FHBRO # 90-266

LOL # 976

BUILT 1876

POSITION 45 56 59.2 N 62 44 44.6 W adjacent to the ferry terminal at Wood Islands

LIGHT White: flash, 10 seconds; eclipse, 10 seconds

FOCAL POINT 24.4 m (80 ft)

TOWER HEIGHT 14.9 m (48.9 ft)

NOMINAL RANGE 19.3 km (12 miles)

The Wood Islands Lighthouse was constructed in 1875-76 and was put into service in November of 1876. It has the distinction of being one of the last three lights on Prince Edward Island to be fully automated, and the last lighthouse where the lightkeeper and his family lived right in the lighthouse.

During the session of 1874 Parliament allotted $6,000 for the construction of a lighthouse at Wood Islands. Archibald MacKay of Moncton signed a contract to construct the lighthouse for $3000. He made little progress in 1875 and eventually abandoned work on the lighthouse. For his efforts he received $900. Donald MacMillan was hired to complete the work on the lighthouse. He was a master carpenter by trade and had a keen interest in seeing the completion of the lighthouse.

The lighthouse is similar in design to Cape Egmont on the western end of the Island. The lighthouse has pedimented windows that enhance the tower, along with a flared cornice and wooden lantern balustrade. The attached dwelling is very simple and has seen several changes over the years. It is unknown who designed or built the tower although the design drawings are initialed W.P.A. The tower and dwelling were electrified in 1958 and the light was changed from a fixed to flashing light.

Wood Islands has a long history of inter-provincial transport. A mail run between Wood Islands and Pictou, Nova Scotia, was the Island’s only water link with the mainland until 1827. In 1937 construction of the Wood Islands Ferry Terminal began and made this harbour a very important one. The Wood Islands Lighthouse stayed in its original site. The two range lights were, however, moved to the southern pier at the harbour entrance. The light in the Wood Islands Lighthouse was re-glazed and a 360° 7th order lens was installed for the benefit of the ferry service.

The dwelling has been vacant since the fall of 1981. The Canadian Coast Guard had, at one time, contemplated removing the dwelling. This has not happened. Instead it was replaced by a bungalow in 1980 which was removed in 1991. The fog horn was removed in 1998. The balcony, which was built in connection with the fog alarm, was removed in 2002.

The Wood Islands and Area Development Cooperation opened the lighthouse to the public in 1998. The Lighthouse houses a small gift shop, artifacts, displays and the Interpretive Center for Island Lighthouses. It also houses a collection relating to the history of the Northumberland Ferry Service.