Keeper Edward Lockwood Meyer

(1897-1957)
Served August 12, 1937 - July 7, 1939

Edward Lockwood Meyer, born on September 14, 1897, on John's Island, South Carolina, joined the Light House Service in 1923 as second assistant at the St. Augustine Light Station. Two years later, he became First Assistant Keeper at the Mosquito Inlet Light Station. With him were his wife, Ellen Mary, his two young sons, Edward, Jr., and Jack, and daughter Betty. A second daughter, Gladys, was born at the Light Station and would become a life-long resident of Ponce Inlet. Meyer proved conscientious and heroic on a number of rescues and was often commended by the Bureau of Lighthouses.

In 1930, Meyer became first assistant keeper at the Jupiter Inlet Light Station, and three years later became Principal Keeper of the Charleston Light Station and later of the Charleston Harbor and Cooper River Lights. In 1937, Meyer was appointed Principal Keeper at Ponce de Leon Inlet Light Station. He was again often commended and once received a surprise visit from Daniel C. Roper, the Secretary of Commerce. In 1939, the Lighthouse Service was merged with the Coast Guard, and Meyer enlisted. He served during World War II, but in December, 1943, he was transferred to Sombrero Key and later to the Dry Tortugas. Retiring from the Coast Guard in 1945, Meyer returned to Ponce Inlet where he ran a fish camp. He died on October 9, 1957.