GBH Documentaries
House of Light
Special | 13m 38sVideo has Closed Captions
Dr. Sally Snowman, the last keeper at Boston Light, bids farewell to her life’s cosmic calling.
Dr. Sally Snowman, America’s last traditional lighthouse keeper, is preparing to leave Boston Light. As her tenure ends, HOUSE OF LIGHT captures her farewell to a calling felt since childhood. Grounded in respect for the ancestral Wampanoag and Nipmuc harbor lands, Sally’s story of resilience and heart shows how one woman’s devotion can draw anyone under the light’s spell.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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GBH Documentaries is a local public television program presented by GBH
GBH Documentaries
House of Light
Special | 13m 38sVideo has Closed Captions
Dr. Sally Snowman, America’s last traditional lighthouse keeper, is preparing to leave Boston Light. As her tenure ends, HOUSE OF LIGHT captures her farewell to a calling felt since childhood. Grounded in respect for the ancestral Wampanoag and Nipmuc harbor lands, Sally’s story of resilience and heart shows how one woman’s devotion can draw anyone under the light’s spell.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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2 00:00:54,137 --> 00:00:57,265 <font color="#F3CE32FF">The energy of the island spoke to me.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">When I was ten, I stepped on the island...</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">I looked up at the tower, and said, "Daddy,</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">when I grow up, I want to do that!
"</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">I knew that at ten years old.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">We're just light in this body.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">My soul, and my connection to that greater soul, to that spirit...</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">That's forever.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">That's eternal.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">My purpose is, being here on the island, </font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">working the energies: one person at a time.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">One seagull at a time.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">One muskrat at a time.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">I've had too many losses.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">Too many bad relationships.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">I just wasn't getting it right.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">I felt that I was not worthy,</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">for the space I was taking up on the planet.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">I just wanted to relieve my parents </font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">from having to worry about me.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">Because they didn't know how to help me.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">I got to this point where...</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">I either had to depart the planet,</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">or figure out how to move on.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">And I figured out how to move on.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">What makes your heart sing?</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">What brings you joy?</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">And that's the light.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">When we can find that space.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">And become that rotating beam of light.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">Of 2 million candle power.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">And um...</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">You know, I still have really tough times.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">We all do.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">And I have to keep on coming back...</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">You're here for a reason.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">Figure out what it is.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">This is the island's bird bathtub.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">They poop in it and it's disgusting.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">When I came out to Boston Light for our first watch...</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">When I was going up the stairs...</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">I felt like I had done it a thousand times before.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">The keeper that was out here after the Revolutionary War...</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">It was Thomas Knox.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">And his wife's name was, Content.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">I really feel I was Content going up those stairs.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">I had done it a thousand times before.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">What did Content wear out here in 1783?</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">And that's where I came up with the costume.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">And the bonnet.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">When I wear it, I turn into Content Knox.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">But it puts me in the energy of Boston light.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">And I was always fascinated by ghosts...</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">Because I always I saw things.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">So ghosts were not scary to me.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">I just wanted to know what was this stuff</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">that I was sensing and feeling.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">What a beautiful closure to all of this.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">My dream was to be the keeper out here.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">And I am.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">So for me, I am so honored.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">This is the last manned</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">light station in the country.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">So now it's woman-ed.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">And my work is done.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">We're connected forever.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">This was all planned some time</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">back when I was ten years old.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">292.
This is Light Station, Boston.
We're packing up.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">We'll be ready to go in about 15 minutes.
Over.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">-Roger that.
We're heading back there now.</font> <font color="#F3CE32FF">Light Station, Boston, out.</font>
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GBH Documentaries is a local public television program presented by GBH