Originally shared by Deborah Teramis Christian
Today’s Google Doodle honors Ida Lewis, “The Bravest Woman in America” – a Rhode Island lighthouse keeper who single-handedly rescued many shipwreck victims at sea, putting herself in personal peril to do so at a time when few women were even in the workforce.
“None but a donkey would consider it unfeminine to save lives.” – Ida Lewis
Read more about her here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/02/25/who-bravest-woman-america-ida-lewis/98400206/
And tended the light for 22 years, from 1857 to 1879 without officially being the light keeper. Her father had a stroke four months after he took the job so she ran the light for him starting when she was 15 and when he died in 1873 her mother was given the job, although Ida continued to actually do it. When her mother died in 1878 it took another year and the intervention of a Senator on her behalf for her to be officially given the job. Although once she finally did get it she received one of the highest salaries for a light keeper at the time in recognition of her many rescues.
She continued to tend the light for another thirty three years.
And tended the light for 22 years, from 1857 to 1879 without officially being the light keeper. Her father had a stroke four months after he took the job so she ran the light for him starting when she was 15 and when he died in 1873 her mother was given the job, although Ida continued to actually do it. When her mother died in 1878 it took another year and the intervention of a Senator on her behalf for her to be officially given the job. Although once she finally did get it she received one of the highest salaries for a light keeper at the time in recognition of her many rescues.
She continued to tend the light for another thirty three years.
Sounds like a true hero
Sounds like a true hero
Amazing story
Amazing story