Little Hope Island Lighthouse

1908

1865

Canada

2nd order

Revolving

Inactive

group flashing white (10s) (1992)

Circular concrete tower, with butresses, white

The light house was erected because the island is a few metres above the sea thus posing an obstacle for mariners. It was a danger for it was between Cape Sable and Sambro Island. Initially, a wooden daymark was placed on the island pre-1857. In 1857 Houston Stewart, Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy, suggested a second-class light should be raised to improve navigation. John H. Kendrick in 1864 also made this suggestion due to the risk of heavy storms and high tides on the south. Kendrick suggested a sea wall of split stone be erected at 100ft in length and 3ft in height since the wooden beacon had become rotten.

The light house was built in 1865. The sea wall had an exterior slope sheathed with pine. The light house was a square wooden tower, 26ft tall with living quarters.

The first light keeper was Charles Firth. The breastwork on the southern part of the island was destroyed by a gale on the 18th of January 1869, and rocks were beaten against the lighthouse with the aid of the high tide. Firth and his family hid in the cellar.

Another sea wall was proposed to be erected because in 1869 3-4ths of an acre on the island was being washed away each winter. Herbet Young of Lunenburg submitted 5 tenders of work but he made a calculation mistake and refused to sign the contract, leaving the island vulnerable during a hurricane in early September 1870. According to Keeper Firth the following happened:

"I respectfully beg to report to you that the severe gale on Saturday night and Sunday morning last was very destructive to Little Hope Island. The sea began to break over the Island at five a.m., and continued its force until eight a.m. It washed away from five to six feet all along the bank; it also washed away a great deal off from the top of the Island, and covered it with stones. I hope that a suitable person may be sent to examine the present state of the Island; as it is, it is not safe to live on. "

The next light keeper was Alexander McDonald, who stayed for 20 years, from 1872 to 1892. The rest of the keepers comprise the following: Patrick Cummings (1892 – 1896), Walter McDonald (1896 – 1897), Henry S. McDonald (1897 – 1901), Jason Paysant (1901 – 1908), A. Daggat (1908 – 1913), Reuben J. Colp (1913 – 1917), R. Burgess (1917 – 1918), J.E. Stewart (1918), W.R. Wallace (1918 – 1919), Albert Roy (1919 – 1920), E. Williams (1920 – 1928), Allen M. Langille (1928 – 1945), Ernie A. Langille (1945 – 1947), Frank T. Langille (1947 – 1948).

With regards to modifications, the lighthouse underwent changes over the late 19th century. In 1872 the Public Works Department erected a timber seawall around 3 sides of the island. In 1889 a 10-and-a-half foot iron lantern was placed ontop of the lighthouse with a new lighting apparatus which made the white light revolve resulting in a light with 3 flashes every 50 seconds. In 1906 a fire destroyed the lighthouse and so a new steel concrete cylindrical tower was erected. It was 10'6" in diameter, 75 feet high from its base to the lantern platform, and 95 feet high to the vane on the lantern. It was surmounted by a circular iron lantern, and the tower is strengthened throughout its whole height by six concrete ribs. A reinforced concrete stairway was constructed within the tower from its base to the light room floor. The tower was built by contract by the Steel Concrete Company, Limited, of Montreal, the contract price being $7.250. A steel framed concrete dwelling for the keeper was erected, the steel framework being supplied by Messrs. I. Matheson & Co., of New Glasgow, N.S., for $800, and the building erected by day’s labour, under the supervision of the Nova Scotia agency, at a cost of $2,860.91. A second-order Fresnel lens was placed in the lantern room atop the concrete tower, replacing a temporary sixth-order lens that had be in use during the construction. The large new lens produced a double-flash every ten seconds and was illuminated by petroleum vapour burned under an incandescent mantle.

The last keepers left in 1948 with the automation of the light. On the 7th of December 2003 a northeaster toppled it and Hurricane Juan inflicted damage to the island itself in September 2003.

Today a lighted buoy anchored east of the island marks the remains.

Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society

Hurricane Juan in September 2003 and a northeaster were the catalysts in toppling the tower. The island has been exposed to other hurricanes, heavy storms and high tides on the southern part of the island since 1864 at least, when John H. Kendrick commented on the need for a sea wall of split stone to protect the new light house.

A lighted buoy, anchored east of Little Hope Island, marks what remains of the dangerous rocky hazard today. The island has been exposed to other hurricanes in previous years.

Closed

Closed

1. https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=2026
2. https://www.nslps.com/about-ns-lighthouses/lighthouse-lists?c=little-hope-island-lighthouse

Can be viewed from boat. LITTLE HOPE ISLAND I - Light Details Location: On middle of island, off Port Mouton; Standing: This light is no longer standing; Operating: This light is no longer operating; Began: 1865; Year Lit: 1865; Structure Type: Square wood tower, white; Light Characteristic: Revolving Red (1883); Tower Height: 026ft feet high; Light Height: 040ft feet above water level; History Items for This Lighthouse, 1834 - wooden beacon established by this date. 1883 - catatropic lens, revolving red (60s). 1908 - replaced by present tower.

LITTLE HOPE ISLAND II - Light Details Location: On centre of island, off Port Mouton; Standing: This light is no longer standing; Operating: This light is no longer operating; Date Automated: Automated by 1948; Decommissioned: This light has been decommissioned; Began: 1908; Year Lit: 1908; Structure Type: Circular concrete tower, with butresses, white; Light Characteristic: Flashing White (1992); Tower Height: 077ft feet high; Light Height: 099ft feet above water level; History Items for This Lighthouse, 1908 - replaced original tower of 1865 1922 - 1941 - 2nd order dioptric lens, group flashing white (10s), 15m, 98ft. 1937 - acetylene gun fog signal established - 1944 - 1965 - 98ft, 100ft. 1944 - 1960 - fog signal discontinued - 1991 - lantern removed. 2003 - Damaged by hurricane Juan, September 29. 2003 - Crashed into the ocean after a vicious winter storm, December 7. There are no plans to replace it.

In 1944 - 1960 the fog signal was discontinued. Then in 1991 the lantern removed. In 2003 the lighthouse was damaged by hurricane Juan, in September, and by December the lighthouse has fallen into the sea.