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As site manager—and more pleasantly—as keeper of the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site & Museum, located on North Carolina’s Outer Banks (OBX), for ten years following 21 years as a volunteer, my usual and expected included answering questions, conducting numerous programs both on and offsite, and it was not uncommon to be photographed, interviewed, and filmed. These were especially common when I was wearing my reproduction, full-dress Life-Saving Service keeper’s formal uniform. And yes, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it! These encounters were almost always spontaneous—people would just show up and make these requests. They were rarely scheduled in advance. I had always thought of myself as a scholar, historian, public speaker, and presenter. I had never considered myself an actor! However, the more prsesentations I gave to large and larger groups, and the more dramatic these true shipwreck and rescue stories became, the more I began to present them theatrically; not as a lecture but as life theater.
The best compliment I ever received wass this: “I’ve never really believed in time travel – until I had the good fortune of meeting and listening to a presentation by James Charlet. He whisked me away, along with 27 of my Leadership OBX colleagues, to an incredible day in 1918 when a miracle rescue was performed, carried outby the heroes of the Chicamacomico Life Saving Station. I was transfixed for almost an hour as this brave adventure unfolded before me – then I was left standing in silence, once again amongst my colleagues – speechless and in awe.” –Larry R. Warner, Exhibits Curator, North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. Then, I knew I had to be somewhat of an actor to bring these stories to life. Unconsciously, I had always started telling these stories in the present tense, so the listener felt they were there, not like a lecturer droning on with facts. Once I became aware of the power of this style, I developed and refined it.
A First-Class Production
And so it was, that one fine day a young lady approached me with a familiar request: they were making a video and wanted me to participate. “They” were the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), under the U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC. They also have a local OBX office in nearby Newport News, Virginia.
The video series titled “Outer Banks Maritime Heritage Trail,” can now be seen at www.monitor.noaa.gov/obxtrail. You will see a map of the Outer Banks with sites marked numerically. Look on the list of videos to the right and click on the #5 video. The Chicamacomico Life Saving Service video will play (or look here: www.monitor.noaa.gov/obxtrail/videos_lss.html). It is a four-minutes video consisting mostly of my narration of the site and an explanation of the beach apparatus drill with accompanying video of the U.S. Coast Guard performing it at “Chico,” as they called it.
It was a fun, productive day for me as the keeper of our site to help substantially promote Chicamacomico. I was proud and pleased, for during my entire tenure there, my number one priority was to promote Chicamacomico. As far as I knew, that was it, which was always the case with all the other video/interview/photo sessions.
That, however, was not the end. Not long after, the lovely Lauren contacted me again with a different request. She knew I had an accurate reproduction Life-Saving Service keeper’s uniform in which I often performed.
Her blunt request startled me: “Our next video is the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Would you be the lighthouse keeper for us in your uniform?” My immediate reaction was, “Don’t you think it will be strange for the viewers to see the same guy running both of these?” I was honored and flattered but felt like a fish out of water. They really needed a keeper, and the uniforms were almost identical, but I was still hesitant. They had done so much for me at Chico, so I agreed to help them with the lighthouse. The Unforgettable Saga Begins I do not remember the day of the week, nor the month. The photo in my computer says the year was 2012. What I most certainly do remember was that it was summer and very hot. I showed up at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in my full-dress uniform: a three-piece navy-blue wool suit, dress shirt with plain navy-blue tie, and period leather boots. After some simple instructions, I was stationed in the Principal Keeper’s Quarters. It was late enough in the afternoon that the flame on the Coleman lantern they provided for me to carry could easily be seen. I exited the house from the south deck, and the camera followed me silently as I walked over to the lighthouse. A National Park Service (NPS) Ranger had begun to narrate the piece and does so through the three-minute video. It was an unusual, unexpected, and quite memorable day!
In the video, climbing to the top took a total of 135 seconds, or 2 minutes and 15 seconds on-screen. The actual time of shooting was four hours. It was all one continuous recording from when I exited the Principal Keeper’s Quarters until I reached the top. I vividly remember that what seemed like ascension was actually one set of landings, done multiple times. The videographer would be at the bottom and film me going up. Then repeat the same. Then repeat the same again. Then he would go to the top and film me coming up. Then, as you may have guessed, repeat several more times. This was actually one of the lower landings.
It was quite a relief when they finally had me climb the tower to the top and exit into that cool and windy breeze. It was remarkably windy, I remember, and although I had been to the top many times in the past (I was a seasonal ranger during my first summer living here), I had never been there in the evening. It was a remarkable experience. I had a profound sense of peace, calm, and joy. The view was entirely different, and everything seemed so much more tranquil. I highly recommend it!
After all that, I remember the moment I finally returned to my car. I was dripping wet with sweat, peeled off my uniform jacket and vest, threw them into the back seat, got in, and smiled.
Not too long after that, the young woman from NOAA, Lauren Heesemann, returned to the museum with a gift. The final video. What a personal and professional treasure. There I was – the Keeper! In back-to-back NOAA videos. The Maritime Trail is still on the web at: www.monitor.noaa.gov/obxtrail. Just click on Number 6 to see the Cape Hatteras video. All of the stories are well worth the time to view, enjoy, and learn.
Then, the Saga Becomes Iconic
One evening many, many years later, my wife and I were watching TV, our usual history/educations type programs. We begin watching a program from a series we have always enjoyed – an episode of “Mysteries of the Abandoned.” This one was in 2018. One of the segments was about the abandoned, haunted Waugoshance Lighthouse in Michigan. Suddenly, they show a keeper in a dark, uniform climbing a dark spiral staircase. It looked surprisingly familiar!
We paused the show, my wife and I looked at each other in disbelief and wondered. We both nearly yelled, “Rewind!” So, we did. Yes, we think so. Played it again. Pause. Confirmed. It was Keeper James climbing the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse footage!
I wondered how the Discovery Channel had gotten that footage. I emailed my contacts at the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. They told me what I should have already known: any government publication is public domain. You may be able to find it by searching for Discovery Channel, “Mysteries of the Abandoned,” Season 3, Episode 7, 2018.
So now it seems, that any movie or video producer in need of “generic footage” of a lighthouse keeper climbing steps will most likely use the anonymous footage of Keeper James . . . on the day I served as the keeper of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Keeper James Charlet in full dress uniform.
This story appeared in the
Jul/Aug 2024 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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