Tag Archives: Canada

Ontario – Point Clark Lighthouse

July 27, 2011Automation, Coast Guard, Construction, Government, History, Information, LighthousesCanada, government, Great Lakes, lighthouse, litehouse, Ontario, restorationretlkpr

– from Market Wire website

July 26, 2011 14:20 ET

Government of Canada to Restore Point Clark Lighthouse National Historic Site

POINT CLARK, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – July 26, 2011) – The Honourable Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, today announced the award of a $622,000 contract to restore Point Clark Lighthouse National Historic Site.

“Last year, Parks Canada developed a plan to restore the Point Clark Lighthouse and reopen it to visitors,” said Minister Peter Kent. “Today I am pleased to announce that the Government of Canada is contributing to preservation of this regional icon of marine heritage.”

The Point Clark Lighthouse is one of six imperial lighthouse towers on Lake Huron and was first lit on April 1, 1859. The 87-foot limestone lighthouse structure is a style rarely seen elsewhere in Canada, and in 1967 was the first Ontario lighthouse to be designated as a National Historic Site by the Government Canada. Although owned by Parks Canada, the Lighthouse is operated as a popular tourist attraction by the Township of Huron-Kinloss.

“The Township of Huron-Kinloss is very excited about the restoration of the Point Clark Lighthouse”, said Mayor Mitch Twolan. “The Township Council, staff and citizens of Point Clarke are pleased that this beacon for tourism will remain tall and strong in our community.”

“Through Parks Canada, our government manages the finest network of protected heritage places in the world,” said Minister Kent. “The work at Point Clark Lighthouse will ensure this national treasure is protected and preserved for generations of Canadians to experience.”

Parks Canada works to ensure Canada’s historic and natural heritage is protected and, through a network of 42 national parks, 167 national historic sites, and four national marine conservation areas, invites Canadians and people around the world to engage in personal moments of inspiring discovery at our treasured natural and historic places.

For additional information, please see the accompanying backgrounder at www.parkscanada.gc.ca under Media Room.

Contact Information

Scott Currie
Communications Manager
Southwestern Ontario Field Unit
Parks Canada
519-573-2476

‘Automation’ Comes to Triple Island c. 1950s

July 26, 2011Automation, Childhood Memories, Equipment, History, Humour, Lighthouses, Old Website, On The Jobautomation, BC, British Columbia, Canada, light, lighthouse, litehouse, Tripleretlkpr

– from Jeannie (Hartt) Nielsen (daughter of Ed Hartt, Senior Keeper on Triple Island 1954 – 1957)

Triple-Island-at-dusk — Triple Island at Dusk*

Ed and Eileen Hartt were lightkeepers for a number of years, on Lawyer Island, Triple Island, and Langara Island. The following is an excerpt from one of my mother’s manuscripts about life on Triple Island in the 1950s.

It shows how lightkeeper’s wives often had to pitch in and help out – and how lightkeepers had to come up with some innovative solutions at times!

My father was an extremely resourceful man, and devised one of the first power devices used on the light stations for rotating the light within the tower. His ingenuity came in useful in many ways on other occasions as well. What follows is just one example . . .

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– from Eileen Hartt (Wife of Ed Hartt, Senior Keeper on Triple 1954 – 1957)

The combination washing machine/spin dryer we had purchased, turned out to be a real comedian in disguise. Its well worn casters (in fact, they were flat on one side) didn’t prevent it from charging all over the kitchen, like a dog on a leash. Its long cord plugged into the light socket hanging on the usual wire strung from the ceiling. It lurched and charged around the room with me in pursuit, trying to load it. Ed and the children thought it as hilarious when I missed the tub and my load of clothes scattered across the floor.

One night as we sat at the table, Don (our assistant keeper) told us that the clock drive for the tower wasn’t working properly. It had stopped half a dozen times the night before and had to be constantly watched. Ed and Don went to inspect it and I followed along. It didn’t take long to find the problem. The pulleys through which the cable passed were so worn from the long years of use that they were binding. The gears also were well worn. Ed and Don put their heads together and came up with an alarm that would ring if the light stopped turning .

It wasn’t very long after we put the light on that night when we found out how well the alarm worked. The sudden loud jangle of the bell brought us all to our feet and the three of us ran for the tower. Reaching the lamp room panting, Ed paused long enough to push the turn table and count to make the light revolve as it must. The men disappeared through the open trap door, and I was left to count and push, count and push. At first it was easy, but then my arm lost feeling, so I changed arms; then back again. It became agony, but I didn’t dare stop. I wondered if they would ever come back!

At last I heard feet on the cement steps. Ed told me to leave the light and get on the radio. I was to inform Digby and the Department of Transport that the light was inoperable. My arms and back ached as the blood returned, and I hurried down to the radio room.

“Prince Rupert Radio, Prince Rupert Radio, Prince Rupert Radio: Triple Island calling!”

“Triple Island, Prince Rupert back. We have a message for you. Copy? Your light is burning steady. Do you copy?”

I glanced out the window and saw the lights of the ship that had just reported our light, passing in the night.

“Prince Rupert Radio, have copied. I want to send one to the main office and your station; light inoperable, worn gears. Signed Ed Hartt, Triple Island. Do you copy?”

I looked out at the passing ship lights and made a face at them then went back to the tower room to tell the men we had been reported.

“Wouldn’t you know it?” Ed complained. “You don’t see a ship or boat all day, and the second things go wrong there’s one right there!”

“That’s the way things go,” Don agreed.

That night turned into a nightmare for the two men as they tried to keep the light turning. The weight would only drop about ten feet then stop and have to be wound up again.

As I walked bleary eyed through the kitchen the next morning I found my rambling washing machine was not in its usual place. It had given its life to become part of the electric drive Ed had devised to keep the light revolving. I found its remains in the engine room, but it was in a good cause, as our light never burned steady again.

* photo – Triple Island at Dusk – Mike Mitchell

Lighthouse History – 09 (1893-01-21 to 1897-07-06)

July 24, 2011Construction, History, Information, Keepers, Lighthouses, On The Job1858, 1926, BC, British Columbia, Canada, history, lighthouse, litehouseretlkpr

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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“Jan 24, 1893, 1 – I will not be responsible for any debts contracted by my wife, Adeline Victoria Grive, or any other person, without my written order. Joseph T Grive, Comox, Grantham Post Office. Walter H Piercy, Yellow Rock (Chrome Island – ed.) lighthouse keeper, died at Courtenay, TB. Leaves wife, 4 children. [Colonist, 1893-01-21*]”

“Dominion Government Steamer Quadra, Captain Walbran, leaves for the West Coast on lighthouse duty this week. Steamer Mischief leaves for the West Coast Fri. [Colonist, 1895-06-05]”

“Whether or not Dominion Government Steamer Quadra, which left here for West Coast yesterday, is on police patrol duty, is a question the authorities are reticent about answering. Captain Gaudin, Agent of Marine, when asked as to the Steamer’s mission yesterday, said that she had gone to complete some extensive work already started on one of the Coast lighthouses, and also to land coal at one. He expected her back in less than 2 weeks. [Colonist, 1895-06-15]” Continue reading Lighthouse History – 09 (1893-01-21 to 1897-07-06) →

Lighthouse History – 08 (1885-09-25 to 1892-03-13)

July 23, 2011Construction, Equipment, History, Lighthouses, Newspapers, On The Job1858, 1926, BC, British Columbia, Canada, history, lighthouse, litehouseretlkpr

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“Inspection – of repairs done by Chas. Hayward to Race Rocks (lighthouse) [Colonist, 1885-09-25, p. 3]”

“tender call Wm. Smith, Dep. Minister of Marine, Yellow Island Lighthouse (Chrome Island – ed.), Baynes sound, District of Vancouver [Colonist, 1889-12-27, p. 1]”

“Joseph Dare, keeper of Esquimalt lighthouse (Fisgard Lighthouse – ed.), accidentally shot while hunting… [Colonist, 1890-03-01, p. 4]”

“Died Sep 22, 1891 at East Point Lighthouse (Saturna Island – ed.), British Columbia, Jessie, Daughter of James/Joan Georgeson, late of Shetland Island. [Colonist, 1891-09-25*]”

“Schooner Henrietta will probably leave this evening for the West Coast, where she will call at some of the stations, and deliver merchandise for the stores. She will then leave on a sealing cruise.
Owing to the large quantity of freight to be delivered to the stations on the West Coast, the Canadian Pacific Navigation Co’s Steamer Maude will make 2 regular trips to Barclay Sound every month.
Steamer Mystery will leave on Mon evening, with a cargo of flour from the Rice mills, for some of the stations on the West Coast. [Colonist, 1892-03-13]”

Heritage Lighthouses

July 21, 2011History, Information, LighthousesBC, British Columbia, Canada, heritage, lighthouse, litehouse, Parks Canada, Point Atkinson, preservation, Sheringhamretlkpr

From Parks Canada website on Heritage Lighthouses.

“In May of 2008, Canada adopted a new law that will protect heritage lighthouses, the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act . It came into force on May 29, 2010. Given its expertise in heritage conservation, Parks Canada was assigned responsibility for the implementation of the Act.”

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From Heritage BC website:

“Under the federal Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act Canadians can now nominate lighthouses for designation and protection. There is only a two-year window for the nomination process, however, until May 29, 2012. Nominations will be considered by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.”

“So far, 56 lighthouses have been nominated, but only three from B.C.: Point Atkinson, Sisters Islets and Sheringham Point.”

“Heritage BC and the provincial Heritage Branch have provided the federal Heritage Lighthouse Program with a list of community organizations and local governments that may have an interest in the 35 B.C. lighthouses identified by Parks Canada as having nomination potential. Parks Canada is writing to these organizations and governments to inform them about the nominations process, and to discover if there is an interest in participating in information sessions. Some sessions have already been held in the Maritimes and more may be scheduled on the west coast in September, if the level of interest warrants.”

For more information, contact Rick Goodacre
rgoodacre@heritagebc.ca

PDF letter LighthouseDesignation_2011-06-29 to Rick Goodacre from Heritage Canada

In answer to the above letter The Land Conservancy of BC wrote:

“Thanks for the reminder and update on this Rick. The Land Conservancy of BC will be moving forward with a number of nominations in the coming weeks, and we are prepared to help coordinate a holistic approach to figuring out what we can/should be doing with respect to Lighthouse protection over the longer term. That includes both the nomination process and then the much more detailed and involved process of taking on responsibility for those lighthouses that the Government will be declaring surplus (which is a lot).”

“At this stage, we want to gather information about who is interested in any specific Lighthouse(s). If your organization, your community or your municipality has a specific interest in protecting the future of a Lighthouse in BC would you please get in touch with us. Either contact myself or Deborah Hudson at: ifawcett@conservancy.bc.ca or dhudson@conservancy.bc.ca , or call at (250) 479-8053.”

Thanks everyone,

Ian Fawcett
Deputy Executive Director, TLC
Ph: (250) 479-8053 or (250) 888-1608
Fax: (250) 744-2251

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Heritage Lighthouse Program
(819) 934-9096
www.parkscanada.gc.ca

(cached snapshot of the Parks Canada website here)

(cached snapshot of the BC Heritage website here)

Lighthouse History – 07 – Carmanah Point (1888-04-21 to 1908-11-22)

July 21, 2011Construction, History, Information, Keepers, Lighthouses, Newspapers, On The Job1858, 1926, BC, British Columbia, Canada, history, lighthouse, litehouseretlkpr

As I was collecting this information from the newspaper archive website, I noticed that many articles were in consecutive order and applied to Carmanah Point (earlier planned at Bonilla Point), so I collected them all together here. It is a bit long, but interesting, as it describes the building of a lighthouse from the ground up as they say. Take note of the dates at the end of each article. it surely was not done overnight. More extensive information can be obtained from the actual scanned copies of the newspapers themselves on the above website.

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“From all I [Colonist correspondent] can learn there is every prospect of a lighthouse and signal station being erected at Bonilla Point (eventually at Carmanah Point – ed.) at no distant day…. [Colonist, 1888-04-21]”

A lighthouse, steam fog alarm and signal and telegraph station will be erected at Bonilla Point. [Colonist, 1888-08-28]”

“William Smith, deputy minister of marine arrived for the purpose of visiting Bonilla Point and San Juan Harbour to determine the most suitable site for a lighthouse at the entrance to the Straits. Mr Gisborne, Superintendent of Government telegraphs will accompany him… [Colonist, 1888-09-02] Continue reading Lighthouse History – 07 – Carmanah Point (1888-04-21 to 1908-11-22) →

Lighthouse History – 06 (1878-07-19 to 1884-10-17)

July 20, 2011Construction, History, Information, Keepers, Lighthouses, Newspapers, On The Job1858, 1926, BC, British Columbia, Canada, history, lighthouse, litehouseretlkpr

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“The party who went to Alberni to survey a lighthouse land reserve have returned. (but which lighthouse? – ed.)They report about 170 Chinese miners at work, only 40 of whom pay the Government tax. [Colonist, 1878-07-19]

Died at Esquimalt, British Columbia, Aug 5, 1879, William Henry Bevis, aged 49, Native of Birkenhead, England, 3rd Son of late Captain Thomas Bevis, RN. Funeral will take place from Fisgard Lighthouse and from the Royal naval cemetery. Keeper of Fisgard lighthouse, deceased came to British Columbia in 1858, previous to which year he was employed in the capacity of purser on steamers running between Panama, Lima and Callao. Shortly after his arrival here he received an appointment in the Revenue Department and was stationed at Langley. In 1860 he accepted a position in the Police Force of this city, but the performance of his duties in this office was of brief duration, as in 1861, when the Fisgard light was first exhibited, he was appointed keeper, a position which he held until the hour of his death. His father was a commander in the English navy. A-Row-12-P-0057 [Colonist, 1879-07-26*]”

“Tender call, Wm. Smith, Deputy Minister of Marine &c., for Fraser River Lighthouse (Sandheads – ed.) [Colonist, 1881-02-16, p. 2]”

“PLUMPER PASS tenders invited for erection of wooden lighthouse (Discovery Island lighthouse – ed.) [Colonist, 1884-03-28, p. 3]”

“Tugboat Pilot with Captain Revely returned to Victoria, British Columbia, having been unable to discover anything of the lighthouse keepers, and the conclusion came to is that he, with his brother and a half-breed, have been drowned. The keeper’s name was H C Fraser, native of Pictou, Nova Scotia, aged 30, unmarried. Half-breed was Frederick Williams, aged c 19, of Metchosin. The pilot brought down the effects of the late keepers. two new keepers have been placed in the lighthouse, which will now beam as usual. The light is situated about five miles from shore where the shallowness of the water renders it very rough in stormy weather. (but which lighthouse? – ed.) [Colonist, 1884-10-17, p.3]”

Triple Island 3rd Order Lens

June 22, 2011Automation, Coast Guard, Construction, Equipment, History, Information, Lighthouses, Old Websiteautomation, BC, British Columbia, Canada, Fresnel, heritage, lens, lighthouse, litehouse, Tripleretlkpr

This light was first made available to mariners on January 1st, 1921 to travel to the bustling port of Prince Rupert from the north. It was originally fired by a pressurized gas vapour lamp which would have been visible for over 12 miles (19 kilometers).

Electric generators installed in the late 1960s replaced this vapour lamp with an incandescent lamp and later with a mercury vapour lamp as seen in some of the photos below.

The lamp, reflector and base all floated on a large bowl of mercury. Even though the light weighed hundreds of pounds, it could be turned easily with one finger.

The Canadian government declared mercury a hazardous substance (like asbestos) in the 1990s and removed it from all work places. Reluctantly, the lamp was no longer usable.

Also, because of the planned automation of the lights which has gone on since the early 1970s, there was no reason to replace or modify the light and its housing – the Coast Guard abandoned it as a an Aid to Navigation.

The photos below show what replaced it. An APRB 252 12 volt battery-operated “flashlight”.