Historical society mobilizes to save St. Paul Island lighthouse tower

Mark Anderson (e-mail)

Eventually the Canadian government turned to concrete lighthouses for major light stations, making this iron tower something of a rarity in the Maritimes: a unique piece of local history.

In the words of Terry Dwyer, of the St. Paul Island Historical Society:

"This particular lighthouse tower has a special connection to the coastal community of Dingwall, as many former lighthouse keepers and assistant lighthouse keepers have lived there in the past and many still reside there today.
For many years the monthly mail run to St. Paul Island was operated out of Dingwall right up until the island was automated.
It is only fitting that the tower be placed in the coastal community that is home to the many people who have lived and worked on this remarkable and mysterious island".

The Dartmouth Coast Guard Base is scheduled to officially be closed in 2004. The St. Paul Island Historical Society does not want to see this tower shipped off to Ottawa, nor do they want to see it left in the parking lot. To date they have garnered a tremendous amount of community support including local residents, local businesses and many former St. Paul Island lighthouse keepers.

Related Web sites:

Terry Dwyer (e-mail)

A book by Terry Dwyer: Wreck Hunter - The Quest for Lost Shipwrecks (2005)

St. Paul Island Historical Society

The Nova Scotia Lighthouse List

Louisbourg's lighthouses (Louisbourg Institute)

Lighthouses of Prince Edward Island

The St. Paul Island Historical Society is currently continuing its research and preparing additional updates and amendments (site location, relocation costs, conservation requirements, etc.) to their proposal. They expect to have a finished document / plan by September 2003.

Starting in February 2003 the Society will be holding meetings in Dingwall to establish several working committees to research and develop a long term conservation plan, a detailed moving and relocation plan and to establish a site selection committee to review possible locations for the tower in Dingwall.

The St. Paul Island Historical Society is fully prepared to finance all costs associated with relocating the former southwest lighthouse to Dingwall, Cape Breton. They are also prepared to submit a thoroughly researched lighthouse tower relocation plan and a carefully researched conservation plan.

These plans will detail the safest way to move / relocate the tower and the various issues associated with maintaining and preserving the lighthouse tower."

Dingwall is a more appropriate location for this piece of our history than a parking lot in Dartmouth or Ottawa. Having the lighhouse on permanent display would generate interest, and be a boon to the community, both historically and economically. Jack Zinck, who wrote the Shipwrecks of Nova Scotia series, has the following thoughts on St. Paul Island:

"It will be a sad day when the island becomes fully automatic, for it will not be the same without lightkeepers. Because of these brave men the island has become a legend in marine history."

The Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Tourism and Marketing Agency and the coastal community of Dingwall would benefit immensely by having the original south west lighthouse tower as a historical community monument. This will increase visitation to the community.

The Nova Scotia Scuba Association and the Parks Canada Underwater Marine Archaeology Unit would have a new ambassador representing its interests to all visiting divers. It would also act as a permanent outlet and information center. The St. Paul Island Historical Society would set up and maintain prominent and educational displays and brochures.

Many of the Society's members have a past association and history with the coastal community of Dingwall and with St. Paul Island that goes back to the early 1900s. Many are also members and strong advocates of the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society and have been for many years; they have supported and assisted the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society, the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Tourism and Marketing Agency in many ways and on many projects.

Why not keep a piece of that legend for ourselves. If you wish to support this project, contact: