bjgreen
By Betsy J. Green
I’m happy to report that I just added my first article to Wikipedia. I’ve always felt that this amazing lady has been overlooked.
Julia F. Williams was the lighthouse keeper in Santa Barbara for four decades, and raised six children while married to a here-today/gone-tomorrow husband.
Here’s a snippet:
Julia Frances Curry Williams was one of the first female lighthouse keepers in California. She served for 40 years at the Santa Barbara Light from 1865 to 1905…
In 1856, the Williams family moved to Santa Barbara where Albert was offered the position of keeper for the newly built lighthouse. He only served as keeper for a few years, and after a couple of other keepers came and went, Julia was offered the position in 1865. Her husband moved to the city. There was no well at the lighthouse so, in addition to caring for her six children, Julia had to walk a mile to a spring with her children and a horse, to bring home cans of water. This trip was repeated to obtain firewood.[2] Each night, “she climbed the three flights of stairs at sunset and lighted the lamp. Every night at midnight, the lamp was trimmed or changed for a fresh one, and every morning as the sun touched the mountain tops, the same hand extinguished the light and drew the curtain across the lens and she went about her household duties.
You can read the full article here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Frances_Curry_Williams
Very nice. Thanks!
Women were tough in those days.
Says a man threatened by women.
Excuse Me?!?!
Some women are still tough.
What an interesting piece of local history! Thank you.
Lit is such an eloquent word. Why now we see lighted used instead of lit is beyond my insight of what is right these days.
As a dam caretaker, I sure can relate to the solitude and challenge of an isolated life. While I don’t go out for provisions on horseback, it is a 26 mile trek to town on a rugged dirt road by Jeep. I can’t fathom doing this job with six children in tow however, and I look forward to reading Julia’s story.
P.S. Hey Lew, if you see this, Alan Prichard here. Howdy!