We have a great afternoon planned for members of the Friends' group. The Annual Meeting will be led by Mary Smallwood, President of the Friends' Board of Directors. As always, accomplishments made by the Friends' group will be reviewed, plans for the upcoming year will be discussed, and friends will have the opportunity to connect with each other and the Refuge once again.  You won't want to miss the April 29 Annual Meeting. Food and refreshments will be provided.

Graphic Credit Courtesy Rita LeBlanc

Celebrating 30 Years of Support  for the Refuge     This year marks the 30th year that the Friends have been providing support for the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

Lighthouse Keeper's House Resident

Visits the Refuge

Just a few weeks ago, Albert M. Kudrick visited the Refuge from Pittsburgh, PA. In a conversation he had with Refuge Senior Ranger, Gail Fishman, Albert shared memories from 60 years ago when he was a small boy, and he and his parents lived in the Keeper's House adjacent to the lighthouse. Albert's father, Albert Kudrick, was the keeper of the light in the late 1950s.

Albert was three years-old in 1957, which marked the first of three years that he and his family occupied the house at the base of the light tower. Albert's family was one of the last in the lighthouse history to live there to maintain the light.

Importantly, Albert brought three scrapbooks of photos his family had  kept from the time they lived there. "The photos help me remember some of that time so vividly," Albert said. "At that age, it's hard to recall everything, but I have a strong memory of the remoteness of where we lived, and that it was a wonderful place to start out your life. I remember when my father might be cleaning the lens above, and he would have me sweep the tower stairs or perform other small chores (left). For someone so little, I felt as if I had 'grown-up' work to do to help him."

The photo at top is very instructive for current research on the Keepers' House. Albert is seen in the foreground with his mother, and in the background, a tidy yard is evident, skirted by a bright picket fence. A screened-in porch area is obvious in the background, and off to the right, you can see an additional small Coast Guard building that served as quarters for a very young couple who also lived here at that time.

Information about exactly how the four rooms of the Keeper's House  functioned has always been just a bit sketchy over time. But, at least in this late 1950s period, several photos in Albert's scrapbooks show the room layout and how each was decorated at the time. The end room (farthest North) was where everyone gathered for cooking purposes and family meals (at right, Albert sits on the window ledge with his father).

Though things have changed with the lighthouse over time, Albert said that some things were about what we'd expect today. "There were a lot of snakes (Albert Kudrick with what appears to be a large rattle snake at left) to contend with.  My mother was not too keen on that.  And, there was one really large alligator that we would see - someone had given him the name, Moe, or Big Moe. We'd see him quite a bit. It was an interesting time for a young boy," he said. 

 

Refuge News Saturday, May 13 - Introduction to Volunteering at St. Marks NWR This program is being offered for existing volunteers and potential volunteers who have submitted an application and it runs from 9 am - 11 am.  The session focuses on the mission of St. Marks NWR, how the volunteer program is set up, and current volunteer needs.  Please call (850) 925-6121 to reserve your space. This session is required training for volunteering at St. Marks NWR.   Taking It On the Road In the recent Springtime Tallahassee Parade, the St. Marks NWR float, constructed by the Refuge Fire Crew, displays the many attractions / activities available at the Refuge. Thank you fire crew for representing us so well!  Photo courtesy, Sue Conte, Friends' Board of Directors. Family Fishing Day May 6 This will be the first time this activity has been offered in over a decade, so join us that day.  Call (850) 925-6121 for more information.

Have you considered including the Refuge in your will?  We would appreciate hearing from you if so. The Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge can provide information and guide you through the process. Just call the Refuge at 850-925-6121, and ask to be contacted by the Friends' Development Committee, or email us.

Reflections Editor, Phillip M. Pollock