FANNIE MAE SALTER
1882 – 1966

Fannie Mae was born in 1882 in Mathews County, Virginia. She married Clarence Walter “Harry” Salter. They had 3 children. The Salters moved to Turkey Point in 1922 so Clarence could assume his duties as the new keeper.

Three years later in February 1925, Clarence died from complications following surgery to have his appendix removed. Like previous female keepers, Fannie applied for the position, assuming she would be the natural selection to succeed her husband.

However, the Civil Service denied Fannie’s request, citing that at the age of 47, she was too old for the position. Fannie appealed the decision, taking her grievance to her senator, who in turn took it to then-President Calvin Coolidge.

President Coolidge overturned the Civil Service’s decision and granted Fannie the official position as lightkeeper, a distinction that no other female lightkeeper can lay claim to. Mrs. Salter maintained a radio watch and learned how to use a radiotelephone from an accompanying manual. She was on duty seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Her beginning salary was $1140/year.

On April 20, 1933, the Mathews Journal reported the following: “Friends of Mrs. Fannie M. Salter of Turkey Point, MD., the only woman employed in the USLHS, will be glad to learn that she has returned to her home very much improved. Mrs. Salter was painfully injured in the performance of her duties in the LHS at Turkey Point.”

Fannie Mae served for 22 years – 1925 to 1947. Once she had to manually strike the fog bell when it suddenly failed, as a steamer was heading to the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal in a fog. She rang the bell four times a minute for 55 minutes until the steamer had safely passed. Fannie went on to say, “I was never more exhausted in my whole life”.

In 1943, electricity came to the Turkey Point Light.  Four years later, the lighthouse was automated. Fannie remained the lightkeeper until she retired in August 1947 at the age of 65. After she retired, she moved just 6 miles away where she could still see the light every night.

Fannie died on March 11, 1966 at the age of 83 in Baltimore, MD. She was buried next to her husband at St. Paul United Methodist Church Cemetery in Susan, VA.