FHBRO # Not applicable

LOL # 1042

BUILT 1913 was date of original lighthouse. Present tower built 1967

POSITION 46 28 07.2 N 62 25 22.6 W on the point west of Naufrage Harbour on the Gulf of St. Lawrence

LIGHT White: flash, 5 seconds; eclipse, 5 seconds

FOCAL POINT 29.6 m (97 ft)

TOWER HEIGHT 14.3 m (46.9 ft)

NOMINAL RANGE 28.9 km (18 miles)

The first Shipwreck Point Lighthouse was constructed in 1913. It consisted of a white square wooden building with a red lantern shaft in the center of the roof. The dwelling consisted of eight rooms. There was also an oil shed. Later, more buildings were constructed. A barn was built in 1915 along with a small granary in which the light keeper housed his personal supplies and feed for his animals. There were also two sheds and a small well house. It was 11.5 m (38 feet) from base to vane.

Francis McKinnon was lighthouse keeper at Shipwreck Point in 1915. Peter McKinnon became lightkeeper in 1932. In 1939 Daniel O’Henley took over as lightkeeper until he retired on June 6, 1955. Hugh Boniface MacDonald took over as lightkeeper and held the position until 1966 when the lighthouse became automated.

The house was sold as a private residence and has remained on the original site, with the lantern removed. The new lighthouse was built in 1967, approximately 39.6 m (130 feet) west of the original lighthouse. It was built in a hexagonal shape, of concrete, by Schurman’s Limited and went into service September 27, 1967.

During the winter months many of the lighthouses were shut down due to ice and very little marine traffic. Like the lighthouses at West Point, Point Prim, and Cape Tryon, the Shipwreck Point Lighthouse remained open during the winter months between 1942 and 1944 to aid in the night flying of British Commonwealth Air Training School crews.

The lighthouse is located on private property and the owner does not allow public access, but the lighthouse is easily viewed at a distance.