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Maria Andreu’s Haven – The
First Female Light Keeper in Florida
Old St. Augustine Lighthouse, the sentinel of the
Ancient City, was first completed in 1824. On April
3, 1824, Minorcan John Andreu, a harbor pilot, lit
the lamps! Finally illuminating the St Augustine
harbor, the old Spanish watchtower along with its
historic fort became the first official lighthouse
in Florida.
As Lighthouse Keepers continued their duties with no
incident for 35 years, by late 1859 a tragedy
occurred. Keeper Joseph J. Andreu was pulling
himself up along the tower on a scaffold to begin
the task of whitewashing the Lighthouse and the
scaffolding gave way.
Andreu plummeted to his death and the government
appointed Andreu’s wife Maria Mestra de los Dolores-Andreu
to the new Keepers position. She served as the first
woman Keeper of the Light Station at St Augustine
until 1862. Her salary was a handsome sum: $400
annually.
With the Civil War in 1861, came the federally
ordered dismantling of the St. Augustine Light.
Erosion became its enemy and by 1871, it was decreed
that a new lighthouse would be constructed about 600
yards away from the old beacon, on firmer soil. The
second lighthouse at St Augustine was completed in
1874 and became a popular tourist destination. Again
erosion took its toll on the Old St Augustine
Lighthouse and it toppled into the sea during a
storm in 1880.
Today, the 165 foot St. Augustine Lighthouse is
dedicated to discovering, preserving, presenting and
keeping alive the story of our nation’s oldest port.
Our lighthouse is St Augustine’s oldest surviving
brick structure. A brick light keeper’s house was
added in 1876 then destroyed by fire in 1970 along
with the Tower. As recently as 1993, the 219 step
tower was officially opened to visitors.
We dedicate this safe ‘haven’ to Maria Andreu’s
courage! |
