The following letter was written by Frances Hallett, wife of Race Point Light Station keeper Osborne Earle Hallett (1945-1955). The letter was published in the September 1952 edition of the Maine Coast Fisherman.
P’Town Light Joins Up
A 1953 aerial view of Race Point Light Station.
(U.S. Coast Guard photo)
Race Point Light, Provincetown – “We enjoy reading MCF Magazine,” says Mrs. Osborne Hallett, “especially the doings at the different light stations, as we are stationed at Race Point Light. My husband is the keeper here, and he has two Coast Guard boys with him. The light is 45 feet high, 35,000 candle power, IOV (incandescent oil vapor).
“We have every convenience but electricity, and can say kerosene lamps aren’t too good, especially the Aladdins. The quarters are very nice. I have just finished painting from top to bottom in our quarters and papering the office.
A view of the “double-house” that Frances Hallett was referring to in her letter.
(U.S. Coast Guard photo)
“All the outside work is done with the exception of painting the double-house, and the inside work completed. We are two miles down in the beach sand with dunes all around us and the ocean practically at our front door.
“I envy some of the keepers who have written about their gardens, for all that will grow here is the wild roses and beach plums, which make nice jelly. In the summer time this is a busy place with Joe Drew’s Beach Taxi Service bringing sightseers several times a day, and fishermen at night.
“Pollock have been very numerous this season, but have gone now for the season, and bass have taken their place. Sixty bass were caught the other night along the shore from Peaked Hill Bars to Race Point Light. This is a great sport, and the bass are very good eating.
Osborne Hallett (keeper from 1945 to 1955) with niece Anne and her mother at Race Point Light, circa 1945.
(Photo courtesy of Anne Ames)
“My young niece, six, and my nephew, eight, are with me for the summer months and I enjoy it so much. It is a great place for children, as there are many wide open spaces and nothing for them to get into, so I don’t have to worry about them when they go out to play.
“We go in town often. It is a historical town and quite a noted place in the summer time. The Boston Belle Excursion Boat passes our light about a mile off every day and makes a three-hour stop-over in P’Town. She brings from 700 to 1,000 people each day. With this crowd and all the summer tourists it is quite a summer resort. We have been here seven years, and like it. It is a perfect spot in summer, and not too bad in winter.
“Best regards to Mrs. Clifton Morong and family at Cape Elizabeth Light, also Mrs. Bakken, and Bob and Shirley McWilliams at Goat Island Light; and Ralph C. Norwood and family at Spring Point Ledge Light. Will sign off for this time. Thanks for the interesting magazine.”
Race Point Light Station – ” It is a great place for children, as there are many wide open spaces and nothing for them to get into, so I don’t have to worry about them when they go out to play.” – Frances Hallett
(Photo courtesy of James Walker)
Anne Ames says
The most trouble I got in was rollerskating on the freshly painted signal house floor never seeing the damage behind me! Ozzie never said a word, just fixed it.
Florence Randall Hallett
Pic circa 1948. I was born 1946 so that makes this letter 1952
Florence corresponded with many keeper families and was proud of her shell collection sent from all over the US.
I was paid $1 per recovered plug by Joe Drew. They would wash up in the high tide flotsam.