HISTORY'S GENERATION LOST

One of the entries in the Marblehead Lighthouse log book intrigued me. Keeper Hunter, a man not given to writing much detail had recorded that Mrs. Herman and Keeper Hunter were organizing the local WWI Liberty Bond Movement. Very little information is known to exist about the lives of the women who were married to Lighthouse Keepers. Unless after the death of their husband they were appointed head Lighthouse Keeper, wives remain the silent background within the package. If information is available it often only tells their stories while they were living at the lighthouse. Even for many of those women who went on to succeed their husbands as Keepers their life stories have been lost forever. No record exists beyond their duties at the lighthouse. In some cases, no record exists at all, not even while serving as Lighthouse Keepers. It is the one generation away from extinction that ultimately became extinct. Since no one bothered to save or share their stories they are lost to us forever.

I knew very little about Margaret. I was determined not to let her fade away into obscurity. There must be some information tucked away somewhere. But aside from the few family stories there was scant information to come by about her life. Even the addresses on the early postcards to Edward when she was still Margaret King had changed. Again a mountain with a landscape dramatically altered over time. The earliest address for her was on a postcard sent by Edward to a “Miss Margaret King, 17 Pine Street, Detroit”. The wonders of Google earth enabled me to visually walk down the very same street and rest at 17 Pine Street. A vacant lot and convenience store were all that remained to tell the story of the people who once resided there.

Another chance encounter with a seller on eBay led me to a book about the women of Lakeside, Ohio. Lakeside was a very active Methodist “Chautauqua “community. This community, still active today, was in the 1800-1900’s rich with women’s groups dedicated to education, the arts, and social reform. Numerous women suffragettes as well as Eleanor Roosevelt were guest speakers at the many social events held each year. The community also played host to Marion Anderson, an African American singer denied the right to perform at some of the country’s major music halls. Several books were written by Sally Sue Witten on the Lakeside community and the surrounding area. Sadly, she died shortly before I discovered her books. However, I did learn there was a Lakeside Heritage Society very much alive and still very active. Margaret and Edward had retired to Lakeside. If Margaret had been involved in the Liberty Bond Movement, there was a possibility she was involved in another social or political group that flourished there during the 1900’s. Perhaps the Heritage Society might even have information on the Liberty Bond Movement and her participation. I sent off an email and waited for a response.