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There aren’t many icons left in town that would merit an entire issue for an anniversary, but the Point Fermin Lighthouse is one of them.
For being a sprite 150 years old, the lighthouse looks incredible. This is due in no small part to the attention, care, and love that members and volunteers of the Point Fermin Lighthouse Society give to it daily.
Because of people like them, our town’s history continues to live on.
I want to thank everyone at the society, especially Martha and Joe McKinzie, Diane Bertelsen, and Kristen Heather, for their guidance, support, and expertise in helping us put this special 150th anniversary issue together. We couldn’t have done it without you.
Lastly, I want to thank and acknowledge the late Bill Oleson
and John Olguin, two San Pedro legends whose work in preserving and sharing San Pedro’s history lives on.
I continue to see their spirit in organizations like the Grand Vision Foundation, the San Pedro Bay Historical Society, the San Pedro Heritage Museum, and, of course, the Point Fermin Lighthouse Society.
As San Pedro enters a new era, it’s important to keep the memories and lessons of our past alive for future generations.
Olguin summed it up best in an interview with the L.A. Times in April 1984.
“This is part of a heritage of people who live in Southern California,” he said. “The idea is we want everyone to fall in love with it, so, since we won’t be here forever, someone else will carry on and take care of it.” spt
Joshua Stecker is the publisher/ editor-in-chief of San Pedro Today. Letters to the Editor can be emailed to contact@sanpedrotoday.com.
CELEBRATE 15 YEARS OF MUSIC
MUSTANGS
Trailblazing
DEJA VU
The Music of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
SUNDAY, SEPT 22 | 4 PM
Immerse yourself in classic ’70s folk-rock with faithful renditions of Teach Your Children, Helpless, Suite Judy Blue Eyes, Love the One You’re With and more.
AUGUST 2024
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF /PUBLISHER
Joshua J. Stecker
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Lori Garrett
ART DIRECTION
Joseph A. Castañeda
PHOTOGRAPHER
John Mattera Photography
CONTRIBUTORS
Julia Murphy, members of the Point Fermin Lighthouse Society
CONTACT INFO:
Phone: (424) 224-9063 contact@sanpedrotoday.com
San Pedro Today P.O. Box 1168
San Pedro, CA 90733
ADVERTISING: General Inquiries: ads@sanpedrotoday.com
Patricia Roberts (562) 964-8166
patricia@sanpedrotoday.com
VOLUME 16 | NUMBER 7
ON THE COVER: Point Fermin Lighthouse, photographed on July 18, 2024. (photo: John Mattera Photography)
This issue is dedicated to the late John Olguin and Bill Oleson, and to everyone who continues their legacy by preserving and sharing San Pedro’s history for future generations. May that spirit live on.
San Pedro Today publishes the last Thursday of every month and is produced monthly by Empire22 Media LLC. No portion of this publication can be reproduced without written permission by Empire22 Media LLC. 20,000 copies are delivered to portions of San Pedro and Rancho Palos Verdes. San Pedro Today is a product of Empire22 Media LLC. Empire22 Media LLC, their subsidiaries and affiliates are released from all liability that may involve the publication of San Pedro Today Copyright 2009-2024, Empire22 Media LLC.
Dancer, author, 6 generations in San Pedro announcing a book signing THE SPANISH SWAN BALLET a short and inspirational story
Sunday, September 8, 2024, 3pm
AUGUST 2024
1 (Thurs) – FIRST THURSDAY in Downtown San Pedro, 6p. – The popular First Thursday ArtWalk is back! The redesigned First Thursday will feature guided ArtWalk tours, open galleries, outdoor dining, and live music on the corner of 6th and Mesa streets.
2-3 (Fri-Sat) – SHAKESPEARE BY THE SEA at 22nd Street Park (140 W. 22nd St.), 7p. – New location! Shakespeare by the Sea returns to San Pedro at a new park for our festival closing. Bring low-backed beach chairs or blankets and dress in layers. This year’s productions are Cardenio (Friday, August 2) and Henry IV (Saturday, August 3). Admission is FREE, and donations are gratefully accepted. For more info, visit shakespearebythesea.org.
3 (Sat) – HOLY TRINITY WESTERN HOEDOWN at Holy Trinity (1292 West Santa Cruz St.), 5-9p. – Hotdogs or sliders, chips and sides, games for kids. Country music, line dancing, casual attire. For more info, call (310) 548-6535.
4 (Sun) – EXPLORE THE COAST / EXPLORA
LA COSTA at the West Harbor Promenade (boarding at W. 6th St. and Harbor Blvd.), 2p. –
Join the L.A. Maritime Institute (LAMI) aboard one of our tall ships to explore the coast on our bilingual, STEM-focused educational and exploration sail, with hands-on scientific activities, trained bilingual (Spanish) docents, and engaging materials. Families and children are welcome to join us for the two-hour round-trip excursion. Children must be 10 years or older, and all minors must be accompanied by an adult. Sponsored by Marathon Petroleum. Advanced registration required, $10 donation per person. To learn more and register, visit lamitopsail.org/etc.
11 (Sun) – SPIRIT OF ‘45 at S.S. Lane Victory (2400 S. Miner St., aka Dave Arian Way, Berth 522), 7:30p. – Live 1940s era music, classic cars, vendors, and food trucks at the S.S. Lane Victory, one of the last two surviving WWII ships of the 467 built in the Port of Los Angeles. The Spirit
of ‘45 is a movement commemorating the end of WWII and celebrates the valor, sacrifice, and indomitable spirit of America’s Greatest Generation. Dress in vintage-inspired 1940s era (optional). Note: It gets breezy. For tickets, visit lanevictory.org/event.
17 (Sat) – SAN PEDRO MAKERS MARKET at West Harbor Promenade (6th Street & Harbor Blvd., next to LA Maritime Museum), 11a-4p. – Join artists, artisans, and makers for a fun day of shopping, food, drinks, and fun activities. This FREE event is family- and dog-friendly. Hosted by Homemade by the Hays and sponsored by San Pedro Today. For vendor info, message @ sanpedromakersmarket on Instagram. Ample parking available on surrounding streets and lots.
17 (Sat) – “LEGACY OF LIGHT” 150TH ANNIVERSARY GRAND CELEBRATION at Point Fermin Lighthouse (807 W. Paseo Del Mar), 10a-3p. – The public is invited to celebrate the commissioning of the lighthouse in 1874. Expect immersive
exhibits, activities, Model T cars, vintage exhibitors, family activities, and food and drink vendors. There will also be a San Pedro High School Band parade and a birthday cake! (See ad page 9.)
17 (Sat) – SAN PEDRO SUMMER BLOCK PARTY at Downtown San Pedro (7th St., between Mesa and Centre streets), 4-9p. – Join us in Downtown San Pedro for a summer block party! The event will include a beer and wine garden, live music, pop-up vendors, and performances by Old Friends jazz band and DJ Runaway. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church will be celebrating 140 years with a fundraiser for Fred Brown Recovery Services. For more info, visit discoversanpedro.org.
24 (Sat) – SAN PEDRO PRIDE 2024 at West Harbor (600 S. Harbor Blvd.), 3-9p. – Join us for a celebration of love, diversity, and community as we ride the “Tides of Pride” this summer! Get ready for an unforgettable night with two charismatic hosts and eight spectacular performances. Enjoy dazzling drag
shows, live music, singers, dance performances, and more. This event is family-friendly, so bring everyone along! For tickets and more info, visit bridgecitiesalliance.com/ san-pedro-pride-2024. (See ad page 11.)
25 (Sun) – SUNSET SAIL ON SAN PEDRO HARBOR at the West Harbor Promenade (boarding at W. 6th St. and Harbor Blvd.), 6p. – Join the L.A. Maritime Institute (LAMI) to see the San Pedro Harbor from a different perspective on one of our monthly sunset sails! You can sit back and relax or become part of the crew — your choice. Either way, you’ll enjoy the sunset from the deck of a tall ship — and don’t forget a picnic to enjoy! Tickets $60 for adults, $30 for children (12 and under). For tickets and more info, visit lamitopsail.org/events. spt
Events deadline for September 2024 is Friday, August 16.
Email events@sanpedrotoday.com to place a listing. Find more events at sanpedrotoday.com.
SP OTLIGHT
BY SPT STAFF
LIGHT AT THE LIGHTHOUSE CELEBRATES 20 YEARS
Light at the Lighthouse, a free family festival featuring faith-based Christian music and entertainment, returns to Point Fermin Park for its 20th year on Saturday, August 31.
The festival, which takes place at and around the Point Fermin Park stage, will feature several notable Southern California faithbased bands and choirs, including the popular reggae band Christafari.
Other mainstage performers include The Katinas, Lev
Shelo and Corry Keeler, Alan Kisaka and friends, Project 633 and Cole Marcus, Living Stones, Mt. Sinai Gospel Choir, and Alabanza.
The theme this year is “WALK ON WATER!”
The festival will also feature a Gen Z stage with young artists such as Harbor Music, S.O.G. Crew, and Princess Demiar. There will also be food trucks and a “Kids’ Kingdom” area for attendees to enjoy.
In addition to the musical lineup, the day will also include several guest speakers, including Pastor
George Ramirez, Pastor Melvin Ardón, Pastor Linda Cruz, and international missionary Mark Geppert.
The Light at the Lighthouse “WALK ON WATER!” 20th anniversary music festival is Saturday, August 31, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Point Fermin Park (807 W. Paseo Del Mar). Admission is free. For more information, visit lightatthelighthouse. org.
SAN PEDRO WELCOMES
DR. JANE GOODALL
On Saturday, September 21, the community is invited
to attend an unforgettable U.N. International Day of Peace celebration honoring Dr. Jane Goodall’s 90th birthday.
The event will take place at Point Fermin Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., where Dr. Goodall will share her message of hope, inspiring people worldwide to take action on behalf of people, other animals, and the planet.
The day will be filled with live music, inspirational messages, like-minded environmental groups, arts and crafts activities, pet adoptions, and engaging exhibits from Roots & Shoots groups, Rotary clubs, and Interact groups, promising an uplifting day for everyone. The event will celebrate all that is good, kind, and positive.
The U.N. International Day of Peace and Jane Goodall’s 90th birthday celebration will take place on Saturday, September 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Point Fermin Park (807 W. Paseo Del Mar). Admission is free. For more information, contact Darlene Zavalney at (310) 200-5603. spt
Light at the Lighthouse (left); Dr. Jane Goodall at the Grand Annex in January 2013. (photos: courtesy Light at the Lighthouse, Joshua Stecker)
POINT PROTECTORS
A dedicated group of members and volunteers continue to keep the lighthouse shining
BY JULIA MURPHY
Ifyou’ve only experienced the Point Fermin Lighthouse casually by walking by the gardens and manicured property, you cannot help but notice the sense of care about the place.
The flowers alone hug the perimeter of the white picket fence in spirited allegiance to all who look after them. The exterior of the star resident is well-maintained, and if a window or two is open, you might hear the excited recounting of lighthouse stories by volunteers.
The ongoing efforts of the volunteers and members (there is a distinction – see page 18) of the Point Fermin Lighthouse Society have been invaluable in keeping this beacon of history alive.
Built in 1874 after a 20-
year delay, the Point Fermin Lighthouse was erected due to the efforts of Phineas Banning and several local businessmen, who petitioned federal officials to build a lighthouse on the point to welcome ships coming into what is now L.A. Harbor. The lighthouse’s 4th order Fresnel lens and oil lantern were first lit on December 15, 1874.
Volunteers have been part of the lighthouse’s story for decades. For the sake of brevity, we will focus on the early 1970s, when two legendary San Pedrans led the effort to restore the Point Fermin Lighthouse and, later, locate the lost Fresnel lens.
In 1972, after years of fading glory, the lighthouse
came close to demolition when the late Bill Olesen, a San Pedro historian and retired boat builder (for Wilmington Boat Works), and celebrated San Pedran, the late John Olguin, decided to form the Point Fermin Lighthouse Committee (now the Point Fermin Lighthouse Society) to help restore the lighthouse to its former glory.
There were letters of appeal to local government officials and stakeholders for assistance and funds.
The Coast Guard and the City of L.A.’s Recreation and Parks Department were also involved.
The lighthouse’s restoration was in line with rediscovered blueprints. Oleson and Olguin were intent on
preparing the lighthouse for its 1974 centennial celebration. This included dismantling the Radar Housing (the “Henhouse”), a military observation deck used during World War II.
Olesen said at the time, “The exterior restoration was completed about 15 minutes before the centennial celebration, which was held on November 2, 1974. The festivities included a parade, a giant birthday cake, and children’s craft projects.” Also, in 1974, the lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Soon after, Olesen and Olguin began the quest for the long-lost 4th order Fresnel lens. According to the PFLHS, this was not the original lens from 1874, but one that
Members of the Point Fermin Lighthouse Society, photographed July 7, 2024. (photo: John Mattera Photography)
replaced it in 1912.
The orphaned Fresnel lens had been on display on the Santa Monica Pier and then found its way to a Malibu real estate office, of all places. Once Olesen and Olguin went to see the lens, the process of getting it back was slowed by a reluctance to let go of this possible historical artifact and the need to prove its provenance.
Along this journey, Huell Howser, the popular host of
California’s Gold with Huell Howser on PBS, got involved in the efforts to return the lens to the lighthouse.
According to lighthouse records, when Fresnel lens expert Jim Woodward compared photographs of the 1912 lens with photos of the lens in the Malibu real estate office, he confirmed that the alignment of “every screw slot was exactly the same,” thus the “fingerprint” of the original lens was confirmed.
On December 16, 2006, a homecoming celebration was held at the lighthouse for the return of the original 4th order Fresnel lens that had been lost after removal in 1941.
At the time, Point Fermin Lighthouse historic site curator Kristen Heather said, “It’s surrealistic to see the lens back in the house. It is almost like a dream that you never thought would happen.”
Referring to the blueprints, Olesen, Olguin, and their team restored the original lamp room. They chose to station the Fresnel lens in a prominent spot on the ground floor since it was no longer actively used, where it still sits today.
“The 150th anniversary of the Point Fermin Lighthouse is not only a celebration of a cherished historical landmark — one of the oldest buildings in Southern
California — but a testament to the commitment of our community to preserving our maritime heritage,” says L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn. “I like to think that the society’s founders, John Olguin and Bill Olesen, are smiling down on the lighthouse and would be so proud of the labor of love that Martha Austin McKinzie and the society have carried on.”
In 2002, the lighthouse went through significant renovations so that, in 2003, it could open to the public with new interpretive exhibits and tours.
In addition to acquiring the Fresnel lens, the Point Fermin Lighthouse Society was eager to add more life to the interior. Volunteer Mary Lou Fourtane led the push to furnish the various rooms with period antiques. While some volunteers didn’t mind giving tours
GETTING IT BACK: (top) Members of the PFLHS pose with the 1912 4th order Fresnel lens in 2006 at Louis T. Busch Associates Real Estate office in Malibu before taking it back to the lighthouse; (top right) PFLHS founders Bill Oleson (center) and John Olguin (right) in the mid-1970s; (right) Julian Jimenez (the last lighthouse keeper), Martha Austin McKinzie, Huell Howser, and Olguin in 2009. (photos: courtesy Point Fermin Lighthouse Society)
“I like to think that the society’s founders, John Olguin and Bill Olesen, are smiling down on the light- house and would be so proud of the labor of love that Martha Austin McKinzie and the society have car- ried on.”
- L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn
in empty rooms, Fourtane finally had had enough.
Martha Austin McKinzie, current president of the Point Fermin Lighthouse Society, remembers Fourtane yelling
in frustration, “I refuse to do any more tours until we can start getting furnishings in the house!”
McKinzie’s grandparents, Will and Martha Austin, were lighthouse keepers at Point Fermin from 1917 to 1925. Their daughters, Thelma and Juanita, took over for a few years after their parents died. Her family members were the last keepers before the City of L.A. took over operations in 1927.
Today, the society has furnished each room as it might have looked during a particular keeper’s time at the lighthouse.
In 2018, after a six-year campaign, the deed to the lighthouse officially transferred ownership from the U.S. Coast Guard to the City of Los Angeles, which in-
cluded a “Keys to the Deed” ceremony.
To honor the lighthouse’s 150th anniversary, the society has planned a special event for each month in 2024, with the big Grand Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, August 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the lighthouse.
Volunteer Rosie Knight, 36, started working with the PFLHS four years ago after attending a Tea by the Sea
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event. She loves living within walking distance of the light.
“The lighthouse is in a beautiful location,” she says with enthusiasm, “and I think it’s important to [preserve] old buildings, especially with its eclectic history of women lighthouse keepers.” spt
For more information on the Point Fermin Lighthouse Society, visit pflhs.org.
This photo of the lighthouse from the 1890s was developed from a glass negative that PFLHS member, Joe McKinzie, found in 2010. “I got them from the trash at a house in Redondo Beach that was being cleaned out,” he said. (photo: courtesy Joe McKinzie / Point Fermin Lighthouse Society)
PASSING THE TORCH
A new generation of volunteers is needed to continue the lighthouse’s legacy BY
ThePoint Fermin Lighthouse Society (PFLHS) is a robust but aging group. The society has 200 members, with about 50 members regularly volunteering their time and talents.
(NOTE: Volunteers are society members, but not all society members are volunteers.)
The mission of the PFLHS is to build community spirit, pride, and distinction for this historic landmark by facilitating public support and community engagement through education, site preservation, community outreach, and special event support.
When the current society formed in the early 2000s, many volunteers were in their 50s and 60s. Given that it’s now 2024, the need for a new wave of volunteers is essential.
The volunteers’ range of life experience, abilities, and interests is astounding. According to Diane Bertelsen, “Our volunteers each bring their own set of unique skills. The oldest volunteers are Mary Lou Harris (90) and Ann Barnett (87), and they volunteer weekly.”
“I am 55, and I love being called one of the young ones!” says Renee Paulson, who joined the PFLHS in January. “I like helping people learn about San Pedro history and about how people lived life in that time period.”
“There’s something about volunteering versus being on the job,” says volunteer Rosie Knight. “It opens the way to spontaneous conversation with interesting
JULIA MURPHY
people of all ages.”
According to Martha Austin McKenzie, volunteers Mary Lou Fourtane and Diane Bertelsen have been organizing informal recruiting events once a month.
“The other day, we just had a picnic,” says McKenzie. “We just said, ‘Anybody come, bring your own lunch, and we’ll set up tables and chitchat.’”
The importance of volunteering cannot be overstat-
“There’s
something
about
volunteering
versus
being on the job. It opens the way to spontaneous con- versation with interesting people of all ages.”
ed. The Point Fermin Lighthouse’s future depends on having enough dedicated volunteers to continue maintaining it and educating the public about its history for years to come.
“It went through the 1933 earthquake and didn’t get [damaged] at all,” says Martha Austin McKenzie. “It’s done really well.”
“The lighthouse is such a treasure. We’re blessed to live in a community with a national treasure,” says Bertelsen. “The people who [volunteer] do it because they love it.” spt
For more information on volunteering or becoming a Point Fermin Lighthouse Society member, visit pflhs. org.
The San Pedro Bay Historical Society in its 50th Anniversary year heartily congratulates the Point Fermin Lighthouse on its 150th Anniversary. Shine On!
SAN PEDRO BAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Muller House Museum & Archives sanpedrobayhistoricalsociety.org
KEEPERS OF THE LIGHT
A brief history of the many interesting caretakers of the Point Fermin Lighthouse
BY JULIA MURPHY
MARY & ELLA SMITH (1874-1882)
In the history of the caretakers of the Point Fermin Lighthouse, perhaps the most interesting and peculiar story is that of the two Smith sisters, who were the lighthouse’s original keepers when it was first lit on December 15, 1874.
Mary Smith, the older sister, was in her 30s and understood the significance of her being a lighthouse keeper at the West Coast’s newest light. In 1874, having a woman in the primary role was highly unusual. Wives would assist their husbands, which was often the case.
But Mary and her younger sister, Ella, came experienced to the job. When their father, George Knight Smith, retired from operating the
Ediz Hook Lighthouse in Port Angeles, Wash., Mary took over his primary duties, with Ella as her assistant.
San Pedro was a fledgling community when the sisters arrived at Point Fermin in 1874. The lighthouse stood alone with the surrounding land undeveloped. Getting any foodstuffs required taking the horse and wagon over to Wilmington.
The sisters were also expected to fish and raise vegetables in their garden to supplement their food supply. Maintaining an adequate water supply in the cisterns was always challenging, given the lack of regular rain. And, since the Smith sisters were the first keepers at the new lighthouse, they would be the unlucky ones to discover any
flaws in the engineering.
According to Henrietta E. Mosley’s book Point Fermin Lighthouse Families: 1874-1927, “Point Fermin’s revolving apparatus was quirky. Mary’s daily log entries show numerous attempts by the U.S. Lighthouse Service lampist to regulate the device, but it never worked well. In 1884, after the Smiths had departed, the entire pedestal and clockwork assembly would be changed out.”
In January 1882, Ella Smith returned to Washington state to be with her family. The U.S. Lighthouse Board hired Ella’s replacement while Mary remained the lead keeper.
James Herald, who arrived with his family, was a Civil War veteran and an
The Point Fermin Lighthouse, circa 2024. (photo: John Mattera Photography)
Crust
FIRST LADIES: According to the PFLHS, this is the only known image of the Smith sisters (inset). This is a very early stereograph of the lighthouse, circa 1875, shortly after it was built. Dr. James Brust, a San Pedro native, bought the photo at an antique show in the late 1990s and donated the use of the photo to the PFLHS in 2009. (photo: courtesy Dr. James Brust / Point Fermin Lighthouse Society)
amputee. Employment laws at the time gave preference to disabled war veterans, provided they could perform their jobs effectively. How Herald managed to assist Mary with just one leg tugs at the imagination. His cantankerous personality was also well-matched by his wife’s sour mood. The Heralds set out to harass
Mary Smith and slander her reputation in order to have her removed.
For the next three months, Mary struggled with the erratic couple. Smith wrote to Cmdr. George W. Coffin of the 12th Lighthouse District, “Dear Sir – What can you make of Mr. & Mrs. Herald’s repeatedly telling me that I should be murdered before
the 6th of April, are they insane?” Later she observed, “Mr. H. looks haggard & worn – says he is frightened and must leave this house within three days – He’d go tonight could he find a house to shelter him –seems terribly in earnest, so does his wife at times – then laughs & ridicules the idea – Again will come up & in a most mysterious manner say ‘don’t sleep in your bed tonight …’” (Mary L. Smith to Cmdr. George W. Coffin, March 30, 1882; Henrietta E. Mosley’s Point Fermin Lighthouse Families)
Cmdr. Coffin ultimately decided to fire both Smith and Herald. Several articles about this period state that Mary Smith left the job because she was lonely. But the reality was much more complicated. And, after more than a decade of lighthouse service (in Washington and California), her desire to continue her work as a capable keeper was ruined by an overly zealous war veteran and his plotting wife. It was an unfortunate ending to Smith’s career.
change. Captain George N. Shaw was known to be very outgoing with a “salty congeniality,” according to Mosley’s book.
The timing of Shaw’s arrival serendipitously coincided with the growth of San Pedro. The Southern Pacific Railroad extended its line from Wilmington to Timm’s Point, allowing for more ship traffic.
Captain Shaw was also a Civil War veteran but with all his limbs intact. He was assisted by his young bride, Carrie (he was 50, she was 22), and they welcomed a daughter, Verna, in 1884. The Shaws invited all of Wilmington and San Pedro to the lighthouse to celebrate Verna’s eighth birthday.
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GEORGE NICHOLS SHAW (1882-1904)
When Mary Smith’s replacement arrived, he brought an air of hopeful
The initial years there were happy, but the marriage didn’t last. Verna was sent to the Bay Area for school and to be close to her maternal grandparents. Carrie eventually joined her. Capt. Shaw was left alone to manage the lighthouse property and complete his term. He did this while attempting to divert any attention away from his divorce, which carried a stigma at the time.
IRBY ENGELS (1904-1916)
When Irby Engels arrived
George Nichols Shaw (left) and Irby Engels. (photos: United States Lighthouse Society Archives)
William Austin with daughters Juanita (left) and Thelma. Thelma would take over as the last resident keeper of the lighthouse under the U.S. Lighthouse Service. Inset: Martha Austin; (far right) Thelma Austin (right) with the Olguin boys (John is in the middle) in the mid-1920s.
(photos:
in 1904, he brought his wife Elizabeth and their young daughter Angelica. A key event during Engels’ time was the arrival of President Teddy Roosevelt’s Great White Fleet, a flotilla of 16 warships touring the Pacific on a goodwill mission. This majestic show of might brought many residents to the cliffs.
Inside the lighthouse,
they now had phone service and indoor plumbing. With the influx of visitors came more risks to the lighthouse equipment.
According to Mosely’s
book, Engels “says he is compelled to guard carefully against women with diamond rings, as they are always likely to rub them on the glass plate prisms of the big light in an effort to cut their initials.” Evidently, this early graffiti was a real problem, enough to be mentioned in the official lighthouse instructional guide.
WILL & MARTHA AUSTIN (1917-1925)
Will and Martha Austin were the grandparents of Martha Austin McKinzie, the current president of the Point Fermin Lighthouse Society.
The couple arrived at Point Fermin after serving at Point Arena and Point Conception. William Austin was a former sea captain and cowpuncher, and his wife, Martha Avila Bunce, was a descendant of the prominent Pico and Avila land-grant families.
Theirs was a great example of a lighthouse family, and, in their case, with eventually eight children, they had a small workforce. When it came to trash
disposal, Cecilia Rasmussen of the Los Angeles Times wrote in 2002, “The children disposed of kitchen garbage by tying a rope to one of the younger boys, who clutched an armload of trash, then lowering himself about 100 feet below the cliff, where he left the trash to be engulfed by the sea.” The article continues, “As a joke, the boy once untied himself and retied the rope to a bush, then watched as his siblings tugged vainly on the rope trying to pull him up.”
Martha Austin died in 1925. Bereft, her husband died a few months later. Their daughters Thelma and Juanita reasoned that “… we had a sacred duty to perform: to promulgate the heroic work which our parents had started.” Thelma was 25 and Juanita was 21 when they took over the lighthouse operations.
“They were like the Thelma and Louise of their time,” says Martha Austin McKinzie.
The Austin sisters were the keepers until 1927 when the City of Los Angeles took over stewardship of the lighthouse.
courtesy Martha Austin McKinzie, Point Fermin Lighthouse Society, the Olguin family)
WWII II & the City of L.A. (1927-1974)
Oscar I. Johnson, an L.A. City employee, became the last caretaker to turn on the light before the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
The lighthouse went through several significant changes during the WWII years. After the Pearl Harbor attack, the U.S. government issued coastal blackouts, which suspended the use of the light.
The lighthouse was never lit again.
The exterior was also painted green for camouflage, and a Coast Guard building was built in front of the lighthouse.
The lens was removed, and a “chicken coop” apparatus replaced the lantern room.
After the war, the lighthouse returned to the care of the City of L.A. in 1946, with Glen Sullivan taking over as caretaker from 1946 to 1973.
Julian Jimenez (1979-2002)
The last lighthouse keeper was Julian Jimenez, who worked through the City of L.A.’s Department of Recreation and Parks. Jimenez and his wife, Lisa, lived in
the lighthouse from 1979 to 2002.
Jimenez also fulfilled other park duties in different areas of the city. During his tenure, he is widely credited with keeping the lighthouse free of graffiti and vandalism.
According to PFLH documents, Julian “not only looked after the lighthouse property, but was responsible for rescuing injured seal lions, pulling suicide victims off the cliffs and befriending all who came to his door as well as protecting park visitors, resources and facilities.”
Jimenez was a very active member of the San Pedro community. He was instrumental in revitalizing the lighthouse and the Improved Order of Red Men Lodge (San Pedro Wigwam). He was also responsible for the Fourth of July fireworks every year at Cabrillo Beach.
Julian passed away in 2016, while Lisa’s passing followed in 2023.
“As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of this community treasure, I hope others will join me in remembering the last keeper of the lighthouse, the late Julian Jimenez and his wife Lisa. Their love and care for the lighthouse will not be forgotten,” says L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn. spt
Julian and Lisa Jimenez in 2008.
(photo: John Mattera Photography)
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• efectos de la pandemia
STEP BACK IN TIME
A look inside the Point Fermin Lighthouse
Historic Site and Museum BY SPT
STAFF
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE POINT FERMIN LIGHTHOUSE
SOCIETY
Walking inside the Point Fermin Lighthouse is like walking through a time portal to an era when life was much different. You can smell the history in the air as you walk from room to room, imagining what it must’ve been like to live there without electricity, limited communication, and so far removed that the nearest place to purchase goods was in Wilmington.
When the lighthouse was initially opened to the public for tours in November 2003, there was no furniture in the house. Volunteers were walking visitors through empty rooms. But thanks to the efforts of the Point Fermin Lighthouse Society, they’ve been able to furnish every area with vintage furniture and household goods, heavily focused on the early period from 1874 to 1927 and the keepers of that era, before the City of Los Angeles took over.
The lighthouse is open Tuesday through Sunday, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. It’s closed on major holidays and for special events. Admission is free, but access inside is only through guided tours. Free tours are on a firstcome, first-served basis and are offered every hour at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. For more info, visit laparks.org/pflighthouse.
Here’s a look at a few of the rooms inside. To view more of the lighthouse, stop by for a visit!
BACK PARLOR
Here, you’ll find a 4th order Fresnel lens on display. This is not the original lens from 1874 but one that replaced it in 1912. The large, green-tinted glass lens sits on a pedestal under a protected enclosure. It went missing after World War II and eventually ended up in a real estate office in Malibu. Through the efforts of the PFLHS, the lens was returned to the lighthouse in 2006.
(photo: John Mattera Photography)
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FRONT PARLOR
Tours enter the front door into the front parlor, which envisions the first two keepers, sisters Mary and Ella Smith, having tea in 1874. Traditionally, in a Victorian home, the front parlor was where you received visitors and served guests. However, this was not a typical Victorian home; instead, it was a federally-run lighthouse. Also, every major room in the lighthouse has a coal-burning fireplace. This room also features a vintage pump organ.
KITCHEN
In 1874, there was a lot of activity in the kitchen, which explains the front and back doors. Behind the end wall is a large pantry where goods were stored. Considered the “heart of the home,” the kitchen features a turn-of-thecentury Majestic coal/wood burning stove (attached to the large chimney), a vintage clothes washing machine and hand wringer, and an icebox from the 1880s, among other interesting items. The lighthouse started receiving running water in 1906 and electricity in 1925.
KEEPER’S OFFICE
This room was built to be a living room for the second keeper’s family but has traditionally been used as the keeper’s office.
A desk in the corner displays the lighthouse keeper’s log, where each keeper listed their daily activities. This room also features some of the original glass windows. The society is currently working on a collection of tools that the keepers used, like vintage oil cans.
The uniform in the corner is a reproduction of an official lighthouse keeper’s uniform with a “K” on the epaulet that stood for “keeper.” There are a few keepers’ jackets and caps for children to try on and take photos. spt
(photos: John Mattera Photography)
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