 | "Every Hero Has A Story." My Blogging From A to Z theme bridges the summer library reading programs throughout the U.S. with storytelling opportunities, ideas, and activities. |
Courtesy of Bob Trapani Abbie Burgess was a true heroine of her day at the young age of 17. She was born in 1839 and died 1892. Many books have been written about her courage, her spirit, and her bravery to maintain and keep the lights burning in the two lighthouses and saving her invalid mother and two sisters from the horendous storms and starvation. Kids of all ages should hear the her story told or read for she was a real teenage heroine!
Matinicus Light Twin Towers Bare bones story:
1. Lighthouses were important back in the days and nights where ships and boats needed guidance to where the shorelines and reefs were. Light house keepers had 24-7 jobs of maintaining the lights to make sure they burned bright after sunset. Samuel Burgess was appointed the lighthouse keeper of Matinicus Rock Light twin towers in 1856, located off the Maine Coast.
2. He moved his invalid wife, son, and 3 daughters to their home - rocky outpost
3. Abbie, at age 14, learned how to run the light while father fished for lobsters - she got quite good at being a lightkeeper's assistant and took pride in keeping the sailors safe.
4. When she was 17 years old in January, 1856, while her brother was off fishing, and her father sailed to the mainland to retrieve oil for the lamps and food supplies, winds picked up in no time at all which turned into raging nor'easter. Her father was stranded
5. Danger was all around, so Abbie quickly moved her sisters and invalid mother into the granite lighthouse. She realized the chickens were running around and would soon drown, and not taking the advice of her mother, she had to at least try to save them - all but 1 she gathered to safety in the lighthouse.
6. Moments after the hens were rescued, but huge, slamming waves hit their rocky shore and destroyed their old dwelling.
7. Three weeks of this raging storm - Abbie portioned out a cup of cornmeal and an egg during this time to her mother and sisters daily.
8. Abbie kept those lights buring in the lighthouses for all the ships and boats caught in that raging storm.
9. Abbie Burgess found inner strength and courage to carry on what had to be done to save the lives of all who were affected by that storm. She will long be remembered.
1. Lighthouses were important back in the days and nights where ships and boats needed guidance to where the shorelines and reefs were. Light house keepers had 24-7 jobs of maintaining the lights to make sure they burned bright after sunset. Samuel Burgess was appointed the lighthouse keeper of Matinicus Rock Light twin towers in 1856, located off the Maine Coast.
2. He moved his invalid wife, son, and 3 daughters to their home - rocky outpost
3. Abbie, at age 14, learned how to run the light while father fished for lobsters - she got quite good at being a lightkeeper's assistant and took pride in keeping the sailors safe.
4. When she was 17 years old in January, 1856, while her brother was off fishing, and her father sailed to the mainland to retrieve oil for the lamps and food supplies, winds picked up in no time at all which turned into raging nor'easter. Her father was stranded
5. Danger was all around, so Abbie quickly moved her sisters and invalid mother into the granite lighthouse. She realized the chickens were running around and would soon drown, and not taking the advice of her mother, she had to at least try to save them - all but 1 she gathered to safety in the lighthouse.
6. Moments after the hens were rescued, but huge, slamming waves hit their rocky shore and destroyed their old dwelling.
7. Three weeks of this raging storm - Abbie portioned out a cup of cornmeal and an egg during this time to her mother and sisters daily.
8. Abbie kept those lights buring in the lighthouses for all the ships and boats caught in that raging storm.
9. Abbie Burgess found inner strength and courage to carry on what had to be done to save the lives of all who were affected by that storm. She will long be remembered.
Resources
 Abbie Against the Storm by Marcia Vaughn |  Keep the Lights Burning Abbie by Connie Roop |
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