One of the main projects of the Hatteras Keepers Descendants Homecoming was the publication of a book under the authorship of Cheryl-Shelton Roberts. It is filled with memories of those who lived at the Cape Hatteras Light Station during the twentieth century. Adding texture to these stories are details about the Keepers’ families as a result of extensive genealogical research by Board-certified genealogist Sandra Clunies. Support for this book also came from the Hatteras Island Genealogical and Historical Society and a score of Keepers’ family members who searched for and shared old photographs. A grant for the publication was given by Eastern National to begin the search.

An excerpt of one of the stories on the Keeper Julian Haywood Austin, Sr. family from Hatteras Keepers Oral and Family Histories begins:

“Katherine married Julian on September 27, 1923, and they spent a month-long honeymoon at the Choptank River Light, enjoying every moment as a new bride on the old Chesapeake Bay light. After Julian transferred to the Cape Charles Light Station on Smith Island, Virginia, in 1925, Katherine bore Julian a fine son, his namesake, on May 18, 1926. Julian Jr. took to lighthouses right away; in fact, when only eighteen months old, he climbed his first lighthouse to the very top- on his own. Katherine left her young son on the grass near the Cape Charles tower while she quickly went inside to check something cooking on the stove. Julian made a fast escape, entered the tower, and started to explore. Appearing from around the corner of the house where he had been painting, Keeper Austin found a frantic Katherine trying to locate their vanished toddler. All they heard was ‘Clunk… clunk… clunk.’

Photo circa 1931 courtesy Marilyn Austin Meads Lighthouse children Julian Haywood Austin, Jr. and his sister, Marilyn about five and two years old respectively. Another sister, Verna was born in 1934.

Keeper Julian Sr. ran into the lighthouse and looked up the winding steps. Above him was the speedy crawler, Julian Jr., taking each step deliberately, holding a big shell in one hand. Every other iron step echoed the ‘clunk…clunk…clunk’ of the shell that the baby held determinedly. How he didn’t fall through the wide gaps between each steep step is a miracle. For this young family, it would perhaps be the most carefree time they would ever have together. In 1928, with hope and the energy of youth, the family had moved with Keeper Austin to the Cape Hatteras Light Station in Buxton, near Julian’s family home in Frisco.” © 2000 Cheryl Shelton-Roberts