Minot Light dive inspires an idea

The waters around Cohasset's Minot Light, where an older lighthouse collapsed during a violent storm in 1851, could eventually become the state's first underwater heritage site.

During last week's five-day Coast Guard expedition to survey the area and recover artifacts, archeologist Victor Mastone said that depending on what the crew finds, the historical preserve could be a great educational tool and unique resource for divers.

Similar to a walking trail in a park, the underground site would feature signs, maps, and monuments so divers could learn more about the area's history, Mastone said.

"People could really benefit from a heritage preserve here. It's an opportunity to educate," said Mastone, chief archeologist for the Massachusetts Board of Archeological Resources. "They could also do research and interpret the findings for themselves."

The idea is in the very early stages of planning. After analyzing the expedition data, it would be a matter of funding and taking into account environmental protection laws that might limit the scope of the project, Mastone said.

The heritage site could also serve as homage to the two light keepers who were killed during the storm. During the Coast Guard expedition last week, in which state officials and local historians also participated, the crew held a memorial service in honor of the men, Joseph Antoine and Joseph Wilson. Gray clouds and light rain provided a somber backdrop as taps was played, and waves could be heard pounding against the boat during a moment of silence. The crew saluted toward the current Minot Light lighthouse, which was built in 1860.

While about a dozen Coast Guard divers explored beneath the surface, other researchers examined underwater video footage and photos. Most of the artifacts were construction material or pieces of pipes and cables, said William Thiesen, one of the expedition directors and Coast Guard historian. Some divers found what looked like a drilling tool and what appears to be the remains of a steel I beam.

Diving conditions were perfect the first part of the week, Thiesen said. The divers relocated slightly each day to attempt to map out all of the original lighthouse remains. A goal of the project is to have the area around Minot Light become a nationally registered historical site, and extend federal protection to the whole site, instead of only the lighthouse, he said.

Thiesen, who works in Portsmouth, Va., flew in for the expedition. Along with other out-of-state officials, he was impressed by the amount of local support and enthusiasm about the project.

"It's a dramatic story, and a very important part of local history," said Keith Meverden, a Coast Guard lieutenant and underwater archeologist from Wisconsin.

Residents speak fondly and passionately about the lighthouse, and share tales of local legends about the original. Over the years, the site has become a favorite landmark.

Antoine, the light keeper's assistant who died during the 1851 storm, has descendants scattered around the South Shore. John Small, whose grandfather is a distant relative of Antoine, collaborated with family members to create a memorial on Government Island to the light keepers.

A well-attended dedication ceremony several years ago brought together other ancestors of the lost light keepers, Small said. A.J. Antoine, who said his great-grandfather was related to Joseph Antoine, thinks the Coast Guard expedition is "wonderful," and can't wait to see what the crew finds. A fifth-generation Scituate resident, Antoine is continually awed by the legacy of his family name.

"I get asked a lot of questions. People want to know what our relation was," Antoine said. "I feel honored to think that someone in my family was one of those light keepers. Both keepers were heroes, really."