Lighthouse

Louisbourg Lighthouse Day is on August 21, 11AM---- 3PM

2010-08-13T06:44:00.001-07:00

Louisbourg Lighthouse Day is on August 21, 11AM---- 3PM in conjunction with parks Canada celebratiing 276th year of the first lighthouse in Canada.Barbecue live music,cannon firings , drumming, costumed re-enactors, Talks about the light, last keeper of the lighthouse in Louisbourg, walk the new beautiful lighthouse trail.Everyone welcome.It will be a fun day!!!!

Historic Places

2010-03-26T05:01:00.000-07:00

Statement of Significance Description of Historic Place The Tower at Louisbourg is situated on a rugged site at the north side of the entrance to Louisbourg Harbour. The octagonal tower is a tapered, reinforced concrete structure built in a classically inspired design. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building. Heritage Value The Tower at Louisbourg is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value. Historical Value The Tower at Louisbourg is strongly associated with the theme of aids to navigation in Canada. The current Tower is the fourth to have been built on this same site, the site of the first lighthouse in Canada. The Tower at Louisbourg contains a plaque marking the construction of the first tower by the French in 1731-1733 and commemorates the defence of Louisbourg. The Tower continues the tradition of serving the active marine community of Louisbourg and acts as a coastal light as well as an indication of the entrance to the Louisbourg Harbour. Architectural Value The aesthetic quality of the Tower at Louisbourg is very good. Designed in a classical style, the structure was built to a plan that was used on one other occasion for the Tower at George’s Island in Halifax Harbour. The classical influence in its design is evidenced in the tower’s columnar form, with its defined base, shaft and capital. The Tower also displays very good craftsmanship such as the exaggerated voussoirs scribed in the concrete to simulate rustic masonry. Environmental Value The Tower at Louisbourg, as the only structure on its site, reinforces the character of its coastal maritime setting and is a prominent landmark on the coastline. Sources: Federal Heritage Building Review Office Building Report 90-267; Heritage Character Statement, 90-267. Character-Defining Elements The character-defining elements of the Tower should be respected. Its aesthetic design with classical detailing, good materials and very good craftsmanship, for example: - its tapered octagonal form with a defined base, shaft and capital; - its reinforced concrete construction; - its deep horizontal channels and exaggerated voussoirs scribed in the concrete of the lower storey of the tower; - its pedimented windows; - its octagonal lantern and lantern platform supported on decorative brackets; - the traditional Canadian Coast Guard colour scheme of white with a red lantern. The manner in which the Tower reinforces the character of its maritime coastal setting and is a prominent landmark on the coastline, as evidenced by: - its overall design, scale and appearance which stands against its rugged coastal environment; - its high visibility and familiarity to the marine community in the area, and to residents of Louisbourg, as well as to visitors frequenting the Visitor Reception Centre area of the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site of Canada.

Location Province/Territory Nova Scotia Street Address n/a Location Louisbourg Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site of Canada / Lieu historique national du Canada de la Forteresse-de-Louisbourg	Recognition Jurisdiction Federal Recognition Authority Government of Canada Recognition Statute Treasury Board Heritage Buildings Policy Recognition Type Recognized Federal Heritage Building Recognition Date 5/28/1992

Historical Information
Construction Date(s) 1922 to 1924	Significant Date(s) n/a
Theme - Category and Type n/a
Function - Category and Type
Historic Transport-Water Navigational Aid or Lighthouse	Current n/a
Architect / Designer Department of Marine and Fisheries	Builder n/a

Additional Information
Related Listing(s) n/a
Location of Supporting Documentation National Historic Sites Directorate, Documentation Centre, 5th Floor, Room 89, 25 Eddy Street, Gatineau, Quebec
Cross-Reference to Collection n/a
Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier 4675	Status Listed

FAQ

Last updated: 25/03/2010

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Important Notices

Canada’s First Lighthouse and the Fortress of Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island

2010-03-08T05:04:00.000-08:00

Canada’s First Lighthouse and the Fortress of Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island

The Louisbourg Lighthouse

2010-02-03T07:00:00.001-08:00

The Louisbourg Lighthouse (Part I - constructing the light 1923/24)  -
  Bill O’Shea

The present-day Louisbourg light came into service on February 1, 1924 after a fire eight months earlier destroyed the lighthouse built in 1842.[i] It was constructed in reinforced concrete by E.M. Dickson of Sydney for the federal Department of Marine and Fisheries. Abutting the tower is the base of the 18^th century French light.  A short distance away is the foundation of the 1842 lighthouse. The modern light continues a tradition of navigational security on the east coast of Cape Breton bridging four centuries. The 3 lights together represent a significant heritage resource.
..................
A fire on June 3, 1923 destroyed the wooden lighthouse built in 1842. Almost immediately a temporary light was erected on the roof of the nearby fog alarm building to ensure the safety of shipping. The temporary structure stood 45 feet high and was topped by a white occulting (covered briefly at regular intervals) light flashing every 12 seconds and showing 3 seconds of light. It was visible 10 miles out to sea.[ii]
With the short-term problem solved, the Marine Department in Ottawa wrote to C.H. Harvey, its Agent in Halifax, suggesting the construction of a double house and a concrete light tower.[iii]  The Department of Marine’s district engineer, J.A. Leger, recommended  “. . . that a tower similar to the one erected on Georges Island, Halifax Harbour, be put up.”  He also wrote that  “About 1/3 of (the) remains of the old French light will have to be removed, (and the) chimney of old (1842) dwelling pulled down.”[iv]
Responding to Leger’s advice, the Superintendent of Lights, P.C. Johnson, wrote that since the temporary light was working well, it could be the model for a new type of Louisbourg light. Rather than build a new tower, he felt that a 500 mm. lantern mounted on a structure similar to a larger buoy would be appropriate. He further reasoned that because the light and the fog alarm could share the same location, only a single dwelling need be built for the one engineer who could watch both facilities.  Fortunately for Louisbourg, Harvey’s superiors did not agree with his cost-saving idea. There is a note in the margin of his memo stating that  “This would be replacing a 40,000 CP light by a 500 CP one and would not be recommended.”[v]
This reaction is not surprising since Louisbourg was important to Cape Breton’s economy. Beginning in 1895, with the arrival of the Sydney & Louisburg Railway, the town shipped millions of tons of coal to the rest of Canada, Newfoundland and New England. Even after 1919, when shipping from the harbour was largely limited to the winter months, Louisbourg was a significant location with its annual influx of coal boats, ships coming to refuel and fishing vessels.[vi] In 1925-26, for example, a total of 342 vessels entered the  harbour.[vii]  And, in addition to its role as a guide for  ships entering the harbour, the Louisbourg light was important to coastal shipping since navigational technology was still relatively primitive in the early twentieth century.

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Louisbourg Light, south elevation – 1917, Department of Marine & Fisheries Plan (Fortress of Louisbourg NHS)

The plans for a new light moved forward using the design for a reinforced concrete tower drawn in 1917 by the Marine Department.[viii] Public tenders were called for the light and the double house and, by early September, two bids were submitted. The Standard Construction Ltd., of Halifax did not include a deposit cheque with its bid and was disqualified, and so the contract was given to E.M. Dickson of Atlantic Engineering Works of Sydney for $18,100.00. This amount was actually the lower bid submitted by the Halifax company and not Dickson’s original bid.[ix]
Dickson set to work quickly and the Superintendent of Lights, on a visit to Louisbourg on September 28, 1923, wrote that he  “. . . found that the contractor was busy engaged at the foundation for the new light.”[x]  In spite of his energetic approach Dickson was anxious because he had not received a formal contract. On October 3, he  telegraphed the government purchasing agent asking for plans and specifications while confirming that he had material assembled and ready.[xi] The plans were obviously sent as requested, for by October 22 the contractor was writing to the agent to say that the tower was partly constructed and that he would like to be compensated for $5,000.00 worth of work. He also wondered when the Order in Council authorizing his contract would go through. The contract would not pass and be forwarded to the Agent in Halifax until October 25, but Dickson continued working, apparently assured that the project was his.[xii]
On November 10 there was an estimate of the total cost for the lighthouse and dwelling. With the contract set at $18,100.00, inspection costs at $150.00, and the lantern from the Dominion Lighthouse costing $4750.00, the total cost for the light and house was $23,000.00.[xiii]
A new lantern was essential and shortly after the June fire, a request was made to the depot in Prescott, Ontario. The Chief Engineer, in Ottawa, was  told that there was an 8 foot octagonal lantern on hand and the depot was instructed send it to Louisbourg.[xiv] The actual installation of the light would not take place until January 1924 when a Mr. Morrison came to Louisbourg to complete that task.[xv]
Meanwhile, work on the tower proceeded smoothly and, by December 18, an official visiting the site found that the tower was completed except for the entrance door and the trim. The foundations for the house were finished and the structure was framed and boarded with the roof and shingling started. The materials were those specified in the contract and the work judged to be first class.[xvi]
On February 20, 1924, engineer Leger wrote that he had competed the final inspection and taken the buildings over from the contractor. He held back $150.00 of the contract to ensure the cisterns were tight and that the tower received its outside wash when the weather was better.[xvii]
The new Louisbourg light house was entered into service on February 1, 1924.  The Notice to Mariners describes the light as a petroleum vapour, flashing white, catoptric light showing every 7 seconds. The fixed light was 500 candle power with flashes of 50,000 candle power. It was seen at 12 miles.[xviii]
The Louisbourg lighthouse measures almost 55 feet high (14.5 metres) from the ground to the top of the vane with  the base 19 feet in diameter (5.8 metres).[xix]  It is an attractive octagonal form representing a classical column divided into a strongly emphasized or rusticated base, a shaft, and a capital consisting of the platform and lantern. There are pedimented caps over the door and 3 of the windows, and decorative brackets support the lantern platform.[xx] The tower is painted white and the lantern is red.
With the completion of the new light the responsibilities of the light keeper changed. Previously, while the keeper had overall charge of the light station, there was an engineer operating the fog alarm who was paid a higher wage. This wage discrepancy caused no end of problems over the years between the light keeper and engineer. The fog alarm began operation in February 1902, [xxi] with D. A. Campbell  in charge. In 1916 he was replaced by William Covey. But it was not until Covey became keeper of the new light, at the end of February 1924, that the two positions were combined in one person.[xxii] This resolved the conflicting roles for the next 3 head light keepers: Wilfred Covey (son of William), M. J. Tanner and Roy Forgeron.
The French Ruins
The construction of the new light tower drew attention to the ruins of the 18^th-century French light. District Engineer Leger wrote, in mid October, that in moving the debris of the French tower, which was spread across the top of the hill, he found an outline of the 18^th-century foundation, 6 or 7 steps of the stairwell, the location of the door and a number of artefacts, including the lead dedication plaque which was probably placed over the door when the light was built. He also recommended that the foundations be preserved. This was a major change in his plans since initially he anticipated removing all that remained of the French lighthouse.[xxiii] What changed his mind?

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to enlarge it
The Light Station in a June 1931 aerial photograph
by the Department of Mines & Technical Surveys, Canada.
The double  house is on the left  and the fog alarm buildings
to the far right. (Louisbourg Heritage Society)
An awareness of the historic French ruins had grown over the quarter century before the new lighthouse was constructed.  If  you were to look for a beginning it was possibly in 1895 with the arrival of the Sydney & Louisburg Railway. On its opening day, the S&L carried members of the United States-based Society of Colonial Wars to Louisbourg, along with 1,000 citizens of Cape Breton, to dedicate a monument to the military forces taking part in the siege of 1745.[xxiv]  In 1900 Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier visited Louisbourg and at the ruins of the fortress spoke about the historic ground, “consecrated by the blood of your forefathers, the English, and my forefathers, the French. . .”[xxv] The momentum continued between 1901 and 1907, when industrialist and Louisbourg resident  D.J. Kennelly  stabilized ruins at the fortress site and obtained protecting provincial legislation. Then, in 1918, J.S. McLennan published his well-researched book,  Louisbourg: From Its Foundation to Its Fall, 1713-1758, giving everyone access to a detailed history of 18th-century Louisbourg.
In 1921, on the recommendation of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board, the federal government bought land at the fortress to preserve the ruins and prevent artefacts from being removed. This was followed, in the summer of 1923, by a visit from Dr. J. C. Webster and Major J. Plimsoll Edwards, of the Board. They met with Senator J.S. McLennan and Archdeacon T. Fraser Draper of Louisbourg and in August proposed a major initiative for Louisbourg involving the acquisition of all the historic ruins including the lighthouse.[xxvi]
So when he saw the construction activity at the lighthouse in September 1923, Archdeacon Draper became concerned and  immediately wrote to Dr. Webster suggesting that any artefacts found there should be held in safe keeping and that the ruins be preserved. Webster wrote to J. B. Harkin, director of the historic sites branch, urging that the new lighthouse be built alongside the old and that any “relics” be delivered to Draper’s care. The result of this intercession by Draper was that the 18^th-century lighthouse ruins were saved.
To preserve the ruins, engineer Leger estimated that it would cost between $50.00 and $75.00 to point the stone. The historic sites people in Ottawa agreed with this and, though the final cost was $130.00, they paid the bill.
As for the artefacts, some may have been given to Archdeacon Draper for safekeeping. But there seems to have been concern that they would leave the community and there was an effort to keep the lead dedication plaque in Louisbourg. The plaque memorializes the efforts of engineer Etienne Verrier and civilian contractor Ganet in the construction of the French light and other principal buildings. The local pressure to keep it in town may have come from either Mayor A.A.  Martell or councillor and soon-to-be mayor, M.S. Huntington, who was becoming an advocate of local history.[xxvii] Fortunately, there was also support from the district engineer, Leger, and the local sentiment won the day. The plaque hung inside the tower until the light was automated in 1990. At that time it was transferred to the Fortress of Louisbourg where it is on display.[xxviii]
The Summer of  1926
The new lighthouse was the focal point for an important event in 1926. Louisbourg was planning a Come Home Summer and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, at the same time, planned to unveil 4 historic site plaques at Louisbourg – 2 at the lighthouse and 2 on the site of the fortress ruins. Earlier correspondence between the departments agreed that the plaques would be attached to the lighthouse.[xxix]  In March 1926,  Mayor A.A. Martell wrote, to the District Engineer about the “summer carnival”, mentioned the historic plaque unveilings and asked if the case would be ready for the historic lead plaque, which was found in the ruins of the French tower in 1923. Heralding what would become a long-term point of concern between municipal and federal responsibilities,  Martell also asked if the road to the lighthouse would be repaired for the event.[xxx]
The town celebrated the first day of its Come Home Week on August 10, 1926 with a sports programme and the plaque unveilings. The day opened with a 3 mile race run from old town to the school in the modern town won by Truman Hunt. At 11:30 a.m. the activity moved to the lighthouses where Senator McLennan talked about the history of the site and Mayor Melvin Huntington welcomed the guests before unveiling two Historic Sites and Monuments Board plaques.[xxxi] One of the plaques commemorates the French defenders of the Island Battery in 1745 and 1758, while the other commemorates the French lighthouse and the British batteries constructed in the vicinity in 1745 and 1758.[xxxii]

The 1842 Louisbourg Lighthouse - Bill O'Shea

2010-02-03T06:57:00.001-08:00

The French Louisbourg lighthouse, lit in April 1734, was a victim of the siege of 1758. ¹ The ruined tower stood as a landmark for passing ships for years, ² and Cape Breton’s coast remained dark for more than two generations.

After 1826, the General Mining Association consolidated the mines around Sydney harbour and shipped coal to ports on the Atlantic coast. ³ In support of this effort, a lighthouse was built at Low Point in 1832 to aid vessels entering Sydney harbour.

In the same year, a wooden beacon was erected at Louisbourg on the site of the French lighthouse. ⁴ Lighthouse commissioner James Tidmarsh had recommended a ballasted white-painted pyramid, rising 15 or 20 feet from an 8 foot square base. He wrote that the Louisbourg beacon pointed out the true passage of the harbour and served as a guide along the shore. ⁵It cost £26.5.0. ⁶

The beacon was not much better than the wooden cross that French fishermen erected on the nearby point over 100 years before. It was not visible in bad weather or at night. The challenge offered by the harsh Louisbourg coast was graphically described by Tidmarsh who wrote of one tour of inspection. “As our route from Main a Dieu to Louisbourg on our return lay chiefly on the seashore taking nearly the course of the beaches, it gave us a melancholy view of the numerous wrecks with which the shore is strewed, the whole coast is covered with pieces of the wreck of ships and in some coves there is an accumulation of shipwreck nearly sufficient to rebuild smaller ones. The number of graves bore strong testimony also that some guide or land mark was wanting in the quarter to guard and direct the approach of strangers to this boisterous rugged shore.”⁷

The danger of an unmarked coast was underscored by the loss of the ship Astrea on Lorraine Head, near Louisbourg, in 1834. The tragic deaths of 237 Irish immigrants on the Astrea, and the many other wrecks on the coast, convinced the Imperial Government along with the Maritime governments and Lower Canada to build landfall lights and life saving stations on St. Paul’s and Scatarie Island in 1839.⁸

Coastal lights were also important and, in 1842, Thomas Jost, of Sydney, with fellow ship owners and mariners asked Halifax for a light at Louisbourg.

Their petition states that the trade of Sydney, Main-a-Dieu, Bras d’Or, St. Anns and Cape North took place with areas lying west of Louisbourg, and that

“ the vessels engaged in that trade are frequently obliged by contrary winds to put into the same harbour, more especially those coasting vessels which carry the supply of coals for Halifax, which are very often compelled to take shelter in Louisbourg both in going and returning, the form of the coast being such as to make a change of wind generally necessary for the prosecution of the voyage on reaching that port.”

The petitioners emphasized that “the entrance of the harbour of Louisbourg is difficult and dangerous in dark and stormy nights even to those seamen who are perfectly acquainted with it, and many shipwrecks have occurred there at different times attended by loss of life and property.”

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The Louisbourg Lighthouse 1842-1923.
View from the south. The lighthouse was white with a black vertical line on three sides. The height was 35 feet to
the vane on a 29 foot square, stone foundation.
Photo taken after 1889.

Jost and his colleagues were looking for a low fixed light, visible for 6 to 7 miles, that would not be mistaken for the higher, flashing light on Scatarie Island. The Scatarie light, a landfall for European ships bound for the St. Lawrence, could be seen for 30 miles.⁹

Planning for the lighthouse was already underway,¹⁰ and the completed, operating light was advertised in a Notice to Mariners in the Nova Scotian beginning on October 20, 1842. The notice stated that “a new light house has been erected where a beacon stood, on the site of the old French light . . . and will exhibit a plain white light visible on the seaward side from Gabarus Point westerly to south eastern extremity of Cape Breton easterly. The lantern is 85 feet above the sea level, is placed in a square building about sixty fathoms from the shore, painted white with a perpendicular black stripe on each side, to distinguish it from other Light Houses in day time and to render it conspicuous in winter when the back land is covered with snow.”¹¹

The building was constructed by Samuel Crawford and the lantern by Amos Pedlar, at a cost of £1140.7.4.¹² It was not a unique design since the North Canso light used the same plan and the same people may have worked on both buildings.¹³ The Louisbourg light was seen from 16 miles out to sea.¹⁴

The new lighthouse was a major addition to the quiet harbour, for Louisbourg in 1842 was no longer the busy community it had been when the French were here. A census taken in 1827 recorded only 141 people in 23 households. Yet, the new light underlined Louisbourg’s importance in coastal navigation and it immediately became a tourist attraction, the captains and crews of ships in the harbour visiting regularly.¹⁵

The first description of the light apparatus, in 1857, records 4 catoptric lamps with reflectors and 4 Argand lamps without reflectors. The lantern and building were in good condition though both needed some repair.¹⁶

In 1864 there was a call for 6 new catoptric lamps and a table for the lantern. The roof of the light house leaked and the foundation walls needed work.¹⁷

With Confederation, in 1867, the responsibility for lighthouses passed from Nova Scotia to the federal department of Marine and Fisheries. An 1870 report noted that “the light at this station (Louisbourg) is a very important one both as a harbor and a coast light. The harbor is much frequented, being the only safe one between Scatarie and Arichat.”¹⁸ Louisbourg was one of 59 lights in Nova Scotia, all of which, with the exception of St. Paul’s Island, had catoptric light systems – a number of large oil lamps with reflectors to focus the beam of light. St. Paul’s light had a dioptric system - a single source of light and a ground glass lens to focus the beam. Beginning in 1864 kerosene replaced seal oil as fuel for the lamps since kerosene burned brighter and was less expensive. The old lamps were kept and converted to the new fuel. By 1870 round wicks were being tested in fixed lights. Housed in larger lamps, the round wicks used more kerosene but they were more powerful, replacing 2 or 3 older lamps.¹⁹

In 1875, the Louisbourg light consisted of an "Iron lantern 10 feet in diameter, with eight sides, glazed with 17 x 11 inch glass . . . The lantern is dark towards the land side; and the illuminating apparatus consists of four circular-burner lamps with 20-inch reflectors, and five A lamps with 12-inch reflectors . . . The annual consumption of oil is about 530 gallons.” By this date the lantern was considered old and due for replacement and the roof and ceilings of the lighthouse needed repair. The foundation walls had been “rebuilt in places,” new porches and water spouts had been installed, and the buildings painted. There were 5 oil tanks on hand and an oil storage building was needed. The boat landing near Nag’s Head rock required improvement and a new boat was wanted to replace the one lost in the August gale of 1873. In addition to the lighthouse there was a barn on the property.²⁰ The height of the building was 35 feet to the vane.²¹

By 1877, it was reported that “A new 10 ½ foot iron lantern with plate glass 33 x 60 x 3/8 has been supplied for this station at a cost of $971.54. It will be erected next season.” The building was still in poor repair and needed major work. It was suggested, though never implemented, that the tower be increased in height by 10 feet. The report goes on to acknowledge the growing economic importance of Louisbourg with the arrival of the new railway from Sydney.²²

A year later the new lantern was delivered though not installed and it was expected that a new lighting apparatus would also be supplied once the lantern was in place. In general, “ The condition of things is unsatisfactory, arising mainly from the dilapidated state of the lantern and from want of proper store room for oil and the larger stores.” The oil was stored in the cellar under the light house.²³

The new lantern was probably installed shortly after. There is no mention of the new lighting apparatus at the time, but the Superintendent of Lights for Nova Scotia, writing in 1906, notes that “this light is not a small one, by any means. The illuminating apparatus consists of 11 mammoth flat wick lamps fitted with 22” x 12” reflectors in a 10 foot iron lantern.”²⁴Somewhere along the line the round-wicked lamps had been replaced.

The narrow-gauge railway, begun in 1874 by Frederick Gisborne, linked Louisbourg to the coal mines around Sydney harbour. Economic growth was expected and a “New Town” was surveyed and laid out on Havenside, including several buildings and a wharf. But cost overruns and forest fires, which destroyed the bridges in 1883, ended this experiment in developing the harbour. By 1895, however, there was a revival of optimism after H. M. Whitney consolidated many of the mines, purchased or leased a fleet of coal boats, and built the Sydney & Louisburg Railway, ensuring that coal could leave Cape Breton year round through the ice-free harbour. A period of prosperity came to Louisbourg that would last until the 1920s.

The increased shipping traffic associated with both railroads encouraged changes in the navigational aids. Louisbourg was declared a port in 1879, with Patrick O’Toole the first harbour master,²⁵ and a pilot service was established.²⁶ A storm signal was erected by the weather service in 1875,²⁷ leading lights built on the north shore in West Lousbourg in 1897,²⁸ a fog siren in 1902,²⁹ and a Marine Hospital in 1905.³⁰

The fog alarm was the greatest change at the lighthouse since its compressors required expertise not possessed by the keeper. The light keeper remained in charge of the station but an engineer had full charge of the fog alarm machinery. In 1902, reflecting the new technology, the engineer was paid $500.00 a year compared to the $350.00 paid to the light keeper. This was a source of irritation, and when light keeper Philip Price was asked to assist the engineer, and thereby increase his annual salary to $470.00, he refused. His indignant response prophetically echoes comments about changes in Louisbourg’s foghorns for the next 100 years. Writing to the Department of Marine and Fisheries in 1902 Price states, “The fact is I would rather not have anything to do with the present whistle at any salary as it is my opinion it is almost worthless and will never do . . . it is constantly getting out of order and some parts of the machinery breaking, but the worse fault is it cannot be heard any distance.”³¹

Friction between the light keeper and the engineer would not end until the two jobs were combined under William Covey when he became keeper of a newly-erected light in 1924.

World War I brought the last major change in technology in the lighthouse. This consisted of a 4^th order dioptric lens and 35 mm burner installed in 1915/1916. It was a “clock-gear” operated, revolving, incandescent petroleum vapour light costing $1,227.63.³² For the first time Louisbourg had a flashing light rather than a fixed light.³³

The lighthouse ended its life dramatically, on Saturday evening, June 2, 1923, catching fire and burning to the foundation. Louisbourg diarist Melvin S. Huntington wrote that the fire started at 7 p.m., but for some reason the alarm was not sounded until shortly after 8 p.m. and “by that time the fire had gained so much headway that it was useless to try to save the building.”³⁴ The major concern of those who reached the lighthouse, including the fire fighting crew from the government ship SS Lady Laurier, was to keep the fog alarm buildings, located several hundred feet away, from burning.³⁵ We’ll never be sure how the fire happened. It may have been the result of human error when the light was being lit for the night - there had already been several small fires at the Louisbourg light.³⁶ Or it may have resulted from a break in the chimney which was not visible until it was exposed by the fire.³⁷ Whatever the reason, after 81 years of service and 6 keepers, the 1842 light was no longer a part of Louisbourg.

Until the present-day lighthouse was built in 1924, a temporary light was erected on the roof of the nearby fog-alarm building.³⁸

The ruins of the 1842 lighthouse and the nearby 18^th-century French light were excavated and stabilized by Parks Canada in 1986, and have interpretive panels telling their story.³⁹ Both ruins are important national cultural resources. Along with the 1924 reinforced concrete light, still in operation, they reflect the unique contribution of Louisbourg to the history of light keeping in North America.

The Light Keepers

There were six Louisbourg light keepers between 1842 and 1923. Maintaining the lights was demanding work for keepers, their families and assistants.⁴⁰ Politics, as well as ability, played a role in who got the job. When the governing party changed, it was not unheard of for a charge of political partisanship to be laid against a keeper and his place taken by someone sympathetic to those in power.

Laurence Kavanagh III (1790-1862) was born at St. Peter’s. The Kavanagh family had lived in Louisbourg but moved to St. Peter’s in 1777.⁴¹ He was light keeper between 1842 and 1860/62.⁴² His father, Laurence II, was the first Roman Catholic in the Nova Scotia legislature. Laurence III was also a member of the legislature representing Cape Breton County (1830-1836) and Richmond County (1836-1840). In 1843 Kavanagh was paid £100 plus a fuel allowance of £15. He married Catherine Murphy in 1820. Their children were Laurence IV, Maurice, Wallace, Margaret, Catherine, Frances and Anne.

Laurence Kavanagh IV (c 1823-1898) was born in St. Peters but lived in Louisbourg from the 1840s. He was the light keeper from 1860/62 until 1889 when he retired to St. Peters.⁴³His annual salary was $460.00. He also received $80.00 as collector of customs and a 10% commission on postal dues. The 1881 census lists his occupation as Justice of the Peace.

William Burke, born in Main-a-Dieu, was appointed light keeper in Louisbourg on 26 June 1889.⁴⁴ He was here for less than a year, trading places with James P. Burke, the Fisheries Overseer in Main a Dieu, on the recommendation of MPs McDougall and MacKeen.⁴⁵

James P. Burke (1853-1921), born in Main-a-Dieu, was the light keeper in Louisbourg from 27 May 1890 until November 1897.⁴⁶ The 1891census records Burke, his wife Jane (Hart) and William Riley, a shoemaker. Based on an inquiry initiated by Dr. Arthur Kendall,⁴⁷ Burke was replaced.⁴⁸ Though Burke was appointed during a Conservative administration he denied that he was partisan in politics.⁴⁹

Phillip Price (1853-1912), born in Louisbourg, was appointed on the recommendation of Arthur Kendall, MLA,⁵⁰ and was light keeper from 1897 to 1912 when he was dismissed for alleged political partisanship. Price had been appointed under a Liberal regime and by 1912 the Conservatives were in power in Ottawa.⁵¹ When he died, in March 1914, the newspaper noted that he was a man of quiet and agreeable disposition and a good neighbour.⁵² Price married Annie MacIntyre.

William. A. Cameron (c 1856-1934), of Big Lorraine, was light keeper from December 1912 until 1924. The light keeper earned $396.00 in 1916 compared with $1,043.00 by the fog alarm engineer, who paid an assistant out of his income. Cameron was married three times - to Louise Wilcox, Annabelle Spencer and Elizabeth Dickson. He was in charge of the light when it caught fire and burned in June 1923. The fire provided an opportunity to retire Cameron, the M.P., W. F. Carroll having accused him of political partisanship.⁵³

Lighthouse

Louisbourg Lighthouse Day is on August 21, 11AM---- 3PM

Historic Places

Statement of Significance

Location

Recognition

Historical Information

Additional Information

Canada’s First Lighthouse and the Fortress of Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island

The Louisbourg Lighthouse

The 1842 Louisbourg Lighthouse - Bill O'Shea