Mohawk's first keeper was a local farmer, John Burgess, hired on at the portly sum of 65 pounds sterling per season. Mr. Burgess kept the light bright from 1848 until '1870, followed by Richard H. Smithers who in 1895 past the job to his son, Richard 0. Smithers. Richard J. Foster took the light in 1921 and kept it until 1932 when tragedy hit Richard and his son Jim.

At the end of the navigational season, due to a cold spell that covered Mohawk Bay in thin ice, the two headed to shore early. It was assumed that they were caught in the ice and unable to do anything, in hope the drifting ice would take them close to shore. Fish tugs and many others tried to find the cold and helpless pair without luck. On New years day, a woman walking her dog at Point Albino found young Jim under a cottage frozen to death. Richard was found later, he had perished in the small boat. Their lives were given so ships could safely reach their destinations.

The last man to keep the light on a part-time basis was Earl Siddall of Port Maitland, who just recently passed on. Earl maintained the batteries to keep the light flashing until it was replaced in 1964, by a navigational buoy 'EA4' still in service southeast of the island.

From Old Newspapers and Books Etc., Etc.