keepers of the patos lighthouse

The First keeper was Harry Mahler. While he served at Patos he met and married an Orcas girl, Louise Rilling. Together they had three children who lived on Patos. After working there for a decade, he moved to Cape Mears in order for his son Howard to go to school. Albert Morgan, his assistant, received a promotion to serve as the second keeper. He held the position a little over two years when he, too, left for Port Townsend, essentially trading Edward Durgan jobs. Edward Durgan was keeper from 1905 until 1911, and is the best known keeper to ever work at Patos. His fame is deserved, but the real source of it comes from his daughter, Helene Glidden, a full 40 years after he left Patos.

For a full story of the keepers, and a list of all who served, please refer to Patos Island Lighthouse by Edrie Vinson and Terri Vinson as found in the tab “More” and “Items for sale.”