry / Harvey E. Behringer / Michael L. Shanahan / Willie M. Sharit / John T. Corcoran / Lawrence F. Meyer / Joseph B. Davis / Frederick W. Munn / William E. McCreary / Joseph B. Davis / Robert Niven / Jesse E. Powell / Dossy Davis / Judge B. Isler / David Swain / Blicker B. Sorensen
Additional/Temporary:
John H. Minges / Thomas H. Watts / Charles L. Sisson / David C. O'Hagan
Click on the titles and names below to show or hide the details for that specific position or person.
Name: Samuel Alfred Alexander Berghell
Born: December 6, 1865, Vassa Finland
Died: February 20, 1939, Santa Monica, CA
Position: Principal Keeper
Operational Body: United States Light House Establishment
Dates of Service: March 7, 1907 - August 1, 1911
Previous Position: American Shoal, Keeper
Reason for departure: Resigned
Notes:
Name: Thomas Knight
Born: November 13, 1879, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Died: February 8, 1938, Pompano Beach, Florida
Position: Principal Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: August 1, 1911 - April 30, 1919, Returned October 15, 1919 - December 31, 1936
Previous Position: Cape Canaveral, 1st Assistant.
Reason For Departure: First departure was to Jupiter as he and his wife Fannie believed their children would receive a better education there. Finding the location not as desired, he and replacement Charles Seabrook, petitioned their Superintendent to be able to swap locations. Knight's second departure was due to retirement.
Notes:
Name: Charles Seabrook
Born: November 6, 1883, Hardeeville, South Carolina
Died: February 2, 1952
Position: Principal Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: April 30, 1919 - October 15, 1919
Previous Position: Tybee Island, 1st Assistant.
Reason For Departure: Transfer to Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse
Notes:
Name: Thomas Knight
Born: November 13, 1879, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Died: February 8, 1938, Pompano Beach, Florida
Position: Principal Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: October 15, 1919 - December 31, 1936
Previous Position: Jupiter Inlet, Principal Keeper.
Reason For Departure: Retirement.
TopName: Benjamin Franklin Stone
Born: December 28, 1900, Titusville, Florida
Died: April 1945, Savannah, Georgia
Position: Principal Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service / United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: January 1, 1937 - October 31, 1941
Previous Position: Cape Canaveral, 1st Assistant.
Reason For Departure: Forcibly retired due to health issues.
Notes:
Name: Harlie Fleming BM1
Born: November 2, 1905, North Carolina
Died: June 17, 1983, Sugarloaf Shores, Florida
Position: Officer in Charge (OIC)(Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: October 20, 1941 - November 21, 1941
Previous Position: Ft. Lauderdale.
Reason For Departure: Transfer to Ft. Lauderdale
Notes:
Name: Warren Bennett CMM
Born: August 30, 1910, Palatka, Florida
Died: August 25, 1980, Pompano Beach, Florida
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: November 11, 1941 - October 1, 1949
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure: Transfer to Norfolk, VA
Notes:
Name: William Thomas King BM1
Born: March 5, 1921, McCormick, SC
Died: November 10, 2000, Greenville, SC
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: October 1, 1949 - June 17, 1951
Previous Position: Jasmine, BM
Reason For Departure: Transfer to White Holly
Notes:
Name: Bryant Joseph Williams BM1
Born: 1921, Worthington Springs, California
Died: December 17, 2002 Gainesville, Florida
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: June 18, 1951 - February 5, 1952
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure: Transfer to Cutter Poinciana in Miami, FL
Notes:
Name: John S. Childs, Jr. BM1
Born:
Died:
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: February 5, 1954 - July 8, 1954
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure: Unknown
Notes:
Name: Ernest V. Bryan BM1
Born:
Died:
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: July 8, 1954 - September 20, 1954
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure: Unknown
Notes:
Name: Clarence L. Miller BM1
Born:
Died:
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: September 20, 1954 - January 2, 1956
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure: Transfer
Notes:
Name: William A. Edelkamp BM1
Born: 1927
Died: 2020
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: January 2, 1956 - August 31, 1957 (approximated)
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure: Unknown
Notes:
Name: Frank Tucker BM2
Born:
Died:
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: September 1, 1957 - December 31, 1959 (dates approximated)
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure: Unknown
Notes:
Name: John D. Evdokimoff, Jr. BM1
Born: 1919
Died: 1993
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: (approximated start date) December 31, 1959 - May 20, 1961
Previous Position: Crash boat, Miami Beach, Fl
Reason For Departure: Transfer to New London, CT
Notes:
Name: Donald Fred Thurston BM2
Born: November 27, 1934, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Died: December 19, 2013, Kentucky
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: May 20, 1961 - March 23, 1963
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure: Transfer to Northern Michigan
Notes:
Name: Frank Warren BM1
Born:
Died:
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: March 23, 1963 - February 1, 1966
Previous Position: Southwest Harbor lighthouse, MA
Reason For Departure: Transfer
Notes:
Name: John David Lloyd BM1
Born: January 18, 1939, London, England
Died:
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: February 1, 1966 - July 9, 1968
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure: Transfer to Point Thatcher
Notes:
Name: John Thomas Rodgers BM1
Born:
Died:
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: July 9, 1968 - June 4, 1969
Previous Position: Loggerhead lighthouse
Reason For Departure: Transfer to Miami
Notes:
Name: Donald Horton Steerman BM1
Born: February 13, 1942, Atlanta, Georgia
Died: July 22, 2008, Atlanta, Georgia
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: June 5, 1969 - 1972
Previous Position: Miami, Fl
Reason For Departure: Transfer to Maine
Notes:
Name: Donald Wayne Partridge BM1
Born: August 26, 1936, Adrian, Michigan
Died: August 22, 1998, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: 1972 - April 1, 1978
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure: Retirement
Notes:
Name: Luther M. Jacobson BM1
Born: Minnesota
Died:
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: April 1, 1978 - 1981
Previous Position: Governor's Island, NY
Reason For Departure: Transfer
Notes:
Name: Michael B. Sutton P.O.
Born:
Died:
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service:1981 - 1984
Previous Position: Ice Breaker Northwind
Reason For Departure: Transfer back to Ice Breaker Northwind
Notes:
Name: Jerry Stephen Vosburgh P
Born: 1955, Maryland
Died:
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: 1984 - May 28, 1986
Previous Position: Cutter Dauntless
Reason For Departure: Transfer
Notes:
Name: Thomas Michael Golembeski Chief Quartermaster
Born: May 16, 1939 Jersey City, NJ
Died: February 13, 2017
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: May 28, 1986 - June 12, 1989
Previous Position: Miami
Reason For Departure: Transfer to Guam
Notes:
Name: Michael D. Helms
Born: September 23, 1957
Died:
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: June 12, 1989 - July 1992
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure:
Notes:
Name: Larry G. Jesse PO3
Born: Nebraska
Died:
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: July 1992 - July 1997
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure:
Notes:
Name: David Lee Sparkenbaugh PO2
Born: July 30, 1963
Died:
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: July 1997 - January 6, 1998
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure:
Notes:
Name: Roger H. Koger
Born:
Died:
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: January 6, 1998 - August 1998
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure:
Notes:
Name: Arthur Makenian COTR
Born:
Died:
Position: OIC (Keeper)
Operational Body: United States Coast Guard
Dates of Service: December 1998 - March 2002
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure: Retired
Notes:
Name: Henry Augustus Keys
Born: October 20, 1866 Key West, Florida
Died: January 1941 (Woodlawn Park North Cemetery, Miami)
Position: 1st Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Light House Establishment
Dates of Service: March 8, 1907 - March 18, 1908
Previous Position: 2nd Assistant, Loggerhead Key
Reason For Departure: Dismissed for insubordination
Pay: $550 /year
Notes:
Name: Thomas Eldridge Albury
Born: May 11, 1875 Hope Town, Bahamas
Died: February 9, 1919, Tampa, Fl, (Woodlawn Cemetery, Tampa)
Position: 1st Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Establishment
Dates of Service: March 25, 1908 - February 7, 1909
Previous Position: 1st Assistant, Sand Key
Reason For Departure: Resigned
Pay: $550 / year
Notes:
Name: Clifton Harry Lopez
Born: December 25, 1887, Key West, Florida
Died: May 14, 1958, Hoxie, KS, (Hoxie Cemetery)
Position: 1st Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Establishment
Dates of Service: March 6, 1909 - September 7, 1909
Previous Position: 2nd Assistant, Rebecca Shoal
Reason For Departure: Resigned
Pay: $42.50 / month, $510 / year
Stats: 5' 7 1/2" tall, 187#, tattoo on right forearm of U.S. Shield and Eagle
Notes:
Name: Ramon Pinder
Born: July 20, 1875 Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas
Died: September 8, 1959 West Palm Beach (Woodlawn Cemetary, West Palm Beach)
Position: 1st Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Establishment
Dates of Service: September 16, 1909 - September 17, 1910
Previous Position: 2nd Assistant, Sand Key
Reason For Departure: Resigned
Pay: $42.50/ month, $510 / year
Notes:
Name: George Burnham Nauman
Born: March 10, 1874, Cape Canaveral, Fl
Died: December 7,1949 Allenhurst, Fl (Buried in family plot. Town no longer exists as it is part of the Patrick Air Force Base now)
Position: 1st Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: October 20, 1910 - February 12, 1916
Previous Position: 2nd Assistant, Jupiter Inlet
Reason For Departure: Transfer to Mosquito (Ponce) Inlet
Pay Beginning: $510 / year
Pay Ending: $564 / year
Notes:
Name: John Henry Minges
Born: December 2, 1876 Charleston, S.C.
Died: July 6, 1946 Charleston, S.C.
Position: 1st Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: February 18, 1916 - April 25, 1917
Previous Position: 1st Assistant, Tybee Knoll Cut
Reason For Departure: Transfer to Charleston, SC Depot
Pay Assistant: $564 / year
Pay as Additional Keeper: $840 / year
Stats: 5'7", 126#, Eyes- Blue, Hair- Brown, Complexion- Ruddy
Notes:
Name: Clarence Malloy
Born: April 22, 1878 Mobile, AL
Died: March 9, 1942 St. Augustine, Fl (San Lorenzo Cemetery, St. Augustine)
Position: 1st Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: June 26, 1917 - December 18, 1918
Previous Position: Unknown
Reason For Departure: Transfer to St. Augustine
Pay: $780 / year
Stats: 5' 5 3/4" tall, 157#, Eyes- Blue, Hair- Brown, Complexion- Ruddy
Notes:
Name: Reinhard Joseph Heisser, Sr
Born: June 8, 1887, Charleston, SC
Died: May 30, 1966 Daytona Beach, FL (Shady Rest Cemetery, Holly Hill, FL)
Position: 1st Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: January 22, 1919 - November 11, 1919
Previous Position: 1st Assistant, Jupiter Inlet
Reason For Departure: Transfer to Mosquito (Ponce) Inlet
Pay: $720 / year
Stats: 6' 8 1/2", 136#, Eyes- Brown, Hair- Brown
Notes:
Name: Jesse Everett Powell
Born: February 17, 1884 Bronwood, GA
Died: April 22, 1951 Biloxi, MS (Biloxi National Cemetery, MS)
Position: 1st Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: November 11, 1919 - September 16, 1920
Previous Position: 2nd Assistant, Hillsboro Inlet
Reason For Departure: Dismissed - Insubbordination / Deemed a troublmaker by Superintendent
Pay: $720 / year
Stats: 5'5", 165#
Notes:
Name: Guthrie Phelps
Born: October 18, 1899 Lockwoods Folly, NC
Died: February 4, 1969, Broward County, FL (Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens Central, Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
Position: 1st Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: October 29, 1920 - July 4, 1923
Previous Position: St. Augustine, 2nd Assistant
Reason For Departure: Transfer to St. Augustine
Pay: $720 / year
Stats: 5' 6", 156#, Eyes- Blue, Hair- Brown
Notes:
Name: Clarence William King
Born: August 11, 1894 Lakemont, FL
Died: December 19, 1964 Poughkeepsie, NY
Position: 1st Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: July 17, 1923 - April 30, 1924
Previous Position: 1st Assistant, Jupiter Inlet
Reason For Departure: Resigned
Pay: $720 / year
Stats: 5' 11", 180#
Notes:
Name: Benjamin Franklin Stone
Born: December 28, 1900, Titusville, Florida
Died: April 1945, Savannah, Georgia (Pompano Beach Cemetery)
Position: 1st Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: May 29, 1924 - February 15, 1926
Previous Position: Lighthouse Tender Water Lily
Reason For Departure: Resigned
Pay:
Notes:
Name: Reinhard Heisser
Born: June 8, 1887, Charleston, SC
Died: 1966
Position: 1st Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: April 1, 1926 - April 4, 1926
Previous Position: 1st Assistant, Mosquito (Ponce) Inlet
Reason For Departure: Discharged
Pay: $1,200 / year
Notes:
Name: Judson Becton Isler
Born: June 6, 1870 Morgan, Georgia
Died: October 24, 1957, Savannah, GA
Position: 1st Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: November 23, 1926 - July 22, 1939
Previous Position: 1st Assistant, Hillsboro Inlet
Reason For Departure: Retired
Notes:
Name: Robert Hamilton Thompson
Born: July 31, 1842, Nassau, Bahamas
Died: October 11, 1923, Coconut Grove, FL
Position: 2nd Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Light House Establishment
Dates of Service: March 7, 1907 - May 31, 1908
Previous Position: 2nd Assistant, Fowey Rocks
Reason For Departure: Transfer to Fowey Rocks
Notes:
Name: Samuel Robert Austin Curry
Born: May 24, 1874, Green Turtle Cay, Bahamas
Died: 1947
Position: 2nd Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Light House Establishment
Dates of Service: June 12, 1908 - June 21, 1909
Previous Position: 2nd Assistant, Fowey Rocks
Reason For Departure: Resigned
Notes:
Name: Harvey E. Behringer
Born:
Died:
Position: 2nd Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Establishment
Dates of Service: July 10, 1909 - March 31, 1910
Previous Position: 2nd Assistant, Carysfort Reef
Reason For Departure: Transfer to Pensacola
Notes:
Name: Michael L. Shanahan
Born:
Died:
Position: 2nd Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: March 31, 1910 - July 8, 1910
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure: Transfer to Alligator Reef
TopName: Willie Marshall Sharit
Born: July 20, 1875, Apalachicola, FL
Died: 1959
Position: 2nd Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: July 8, 1910 - May 7, 1911
Previous Position: 2nd Assistant, Alligator Reef
Reason For Departure: Deserted & Dismissed
Notes:
Name: John T. Corcoran
Born:
Died:
Position: 2nd Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: July 15, 1911 - September 23, 1911
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure: Transfer to Cape Romain, SC
Notes:
Name: Lawrence F. Meyer
Born:
Died:
Position: 2nd Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: December 3, 1911 - December 19, 1912
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure: Resigned
Notes:
Name: Joseph Burrell Davis
Born:
Died:
Position: 2nd Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: January 12, 1913 - January 21, 1914
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure: Resigned, but soon rejoined Service as 2nd Assistant at Jupiter Inlet.
TopName: Frederick W. Munn
Born: 1888, Awendaw, South Carolina
Died: August 1, 1966 Fulton, GA
Position: 2nd Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service:
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure:
Notes:
Name: William Edwin McCreary
Born: September 1, 1893, Cedar Keys, FL
Died:
Position: 2nd Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service:August 7, 1916 - December 21, 1916
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure: Resigned
Notes:
Name: Joseph Burrell Davis
Born:
Died: 1919
Position: 2nd Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: January 11, 1917 - November 25, 1918
Previous Position: Jupiter Inlet
Reason For Departure: Promotion to 1st Assistant At Mosquito (Ponce) Inlet, FL
Notes:
Name: Robert Nivens
Born: 1872, Edinburgh, Scotland
Died:
Position: 2nd Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: December 17, 1918 - May 10, 1919
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure: Resigned
Notes:
Name: Jesse Everett Powell
Born: February 17, 1884 Bronwood, GA
Died: April 22, 1951 Biloxi, MS (Biloxi National Cemetery, MS)
Position: 2nd Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: May 11, 1919 - November 20, 1919
Previous Position: None
Reason For Departure: Promoted to 1st Assistant, Hillsboro Inlet, Fl
Pay: $660 / year
Notes:
Name: Dossy Morris Davis
Born: June 5, 1892
Died:
Position: 2nd Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: November 20, 1919 - October 31, 1920
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure: Transfer to St. Augustine
Notes:
Name: Judson Becton Isler
Position: 2nd Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: November 4, 1920 - November 23, 1926
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure: Promoted to 1st Assistant, Hillsboro Inlet, FL
Notes:
Name: David Wilson Swain
Born: 1897, North Carolina
Died: 1976
Position: 2nd Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: November 23, 1926 - October 14, 1931
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure: Promoted to 1st Assistant, Hunting Island, SC
Notes:
Name: Blicker Bartaline Sorensen
Born: June 22, 1890, Southport, South Carolina
Died: 1973
Position: 2nd Assistant Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service:
Previous Position:
Reason For Departure: Transferred to 3rd Assistant at South Pass Jetty, LA
Notes:
Name: John Henry Minges
Position: Additional Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: October 3, 1920 - November 1, 1920
Notes:
Name: Thomas H. Watts
Position: Additional Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: April 30, 1926 - November 1, 1920
TopName: Charles Sisson
Position: Additional Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: August 5, 1930 - Date Unknown
Notes:
Name: David Cowie O'Hagan
Position: Additional Keeper
Operational Body: United States Lighthouse Service
Dates of Service: July 31, 1934 - August 16, 1934
Dates of Service: April 18, 1935 - June 1, 1935
Dates of Service: June 11, 1935 - September 14, 1935
Dates of Service: June 30 - 1936 - Date Unknown
Notes:
We would love to hear from you!
Drop us an email at
Hillsboro Lighthouse
Preservation Society
P.O. Box 326
Pompano Beach, FL 33061-0326