Daily Archives: October 15, 2011

Manning Nootka Light c. 1900s

Lighthouses

The post below is a sort of research post. I do not have enough information to make it a really interesting story – right now it is more of a mystery – and I am searching for more information.

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Nootka light was lit for the first time on March 15, 1911 1 and was manned by Herbert T. W. Smith until October 06, 1918. Herbert, from what I can find out was the storekeeper at Friendly Cove, Nootka, and lived on nearby Saavedra Island (named after the Spanish Commandant at Nootka in 1793). The story goes that Herbert lived on Saavedra and rowed to work daily. Maybe tending store and the lighthouse? Continue reading Manning Nootka Light c. 1900s →

Lighthouse History – 23 (1905-04-01 to 1905-12-13)

Construction, History, Information, Keepers, Lighthouses, Newspapers, , , , , , ,

 The following extracts taken from early Victoria, British Columbia (BC) newspapers are credited to Leona Taylor for her excellent work in indexing the papers. Full information can be found here: “Index of Historical Victoria Newspapers“, 2007-09.

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Some of the lighthouses have no foghorns and when the mariners are creeping through befogged channels they know this. But the lightkeepers do their best. 
There is one lightkeeper in a certain pass, not 100 miles from the city, who makes a fog horn of coal-oil tins. He beats these as the Steamer nears the pass he guards as a Chinese villager clangs a gong when brigands are descending on the village. 
When the Steamer has successfully voyaged through the channel, creeping in the fog, the lightkeeper starts a gramophone which plays: 
‘Keep a-moving’; keep a-movin’; 
Keep a-moving’ right along, 
Cross de ribber o’ Jordan – keep a-movin’ right along.” 
–er-r-r-r-bang!  Continue reading Lighthouse History – 23 (1905-04-01 to 1905-12-13) →