Montauk Point Lighthouse

Montauk Point Light Station
Montauk, L.I., NY
Nov. 16,1920

Dear Dad,
Your letter arrived today and was sure glad to hear from you. Have moved so many times perhaps your letters haven't caught up with me yet. I surely didn't receive them or I would of answered long before. But I have every reason to believe that I'll be here all winter and although the road is closed during a couple of the worst months, ought to be able to hear from you quite often.

The first lighthouse keeper in our family was my grandfather, John Ninde Buckridge. He had a picturesque career in the Navy and was part of Perry's Expedition to the China Sea and Japan where the Treaty of Friendliness was signed in March, 1854. He was one of three Americans who slept on Japanese soil after the Treaty was signed. His next venture was as a member of the Paraguay Expedition under LCDR Joseph Hull of Saybrook, CT, which took place from 1856 to 1859. Then he served in the Civil War, was injured and had his right leg amputated at the thigh.

We reached Montauk Light, and the end of our second day's tramp, a little after dark. Later in the evening we accompanied the keeper (Mr. Ripley) on a tour of inspection. Going through a passageway we found ourselves in the oil room, neatly paved with colored tiles, the oil being stored in large tanks on one side of the room. The ascent is by 137 steps, winding around the central shaft and the walls are of enormous thickness; the tower, erected in 1796, was some years since strengthened by building a solid brick lining inside the original structure.