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The United States Lighthouse Establishment was formed in 1789 by Congress and placed under the Treasury Department. It was transferred to the Commerce and Labor Department in 1910 and finally was transferred to the Coast Guard in 1939. Uniforms were prescribed for lighthouse keepers, their assistants, lightship personnel, lighthouse tender crewmen and the supply depot personnel, though the date of the first uniform regulation is not known.
Regulations of 1912 prescribed similar uniforms for lighthouse keepers and officers of lighthouse tender vessels. This was a single breasted, fly-front coat, fitted closely to the body and similar to the Revenue Service uniform coat authorized in 1891. Collar ornaments for lighthouse tender officers and engineers were embroidered anchors and three-bladed propellers, respectively. Light station personnel wore embroidered loops on the collars, enclosing either the letter K for the keeper, or the numbers one to four, depending on their ranks as assistants. Lighthouse personnel did not wear sleeve ornaments.
Tender officers wore black mohair braid stripes, similar to naval officer stripes. Captains had two wide outer stripes and two narrow inner stripes. Second officers wore two stripes and third officers, one stripe. Chief engineers wore three stripes, assistant engineers wore two stripes and second assistants, one stripe. A standard Navy-type cap was worn, with a silver lighthouse ornament and a surrounding wreath. Regulation buttons also portrayed a lighthouse.
A double-breasted coat was prescribed for quartermasters and machinists. This had five gilt buttons on each breast. Their caps carried the silver lighthouse, with U.S.L.S. beneath its base. Officers of light vessels also wore this uniform coat. In the enlisted ranks, stokers wore a Navy-type white duck uniform. Oiled canvas rain suits were authorized, as well as dark blue watch caps and sweaters for winter wear.
At the supply depots, the keepers wore the same uniform as the lighthouse keepers. Watchmen wore a uniform typical of policemen of the period, reminiscent of the Keystone cops which was a single-breasted Army-style coat with five gilt buttons and high collar. Within the standard embroidered loop on the collar was a W. The high police-style helmet was black for winter and tan for summer and had the lighthouse ornament on front. Captains of the watch added a wreath around the lighthouse. Watchmen wore police badges on their breast, lettered with L.H.S., police, and U.S.
Regulations for the lighthouse establishment as part of the Coast Guard were promulgated in 1941, including uniforms for civilian employees. By this date, the cap device for officers was changed to a lighthouse and crossed anchors for lighthouse tender officers. Lightship officers retained the old lighthouse surrounded by the wreath device. Their uniforms were of standard navy blue cloth, double-breasted, with four buttons on each breast. Lighthouse keepers also wore the double-breasted uniform coat, with the old-style billed cap.
To indicate longevity, lighthouse personnel wore gold service stars and bars on the lower sleeve. Each five years up to 20 years was represented by one embroidered bar. A star designated 25 years and bars were added beyond that for each five years. Lighthouse Service personnel could remain as civilians after the service was integrated into the Coast Guard. They retained their Lighthouse Service uniforms until they were worn out or discarded.
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