Search yields 35 names of lighthouse keepers

CAPE VINCENT — The search for past Tibbetts Point lighthouse keepers is complete.

Joseph P. Dudek, president of the Tibbetts Point Lighthouse Historical Society, said he identified 35 keepers and has ordered a memorial plaque to honor those who kept the light shining at Tibbetts Point.

"I have gone ahead and ordered the plaque from the foundry," Mr. Dudek said. "We should have it about the beginning of March."

The 16-by-24-inch bronze plaque will list the names of all 35 keepers beneath emblems of the U.S. Lighthouse Service and U.S. Coast Guard. It will be placed on the foghorn building next to the lighthouse.

The lighthouse stands 69 feet above the water and has been a guiding light for vessels sailing the St. Lawrence Seaway since it was built in 1827.

And thanks to the lighthouse keepers, Mr. Dudek said, there hasn't been a shipwreck near the lighthouse for more than 180 years.

The lighthouse is now owned by the town of Cape Vincent and maintained by the historical society as a tourism landmark in the Thousand Islands.

For the past few years, Mr. Dudek has been searching national archives and seeking descendants of past lighthouse keepers in hopes to create a complete list of Tibbetts Point keepers.

Mr. Dudek had identified only 23 lighthouse keepers by last August and was about to cast the plaque in September. However, he decided to extend his search for another three months after he was contacted by several former U.S. Coast Guard personnel who told him there should be more keepers listed in the Coast Guard's archives.

"It got to the point where I had to contact the U.S. Coast Guard's Washington bureau," he said.

"My question to them was, 'Were there any official lighthouse keepers in their organization when they took over in 1939?' They came back with an astounding yes."

The historical society plans to unveil the plaque sometime in June with representatives from the Coast Guard, area politicians and members from the public in attendance.