Lighthouse : Point Pinos, Pacific Grove, Ca

"Lighthouse" is the story of the lighthouse at Point Pinos from 1855 to the present. It is particularly strong on Emily Fish, principal keeper from 1893 to 1914. Although called the 'socialite lightkeeper' in a previous history, Emily was more than that. She was a hero, not a heroine in the fainting but persistent Scarlett O'Hara fashion, but in the straight-on way of that warrior-princess Xena. For 21 years Emily supervised the operation of the lighthouse, through good and bad times, with the help of her faithful companion Que and with the sometimes dubious assistance of 30 different male laborers, some of whom she had to fire for incompetence. She fought extended battles with a smoky lamp in 1895-97 and with a balky eclipser in 1912. At the end of her career, she was awarded the keeper's

Efficiency Star two years in a row and the next year, she was awarded a special commendation by the Secretary of Commerce for her service when she retired. In the book, quotations from her log help tell this story. The book itself has about 63,000 words, 124 interior black and white pictures, about 65 of archival value, and the color pictures on the front and back. The plans for the Lighthouse are included on pages 6 and 7. The appendices include a critical date timeline for the light at Point Pinos, the specifications for the New England plan lighthouse copied from the original documents of 1852, a map of shipwreck locations close to the Point. Included in the text are edited log selections from 42 years of keepers' log history from Allen Luce and Emily Fish. There is also a section and supporting pictures on the Beach Patrol and WW II at the Point.