Boston Light Station in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, holds an honored place among America’s lighthouses. It was established in 1716 as the first light station on the continent. It’s also one of a small number of lighthouses to achieve designation as a National Historic Landmark. This past week, it was announced that the light station will be available to a suitable new steward under the guidelines of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act.
This episode contains sound clips from the following: a 1939 newsreel; a 1988 interview with the son of Maurice Babcock; a 1980s clip of Keeper Ralph Norwood; a 1991 clip of Josephine Norwood, wife of Keeper Norwood; a 1989 clip of Coast Guard keeper Dennis Dever; a 1989 clip of Senator Edward M. Kennedy announcing legislation concerning Boston Light; and three clips of Sally Snowman, the last (2003-2023) keeper of the station.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:28 — 23.3MB) | Embed
U.S. Lighthouse Society Historian Jeremy D’Entremont is the author of 24 books and hundreds of articles on lighthouses and maritime history. He is a past president of the American Lighthouse Foundation and founder of Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses, and he has lectured and narrated cruises throughout the Northeast and in other regions. He is also the producer and host of the U.S. Lighthouse Society’s weekly podcast, “Light Hearted.” He can be emailed at Jeremy@uslhs.org