FHBRO # 90-87

LOL # 1036

BUILT 1865

POSITION 47 03 22.7 N 63 59 48.8W On the northwest tip of the Island, north of Tignish

LIGHT Yellow; flash 1 second; eclipse, 4 seconds

FOCAL HEIGHT 23.7 m (78ft)

TOWER HEIGHT 19.5 m (62 ft)

NOMINAL RANGE 28.9 km (18 miles)

The North Cape Lighthouse was built in 1865 and went into service in 1866. It is one of three “Sister Lights” built immediately before or after Confederation. The other two are Seacow Head, PEI, and Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick. These octagonal towers are among the oldest wooden frame towers still standing in the Maritimes. Seacow and Jourimain were built at the narrowest part of the Northumberland Strait to aid the fishing fleet and other marine traffic between Port Borden, PEI and Cape Tormentine, New Brunswick. All three of these towers were automated between 1959 and 1969.

The longest rock reef in North America posed such a threat to navigation that in 1851 the House of Assembly suggested to the government that Canada, the British North American colonies and even Great Britain provide “proportionate contributions” toward construction of a lighthouse at North Cape. After repeated petitions were ignored, local residents rigged a makeshift light. Finally the lighthouse was built in 1865, at a cost of $5,198, making navigation much safer for marine traffic crossing the Gulf of St. Lawrence or entering the Northumberland Strait. During an assessment of all Island lighthouses by the Department of Marine, prior to the Island joining Confederation, North Cape was singled out as “one of the most important light stations on the Island.” Its 4th order dioptric light was replaced with a catoptric light in 1875 at a cost of $2,339.

The North Cape Light Station was originally comprised of the tower and a small keeper’s cottage, built in 1866. Construction plans for North Cape Lighthouse were prepared by the Hon. Alex Anderson. In the August 23, 1871 issue of the West Prince Weekly, it is stated that “the building was built by volunteer labour under Bishop McIntyre.” The Tignish Roman Catholic Church was built about the same time so he might have been involved with both. It was built of 4.2 m by 4.2 m (14 foot by 14 foot) corner posts anchored at the 3.6 m by 3.6 m (12 foot by 12 foot) sill with 3.6 m by 4.2 m (12 foot by 14 foot) timbers. Studs and joists of smaller dimensions were used to carry the wall sheathing and floors. The tower is four stories high with three flights of stairs leading to the metal lantern room. It has been kept in good repair.

Sometime between 1890 and 1913 a small wood shed was built toward the cliff edge. By 1945, the cliff had eroded and the tower had to be moved. The approval to move the tower was given in 1949 and the work was completed on March 8, 1951, by Neil MacDonald of O’Leary for $4,785. The tower, a wood shed, and the old dwelling were moved 121.9 m (400 feet) from the original site.

A new dwelling was also built at the new location as the previous dwelling was unsafe to live in due to its closeness to the eroding cliff. That dwelling had become so close to the edge that there were times when freezing slush and ice required the lightkeeper to chop his way out of the building. The old dwelling became a storage shed. The light was automated in 1967 and in 1968 the dwelling (built in 1950) and the two sheds were disposed of as surplus.

Everett Morrissey wrote a research paper about North Cape Lighthouse. In it, he states that the lighthouse has been moved six times, but does not include dates. We were unable to verify the number of moves.

The light became electrified in 1962 and automated in 1967.

Today the lighthouse is almost dwarfed by the giant telecommunications tower adjacent to the lighthouse, as well as the giant windmills at the Atlantic Wind Test Site. North Cape, Cape Egmont and Souris lighthouses all have extensive telecommunications equipment to guide mariners.