Ballast Point Lighthouse

In 1855 the Lighthouse Service constructed the first Point Loma Light Station high on a bluff to mark the entrance to San Diego Harbor. The location was thought to serve two purposes: 1) show the entrance to San Diego Harbor, and 2) act as a seacoast light to help vessels fix their position. In actuality, it served neither. It was too far from the channel into San Diego Harbor to help vessels navigate the narrow channel and it was too high to be of use to vessels sailing offshore as layers of low coastal fog obscured the light.

My lighthouse Service employment started in 1927 at the age of 19. I was encouraged by my brother-in-law who was the cook on the Lightship San Francisco (LV 70), an old coal burner. He started his career as a fireman serving six weeks on board with two weeks shore leave. Although he knew nothing about cooking when he applied he learned in a hurry with the help of his wife (my sister) and the arm load of cook books he took aboard. He became an excellent cook.