What was it Really Like to Be a Lighthouse Keeper?

[@TodayIFoundOut]

This video brought to you in part by our Patrons over on Patreon. If you’d like to support our efforts here directly, and our continued efforts to improve our videos, as well as do more ultra in-depth long form videos that built in ads and even sponsors don’t always cover fully, check out our Patreon page and perks here: www.patreon.com/TodayIFoundOut And as ever, thanks for watching!

[@SilentJay8]

Can you guys start listing the author in the thumbnail so that I never ever watch one of Daven’s again?

[@Retired_Gentleman]

As the son of a light keeper, I watched this video with great interest. My father was head keeper on four islands along the coast of Nova Scotia in the early to late '60s. Keepers by that time were generally expected to be family men (there were exceptions though) and expected to have their families with them on the islands. Education for children was by correspondence, and supplies had to be gotten by the keeper and his family during the usually infrequent trips to the mainland. If you bought say, a new stove, couch, or kitchen set you had it delivered to the coastguard base where it would then be put on coastguard vessel or icebreaker and unloaded and delivered by barge to your island. The first three light houses I lived on had no electricity or indoor plumbing. Older keepers quarters were cold drafty places heated by multiple kerosene stoves and heaters, lighted by kerosene lamps, and even the refrigerator was kerosene (I have no idea how that actually worked but work it did). The entire house stank of kerosene. Bathing was a challenge, and baths were taken in a huge galvanized steel tub with water heated on the kerosene stove. Toilet use meant an outdoor privy and I remember dreading going out into the frigid winds of January on the north Atlantic to get to the outhouse. I remember too how my family stood proudly around the indoor chemical toilet the coastguard finally delivered after my father requested one. They even thoughtfully sent a few sheets of gypsum board and 2x4s, which he used to give some privacy around the chemical wonder. We only used it at night, though. Day time still meant bundling up in warm clothes for the icy cold walk to the privy. Eventually, most islands were updated with modern housing, diesel generators, and electric beacons took the place of kerosene fresnal lights. Assistant keepers were usually provided with their own separate quarters. Electric lighting and heating made modern or modernized houses quite pleasant. Drinking water was runoff rain from keepers quarter's roofs collected and stored in huge basement or cellar cisterns. Bath time meant maybe a shallow 7-9 cm or 2-3 inches of water in the tub. Fresh water was potentially the most scarce and important resource on the island. The diesel generators had redundant engines, and the fuel was delivered to the island by coastguard icebreakers in 45 Imperial gallon steel drums. Empty drums were collected for reuse. By the mid to late '60s fresnel lenses were mostly replaced with electric airport beacons, and the mercury "baths" to float the lenses became obsolete. My older sister, though, does suffer from mercury poisoning. Children kept busy doing correspondence lessons, playing outside, beach combing, romping with the family dogs and cats and waving at passing ships or navy aircraft that often used islands as navigation aides as much as ships did. Wives/mothers did the usual household duties common then. They cooked, baked, knitted, painted, read, wrote letters, and often walked about the island. Keepers worked in shifts to keep the light burning, the foghorn blowing, and offering any possible assistance to mariners in need. They kept the islands neat and the island buildings in perfect condition. In good weather, everything was painted and painted and then painted again. It was a good life, but light keeping ended quite quickly. With the coming of automation keepers became rare. My late father who learned how to fix any light, engine, radio, foghorn and cable was kept on as a "Marine Aides Technician" and serviced the now automated lighthouses over most of the province for another 20 years.

[@TheRealAaronSmith]

Thank you for sharing your family's story

[@Retired_Gentleman]

@TheRealAaronSmith Thank you for your kind words. So little is now known about light keeping and the families who kept the lights burning. I thought it important to add to this well-done video.

[@TheRealAaronSmith]

@@Retired_Gentleman my pleasure. I know first hand that many are in need of some kind words these days, and it takes little to do so. I can't make a huge impact on the world myself, but I can make an impact on individuals, who can then go and do the same, which means far more good done than I could ever hope for on my own, all while conserving my energy for where I need to apply it most for my own sake. I also thoroughly enjoy history, and insist on it, and our old ways being remembered even if they aren't practiced any more. There are countless unappreciated or underappreciated roles that people have filled in society, and I only see it right that we do what we can to make the sacrifices those people made for us to be properly recognized. I too, think your comment added even more emphasis to the importance of this side of history. This is a huge thing, though subtle for many of us, that basically led to everything that we now know and love. Much love from a fellow Canuck.

[@Retired_Gentleman]

@TheRealAaronSmith True words. Good words. I, too, try to smile, be kind, and be positive in this world gone mad with meaningless tribalism, manufactured offense, and lack of manners. So many have embraced and regressed to a 10 year old mentality and prepubescent behaviour. As you have said, I try not to. As a minor historian and retired teacher, I try to keep something alive about our past, be it personal or something grander. It's important. Growing up on islands and later still near the sea, I saw daily the passing of ships and planes and saw how my father kept the light burning, the foghorn sounding, and how he'd actually jump into motion if either stopped even if it was at 4am during his watch. He'd run to the lighthouse or engine room, work with frantic speed to remedy the cause of failure, and smile when the beacon would again shine and rotate or the foghorn blast out. People's lives could be at risk if he failed to do so.

[@TheRealAaronSmith]

@@Retired_Gentleman beautifully put, my friend. I wish you all the best and hope that what ever brings you happiness visits often!

[@SmittenKitten.]

"...everything we've ever said or done will be forgotten someday." Wow. Way to ignite my existential dread. I'm gonna go get some ice cream.

[@patc1096]

Are you having a good time? If the answer is no, you're doing it wrong. It's your life to live. Enjoy it while ya have it.

[@SmittenKitten.]

@@patc1096 What's the right way?

[@buckanderson3520]

Not really both according to science or religion everything you say and do will either be recorded somewhere in the universe or by God. According to physics information contained within the universe can never truly be lost and must be preserved in some way that can theoretically be recovered which includes everything you say and do.

[@harry8719]

P😊​@@buckanderson3520

[@harry8719]

​p

[@rainmanslim4611]

I know a modern lighthouse keeper! He has a starlink satellite dish on the roof and spends his days gaming. Supplies are still limited but its no longer madness inducing.

[@Sujjin21]

Living the dream...

[@timmy2shoez]

Sounds like my type of job

[@FuncleB]

Do they have any vacancies? Please.

[@SuperKendoman]

Playing CoD or Fortnite must be where he gets the madness from nowadays 😂

[@QB1080]

I want this!

[@DjMoDification]

Daven... My god. This script, the dark humour, and the line about His Majesty? I think this may be my fav TIFO script yet! 10/10

[@TodayIFoundOut]

Thanks :-) It's the little things that make us happy. 😋 -Daven

[@jblob5764]

Agreed this was hilarious

[@benjaminepstein5856]

​@@TodayIFoundOutthis was indeed a fun listen! Do you need a therapist?

[@NotElmerKeith1]

Screw King George

[@bobkerolls13]

My first long sailing trip taught me the value of a lighthouse. Sailing at a stormy night the intermittent flash of the lighthouse let me know I was on course when it wouldn't have been possible to check my charts or even the GPS as that was below (out of the rain). Plus the reassuring light just lets you know something is out there in the blackness - some sign of land and thus, safety.

[@tvdan1043]

2:38 The first lighthouse sank into the swamp, so they built a second. That lighthouse sank into the swamp, so they build a third lighthouse. That one burned down, fell over, and sank into the swamp. But the fourth lighthouse stood!

[@tbessie]

I wonder how many will get your Monty Python reference...

[@TeatroGrotesco]

But Father I don't want to be a Lighthouse Keeper.....I want to Siiiiiiii- - No, no, none of that

[@kryw10]

Until you come to get him, we are not to enter the lighthouse!

[@jarofthoughts]

Read up on the history of St. Petersburg to learn the full extent of this particular brand of bloodymindedness and stupidity. ^_^ In short; this but with a whole damn city.

[@justinbeard2024]

Holy cow!

[@starkickermusic2100]

I came for the history and stayed for the optimistic life view! Thanks Simon!

[@004Black]

I was a light keeper from November 1979 through May 1980 on Seguin Island, AKA, USCG LTSTA Seguin. It was 5.6 km off of Pompham Beach Maine. Most of the time there were two men on duty and the only souls on the 28 ha (64 ac) island. The light was visible 18 nautical miles, cast through a first order fresnel lens. The lens was 2 m in diameter and nearly three meters tall. It was commissioned by Pres. Geo. Washington in 1795 and is the second oldest light house on the East coast of the USA. Fascinating period of my life it was.

[@strongmermaid4651]

Cool

[@edscmidt5193]

Did you become a cliche from the job?

[@skelitonking117]

Had a lot of time alone with that lens did ya?

[@jacobb7943]

Why did you abbreviate george but not washington

[@GalvestonCountyMike]

Back in the late 1980's, I was assigned to CGC Spar WLB-403 out of South Portland, Me and we refueled lighthouses up and down the coast of Maine. We had instead of a 3"50 on the gun deck, there was a massive reel of fuel hose for lighthouse refueling. I retired in 1999.

[@sav-w2o]

“None- but a donkey, would consider it ‘unfeminine’ to save lives” goes so hard

[@sausagefingers2885]

Yeah! The old-timey way of saying "shut your jackass mouth"

[@chartreux1532]

As a German Historian for the IFZ in Munich (which mostly focuses on the Wars and the Politics and History before and inbetween and after them) i watched the Movie "The Lighthouse" which then led me to becoming fascinated with Lighthouse Rules, People working in them, it's psychological and Health Effects etc etc. i started to use my Freetime to research what it was like to work in a Lighthouse in the late 1800s up to early 1900s (the Movie takes place in 1890). I did research mostly Lighthouses and Reports on them (medical, psychological, logistics) etc. from Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium and France. Which then lead to me going down a whole Rabbithole of 100s of weird Incidents of Lighthouse Keepers in these Countries during that Time Frame. If anything, the Movie "The Lighthouse" and what happens in it, seems rather "occasional" but not rare. In fact, there have been so many Murders and even more gruesome Acts of one Lighthouse Keeper against the other during that Timeframe because of all the Psychological Issues of Isolation and in such a Place. It's rather fascinating. Keep in mind, during that Timeframe we still didn't really take a lot of Mental Health Effects seriously at all, so there was no Prevention Protocol in Place nor Education. The worst one i read about was from the Northern Netherlands in which one Lighthouse Keeper in (if i remember right) in the early 1900s was in a Lighthouse on a small Rock with another one, and it ended up in Murder and even Cannibalism (in a small Degree) after 2 Months. Makes me wonder how Lighthouse Protocol is nowadays for Lighthouse Keepers being isolated with one other Person for Months Prost & Cheers from Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alpsr

[@thejudgmentalcat]

You live in a lovely area ❤

[@srice8959]

I remember reading about some of the many of Lighthouses here in the New Orleans area, and along parts of South Louisiana. I know most of the ones I’d read about were operated by families instead of just having a 2-4 people who would rotate off and on. The really good thing about them having families doing it. Is a lot of the stressors that plagued the lighthouses with multiple single men working on them. Is in most cases family members normally have better working relationships when it’s a Husband, Wife, and multiple children too also help out. Some of the lighthouses were placed on small/medium sized islands that the family was able to have Small gardens to add towards their food rations, and another benefit with the lighthouses along the coastal regions of south Louisiana. Is that we have Salt Water from the Gulf of Mexico, Fresh Water Marshlands, and Brackish water in the areas where the saltwater and freshwater met at. So they were able to enjoy all of the different types of seafood those areas provided. An of course they were also provided with fresh Beef, Pork, and Chicken. So with all of those benefits plus a small salary they were paid for the work they did allowed them to live a decent life. Nothing extravagant or anything, but were provided with everything needed to not have to worry about if they’d be able to feed their families. Some of the families that were or became pretty large were able to make a very good lifestyle. Because only so many people are needed to actually operate the Lighthouse. So the sons would expand their family’s income by becoming full time Fishermen and Trappers. Some did so well that their descendants today own a fleet of Fishing, Oyster Boats, and Shrimp Boats. Along with processing plants where other fishermen sell their catch to them, the Processing Plants will then supply restaurants here in the greater New Orleans area and also ships the seafood nationwide. Quite a few of those families companies have became Multi Million Dollar Companies/Corporations. There were also other Lighthouses in the greater New Orleans area along the rivers, and lakeshores that was close enough to New Orleans or other towns around New Orleans that they weren’t away from normal civilization where they would have one family who would take care of multiple different lighthouses. Like the one on Lake Pontchartrain that’s operated by the US Coast Guard today. That one is within New Orleans city limits, and even before it was built up like it is today. Was still just about 3-4 miles from the center of New Orleans. Even by a small Pirogues which is like a flat bottom canoe. Would only take about 30-45 minutes with two people paddling it, and by horseback with a Gallop/Trot was only 15 minutes. It’d take longer to put your Tack on the horse than it is to travel there by horse. Me personally I’ve always dreamed about how I’d like to be a Lighthouse Keeper as long as I had some books to read during my down time. I use to work Offshore on Boats, Ships, and Drilling Rigs. My favorite was on the Supply Boats that only had between 4-6 people depending on the size of the boats. It was normally a Captain, Mate, Two Deckhands, Cook, and an Engineer. We all worked 12 hours on 12 hours off. All I did when I was offshore was work, workout, sleep and read. It’s the most peaceful job I’ve ever had

[@chartreux1532]

@@srice8959 Looks like your Area was far ahead on that Topic than any of us at least Central Europeans were! And that approach makes a lot of Sense, especially the Family-focused part. Thanks a lot for sharing this Information! I copy pasted that to my Notes on Lighthouse History, the New Orleans Approach makes the most Sense of what i've seen so far!

[@PetrSojnek]

I wonder what's worse... being alone on your own or being two people there. Loneliness is ... bad. But imagine how much of a submarine sickness you would have with one another person around. If there is just a tiny little bit of weirdness in that person, it can get monumentally big in time.

[@DullyDust]

I would love another deep dive into this subject from your point of view, perhaps on one of his other channels

[@sailinbob11]

I've been living on my 30 ft sailboat for 18 years, and around the ocean since I was 4 years old. I'd dig it as long as it wasn't cold or not regularly anyway. I've endured 10 hurricanes and ,even wearing a wetsuit, always freeze my butt off by the time it ends. Mostly it's cool. Lotta work. Capt.Bob, SV ( Sailing Vessel ) 27th Chance ,Tampa Fl, USA 🇺🇸

[@Maxtyur]

Why ?

[@graphixkillzzz]

damn. that's a rough life. you, sir, are a champion 😏🤜🤛

[@godhatesusall85]

Do you have a "home port" or do you travel a lot? I once talked to a guy who lived in a boat in Portland but he had a permanent dock in Portland, OR and had a car and everything

[@libbylee9722]

@@Maxtyurwhy what?

[@libbylee9722]

I was raised on a lot of sailboats. I wish my family would have kept them longer so I knew how to sail. I am jealous of your ability and home.

[@MuseumGirl]

I work for a museum that manages a historic lighthouse. Most visitors struggle to grasp how isolated the keeper’s could be, and how hard the work could be. Carrying two 30lb buckets up nearly 100 spiral stairs with no railing multiple times a day is the example I use most often. They were hardy folks!

[@MarkTadder]

I just can't understand why they can't rig some kind of pulley bucket deal right up the middle of the stairs or something. I mean whoever was building the LightHouse must know what the lighthouse keeper was gonna have to do and carrying buckets upstairs seems like a pretty dumb strategy if you could figure out how to engineer something to make it easier

[@larrychristydoyle8202]

My great-grandfather kept lighthouses on the west coast of the USA, so my grandma grew up in lighthouses. When she was still alive we got to go visit one of them with her, and it was an awesome experience. She had so many memories and stories from those times.

[@miapdx503]

I live in Oregon our coastline is treacherous! It's lovely though, to drive along the coast and visit lighthouses. I like learning the history too. Fascinating! 🌹

[@Alan-pv2bi]

I met 1 of the last lighthouse keepers in Eastern 🇨🇦 in the early 90's. We were doing electrical apprenticeship training.

[@chrisostling805]

My father joined the US Coast Guard in the mid 1950's, his first year in he was stationed aboard the Icebreaker Northwind, at the end of that year they were getting ready to go to Antarctica to help set up the Little America Research Station and would have been down there for a couple of years. My mother was pregnant with my older sister and demanded that he find a station that would not take him away for so long. He got a Lighthouse Keeper's Assistant position at Alki Point Light in Seattle Washington on Puget Sound. It is very close to downtown Seattle, and he served there for the last 3 years of his enlistment. My sister was born while they lived there, and I was conceived there before they left. I remember the Commander of the station Albert Anderson, the last full time keeper of that light before it was automated. When we would visit, he would tell us stories about his time working on the Tillamook Rock Light and that during storms the sea would kick up rocks from the ocean floor and land them on the walk around the top of the light. He started as a Light keeper when it was still the US Lighthouse Service before the Coast Guard had been formed. The light and two of the Keeper's houses are still there, the houses are occupied by Coast Guard Admirals now.

[@scottmeredith3359]

For a story about lights that was DARK

[@TodayIFoundOut]

Metaphorical. 😋 -Daven

[@MrGeekFreek]

The Lighthouse starring Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe taught me everything I need to know about Lighthouse keeping.

[@andymouse]

Was it good please ?

[@eivind-falk]

My family have been lighthouse keepers for generations. As such I can confirm that the movie is based on real events.

[@progressiontrail]

@@andymouseit’s a bit of a weird movie since it’s just the two actors. however it grips you, it’s brilliantly acted and directed. So if you’re up for a confusing but good movie, go and watch it. (Sorry for being cryptic, don’t want to spoil anything)

[@andymouse]

@@progressiontrail :)

[@orikarru7877]

Holy crap the shade thrown in this episode... I loved it!

[@michaelandcolinspop]

Your sarcasm was hysterical and well-placed for a long drive into a long day of work. Nicely played, sir.

[@1KGB]

Mr. Hiskey must be a riot at parties.

[@TodayIFoundOut]

Mr. Hiskey doesn't attend parties if he can help it. 😋 -Daven

[@LeftToWrite006]

The humor - both with the writing and delivery - were splendiferous.

[@miapdx503]

He is gifted, has a way with words that is wonderful 🌹

[@Bramtic]

Didn't even need to look at the credits to instantly know this was a Daven script. Well done, sir.

[@TodayIFoundOut]

Thanks :-) -Daven

[@Anti-CornLawLeague]

The message of The Lighthouse (2019) seemed to be that we all really ought to drink more.

[@kahnu893]

Spill ur beans!!

[@EricTD1995]

Let Neptune strike ye dead, Winslow!! HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jooleebilly]

22:29 I love that Simon says all this without changing the tone of his voice or the expression on his face

[@grigorigahan]

That's because Simon is a talking bobble-head. A while back they released a in the shadows episode where they made a mistake and uploaded the pre-edit version of the video. In it you can see what happens behind the scenes. He reads the script essentially word for word and then when he fumbles a line, rather than doing it again, he simply rewinds a sentence or two and continues reading it off like nothing happened, leaving it to the editors to fix it in post. Not to take away from his charm and personality, but it really is driven by the writers themselves.

[@semaj_5022]

Daven my man you really cooked with this script. It might be your best one ever! It's somehow simultaneously informational, hilarious and existentially terrifying all at once. And Simon delivering it all while wearing his "serious business" persona just took it to the next level. Great work!!

[@regmans4329]

Ever since I watched Lighthouse with William defoe and Robert Pattinson, that's been my vision of living there. Got a spooky charm to it 😂

[@tessiepinkman]

Incredibly interesting video! Thank you so much, everyone involved! I was glued to the screen and didn't at all realize that the entire 36 minutes had passed when the video ended, it felt like 10-12 minutes at an absolute maximum. The time just flew by! By the way, I had no idea that they used mercury in such a dangerous manner in lighthouses way back when. If only they knew of all the horrors of handling mercury unsafely... I feel so bad for all the people who fell victim to the loneliness, storms, isolation, stress, poisons, and all of the other general dangers that were involved in being the keeper of a lighthouse back in the day. Once again; *Brilliant* video! I hope that everyone who happens to read this comment has an absolutely fantastic summer and that the week is treating you alright. Sending loads of peace and love to all of you from me, an _eeever so slightly_ crazy Swedish woman who lives in Norway :) EDIT: I would really like the job of being a lighthouse keeper today. It honestly sounds pretty much like the dream to my antisocial ass. When Simon read all of what the man in Canada said about the work, I was just sitting here, eyes beaming, and thinking to myself "HOW do I get this job!? And is it a possibility here in Norway!?" I will have to do some research, and if it's possible I now know what I wanna be when I "grow up" _(said the 34-year-old woman)._

[@TheRealAaronSmith]

Your message of good wishes was found by one who needed them in a time of serious struggle. Thank you, seriously. And as such, I come to return the favour. While most lighthouses may be automated or decommissioned, we do still have something fairly similar; fire watch towers. In case you aren't familiar, they are basically small cabins built on stilt platforms in very remote areas that are prone to wildfires, giving us advanced warning if one starts, or monitoring how they progress. It is obviously very isolated, maybe not quite as much as a lighthouse COULD be, but it's secluded enough to not be bothered by anyone. I think assignments are usually in the range of 2-3 months, and it is paid work typically, although I believe you can also volunteer if that's more your thing. They're fairly common in the US/Canada, though I'm not sure of other countries. That may be something you'd be interested in looking into. I'm not sure if you'd have access locally in Norway, or even Sweden if you returned home, but I don't think it would be too difficult for you to get permission to work here, and if that's the kind of job you seek, there isn't much competition and it's an important role in our society, so you would be well appreciated for your efforts. Anyways, much love from Canada. I hope all is well for you in these trying times.

[@ukraine7249]

Yup, definitely sent my mind spiralling on a track of utter despair and hopelessness 😢 I’m tempted to apply for a lighthouse keeper position. You’ve sold it as a career

[@tom.m]

You alright, Daven? I think Simon needs to let the writers out in sun occasionally.

[@TodayIFoundOut]

Everyone always asks who Daven is, but not how Daven is. 😋

[@John-g6x1h]

I visited the Port Isabel lighthouse in Texas. The shape hugely amplified the sound of the wind and I couldn't imagine what it must have sounded like during a serious storm.

[@miapdx503]

The wind on the North Sea, during a storm on a ship sounds eerie, like the wail of a million lost souls...the sound is unrelenting. Making it hard to sleep, and hear someone talking from two feet away. The sound alone has driven men mad, and today's sailors have earphones to cancel the sound. Some storms last for days...

[@trepaning]

this was more cheery than a trip to the state fair!

[@luv2sail66]

Many years ago I was caught in a storm in my sailboat on the Chesapeake Bay trying to sail home from Baltimore at night with my engine not functioning properly due to a transmission problem. I used the lights of the channel markers in the Baltimore shipping channel and a lighthouse to guide me to the Magothy River and ultimately safe harbor. I had a GPS and chart plotter but the screen wasn’t very bright and I found the external navigation aids more helpful in getting me and my family home safely. I wouldn’t have been out there in the first place had our problem not been misdiagnosed as a fouled propeller. Once I realized that our engine wasn’t working properly we were already well out of port and decided to make the trip under sail. I learned a lot that night. But I got us home safely. Our boat was a new 33 foot sloop and handled well in the weather. It was a scary experience but it made me a better captain. 36:52

[@TheRealAaronSmith]

Oof. I too learned the hard way to never make a trip solely under sail if you can help it. We had about 3 days of spare time, so we weren't too worried and planned on getting the powertrain looked over at our first stop in a large city that would have both mechanics and parts on hand if we needed any. My story wasn't quite as scary, though perhaps equally as unnerving. I was on a War of 1812 Re-enactment, a week or so of sailing followed by a maritime and land based mock battle. Incredible experience. Anyways, we do some basic drills in port(many of us were greener than the grass), get the basics of water safety and rescue, and then cast off. One of the first things we do is throw to Bosin overboard so that we can practice aan overboard well within the reach of multiple rescue teams if need be. All is good, we sail the rest of the day. Come evening, we do change of watch/sunset ceremony, most of us settle in for the night, and first watch gets up and on deck. Our Bosin, an incredibly talented and determined man with about 10 years on deck in various positions was kind of our CO for the night. He started the night getting us to introduce each other, talk about individual strengths, weaknesses, and fears. He taught us about the basics of manners on a ship, how we organized shore leave and whatnot, followed by some of his experiences. What followed was the biggest thing that has kept me superstitious. He warned us that you NEVER, not even once, not even half way, do you ever even think about tying a noose on a sailing vessel. I don't recall him explaining exactly why, but this was a man who was normally fairly light hearted, and this time he was deeply serious, almost dark about it. It certainly didn't help that she was a modernized period ship. You won't kill a man, but you will kill the winds. And that could lead to the death of everyone aboard. Suffice to say, one of the deckhands didn't appreciate the rule for what it was, and proceeded to tie a 13 coil proper noose out of one of the coiled lines. We didn't know he did it, and in all honestly, I doubt many would have tried to stop him, but I swear that there was not a lick of moving air from that point forward. Rest of the watch went as expected. One or two ships off in the distance holding similar courses as us, nothing to worry about. They're clearly outpacing us, but that's to be expected by powered vessels, we were hardly even at half sail and the 5hp motor we had wasn't going to be getting us far nor fast. And that's if it had been working at the time. Our watch is up, 2nd gets up on deck and settled, we go below for a snack and some rest. A few hours later, we're all awoken to ever officer aboard screaming for all hands on deck. We are stood in single file along the rails, Cap'n goes to the bow visibly in a rage. A normally friendly and warm man. Orders full sail. We all step to, in a moment, we have full sail. He orders us back to the rails. He's shaking. We're starting to worry, this isn't even 24 hours into the trip and we're starting to think we all misread him. He demands to know if anyone knows where we are. Of course, nobody does. Only him and the 1st mate had checked the nav system. Turns out, that dead air had allowed the current to push us back nearly the entire length of our journey the afternoon prior. We were almost back to the port we set off from the afternoon prior. He walks up and down our ranks, doesn't even look at anyone. Asks if we know why we aren't moving. Why we ended up here, instead of miles and miles ahead, nearly at our next stop. Nobody answers. That pissed him off even more. He walks up to the bow again, and grabs the line that STILL had the noose tied on it. Held it up and demanded to know who tied it. Bosin stepped forward and started that he had instructed 1st watch specifically to NEVER do that, and that if we had drifted that far, it had to have happened during that watch as well. The other watches were dismissed to their duties or back to rest or standby positions. After some general scolding, he wanted to know who actually tied it. The guy who did owned up at that point, and he was made to untie the noose, while we were told to stow the sails and the noose guy had to completely replace that line. Lucky for him, it was for the mainsail so it wasn't too bad. Then he was dragged off to Cap'n's quarters where we didn't see him for several hours. No idea what they made him do, or what his punishment was, but he wasn't too chipper after that for a couple days, so it was no slap on the wrist. The winds didn't return until that evening, maybe an hour or so after sunset/change of watch. We were dead in the water nearly that whole time. We almost got towed into port. So yeah. For those inexperienced, if a sailor tells you to do something, or NOT to do something, it's probably a good idea to listen, even if it sounds crazy. This is coming from a man who nearly lost a hand from doing that same thing, but I stand by it nonetheless. But hey, we had guns on deck in case any sea monsters showed up to make things worse lol. Not sure how many of us would be effective as a gunnery crew, but we would have tried. We did successfully exfilitrate and infiltrate the fort that we did the reenactment at. That was my side of the trouble. We just wanted to sneak away for a smoke. Easiest way was to jump the walls in a discrete area. No problem there. The hard part was getting back in, as the walls were obviously meant to deter that approach. So, we start skirting the walls. Surprise! Part of the whole thing was that that fort was attacked during dinner time, and that's when we had decided to sneak off. All of a sudden, the alarm is raised, there's companies of troops hauling ass into positions, and the next thing we know there's 16lb guns firing literally just feet over our heads, still burning powder and wadding all over the place, thankfully the roar of the guns muffled our panic. We kept out of danger as we thought possible, and made our way to the side gate that would be the attackers approach, and just waited. As their "forces" marched on the fort, they opened the gate(obviously they weren't going to actually try and breach it, though that would have been cool as hell), and we just slipped back in ahead of them. Probably one of the most important weeks of my life, all in all. I learned a lot, enjoyed nearly every part of it, and got professional instruction on how to clean, load, and fire a cannon. I got to experience what was national history, but even moreso, possibly my own family history, mine having been settled in Canada for about 400 years, though I'm not sure if my family ever took part in fighting during that war or not. We messed with the locals of Toronto by dressing in period clothes, using our best impressions of how people would have spoke back then, and pretended to be the first successful time travelers from 1811. I even ran into an old friend that I hadn't seen in years. Turns out, he was one of the commissioned officers on the next rotation so I didn't get to sail with him, but that was okay. And I also made several short term friends that were nice to have while those relationships lasted. For anyone that has somehow made it this far, if you haven't sailed, I highly recommend it. It might not be cheap, but it is far worth the price of admission. Just don't tie a noose aboard.

[@luv2sail66]

@@TheRealAaronSmith great story and I’m glad you shared it. Sounds like an awesome week!

[@TheRealAaronSmith]

@@luv2sail66 wow, kudos to you for managing to get through that mess of a comment lol. Truly one of the best weeks of my life!

[@luv2sail66]

@@TheRealAaronSmith it was a great story and totally worth the read. Sailing…IYKYK.

[@TwisterWizzleNineThousand]

​@TheRealAaronSmith Fantastic story, well-written, and great lessons. Proof that it is actually worthwhile to read a lengthy comment once in a while, haha.

[@robwilson4948]

Thanks for that little ray of sunshine at the end there....buddy.

[@desperadox7565]

Great uplifting speech at the end.👍

[@justinbeard2024]

I love lighthouses and I live in Maine, it's a blessing to be here, it was my dream to move here and took many years!

[@dereks1264]

"...and on that cheery note, it's goodbye from me, Simon. Don't forget to like and subscribe, although it's ultimately pointless --- as are most things in this life."

[@VicariousVisuals]

Dang, Simon woke up having major beef with existence.

[@duncancurtis5108]

The bright beam of Dungeness Lighthouse reached our house on foggy winter nights alongside its foghorn. I used to watch it revolve round hour by hour.

[@timothywalker4563]

West Virginia has a lighthouse to aid aircraft to the airport as a beacon. This might seem odd but it gets the job done.

[@daviroxx3350]

Top marks for the highlander reference. Bravo.

[@javabean215]

Is it just me, or is Simon unusually......salty......today?

[@montewright111]

Holy shit, Simon went dark at the end there

[@pistol0grip0pump]

I thought I would wince every time I heard "Freznel" instead of "fray-nel" or "fra-nel" until I heard how he "shaved ships" with his invention, at that point I began to wonder if I was having a stroke 😂

[@MADmosche]

I was thinking the same thing!

[@pistol0grip0pump]

@@MADmosche 😂

[@slomotrainwreck]

Same here. 😆

[@TheRealAaronSmith]

I'm guessing tooth issue treated with a topical anesthetic like oragel. Been there myself. My manager legit thought I had had a stroke and called an ambulance for me. Not only was I slurring and barely using one side of my mouth, but I had not realized I had drooled a bit on myself. Medics came. Had some good laughs, no stroke.

[@TheDJMeyer85]

Well now finding out that they handled mercury, this makes me see the movie The Lighthouse in a different light

[@ianray8823]

Dafoe in The Lighthouse is the best acting I've ever seen

[@hackerman2284]

Yer fond of me lobster, ain't ye?

[@andymouse]

I want to see it is it good though ?

[@addicted2monster88]

​@@andymouse Definitely worth a watch IMO you won't be sorry

[@bellmattwebb]

I'll have to respectfully disagree. I love Dafoe's earlier works but he's lost his connection with me. He should probably move to France or something where his eccentricities would be more appreciated.

[@andymouse]

@@addicted2monster88 :)

[@patrickscutella836]

We weren’t “Lighthouse Keepers” my wife and I lived in the Keepers Cottage and care took the property of the Erie Land Lighthouse in Erie, Pa on the shores of Lake Erie for 27 years. I enjoyed this very much.

[@ayumimcgowan249]

Thank goodness for Simon and his dark humor commentary. Really makes me smile 😂

[@zappababe8577]

19:50 Awww, that poor polar bear! I hope that s/he got back to land! Of course, that bear is long gone now. I hope s/he didn't die on that patch of ice in the ocean

[@RealSaintB]

I knew Daven was the author just from the existential dread he likes to summon up in his scripts.

[@Sujjin21]

The humor... It is dark. I love it.

[@miapdx503]

As someone with agoraphobia, I think you could park me in a lighthouse and I'd be fine. Especially if it has a fireplace. I need a dog, for company and protection, and a cat, for company and vermin. Drop my supplies on a regular, give me internet service, I'm good. I love the ocean, ships and boats. I'm good at record keeping...hey, where do I sign up? 😂

[@bsadewitz]

I used to suffer from agoraphobia (sometimes crippling). The usual medications and other interventions just didn't cut it. Eventually, I did a lot of research, found out about MAOI antidepressants, and found a doctor willing to treat me. The medication completely abolished my agoraphobia, and has never stopped working (after 20 years). The dose often has to be higher than what the manufacturers recommend for depression. There are no other drugs that are this effective, including the newer MAOIs. The only ones that work like this are the old ones (Nardil, Parnate, Marplan). If you have never tried one of these medications, I cannot recommend it enough. They're way better than Klonopin, Xanax, etc. and make the other drugs (like the SSRIs) seem like a cruel joke by comparison. The agoraphobia/anxiety just disappears once u get the dose high enough. GONE. I use Parnate because it doesn't cause weight gain, but YMMV. The dietary restrictions and drug interactions are overblown. No emotional flattening/numbness. Some weeks after starting it and raising the dose, I just woke up one day and it was gone.

[@velimirmilanovicmilanovic8980]

do you need a company :)

[@Shinzon23]

Does anyone else think Simon is unusually scathing today? And does anyone else wish he keeps up this level of sass? Also whoooot! Go Our Own Devices! Simons calling you out in a video!

[@Chaotic_Pixie]

My favorite lighthouse is in Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Michigan. The family that ran it for over a century did all sorts of other things to earn income too. At one point, they kept an ice house and cut ice from the frozen portions of the lake & would then sell the ice to merchants in the nearby town or to passing ships. Candle making and soap making were also done. The journal I read about the lighthouse, written by one of the first sons to grow up there talked about how his sister was able to go to teacher college in Chicago & she came back to teach at the town’s schoolhouse. He even wrote in his journal how he and some friends from town were playing in their row boat & saw someone fall from one of the nearby cliffs, so they rowed over & pulled the grown man from the water, saving his life. He talked about how he didn’t go to school in the winter because the 4mi walk to town wasn’t safe & winter was when the waters were most dangerous so all the kids helped tend the light, especially if the dad & older kids had to go out and rescue a ship. I read this journal and visited this place when I was 11… and I still remember all about it. I remember seeing the boys’ bunk room & you could see how the family had expanded and added on as the family grew over the generations. The keeping room was absolutely cozy. It had windows on all the sides that faced the water with a set of doors onto a large observation balcony. Under each window was a cozy bench, against the center stairs was a desk, a small stove with an armchair next to it, and along the back walls without the windows were bunks tucked into the walls. The “keeper” aka the guide who maintains the property but doesn’t live on the property said she loved to sit up there and read when no one was around cuz she could also see cars coming up on the road as well as any inclimate weather coming in from the north.

[@charlesachurch7265]

Another great presentation Thanks xxx

[@BooBaddyBig]

Don't talk about the lizard overlords. They don't like it.

[@jejbsh2191]

You've already said too much. Wait for the signal

[@YuNherd]

check f*cebook for signs

[@lauriepenner350]

Luckily, they can be easily mollified with a large offering of mealworms and crickets.

[@thanhvu2377]

It's ok u can talk abt them here, this is KZbin not Facebook. Mark can't do anything to us if we're not on his platform

[@lauriepenner350]

@@thanhvu2377 As everyone knows, KZbin is owned by Google, which belongs to the reptilians' arch nemesis, the Illuminati.

[@Sujjin21]

Lmfao I did NOT need that intro after the week I just had at work 😂😂

[@PurelyCoincidental]

Fresnel's name is pronounced more like "freh NELL," with no "s". His lens is still commonly used in lighting instruments for theatre.

[@sujimtangerines]

I make a point of visiting museums and any standing lighthouses that still have those lenses. I'm fascinated by how they work.

[@DavidStruveDesigns]

Most if not all British people pronounce the "s" in that name/word. And no, we don't give a damn how it's "supposed" to be pronounced 🤪😁

[@___._]

Also in VR goggles!

[@andymouse]

@@___._ And flat screen TVs

[@PurelyCoincidental]

@@DavidStruveDesigns ​ Oh, really, I didn't know that, thanks. I used to work in theatre, but the term never came up in discussion with my British colleagues. Fwiw, I find British mangling of French to be funny. One of my favorites is how you pronounce "Debussy."

[@bartjohnson8139]

Beautifully grimm, I loved it.

[@sarahcoleman3125]

Simon just providing our daily dose of existentialism. Mm-mm, just like big brother used to make. 😂

[@anthonycade9034]

Ray of sunshine he was on this one, well done Whistler…well done

[@BonesyTucson]

Wait wha? Gilles is one of your writers? I had no idea! That's clearly part of the recipe for why your stuff is so excellent. He's great!

[@FrazerBoorman]

Petition to have Simon close mic’d for every video for every channel

[@kiwibryntoo]

My father was a lighthouse keeper in New Zealand from the late 50's til 1969. I grew up moving every couple of years..

[@23ADJ93]

@22:00 we need a movie of this person!

[@thelyrebird1310]

My 5x great grandfather and 5 generations after he came to Australia as a convict were lighthouse keepers, one of them was killed by lightning! The last keeper was my grandmother's grandfather.

[@kg-Whatthehelliseventhat]

Oh yea, well my grandad died in the holocaust. He fell off the guard tower. 😂😂

[@A_Bvgzi]

If I can have my dogs, I'd probably manage in the middle of nowhere. I already don't have a lot of energy for people. So, dealing with them once a month sounds fine with me. My family agrees, they could see me sitting on the shore of some remote island beard down to my knees and a fresh rolled fatty on my lips, surrounded by a small pack of 8 or 9 dogs and fully at peace.

[@afjer]

The S in Fresnel is silent.

[@Edition89]

Daven really nailed the writing on this one. Kept me more interested in the story to see what other comments they would throw in there.

[@bartswarm869]

As a midshipmen of New England whaling vessel for 4 years I can’t tell you how many times a lighthouse has saved me and my crews lives.

[@gearslingger]

Much respect and praise to the writer(s). A full on verbal gymnast exhibition.

[@bicivelo]

Well written!! I love these long form videos especially about historical subjects like this 😊😊 thank you

[@tom-kz9pb]

What it is really like to be a lighthouse keeper was captured best in the little ditty, "I Want To Marry A Lighthouse Keeper", from the sick movie, "Clockwork Orange".

[@hotshotrooster415]

2:08 "lighthouses began lighting up more than Willie Nelson all over the place" cracks me up 😂

[@alexalynn5952]

I really didn't expect this video to sell me on the idea of being a lighthouse keeper.. but here we are!

[@nagjrcjasonbower]

I used to maintain airport lighting in the US and that is shockingly similar to keeping a lighthouse, but with much less stress (if you don’t mind climbing towers and slippery roofs!). The King George III joke was pretty funny… Hey… We (respectfully) kicked your behinds a few times and then saved ‘em a few times. Complaining is just. Um. British?!! Lol. No hate here! 👍 Paperwork… Ever had a job reporting to the government?!! Knee deep in carbon copies was another facet of my job… 🖖

[@OrdinaryDude]

And thank you Simon for that cheery and fun-loving closing statement. Lol

[@sydhenderson6753]

"Hey, I can see my house from here!" Points light at home. Sound of ship crashing down below.

[@me1123581321]

Daven! What's with all the existential dread in this one?!!! But also - absolutely perfect for this subject, and did not dampen my desire to work as a lighthouse keeper ^_^

[@TodayIFoundOut]

It's to align with the things often written in light house keeper journals of yore. :-) -Daven

[@estrogenearthquake7160]

​​@@TodayIFoundOut Bruh your sleep video was littered with the same humor, and wayyy more than in this video. Literally every 7-ish minutes you would randomly throw in a comment about how life is meaningless and you can't wait for the sweet release of death. So what was the reasoning behind your persistent pushing of existential dread for that video when you were only talking about how sleep works? It seems like you just use dark humor to an excessive degree. That humor is fine, but chill out a little. It's one of those things that's only enjoyable in small quantities. It quickly starts make you look mentally unhealthy. There were a ton of negative comments on the sleep video specifically about the misplaced humor. Read the room my man.

[@jliller]

1. The 's' is silent in Fresnel. 2. The Service Room is a separate room below the Watch Room, at least in larger American lighthouses built after about 1865. 3. Besides fog signals, in the 20th century some lighthouse keepers had to operate radio beacons. 4. Besides mercury, all that painting exposed lighthouse keepers to a lot of lead paint.

[@Urgleflogue]

I also liked the ending on the positive side.

[@karituurihalme1007]

My biggest question is do they have internet and if so how good is it?

[@TomFarrell-p9z]

Up until the early 1990's it was as good as most places.

[@xbreezybx]

Lighting designer here, just popping in to note that Fresnel has a silent S, and that his lens design also impacted theatrical lighting, remaining fairly ubiquitous among inventories to this day. Some examples in this video are stage lights.

[@williamglidden359]

Light at 13:28 is Montauk Light at the eastern tip of Long Island, NY, USA

[@VersusArdua]

These are the kinds of videos that I need.

[@MILITIA330]

Some stay for protection. I love the casino analogy. Perfectly Lovely Put. Huge fan of You Lady. Breaking it down understandably. Thank You Been a fan since Late 1990’s. Tell me more tell me more. I am finally get ting it. I mourned my parents last wk. 52 yrs old /only child . I feel so free. I refuse to accept shit from anyone now. I feel cleansed /powerful in a weird way. I can do whatever the hell I want in a healthy way finally. CRAZZZY! Because I kept picking over and over and over guys like my Mother. R.I.P. Thanks Again❣️

[@ohnoohyeah3205]

Indeed, I believe I was born at least 100 years too late. After this vid, call it 150. What a perfect way to live and be. I think this profession would be almost perfect.

[@andymouse]

I couldn't agree more I would have loved it

[@scyonis]

What a cheerful video this is. :P Love it though! Fascinating topic I never would have thought to ask about.

[@Victoria-dh9vb]

God, I love Daven's scripts and spotted this as one well before the credits. I miss the brainfood podcast. The fact boys are better together

[@michiganmafia]

Thats awesome that Gilles Messier writes for You guys, He is a very smart man

[@isaacandrews5330]

That last bit was personal 😂

[@tristramcox4615]

Lovely positive note to end on there 😁

[@JenMaxon]

I think I like Ida. You are such a cheerful soul there at the end.

[@Shizznad]

"occasionally checking to see if the light is still on. But the one in the lighthouse, not the one in your soul" First off, I did not need to be called out by my favorite KZbinr

[@ernestweaver5544]

One of your better vids. Excellent Work.

[@ypaulbrown]

thank you so much Simon.......Paul in Florida, USA

[@vodnikdubs1724]

So happy to see TIFO and OOD working together

[@jstorlie73]

I'm here for the dark sarcasm of Daven's scripts. Simon is OK, too. 😆

[@annieinwonderland]

Could you imagine him with a brain blaze script

[@conflict_monitor]

I think The Goodies gave the most accurate portrayal of the genre

[@robwilgenhof4386]

Great stuff..!!! Aside from the cynicism….Dark implications of doom…which being quite factual had a profoundly interesting snapshot of the writing …. Intelligent, absolutely. Entertaining and Maniacally wonderful..!! I do so hope it sparked some light …. And thought .. your the Govna !!