The Light on the Island: Tales of a Lighthouse Keeper's Family in the San Juan Islands

The Light On The Island was written by my great aunt, Helene Glidden. We have enjoyed reading the story over and over, and have spent two nights in Active Cove on Patos Island with our children. The last night we spent there was about 5 years ago, tied up to a bouy in our 29 foot sailboat. It was a terrible night, as Active Cove often lives up to it's name. I spent all night thinking about my aunt and what it must have been like to call that lighthouse home....a lovely book. I hope you read it and enjoy it as much as we have.

Helen Glidden wrote this gem for the amusement of her children. Lucky for us, she was persuaded to have it published. Now, happily, 50 years hence it's back in print. It's an enchanting story (mostly true) about a large family (13 children) of light house keepers posted to tiny Patos Island in the San Juan Islands of NW Washington State at the turn of the century. It is told through the eyes of the five-year-old, middle daughter and comes complete with smugglers, heroes, a murder or two, colorful characters, whimsy and plenty of humor. Glidden masters the tricky business of writing from the point of view of a youngster growing from five to 13 who, for example, thinks the bushy bearded man living on the lam in their forest and know only to her is God. The author was this girl.

In 1953 as a 10 year old living in upstate New York, I read The Light On The Island and was mesmerized by the adventures of Angie and her family on Patos Island. Living on an island with a lighthouse, surrounded by marine animals and birds, rowing about in boats, exploring the beaches, coves and woods of Patos was a dreamworld away from mine. The book remained one of my favorite childhood books,[ I still have the book---its dustcover in tatters] so imagine how I felt when 16 years later I met my husband, who was from the Seattle area and we eventually moved there and Angie's world was in my backyard. Four years ago we took our sailboat up to Patos and we walked the beaches, "the petticoats" of Patos Island. For young and old alike, The Light On The Island explores the world of a child, the dreams, the harsh reality, the innocence, life and death, and growing up. Read it for the first time, read it again, ---it will light up your day!

I read this book while vacationing on the Northwest side of Orcas Island with little Patos Island in full view. I could not put this (borrowed) book down. A friend, who was with my family on vacation, also read and became hooked on the LaBrege Family's adventures as lighthouse keepers in the early 1900s. It was really getting on my nerves when my husband got ahold of the book, became hooked and then complained every time I picked it up to re-read some of the chapters. In short, I am now buying my own copy as I want to own this (true) story of a great pioneer family. I will never look at Patos Island without thinking of little "Angie", her antics, and her family's experiences. This is one great story.

I am overjoyed that this delightful book is back in print after so long. It has long been one of my favorite books. I received my copy over 40 years ago when I found it in a box of books given to me by my Grandmother. It is the wonderful true/fictionalized story of a little girl growing up with her many brothers and sisters on Patos Island where her father was lighthouse keeper. I had looked at the map in the book when I was a child and saw islands and presumed the story took place in Florida, for some reason. Imagine my delight when I moved to Bellingham in Washington State many years later, looked at a map and saw Patos Island was nearby! It then became my ambition to get to Patos Island by hook or by crook and in the mid 80's my dream came true when my husband and I kayaked to Patos. There was the lighthouse and the wonderful coves and beaches described in the book. Oh, be sure to keep tissues nearby as since this is based on a true story there are great sadnesses as well as lovely laughs. A joy! PS 50 years after reading this book in Chicago my friend Carla and I have formed a group to protect Patos Island and the lighthouse! [...]