Keepers

Here is a list of the keepers of the Anclote Key Lighthouse. Special thanks to Tim Johnson who did all the research and wrote the list we have here!

The Keepers Of Anclote Key Lighthouse by Tim Johnson

Principal Keepers:

1. James W Gardner. Served August 3, 1887 to February 12, 1888.

2. Samuel Edward Hope, Jr. Assistant keeper August 26, 1887 to February 12, 1888. Appointed to Principal Keepers position on February 2, 1888. Served as principal Keeper February 12, 1888 to October 1, 1889. Ed Hope was the son of Captain Samuel Hope, hero of the civil war and first landowner in Anclote Area.

3. James M Baggett. Appointed assistant Sept. 12, 1888. Served November 1888 to October 1,1889. Appointed Principal Keeper, October 1, 1889. Served October 1, 1889 to July 11, 1891. Dr. Baggett was a dentist, the first to be certified in Florida in 1887. He also helped found the West Hillsborough Times Newspaper, which was a precursor to the St. Petersburg Times!

4. Robert S. Meyer. Appointed Assistant October 10, 1889, served October 1, 1889 to July 11 1891. Appointed Principal Keeper July 1, 1891, served July 11, 1891 to March 1, 1914 And July 1, 1923 to February 28, 1933. Note: during intervening years, lived in Anclote on the mainland and remained keeper of the Anclote River Lights during this period. Therefore he served as a keeper from October 1889 to February 1933, a total of 43 years!! Robert was the son of Ben Franklin Meyer, who with his brother Frederick bought land from Captain Hope, and founded the Community of Anclote.

5. T. A. Moody. Served March 1, 1914 to July 1, 1923.

6. J. L. Pippin. Served March 1, 1933 to the end of 1947.

7. Charles Eldon

Note: When the Coast Guard took over the Lighthouse System in 1939, Coast Guard personnel served with Mr. Pippin on site, taking three month duty shifts until the end of the Second World War. After Mr. Pippin left, the site was maintained by rotating Coast Guard Personnel until the Light was automated in 1952. After this, no one lived any longer at the site. The Keeper's houses fell into disrepair until a fire by vandals destroyed the structures in 1969.

Assistant Keepers:

1. Samuel Edward Hope, Jr. See above.

2. Jordan W. Hope (temp.) Served February 12,1888 to October 11, 1888 Ed. Hope's nephew.

3. James M. Baggett. See above.

4. Robert S. Meyer. See above.

5. (Oscar) Thompson. Served July 13, 1891 to June 19, 1892. Note: Not sure of first name.

6. George M. Angus. Appointed June 1, 1892, served June 19, 1892 to April 2, 1898. Was injured when he fell off front porch of Assistant Keepers House. Was hospitalized in tarpon Springs, where he later died.

7. Thomas S Coleman. Appointed April 2, 1898. Served April 3, 1898 to April 5, 1901.

8. B. F. Meyer (temp.) Served April 5 to May 5, 1901 Robert Meyer's Brother or Nephew.

9. John Peterson. Appointed April 15, 1901. Served May 5, 1901 to September 30, 1904.

10. David D, Klingner. Appointed October 1, 1904. Served October 23, 1904 to February 15, 1911.David's family lived in Pinellas Point in St Petersburg.

11. Osborn C. Johnson. Appointed Feb 15, 1911. Served February 15, 1911 to June 30, 1912.

12. Clifton A. Lopez. Served July 4, 1912 to March 1, 1914.

13. E. R. Washington. Served March 1, 1914 to January 19, 1920.

14. G. B. Watkins. Served March 1, 1920 to March 15, 1923.

Note: Assistant keeper post eliminated March 6, 1923 by Lighthouse Board.

SOURCES:

1. Logs of the Keepers of Anclote Keys Lighthouse. Courtesy of the National Archives Records Center, College Park, MD.

2. Sherman, William F.: Reference Service Report, "Keepers and Assistant Keepers of Anclote Keys Lighthouse, 1888-1912. Abstracted from a series of Personnel registers from Record group 26, of the Nation al Archives, Washington, DC. Courtesy of the National Archives.