Cape Enrage Photos

Posted 10.31.2002, 7:30 PM ADT

Cape Enrage at sunset is really quite a nice sight to see. This time of year the Cape Enrage Keepers Lunch as well as the other activities that take place here in summer are now closed. The gate is closed now for the season but you can still walk out to the light to see the excellent sunset which is around 5pm this time of year.

Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5
Photo 6 of the sunset only


Lighthouse Article in Canadian Geographic

Posted 10.31.2002, 4:30 PM ADT

The new issue of Canadian Geographic(Nov/Dec 2002) Magazine has an article talking about lighthouses off Vancouver Island. The story is called "Storm Struck: Battling Nature's Fury off Vancouncer Island." Foul-weathered season is luring a new breed of visitor to the tempest-tossed outer coast of the island. Map outline shows staffed/destaffed lighthouses, photos of Cape Beale lighthouse(lens and keeper) and BC lightkeeper Norbert Brand.

Fundy Community Foundation

Posted 10.31.2002, 4:30 PM ADT

The Fundy Community Foundation(FCF) recently held a workshop, for those involved with various projects, to come together and meet and share ideas with other groups and organizations. The meeting was held last Saturday and the Blacks Harbour School, the meeting was called, "Building our Community Strengths - A Community Dialogue". The foundation is a non-profit organzition which grants(and endows) money to local groups, organizations for worthwhile projects that benefit the community as a whole. The assets for the FCF is about $800,000 and it started back in 1993.

One such group that has benefited from the FCF is the Greens Point Lighthouse Association. The FCF saw a need for the lighthouse to remain open to the community after it became automated and stepped in to help the Greens Point Group finanically. Maria Buzeta, spokesperson for the lighthouse group, said the foundation helped them get incorporated as a organization in addition to helping them develop several of their projects including the museum, the new rental cottage, and the aquarium. Without their help things may not have progressed as well or as fast as they have today.

At the meeting each of the non profits held a trade show of sorts to show what each of them was doing. An interactive discussion between the groups was also held with visions for the future discussed and what else could be done to provide for the betterment of the community as a whole for the Charlotte County region.

Just in Time for Halloween: A NB Lighthouse Ghost Story

Posted 10.25.2002, 7:30 PM ADT

David Goss, noted NB storyteller, talked awhile back to Keith Andrew's about ghosts and strange occurances in the vacinity of the Green's Point Lighthouse. Here are the stories he came up with:

Read the story here

Haunted Lighthouses!

Posted 10.26.2002, 9:30 AM ADT

Now is a good time to watch the "Haunted Lighthouses" video if you have it. It's been on the "TLC" channel a number of times, it can also be purchased from Lighthouse Depot in Maine. It was released in 1998, hosted by Steve Stratton. There is also a video on "Haunted New England Lighthouses" buts it not that well done. Best bet would be to get the first video. Stories include: 1) The eerie ghost of a little girl who haunts a Florida Lighthouse, 2) Civil War soldiers still patrol a foggy beach where bizarre cries for help come from a deserted lighthouse, 3) A ghostly woman comes from the grave in search of the lost cemetery where she and her children were buried , 4) A lighthouse keepers wife is murdered at her piano, and the keeper commits suicide, but to this day, her piano music still comes from the lighthouse, 5) the light that comes from a tower that has no lantern.
There are a number of haunted lighthouses around the world, unfortunately none of them are in New Brunswick. The following is a list of websites chronicling a number of spooky lighthouses across the US, a new window will open for each link.

Old Presque'Ile Lighthouse
Seul Choix Point Lighthouse on Lake Michigan
Various Haunted Lighthouses
Haunted Lighthouse Tour, St. Augustine Light in Florida
Haunting of the Standard Rock Light
Haunting of an Oregon Light
Haunting Michigan Lighthouses
Fire Island Lighthouse Ghost

Lighthouse Enthusiasts Can Visit Ruins Of Ancient Lighthouse

Posted 10.26.2002, 8:30 AM ADT

The ancient lighthouse, Pharos, that once existed at the entrance to Alexandria Egypt is now be on the tourism itinerary for a growing number of tourists. To see the ancient ruins you will have dive into Alexandria's harbour. French Archeologist Jean-Yves Empereur says the ancient granite columns of this ancient wonder of the world still survives just below the surface. The ancient tower once stood 140 metres tall, built by Ptolemy who was a general in Alexander the Great's army. It took 15 years to complete and could be seen for up to 50 km's out at sea. The light was built more for show than to point out the navigation obstacles in the harbour. The Romans kept up the light but changed it's fuel source from wood to animal oil. The lighthouse lasted until 1303 when an earthquake toppled it over into the sea forever destroying this ancient wonder of the world.
It has only been since 1961 that the ruins in the harbour have been identified as belonging to this ancient lighthouse in addition to many ancient roman and greek ships and pieces of large statues.

If your interested in diving to see this ancient light visit the "Alexandria Dive" website or e-mail them at info@alexandra-dive.com.

World Lighthouse Society Formed

Posted 10.24.2002, 12:30 PM ADT

Just recently the World Lighthouse Society(WLS) was formed in London England to help promote, protect and preserve lighthouses throughout the world. The society's inaugural meeting was held at The Moat House Hotel in Gatwick, England on Monday 2nd September 2002, with 21 attendees representing 8 countries including Canada, Chile, Germany, Holland, Norway, Sweden, UK and USA. There was also interest from people in other countries who wanted to attend the meeting but unfortuantely couldn't make it at the time. Danckert Monrad-Krohn from Norway was elected as Chairman, Roger Lea (UK) as Secretary, Peter Williams (UK) as Treasurer and Rosalie Davis Gibb (UK) as Publicity and Communications Officer

The WLS group will be based out of the United Kingdom and English will be the official language for the society (translation will be provided to non-english speaking members). The WLS has also been registered as a charity in the UK.
One question that can be asked is, "Why form a World Lighthouse Society?" Here is what Danckert Monrad-Krohn, the WLS Chairman, had to say:

To me the answer is just as simple as obvious: to create an international meeting place for all people dedicated to lighthouses and seamarks, to raise the public awareness of this important part of the maritime heritage worldwide.

In most coastal countries we find regional or national lighthouse societies and the many "friends of " single lighthouses. For these organizations and their members, WLS can offer an opportunity to observe their own interests and activities in a wider context.

Even if every lighthouse belongs to a single country, they are all a part of the one and same navigational structure. A structure that surrounds the earth like a shining serpentine. A structure with neither start nor end. The lighthouses are really international in their character, in spite of national and regional differences.

Many ways lead to the interest and, for some, the obsession of lighthouses. For the yachtsman it may be the lighthouse as an aid to navigation, for others the often stunning architecture, some are interested in the technical details, others are fascinated by the sound of the diaphone, while others again are thrilled by the lighthouse as symbol and myth. Some have discovered the lighthouses as philatelists and others by ornithological work. Some have a professional interest in the lighthouses, while the majority are dedicated amateurs. In common they all care for the future of the lighthouses.

The past monopoly position of the visual aids to navigation has come to an end. Lighthouses and seamarks have been to a certain degree replaced by advanced electronic equipment and this evolution will continue. The lighthouses are in many countries totally de-manned, in others this process is still going on. Without the daily care and steady maintenance, decay rapidly occurs. While there will be built new churches, manor houses, town halls and other prestigious buildings, there will never be built a new manned lighthouse. The lighthouses may be said to be a dying species. This is our challenge. A challenge we have to take up at all levels – national and international.

The International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA), an organization of 83 coastal nations, have for six years actively worked for the preservation of lighthouses by an advisory panel. IALA represent the lighthouse owners and will in the future, together with other international organizations like ICOM (International Board on Museums), ICOMOS (International Board on Monuments and Sites) and TICCIH (The International Board on Technical and Industrial Heritage), hopefully work closely with the WLS.

New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge
Posted 10.24.2002, 12:30 PM ADT

There is a unique challenge going on in the state of Ney Jersey, US. This year the third annual Lighthouse Challenge took place on Oct. 19th and 20th whereby upwards of 11,000 people tried to visit as many of the state's lighthouses as they could in two days. This year 11 of the state's lighthouses are on the challenge route including the famous Cape May and Sandy Hook Lighthouses. Everyone who finishes the tour gets a membership in the eleven Points of Light Club and a chance to win LH collectibles. The reason the tour was started was to promote and educate people on the history of the state's lighthouses.

This would be an excellent project to get started here in the future to promote New Brunswick's Lighthouses.

Lighthouse Enthusiasts: A Growing Trend
Posted 10.24.2002, 12:30 PM ADT

Lighthouses have a way of catching the imagination of people. More and more people from all walks of life are travelling around the world just to see this historic and unique structures. Lighthouse fever is spawning new business that caters to this growing niche market. Perhaps the business that caters the most to this market is Lighthouse Depot based out of Wells Maine. It's proclaimed as the largest LH store in the world, you can even order things from a catalogue or online.
One example of a couple of LH enthsiasts is Mary Jacobs and Kathryn Bryson of New Jersey. Both have travelled extensively along the east coast of the US and Canada is search of lighthouses. They have also purchasedhundreds of LH related crafts and paraphenalia over the years. They are certainly not alone in their hobby. There are thousands of others who have been bitten by the Lighthouse Bug although most of these people are from the US. But the hobby/LH fascination is spreading to the rest of the world. Recently a World LH Society was formed in England.

New Tool to Search for Lighthouse News
Posted 10.24.2002, 12:30 PM ADT

There is a new internet search tool available for those looking for specific news items, like lighthouses, in online newspapers throughout the world. The famous and best internet seach engine, "Google" has developed a news only search engine. By going to this Google News search page you can look for specific news items that have been posted in an online newspaper in the last few months. This is an invaluable research tool for those looking doing research on Lighthouse activities/preservation going on all over the world.

New Pendlebury Photos/Update
Posted 10.14.2002, 08:30 PM ADT

Some new recent photos of the lantern room at the Pendlebury Lighthouse in St. Andrews. According to Alanna Baird, the cuppola is made of wrought and not cast iron. The eight wrought iron sides of the room appear to far gone to restore and will have to be replaced. The roof appears to be salvageable. The lantern room is scheduled to be removed from the lighthouse sometime soon in order for it to be restored at the St. Andrews Community College over the winter months. Some detailed photos/measurements of the cuppola have to be taken by an architect as well. The rest of the structure will be winterized.
Also discovered during this preliminary survey of the cuppola was that there was a skinnier and smaller lantern room on top of the skinny neck than what is currently exposed. It appears originally that that the lighthouse had a smaller lantern room, a larger one was added over the small older one sometime in the past.
Thanks to St.. Andrews Civic Trust for the update on their lighthouse restoration project.

Photo 1 (wrought iron sides)
Photo 2 (wrought iron sides look in bad shape)
Photo 3 (looking up at the arought iron roof, looks salvageable)
Photo 4 (looking up at what was once a wider/bigger lantern room)
Photo 5 (looking up at what was once a wider/bigger lantern room)

Also see story below on Pendlebury or click here.

Canadian Nature Federation Supports Atlantic Lighthouses
Posted 10.14.2002, 06:30 PM ADT

In a recent story in the Globe and Mail the Canadian Nature Federation(CNF) came out with a report critical of Environment Canada's Wildlife Service. Wildlife is coming under theat from poaching, economic development, chemicals, and climate change that are affecting nature preserves in Canada. They specifically cited Lighthouses in Atlantic Canada that they say are being torn down(no examples given) and new smaller aids to navigation are put in with a resulting loss of habitat. That means fewer places for birds to nest they state. Its true that birds often use lighthouses as nesting sites, the Cape Jourimain light comes to mind. But birds can also ruin lighthouses if the windows have broken out bird dropping can severely destroy a lighthouse inside over only a few years.

NB Lighthouse Keepers Chili Recipe
Posted 10.14.2002, 06:30 PM ADT

The annual Fredricksburg Virginia Chile Fest was recently held last weekend and there is a New Brunswick Lighthouse connection. Contestant Wayne Dove's chili recipe has been handed down from his great-grandfather who was a lighthouse keeper in New Brunswick, Canada(exact lighthouse unknown). Local mariners would drop by his lighthouse quarters for a hot bowl of chili. Dove, who lives off Spotsylvania County's Tidewater Trail, has been duplicating the recipe for 30 years with only a slight variation. He uses a packet of prepared chili seasoning as well as regular chili spice. His concoction has earned him previous prizes at Fredericksburg's Fourth of July festival. The secret to his flavorful chili, said Dove, is refrigerating it overnight to meld the flavors before reheating and serving. Said Dove: "Grandfather believed chili was the surest way to keep a man going."

Story courtesy of the Free-Lance Star

Old Lighthouse Postcard
Posted 10.12.2002, 11:30 PM ADT

Here is an old lighthouse postcard dating from the early 1900's and was part of the Eastport Maine Supplement. The light is in Canada though, not Eastport Maine as stated on the postcard. It was a very common thing back then, even still today, for some to lump Campobello lights in with US lights. See Postcard.

Pendlebury Fundraiser Prints
Posted 10.07.2002, 11:30 PM ADT

Civic Trust are offering a limited edition 40(each image) copper plate engravings to help raise money to restore the Pendlebury Lighthouse. They are done by Ted Michener - "Pendlebury Lighthouse", Robert Van De Peer - "Niger Lighthouse Burning", and Alanna Baird - "Home Port". All are original drawings on copper donated by the artist, and printed by master printmaker Robert Van De Peer at the Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Center's Print Shop. The plate size is 4inches by 6 inches, with the paper size of 8 x 10. The print cost is $70.00 CDN each and can be purchased separately, or in a set of 3. There is a fourth image underway by Jeff Gauley, but it has not yet been released. 75% of the sale price goes to the St. Andrews Civic Trust, with the balance paid to Sunbury Shores and the master printer to cover the costs involved in printing.

They can be purchased by contacting Civic Trust, or by calling:
The Tin Fish Shop,
24 King St. ,
St. Andrews,
E5B 1Y2,
506-529-4496.
(Visa, Mastercard accepted)