If you ask Noel the smiling personable operations manager and historian for the Twin Lights Historical Society, she doesn’t have to think for a nanosecond before bursting out with one of those friendly smiles, “I’ve just had the best of all worlds. I’ve done things I’ve only dreamed I would do.”
That outgoing and vivacious operations manager at the historic state site is Noel Dempsey, one of the Dempsey clan of Highlands that is synonymous with the Twin Lights and has been for generations before Noel. She has just taken it a few steps further and learned more about her family, her town, and the Twin Lights that wasn’t far from her own backyard when she was growing up in Highlands.
A graduate of Henry Hudson Regional school, Noel always felt a draw towards history. When she graduated from Rutgers University it was with a degree in history and English. She went to graduate School at New York University and earned her degree in Experimental humanities, which means she studied journalism, history, and English among other subjects, and she wrote her thesis on analyzing fiction!
The daughter of Peter and Holly Dempsey, Peter being one of the ten children of Mary and Earl who lived just below the Twin Lights on Highland avenue, Holly from not very far away in Leonardo, Noel learned about a possible state internship at the Twin Lights from her dad, who had spoken with a ranger who knew the Twin Lights had an opening for an intern. She applied, was accepted, and for more than a year has been fortunate enough to intern under Park Ranger and historian Nick Woods. From there she was offered and accepted the position with the Twin Light’s nonprofit historical society, the perfect opportunity for a young woman who yearns for a career that includes teaching others the unique and important history of the Garden State.
Noel looks back on her internship days under Wood as the best experience she could possibly have in learning history. “He is intense,” she smiled, recalling his dedication to perfection and ensuring all facts are well supported before approval for any project. “He knows so much history and is so willing to share it,” she said, “and can explain it in a way that you realize how important it is.” Now working for the Society with Wood as the historian for the state historic site, , she can capitalize on all he taught her during her internship, and she can use that knowledge to show and tell others the importance of the Twin Lights in the history of not only the borough, but the state and nation as well.
And talking to the thousands who come to the Twin Lights is what Noel likes best! “I love it when people ask me things, and want to learn more, “she said, “and I love it when they tell me their own stories about why they visit the Twin Lights and why it is important or fascinating in their own lives.”
During her internship, Noel also worked on several projects under Wood’s guidance, including creating the display for Schenk’s Tavern, a popular meeting place in Highlands in generations past. She also did considerable research and signage for the oil house, one of the other buildings at the state museum site, as well as research and signage work for Gallery 1, the portion of the museum which includes a lot of Highlands’ history.
‘’Nick also had me make a table,” she giggles, remembering the struggle she had in hammering, putting together, painting, and finishing the table. “I think that was my first and only table I’ll ever make,” she laughs.
Noel said surprisingly, she also learned many things about her own family she had not known. For instance, a relative from a couple of generations ahead of her, Clara Dempsey, was the president of the Twin Lights Historical Society during the 20th century. Another relative even brought one of Clara’s photo albums with photos and stories that will now be part of the museum’s archives. Her siblings, cousins and other family members have also filled her in on family stories that include the Twin Lights and what it meant growing up beneath it as she herself did in the 21st century..
Archive work was also another challenge for Noel, though one she particularly loved. Prior to the Twin Lights internship, she had also interned with the New Brunswick archives where she got her first understanding of how that phase of historic preservation operates. A stickler for detail l herself, she is especially appreciative of Wood’s talent and dedication to perfection at this site.
Meeting, greeting and sharing stories with others is probably the best part of her job, Noel thinks, though she can’t find any part of it she doesn’t thoroughly enjoy. Volunteers impress her the most.
“I just so appreciate all the talent that each of these volunteers brings to the Twin Lights,” she said, “to think there are so many people who volunteer their time and talents out of love for the museum itself and history in general is so wonderful and so helpful to others. I’ve learned a lot about how difficult it is for non-profit groups to operate at the high standards they set for themselves, and it simply would not be possible without volunteers.”
On the other hand, volunteers appreciate the opportunity to use their talents, she agreed. As an example, the Twin Lights currently has close to 20 volunteers who rotate throughout the summer season or for some, year-round. Last month, when the Society held a Volunteers Day to honor them, the Society also invited anyone interested in volunteering to stop in and talk with volunteers and see what it’s like. “Apparently many were impressed by our great workers,” Noel beamed, “we met another eight people who want to volunteer here after undergoing training. And each one of them is going to be great, too!”
In meeting visitors, Noel likes to know what brought them to the lighthouse and has learned they have come from every continent…” well, I’m not sure of Antarctica,” she laughed, “and from every state in the Union. There are those visitors who come because they have a love for visiting lighthouses across the country; others come because they know some of the history or were here on a school trip as a youngster. Some come because they’ve seen the various logos and photos of the Twin Lights at businesses throughout downtown Highlands and are drawn to it. Still more see the “castle on the hill” when they visit Sandy Hook and seek it out themselves. Some come simply for the spectacular view from the front of the lighthouse, or for the opportunity to climb one or both towers. Some come simply because it’s a very pretty, peaceful and restful place. Some come because they are descendants or have heard stories about lighthouse keepers here and want to see it for themselves, or because they want to know the history of the Coast Guard and the lifesaving service that preceded it.
And yes, others come to plan their wedding ceremonies in the lighthouse or on the grounds overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
What is the hardest part of her job? Noel only takes a second to narrow that down as well. “There’s nothing hard about what I do, because it’s all fascinating and I love having something new to learn,” she said, “but the biggest challenge is not having enough hours in the day to do everything I want and learn everything I need to learn. I love having to always be learning something.”
In her future, Noel sees herself continuing to work at historic sites in New Jersey, learning more about herself and being in a position to share New Jersey history with others. She is an avid reader, though for relaxation, it isn’t history or biographies she reads. It’s fiction for relaxation. And she does this with her dog, Olive, a lab mix with a lot of energy that keeps her on her toes. “But I’m learning to knit, too!” she exclaims.
Now with grad school behind her, Noel admits she is looking for other hobbies that will let her relax but still learn.
She certainly gets exercise. Since she grew up below the lights and visited there often as a child, she can’t count the number of times she has climbed one or both towers. But these days, she’s up at least one of them every day. She loves the South Tower on a stormy night, or the North tower when the moon is full because as a photographer, “these are beautiful sights.”
And as for her experience at the Twin Lights, both as a state intern and later as a manager for a non-profit society: “It has changed my life., I never believed I can be in a field I only hoped that I could ever get in.”
