The Lightkeepers Uniforms

Lighthouse Board · Lightkeepers · Uniforms · Instructions · Tools · FI Lighthouse · Interior Views

The Lighthouse Keeper's Uniform

The lighthouse keeper wore a double-breasted sack coat, vest and trousers of navy-blue cloth in winter, or navy-blue serge or flannel in summer. The coat had five large regulation triple gilt buttons on each side, all placed exact to regulation; two inside breast pockets and two outside hip pockets. Each sleeve had two small buttons on the cuff seam, 1/2 inch apart, with the lower button 1 inch from bottom of cuff.

On each lapel of the keeper's sack coat an embroidered gold loop was added with the letter K, for keeper, within the loop. The first assistant keeper had the figure 1 embroidered within the loop. The second assistant keeper had the figure 2 embroidered within the loop.

The lighthouse keeper's cap was designed in the Navy pattern with an adjustable chin strap. On the front of the cap a gold embroidered wreath enclosing a silver embroidered lighthouse and a black mohair braid an inch wide to be worn around the cap.

Regulations of 1912 prescribed similar uniforms for lighthouse keepers and officers of lighthouse tender vessels. This included a single breasted, fly-front coat, fitted closely to the body and similar to the Revenue Service uniform coat authorized in 1891. Collar ornaments for lighthouse tender officers and engineers were embroidered anchors and three-bladed propellers, respectively.

Light station personnel wore embroidered loops on the collars, enclosing either the letter K for the keeper, or the numbers one to four, depending on their ranks as assistants. Lighthouse personnel did not wear sleeve ornaments.

A standard Navy-type cap was worn, with a silver lighthouse ornament and a surrounding wreath. Regulation buttons also portrayed a lighthouse.

To indicate longevity, lighthouse personnel wore gold service stars and bars on the lower sleeve. Each five years up to 20 years was represented by one embroidered bar. A star designated 25 years and bars were added beyond that for each five years.

New Friends of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse, Inc. P.O. Box 1001 Selbyville, DE 19975

Donna Schwartz, Design & Web Administration