Light Hearted Lite #41 – Kirby Eldridge, keeper at Boon Island, Maine

Light Hearted Lite #41 – Kirby Eldridge, keeper at Boon Island, Maine

This is an edited version of an interview that was first heard in May 2021. The guest is Kirby Eldridge, a former Coast Guard lighthouse keeper. Kirby was one of the two last keepers of Boon Island Light Station, which is about seven miles off the coast of southern Maine. Kirby and the other keeper at the time, Leo Berry, had to evacuate Boon Island during the devastating Blizzard of 1978, and the light was automated soon after that. [https://news.uslhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Untitled-August-11-2026-at-11.53.25-1024x576.jpeg] In this interview, Kirby recalls his harrowing rescue during the blizzard, as well as memories of everyday life at one of America’s most desolate light stations.

Light Hearted ep 350: Boston Light special

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. [https://www.gsa.gov/about-gsa/newsroom/news-releases/gsa-announces-opportunity-to-preserve-iconic-boston-lighthouse-08032026] [https://news.uslhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/00030_n_9aeeg3wjf0039-1024x654.jpg]Photo by Jeremy D’Entremont [https://news.uslhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/00487_n_14aeeg3fpg0487-JEREMY-DENTREMONT-679x1024.jpg]“Light Hearted” host Jeremy D’Entremont at Boston Light circa 1990 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.

Light Hearted Live! #8 – Author Jazmina Barrera (audio edition)

Jazmina Barrera, a native of Mexico City, is an award-winning author. Her book On Lighthouses is equal parts personal memoir, literary history, and observations on lighthouses. The book was published in Spanish in 2017 and translated into English in 2020. [https://news.uslhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Untitled-July-14-2026-at-14.20.23-5-1024x576.jpeg] “Barrera’s obsession is contagious. Her graceful sentences ensnare tidbits of history and tantalizing glimpses of her own life, accompanied by delicate sketches of lighthouses she’s visited, making this book a refuge from everyday life, a place of enchantment and safety.” —Shelf Awareness. This is the audio from the live stream of July 29, 2026. You can see the video on YouTube. [https://www.youtube.com/live/amez71SiuJM?si=6KjRAFCFcMf5Ugjf]

Light Hearted Live #7 – Historic preservation architect Walter Sedovic (audio edition)

Walter Sedovic has dedicated his career to sustainable preservation. With more than two dozen lighthouse projects in his portfolio, Walter is one of the foremost authorities on the analysis, preservation, and stewardship of our nation’s heritage lighthouses, their technology, and the significant environmental concerns related to their locations.  [https://news.uslhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/light-hearted-live-7-audio-1-1024x1024.jpeg] This is the audio from a livestream on July 23, 2026. To view the complete video of the livestream, click here. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAXEsi__C5U]

Light Hearted ep 349 – Bertha Caler, granddaughter of Maine keeper Millard Urquhart

Millard Urquhart. a native of Jonesport, Maine, was born in 1899. After a couple of years working as a Coast Guard surfman at a local lifeboat station, Urquhart became the second assistant keeper at Ram Island Ledge Light in Cape Elizabeth in 1926. In the following year he moved to Seguin Island as a second assistant. He moved quickly up the ranks, becoming a first assistant in 1930 and then principal keeper in 1931. In 1939 he became the principal keeper at Libby Island Light Station, where he finished his career as a keeper in 1943. [https://news.uslhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Untitled-July-10-2026-at-14.35.06-1024x576.jpeg] Urquhart’s granddaughter Bertha Caler has taken an interest in preserving the story of his career as a lighthouse keeper. Her mother and one of her uncles were born on Seguin Island. Bertha is an aficionado of lighthouses in general, especially in Maine.