Refer to page 13 of Lighthouses Short and Tall for Minots Ledge Lighthouse
Minots Ledge Lighthouse marks the route to Boston Harbor. It sits all alone, surrounded by water. Do you see the boat hanging
in its davits? The keepers used the boat to go ashore. A lighthouse tender came every few months to leave fresh water and
supplies. What would it have been like to transport water and supplies up that ladder? Could it have been done in rough weather?
Four male keepers alternated duty at the Minots Ledge Station. While three stayed on the station, one took leave to be
with his family on the mainland. How do you suppose they amused themselves when they were not on duty? Radio and TV were not
invented until the 20th century. Telephones were not available until the close of the 19th century.
Did they play cards, checkers, chess? Write letters? Read? Do you imagine that they got tired of each other’s company?
