The Ghost of the Lady Light Keeper

Fourth and final in our series of haunted lighthouses:

Location: Gurnet Point/Plymouth Bay
Station Established: 1768
First Lit: 1843
Operational: Yes
Automated: 1986

Near to where the Pilgrims came ashore in the New World, stands one of America's earliest lighthouses, at Gurnet Point in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Originally two towers were built and were first lit in 1769.  John and Hannah Thomas were appointed the keepers of both lighthouses since the towers were constructed on their land.  Shortly after taking the post John left to fight in the Revolutionary War and left Hannah to keep the lights burning all by herself.

John never came back from the war, and in 1790, Hannah was appointed the first female lighthouse keeper in America. In 1801 both towers caught fire and burned to the ground.  The towers were replaced, but the northeast one was dismantled in 1924. Hannah loved the lighthouse and remained as keeper until 1790. Ever since Hannah’s death people have said they have seen her ghost in and around the tower. 

Night at Gurnet Point – Lighthouse Photographers Bob and Sandra Shanklin had the opportunity to stay the night in the keeper’s house on Gurnet Point. 

Told in their own words: At some point, something woke Bob. He raised up on his elbow and watched the light come around, illuminating the windows for a few seconds each time. Then he looked over toward me (Sandra), who was sleeping soundly. Above me, he saw the head and shoulders of a woman. He described her as being a green blue electric spark color. He said she had an old time hairdo, sunken cheeks and the saddest face he ever saw. Bob told me that she wasn't wrinkled and he didn't think she was an old woman. He said he felt no threat from her, but only her sadness. As he watched her, out of the corner of his eye he could see the rays of light from the lighthouse come around several times, brightening the room. He looked toward the light, then looked back to where she had been and she was gone. While there is no way to ascertain with any degree of certainty the identify of the Gurnet Point ghost, Shanklins claimed he had a "feeling" it was Hannah Thomas.

--Kalina Schloneger, Education & Community Programs Intern

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Resources/for more about this haunted lighthouse visit:

Haunted LighthousesLegends and Lore by Sue Clark

United States Coast Guard

Ghosts of theMassachusetts Lights by Lee Holloway

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See our haunting production of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies' The Lighthouse, Feb. 8--12