Georgiana Brumfield
1849 – 1934

The third female lightkeeper was Georgiana S. Brumfield (nee Crouch), John and Rebecca Crouch’s daughter. She was born to parents John and Rebecca Crouch in 1849 in Cecil County.

Georgiana moved to Turkey Point Lighthouse at the age of 16 with her parents when her father first took over as lightkeeper in 1865. After her mother died, Georgiana assumed the position just 15 days later on July 26, 1895. Her beginning annual salary was $560 and her ending salary was $780 per year.

In September of 1916, new floors and cupboards were installed in the dining room. The stable was repaired, and a new concrete walkway was installed behind the house.

In February of 1918, in the daily log, she wrote: “6 tugs and 3 barges come up. Resumed the light tonight. The tugs and barges got through but had a right hard time. Was 48 nights we did not light. 1 canal boat cut through loaded with wood sunk at back creek”. On February 18, she writes “5 of the tugs went down today”.

Georgia Brumfield retired from service as Keeper on September 29, 1919 after serving for 24 years. In the daily log, she wrote “Going to go down from dear old Turkey Point today, but God goes with me and he will show me the way.” In total, Georgiana spent a total of 54 years at the Turkey Point Light Station, 24 of which were spent as the lightkeeper, by far the longest inhabitant, as well as longest serving female lightkeeper in Turkey Point’s history.

In the 1930 U.S. Census. Georgia was listed as being 80 years old and was living with her daughter Mary and son Paul in Cecil County. She married her husband William at the lighthouse and all her children were born there. In an interview with The Baltimore Sun, she reminisced about how much she loved living at Turkey Point Lighthouse and how beautiful it was. When asked about retiring, she said: “I am not dead, I am only leaving because they say I must, as I am 70 years old.” Keeper Brumfield also talked about how they stayed busy growing flowers and vegetables. There was also plenty of room to raise chickens.

Georgiana Brumfield died on June 25, 1934 and was buried at Harts United Methodist Church Cemetery in Elk Neck, Maryland.