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Joseph T. Yates, shown here in his younger years, reportedly served for at least 40 years in the U.S. Lighthouse Service, 25 of which as Third District Superintendent. During his tenure as superintendent he had nearly 200 employees working under him at the Lighthouse Depot and he was responsible for over 19,000 aids to navigation in his district. Also, whether directly or indirectly, all of the lighthouse keepers, and the captains and crews of the lighthouse tenders and lightships, reported to him. In 1931, Yates got himself involved in some political turmoil that reached all the way to Washington D.C. It seems the government had built a new home for the Lighthouse Superintendent and the home he was living in was to be replaced by a new post office building. However, Yates refused to move into the new superintendent’s home because he was unhappy with the way the painting had been done and because window screens had not yet been installed. This held up the $345,000 post office project and the dispute reached all the way to Washington. In spite of this, Yates refused to give in and stood his ground until the union workers completed the house to his satisfaction. (Lighthouse Digest archives)
Back to the edition of: Nov/Dec 2020
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