Much has been written about lighthouse keepers and family life at a lighthouse. However, very little is known about the Lighthouse Inspectors whose job it was to travel to each lighthouse and make sure the station was being properly maintained and the keeper was doing his or her job.
This photograph of Commander George W. Coffin of the U.S. Navy turned up in the U.S. Naval Historical Foundations files. However, about the only thing we know about George W. Coffin is that he served in the U.S. Civil War and was a Lighthouse Inspector from 1881-1884. If any of our readers can supply us with some more information on Mr. Coffin or information and photographs of other Lighthouse Inspectors, please write to Editor, Lighthouse Digest, Box 1690, Wells, Maine 04090.
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