Pomham Rocks Lighthouse’s Keeper Aronson Honored with Marker

The light morning rainfall did not dampen the spirit of the members of Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse as they gathered at Quidnesset Memorial Cemetery in North Kingstown, RI recently to honor the lighthouse’s longest-serving keeper, Adolf Aronson. Also attending the memorial service were descendants of Captain Aronson, KarIn Lukowicz of East Greenwich and her daughter, Kristin Scribner of Gloucester, MA, as well as her brother, John Pierson of East Greenwich. Dave Kelleher, Pomham historian, delivered the dedication. Joseph Silvestri, chair of the memorial event, placed a United States Lighthouse Service Memorial Marker at Captain Aronson’s gravesite. The marker honors the sacrifices made by the Lighthouse Keepers of the United States Lighthouse Service. The bronze markers, which hold a U.S. flag, recognize the service and dedication of Lighthouse Keepers to the safety of those at sea. Following the dedication ceremony, members of Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse gathered for lunch at Davenport’s Restaurant, East Providence. This is the fifth lighthouse keeper that the volunteer group has honored.

Born in Sweden in 1872, Adolf Aronson came to America in 1890, at the age of 18. After working on a number of ships, he joined the Lighthouse Service in 1899. He was appointed to the Hog Island Shoal Lightship, located at the entrance to Mt. Hope Bay. When it was replaced by a lighthouse in 1901, he served as the first Assistant Keeper of Hog Island Lighthouse. In 1903 he was promoted to head keeper, and five years later was transferred to Pomham Rocks. He remained at Pomham, with his wife, Nellie, and children H. Marjorie, H. Raymond and Elmer, from 1908 until his retirement in 1937. While stationed at Pomham, he was recognized for two rescues. One involved a seaplane that had crashed into the water. In his motorboat, Capt. Aronson rescued the two men aboard and towed the plane to shore. He also rescued a canoeist whose boat had capsized. Unaware that the lighthouse was occupied, the canoeist did not even call out for help. But the ever-watchful Keeper Aronson rushed to his rescue, having seen the canoeist go under twice.

During his time at the Riverside light station, Pomham Rocks received national attention. The keeper’s son, Raymond, had adopted a stray cat from Riverside that he called Tommy. The black and white cat became well-adjusted to his island home. He would jump off the rocks and catch fish, hiding them under a lilac bush until he had enough for a meal. The lilac bush still blooms on the north side of the island. The Providence Journal wrote a story about Tommy which was picked up by newspapers across the country. A 1931 news
clipping from the Times-Picayune newspaper in Louisiana, displayed in the lighthouse gift shop, recounts the story of the self-sufficient fishing cat.

Life on an island lighthouse meant that sometimes medical care was not easily available. When Keeper Aronson’s daughter became too ill to transport ashore, a doctor came by boat to the lighthouse. As it turned out, she had appendicitis, and he performed surgery on the kitchen table.

Dedicated to the performance of his duties, in his 29 years at Pomham Rocks Lighthouse, Keeper Aronson only had ten days of vacation. His only sick leave was for two months following an accident “while on an errand of mercy between lighthouse and shore.” His foot was injured in the accident and had to be amputated, but he was soon back on the job.