Point Knox

Juliet Nichols, keeper of the Point Knox fog bell station, knew the machinery was temperamental. The year was 1906. Point Knox, perched on the southwestern edge of Angel Island, was a vital navigational aid for ships navigating the foggy San Francisco Bay. The fog signal, established in 1887, was initially just a bell, struck by a clockwork mechanism. A light was added in 1900, a simple lens lantern hung near the bell. John Ross, the first keeper, had served there for sixteen years before Juliet took over. He had lost a leg in a maritime accident, his seafaring career cut short. Now, Juliet found herself responsible for the often-failing machinery. She’d noted at least eight failures in her logbook. It wasn’t light housekeeping, that’s for sure. Then came July 4th, 1906. The day began festive, flags flying against a calm sky with distant fog. As evening approached, dense fog rolled in. The machinery, for once, was working. At 8 p.m., disaster struck. The machinery broke. A crucial tension bar snapped in two. The fog was dense, the wind a fresh southwest breeze carrying heavy mist. Juliet knew she had to act fast. She grabbed a nail hammer and stepped onto the platform. There, she manually struck the bell, the prescribed double blow every fifteen seconds. She continued through the night and into the next day, a relentless task in the swirling fog. For twenty hours and thirty-five minutes, Juliet kept the bell ringing, a lifeline for ships navigating the treacherous waters. She later received a special commendation for her dedication. Point Knox, more than just a fog signal and a light, was a testament to the resilience and dedication of its keepers. The station, later expanded to include an upper story built beneath the original dwelling, continued to serve until 1960. Then, the Coast Guard moved operations to Point Blunt. In 1963, the structures at Point Knox were burned to the ground. Only the lonely bell, suspended in its wooden frame, remained. Now, as you stand here, imagine the clang of that bell, Juliet’s determined figure against the fog, and the vital role Point Knox played in guiding ships through the San Francisco Bay.