Post by aneaglesangel on Jul 3, 2007 10:20:28 GMT -5
To me, Hannah Thomas is one of the first female heroes of America. Her bravery was enacted at the historic Gurnet Point lighthouse, in Plymouth. During the early 1760’s, her husband, John and she agreed to allow a lighthouse to be built on their property. In 1769, the lighthouse was complete and began operation. John and Hannah were faithful lighthouse keepers and kept the lights in both towers filled with oil and lit. When the Revolutionary War broke out, John left home to fight.
While John was away, Hannah continued to keep the light. At one point, an English frigate ran aground close by the island, and exchanged cannon fire with the colonists left to defend the lighthouse. A shot hit the tower where Hannah stood watch. After the war, John never returned home, and he was presumed dead. In 1790, Hannah was awarded the title, light keeper, making her the first female lighthouse keeper!
The original lighthouse had two towers, but in 1801 the lighthouse burned to the ground and was replaced with a bigger dwelling and two taller towers, in 1803. Later, in 1843, both towers were rebuilt, but in 1924, it was decided two towers weren’t needed so the northeastern tower was decommissioned. The south tower still stands to this day, in all its glory above the sandbars and surf of Plymouth Bay, a sentinel to the long and violent history of our country.
Hannah may feel as if she still has a job to do. This was her home, her island, her job, after all. Two photographers, Bob and Sandra Shanklin, lighthouse photographers, had decided to stay overnight at the old light keepers home. Bob awoke during the night, to see a woman hovering over Sandra. She was said to be wearing old time clothing, that buttoned up tight around her neck. She had long dark hair flowing down her shoulders. Bob reported her to be in her mid thirties, and that she appeared to be “intensely sad”. Bob reported looking out the window toward the lighthouse for a moment, and when he turned back, the apparition was gone. Bob stated that “he had a feeling it was Hannah.”
So did our tough and determined Hannah decide to stay on at the job, even after death? Did the woman I consider an early American female hero decide that she was the best woman for the job? Hauling oil, and keeping lamps lit? I can imagine her in my mind’s eye, lugging heavy jugs of oil, stomping up and down stairs in all weather. Staring out to sea, wondering when the next frigate would come and blast her quiet little island with cannon fire, would her husband ever return? I too, wonder. I wonder about Hannah, and the life she led, I wonder if she was happy, out there in the surf atop her island, keeping the light lit. I can only believe that something kept her there. Was it duty, was it love? I guess we’ll never know, unless, that is, we can be lucky enough to talk to Hannah herself. Honestly, if I ever had the chance, I think I’d enjoy that discussion very much!!
(What an added bonus! The whale watch boat goes right by Gurnet Point lighthouse. Boy, I bet everyone on that boat thought I was a freak when I jumped up, put my hands over my head in triumph and shouted, “Yes, I got Gurnet Point!!!”)