Middletown Township near Highlands in Monmouth County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Sarah Patterson Johnson

Women's Heritage Trail

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., February 29, 2020

1. Sarah Patterson Johnson Marker

Inscription.

Sarah Patterson Johnson. Women's Heritage Trail. , Sarah Patterson Johnson was officially appointed Assistant Keeper of the Sandy Hook Lighthouse on May 27, 1867. Sarah assisted the Head Keeper, her brother, Charles Patterson, who tended the lighthouse from 1861 to 1885. Her family resided in Howell Township, New Jersey, where she owned 40 acres of land. Sarah's main duties included filling the lamp in the Fresnel Lens with oil, trimming the wick, and making sure that the flame burned brightly through the night in both the Sandy Hook Lighthouse and the West Beacon, a smaller lighthouse located on the bayside. All year long, in all kinds of weather, these lights were kept burning from sundown to sunrise by Charles and Sarah so that ships would not wreck along the shores of Sandy Hook. After Charles resigned as keeper in 1885, Sarah continued working at Sandy Hook as a schoolteacher until the Spanish-American War forced the Army to order all civilians to leave the peninsula in 1898. Sarah died in 1909 and is buried across the street from her former home in Howell Township. In the U.S. Lighthouse Service, many women acted as assistant keepers for their head keeper husbands or fathers. Some women even succeeded their kin upon their deaths to become head keepers., "...I get homesick...I can only look at sand and water [here]. We can't hardly tell whether its spring or not... [because] it is always one thing here; the sand and cedars never change." , - Sarah Patterson Johnson in a letter to her father at the family farm in Howell Township, N.J., [Captions:] , The Sandy Hook Lighthouse Site is on the NJ Women's Heritage Trail because of the significant contributions of Assistant Lighthouse Keeper and Teacher Sarah Patterson Johnson to the state of New Jersey., The New Jersey Women's Heritage Trail highlights a collection of historic sites located around the state that represent the significant contributions women made to the history of our state. The Heritage Trail brings to life the vital role of women in New Jersey's past and present.

Sarah Patterson Johnson was officially appointed Assistant Keeper of the Sandy Hook Lighthouse on May 27, 1867. Sarah assisted the Head Keeper, her brother, Charles Patterson, who tended the lighthouse from 1861 to 1885. Her family resided in Howell Township, New Jersey, where she owned 40 acres of land. Sarah's main duties included filling the lamp in the Fresnel Lens with oil, trimming the wick, and making sure that the flame burned brightly through the night in both the Sandy Hook Lighthouse and the West Beacon, a smaller lighthouse located on the bayside. All year long, in all kinds of weather, these lights were kept burning from sundown to sunrise by Charles and Sarah so that ships would not wreck along the shores of Sandy Hook. After Charles resigned as keeper in 1885, Sarah continued working at Sandy Hook as a schoolteacher until the Spanish-American War forced the Army to order all civilians to leave the peninsula in 1898. Sarah died in 1909 and is buried across the street from her former home in Howell Township. In the U.S. Lighthouse Service, many women acted as assistant keepers for their head keeper husbands

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or fathers. Some women even succeeded their kin upon their deaths to become head keepers.

"...I get homesick...I can only look at sand and water [here]. We can't hardly tell whether its spring or not... [because] it is always one thing here; the sand and cedars never change."
- Sarah Patterson Johnson in a letter to her father at the family farm in Howell Township, N.J.

[Captions:]
The Sandy Hook Lighthouse Site is on the NJ Women's Heritage Trail because of the significant contributions of Assistant Lighthouse Keeper and Teacher Sarah Patterson Johnson to the state of New Jersey.

The New Jersey Women's Heritage Trail highlights a collection of historic sites located around the state that represent the significant contributions women made to the history of our state. The Heritage Trail brings to life the vital role of women in New Jersey's past and present.

Erected by New Jersey Historic Trust and Historic Preservation Office.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Women. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses, and the New Jersey Women’s Heritage Trail

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., February 29, 2020

2. Sarah Patterson Johnson Marker

At the Sandy Hook Lighthouse

series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is May 27, 1867.

Location. 40° 27.698′ N, 74° 0.117′ W. Marker is near Highlands, New Jersey, in Monmouth County. It is in Middletown Township. It is on Hudson Road, on the left when traveling north. Marker is adjacent to the Sandy Hook Lighthouse, on the former Fort Hancock grounds in the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Highlands NJ 07732, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in New Jersey’s Central Jersey,

specifically on the Jersey Shore,

and in the New York City Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Keeping the Light (here, next to this marker); Sandy Hook Light (a few steps from this marker); Climate Crisis

Charles W. Patterson and Sarah Johnson: Brother-sister team image. Click for more information.

via NPS, unknown

3. Charles W. Patterson and Sarah Johnson: Brother-sister team

NPS Gateway National Recreation Area website entry
Click for more information.

(a few steps from this marker); Lights Out! (within shouting distance of this marker); Sandy Hook (within shouting distance of this marker); Lighting the Way (within shouting distance of this marker); Mortar Battery (within shouting distance of this marker); Fire House Number 2 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Highlands.

Also see . . . She Kept The Lights Burning. Jersey Shore Scene website entry (Submitted on December 3, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,193 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 26, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 3. submitted on June 25, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.