At Minot Light, pride for ancestors
Expedition aims to honor lost lives
COHASSET -- A.J. Antoine knows that certain details about Minot Light, the lighthouse destroyed in a violent storm in 1851 , remain a mystery. Why did the structure crumble? What were the final moments like for light keeper Joseph Wilson and his assistant, Joseph Antoine? But when the Cohasset resident goes to the local harbor and sees the site of the disaster , his unanswered questions vanish, and Antoine is consumed with pride for his lost ancestor.
"It's an honor to carry the Antoine name," said A.J. Antoine, who said that the Joseph Antoine who perished when the lighthouse collapsed was related to his great-grandfather. "I feel honored to think that someone in my family was one of those light keepers. Both keepers were heroes, really."
Antoine said he was thrilled when he learned that the Coast Guard was conducting an underwater archeological survey at the site where the original iron lighthouse collapsed. Partnering with historians and state officials, the Coast Guard continued a week long expedition yesterday and, under overcast skies and drizzling rain, held a memorial ceremony in honor of the lost light keepers.
A 5,000- pound block with a bronze plaque was lowered into the water after a moment of silence, and was placed near a significant area of the original lighthouse wreckage. Bob Browning , chief historian for the Coast Guard, said the monument was the first step in recognizing the lost lives of many light keepers.
"These brave men gave the last full measure of devotion to their duty to keep the light burning ," reads the inscription on the plaque.
Carrying underwater cameras, nearly a dozen divers headed into the water to survey and measure the area and gather artifacts. Though divers hoped to discover culturally significant items, Coast Guard historian William Thiesen said cables, pipes, and metal were among the most common materials found.
"Our intent is to map out the area," Thiesen said. "We're expecting to find some artifacts, but I doubt there's any that are extremely priceless."
While the divers search, other descendants of the lost light keepers hope for new information. John Small of Cohasset , who created a memorial for the light keepers on Government Island with his grandfather several years ago, said he hopes the expedition will bring his family closure.
"It's a real story of sacrifice to think about what those guys did, yet it's often overlooked," said Small, whose grandfather was a distant cousin of Joseph Antoine. "People see the present lighthouse, and they don't know there was another one first. [The expedition] will remind people of a piece of history that tends to be forgotten." 