Family Tradition: The Morong Keepers

On  January 1, 1935 Fort Popham Light at the mouth of the Kennebec River bordering Popham Beach, Maine was buffeted by a snowstorm with gale force wind that was sending waves across the beach and against the rocky shore. As dusk descended, Lighthouse Keeper Alonzo Morong donned heavy clothing and walked from his house, across a wooden bridge to the lighthouse tower to light the lamp that would shine through the storm and darkness. Ascending the short flight of stairs leading to the lantern room, he lit the kerosene Aladdin lamp, replaced the chimney, adjusted the wick so the flame would not stream up against the mantle, and pushed the lamp on its cradle out into the glass enclosed tower where its green light would shine through the darkness. Making sure that everything was all right, he descended the stairs to the entry. There he gave the cable a few windings to keep the clockworks moving. They powered the hammer that struck the fog bell on the outside of the tower every few seconds... BOING . . . BOING.