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Once in a great while a Lighthouse Service pennant is found or comes on the market, which brings to mind questions about what flags and pennants were flown by the Lighthouse Service.
The most commonly recognized lighthouse pennant is the triangular shaped white with red border, with the blue silhouette of a lighthouse in the center. Some sources indicate that this pennant was adopted in 1869. However we find no mention of such a pennant in Lighthouse Service records until 1888. The Annual report of the Light House Board for the fiscal year 1888 contains a full color frontis illustration of the “new” pennant for use on vessels in the Light-House Service. The text indicates that the pennant was adopted at the meeting of the Light-House Board on September 3, 1888. The dimensions given are (hoist) 5 feet 6 inches, and (fly) 8 feet 6 inches. Other sizes would be used as well for different size vessels and for land use, to be designated Size No. 1 through 5, or so.
Looking in the Rules and Regulations for the period, they indicate when such pennants were to be flown: “Whenever an officer of the Light-House Establishment or a member of the Light-House Board is afloat in a vessel of the Light-House Establishment, the light-house flag [pennant] shall be shown at the mainmast head….Light-vessels shall display colors and light-house flag to all passing vessels of war and vessels of the Light-House Service.
No mention is found in the regulations requiring keepers at shore stations to display the light-house pennant or the national colors (American flag), although I suspect that prominent stations may have flown it, as well as at the lighthouse depots, etc.
It appears though that the pennant was primarily used on vessels through 1939. Indeed, when one looks at early photos of light stations few flag poles are seen, except possibly at an especially prominent station. It appears that it was not until the Coast Guard era following 1939 that we begin to see the American flag flying regularly at stations. We have found, however, some photos of early station keepers in the station launch or boat, with a smaller lighthouse pennant flying from the stern.
An additional type pennant that may have been used was one flown at light stations designating efficient operation. In the early part of the last century, the Lighthouse Service instituted a program to “…promote efficiency and friendly rivalry among lighthouse keepers…” A system of efficiency star pins and pennants was established in which keepers who had been commended for efficiency at their quarterly inspection were entitled to wear the red inspector’s star for the following year. For those keepers receiving the star for three successive years were entitled to wear the blue Commissioner’s star. When they received these awards they were also entitled to fly a pennant. We are still unsure whether this was the Lighthouse Service pennant, or possibly a special efficiency pennant.
Regarding the national ensign or colors, the regulations continue that “All light-house vessels under way shall display the national ensign at the peak of the flagstaff when in sight of other vessels, towns and stations. When lying at depots, or at anchor near the same, no colors shall be shown….” Exceptions to the rule would be on Sundays and national holidays when the colors were always shown, weather permitting. Colors were to be hoisted up at 8 a..m. and hauled down at sunset. At such times persons present in the Light-House Service were to salute by facing the colors and removing their hats.
Three other pennants were used in the Lighthouse Service. When the Lighthouse Inspector was on board the tender, the Inspector’s pennant was flown in addition to the Service pennant. The Inspector’s pennant was identical to the Service pennant except that the border was in blue.
When the District Superintendent was on board, his rectangular pennant was flown. This pennant was similar to the others, except was rectangular, with blue border and blue lighthouse silhouette. Likewise, when the Commissioner of Lighthouses was on board, he flew a rectangular standard, blue with white triangle, bearing the blue lighthouse silhouette.
Another type of flag used by the Light-House Establishment and later Lighthouse Service was the small boat ensign. From about 1862 to 1916, the U.S. Navy specified 13 star flags in this pattern as the Ensign for small vessels. Other government entities followed suit, including apparently the Light-House Establishment. An example (shown) that we recently found at auction is hand sewn and double sided and measures 24” on the hoist, 43” long, but is frayed and was likely longer. Brass grommets became standard on Navy Flags in 1884, helping to date this version to after that date. The flag is marked on the hem “U.S. Light-House Establishment”, used from about 1870 until 1910 at the latest. Thus we can date this ensign between about 1880 to 1910. Shown is Keeper Joseph W. Jellison of Tenants Harbor Light Station, Maine in about 1910. The photo provides a rare view of him flying an early boat ensign of this pattern.
Occasionally we are fortunate to find such original flags and pennants of the Lighthouse Service, as well as the national ensign with the Lighthouse Service markings on the hem. In addition to the Light-House Establishment marking shown on the boat ensign, I have found two other styles used.
Stamped on the hem in original black vegetable die was either: “GENERAL DEPOT, THOMPKINSVILLE, N.Y.”, or the emblem of the Lighthouse Service, which consists of a 1” circle, inside of which is the image of a lighthouse, flanked by the letters “U” & “S”. All markings were done at the Staten Island Light-House Depot, from which they were distributed to the vessels or some depots or stations.
Some time ago we found a number of such marked flags at an estate on Staten Island. To this day, at antique shows, we try always to check the hems of early flags – you never know what you might find.
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Jim Claflin is a recognized authority on antiques of the U.S. Lighthouse Service, Life-Saving Service, Revenue Cutter Service and early Coast Guard. In addition to authoring and publishing a number of books on the subject, Jim is the owner of Kenrick A Claflin & Son Nautical Antiques. In business since 1956, he has specialized in antiques of this type since the early 1990s. He may be contacted by writing to him at 1227 Pleasant Street, Worcester, MA 01602, or by calling 508-792-6627. You may also contact him by email: jclaflin@LighthouseAntiques.net or visit his web site at: www.LighthouseAntiques.net
This story appeared in the
Nov/Dec 2014 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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