To understand the significance of women at the St. Augustine Light Station, we must realize a bit about the Victorian working-class lifestyle. Everyone worked. Women ran the household, gardened, fed the animals, and helped keep the light burning. Sometimes women even helped rescue those stranded at sea. Plus, women ensured everyone was clothed and fed, including occasionally shipwrecked passengers. Educating the children was a daily activity as the schoolhouse was far away. Perhaps the woman who best exemplifies hard work and perseverance is Maria de los Delores Mestre Andreu, wife of Joseph Andreu. Maria’s middle name means Lady of the Sorrows, and her family was of Minorcan descent. Maria Andreu became the first female lighthouse keeper in Florida when her husband fell to his death while painting St. Augustine’s first lighthouse. She was the first Hispanic-American to command a federal shore installation, setting a precedent for women serving in the military. It’s been over 150 yea...