A Century of Light

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2/1/12 - Coming Soon: www.wwimemorialtrees.com Website, The National Honor Roll, Memorial Trees Register, and history.

- Join us on our Facebook page Captain Edward: The Lighthouse Keeper

The Journey To The Lighthouse

Edward M. Hermann was born on February 11, 1878 in Tonawanda, New York, the oldest son of thirteen children to August and Mathilda Hermann. Information about his childhood is non existent except for one family photograph. The story of his journey begins much later and would probably be lost to us today if he hadn't kept it recorded in a small day book. Edward represents the beginning of an era and the end of an era. When Edward was born the automobile was not yet invented. Ships were still powered by sails or fueled by coal burning steam and mostly built of wood. People did not yet communicate by telephone. The Wright brothers had not built the first flying airplane. Travel on land was long and difficult by horse drawn wagons and stage coaches. Railroads were slowly connecting the vast areas of the United States. The War Between the States had only ended thirteen years before his birth. There was no Coast Guard or National Guard. There was however, a horse mounted Cavalry. And there were Lighthouse Keepers.

When Edward died on June 25, 1964 the world was a very different place. Only five years later two humans would walk on the moon. Edward's extraordinary journey through all this change includes a schooner ship and ends as the last U.S.L.H.S. Lighthouse Keeper at one of the most famous Great Lakes lighthouses. This is his story.

This web site is dedicated to the men and women of the United States Coast Guard and to all Lighthouse Keepers and their spouses and to the United States Life-Saving Service.

In memory of Lighthouse Keeper Captain Edward M. and Margaret King Herman.

In Honor of Delbert Lawrence, Richard Lawrence, Delcia Ackerman

For Charles Louis Herman, Alfred Herman, Louis J. Herman (d. August 13,1918 WWI, buried in Flanders Fields).

Thanks to all who thought to save the memorabilia in this collection, especially Lois Derby, Edward's neice who generously shared her own memories and photographs. And to Michael Lawrence-Weden who digitally photographed all the materials.

Special thanks to the following individuals and institutions for their generous help, time and permission to reproduce images and information from their archives: The Buffalo Lighthouse Association & Mike Vogel, The National Archives Washington D.C., The National Archives Chicago, The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, The Texas Air Museum, The Lakeside Heritage Society, The Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society, The Sandusky Public Library Archives (credit for all Liberty Bond Movement images), The United States Coast Guard Historian's Office, Washington D.C. and their archivists. The authors, historians and curators who generously looked through notes to help with incomplete data and information. Thank you to Seth Lawrence-Weden, Graphic Artist who designed this web site.