On March 23, 2003, members of New Hampshire’s Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation, gave recognition to their “guiding light,” Connie Small. Connie, who was born on June 4, 1901, is the author of the book The Lighthouse Keeper’s Wife. She and her husband, Keeper Elson Small, lived at several Maine light stations beginning in 1920. They finished their lightkeeping career at Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, where they were the last regular keepers, in 1948. Since then Connie has given nearly 600 lectures about lighthouses to groups around New England.
The citation presented to Connie in March read as follows:
“The Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation, do hereby name Constance Scovill Small our Honorary Chairperson in recognition of her many years of exemplary service at light stations, including Portsmouth Harbor Light, with her husband Elson Small.
“We also thank her for the inspiration she has given so many through her book The Lighthouse Keeper’s Wife and her lectures.
“Connie is a light for us all to follow.”
To learn more about the Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, visit their web site at www.portsmouthharborlighthouse.org.
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