Category Archives: History

Lighthouse History – 21 (1903-04-25 to 1904-04-17)

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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W P Daykin, of Carmanah Point, who came from the West Coast lighthouse with his son in an open boat in 45 hours, has been conducting some signalling experiments, using a 25-candle power incandescent light. Mr Daykin sent messages from the vicinity of the Marine hospital, which were received by Mr E J Haughton of the Canadian Pacific Railway telegraph staff, without difficulty. Mr Daykin, who has had long experience in signalling in connection with his extended lighthouse service, has invented a new system of signalling by night, using the Morse code. In the past signals have been sent by flashes and fixed glares of a white light, but Mr Daykin has substituted a red light, by placing a red glass in front of the light, for the dash, thus avoiding confusion which has occurred in the past regarding the duration of the dot or dash shown by the white light. [Colonist, 1903-04-25] Continue reading Lighthouse History – 21 (1903-04-25 to 1904-04-17)

Lighthouse History – 20 (1902-09-12 to 1903-03-27)

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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Dominion Government Steamer Quadra, Captain Walbran, returned to port yesterday afternoon with Col. Anderson, chief Engineer of the Department of Marine & Fisheries, on board. Steamer has been to the West Coast, going as far as Clayoquot. Colonel Anderson has been inspecting the Coast and Gulf lighthouses and aids around the Coast. He did not go further West than Clayoquot on the West Coast, and therefore did not see Cape Cook, where many mariners have longed to see a light for seasons past… [Colonist, 1902-09-12] Continue reading Lighthouse History – 20 (1902-09-12 to 1903-03-27)

Could the UK lighthouses be about to go in the dark?

From the BBC online news 

(NOTE: This is an image from the website. If the text is too small, hold down the CTRL key (lower left) on your keyboard and rotate the middle wheel on your mouse. The text will become larger or smaller depending on which direction you move the mouse wheel.) This applies to all websites and sites on the Internet.)

 

 

 

Lighthouse History – 19 (1902-05-13 to 1902-08-06)

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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 Dominion Government Steamer Quadra returned yesterday from a short but useful cruise to Clayoquot Sound. Two additional buoys were placed in position as aids to navigation, one off Echatchet’s I, Templar Channel to mark the rock nearby in the centre of the fairway, and the other off the Southwest point of Meares I, to show the turn into Deception Channel. The old buoy off Stubbs Spit was replaced by a new one. 
When in the Sound Captain Walbran carefully fixed the position of 4 uncharted rocks. Two of these are dangerous to navigation, one in the fairway of Browning Passage, with only 5′ of water over it at low water and the other, which dries at a very low tide, at the East end of Hecate Passage. Particulars of these rocks will be published by the Marine and Fisheries Department at an early date.  Continue reading Lighthouse History – 19 (1902-05-13 to 1902-08-06)

Life at First Narrows (aka Capilano) c. 1913

– Dorothy Mawdsley (Harris) Harrop (daughter of first light keeper, George Alfred Harris, at Capilano 1913 – 1925) (with special thanks to Alfred Harrop, grandson of George Alfred Harris, for letting me post the text of the letter.) 

First Narrows c. 1920 - photo Dudley Booth

[Father (George Alfred Harris)]. . . was given the First Narrows Light and Fog Station. I cannot remember but have a notion it was end of april 1915 when he took over. The light was first used May 17,1915 the day after my 17th birthday. The fog horn was started June 1, 1915. 

It must have been rather hard him living there by himself. I do not know the dimensions of the lighthouse but it was full of engines. Two engines were the same and were there in case one broke down, then an air compressor which was linked with belts to pulleys from the engine to the wall and then up to a higher pulley and across to the compressor, hence by pipes to the fog horns.  Continue reading Life at First Narrows (aka Capilano) c. 1913

Book – Chance Brothers Diaphone Manual

Chance Diaphone Book

 

This is a PDF copy of the Chance Diaphone Manual, which explains all the workings of the Diaphone Foghorn, and lists the many versions of the foghorn, their ranges, working pressures, sizes, etc. Click the link above to read or download the book.

Book – The Lighthouse Work of Sir James Chance, Baronet


Click the photo left for a PDF file. Click here for an ePub format or a Mobi format.

 

 

Author: Chance, James Frederick, 1856-1937
Subject: Chance, James Timmins, Sir, 1814-1902; Lighthouses
Publisher: London : Smith, Elder
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: AGP-4436
ISBN: 1149446641, 9781149446645
Length: 190 pages

Lighthouse History – 18 (1902-02-07 to 1902-03-09)

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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Queen City, which returned from Ahousett and way ports on the West Coast last night, brought news of further wreckage off the island coast, which may have a connection with the fate of the missing Condor. When bound in, Queen City passed a … sail boom floating about 4 miles out from shore, and about 6 miles South of Clo-oose. The boom was about 40′ long or thereabouts, and was either yellow painted or scraped bright. As there are few sailing ships afloat these days which carry studding-sail booms other than warships, it may be that this wreckage is from Condor. Whether this is so cannot be determined, nor could it be learned last night whether Condor carried any booms such as that seen from Queen City. Steamer passed some distance from the boom, but it could be plainly seen, and it was noticed that the heel ropes were gone, evidently broken away.  Continue reading Lighthouse History – 18 (1902-02-07 to 1902-03-09)

Book – Godships by Oliver R. Howard (1927 – 2008)

Godships – Little Ships Carry the Gospel Up the BC Coast by Oliver R. Howard

This is a story of the pioneering efforts of the United Church (UC) Marine Mission on the coast of British Columbia. It involves boats and boating in missionary work up and down the BC coast, visiting Indian villages, lumber camps, mining camps, isolated hermits and lighthouses.

 

 

Paperback: 8vo, 239 pages, : ill., maps, bibliography 237-239.
Publisher: United Church Observer (1984)
ISBN-10: 0919920071
ISBN-13: 978-0919920071
Library of Congress: E78.B9 H68 1984
Availability: Used (Out of Print)

Continue reading Book – Godships by Oliver R. Howard (1927 – 2008)

Lighthouse History – 17 (1902-01-17 to 1902-01-28)

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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Queen City returned to port yesterday, bringing further advices regarding the derelict Schooner which has been washed onto the coast after the seas have exhausted their wrath upon it, but the identity of the lost vessel still remains in doubt. It seems that the crew of the wrecked vessel have been lost, for, although a boat has been found by Indians at Village I, intact and unbroken, no trace has been found of any shipwrecked seamen. This boat, which was located by Indians and reported by them to Captain Townsend, is a common ship’s boat, but as far as could be learned, there was no name, number or mark upon it, by which it might be identified. Sails, running gear, blocks, etc, are also coming ashore amongst the miscellaneous wreckage which the seas are casting upon the rocks, Continue reading Lighthouse History – 17 (1902-01-17 to 1902-01-28)