A lamplighter, historically, was an employee of a town who lit street lights.
Lights were lit each evening, generally by means of a wick on a long pole. At dawn, they would return to put them out using a small hook on the same pole. Early street lights were generally candles, oil, and similar consumable liquid or solid lighting sources with wicks.
In the 19th century, gas lights became the dominant form of street lighting, which also required lamplighters.
Now of course the streetlights react to the approach of darkness and come on automatically. Unless, like the ones on the left, they are temperamental and don't respond at all.
You can also hear The Browns sing a hit originally recorded in 1946 titled "The Old Lamplighter" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zBtUstq8X4
I remember that song and as a child I always thought it was so cool to have a lamplighter and wished I would have been there to see it. Lovely early evening capture.
