Digest>March 2002

Photo Caption:

Ida Lewis, lighthouse heroine. After her father, the keeper of Lime Rock Lighthouse in Newport Harbor, Rhode Island, suffered a stroke when Ida was 15 years old she assisted her mother with maintaining the lighthouse. She soon took over full duties of the keeper, unofficially. In 1879 by a special act of Congress she was appointed keeper of the light. Over the years she was credit with saving 23 people from drowning, She became so famous that among her many famous visitors were even President of the United States Ulysses S. Grant and Vice President Colfax. Her last rescues took place when she was 64 years old when she rescued a women who fell overboard on her way out to rescue her. In her honor the name of the Lime Point Lighthouse was changed to the Ida Lewis Lighthouse.
Back to the edition of: March 2002

Story:

Women of the Lights
Back to the edition of: March 2002

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