Cape Forchu, Nova Scotia facts for kids
Cape Forchu is a fishing community and a piece of land that sticks out into the ocean in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, Canada. It's a beautiful spot known for its famous lighthouse and interesting past.
Contents
History of Cape Forchu
Early Life and Trade
In the 1600s and 1700s, life in Cape Forchu was all about the ocean. Fishing was super important for the people living there. They also used boats a lot for traveling and trading goods with other places.
Challenges During the American Revolution
During the American Revolution in December 1775, some American privateers came to Cape Forchu. These were like private ships allowed to attack enemy ships. They took four vessels and even captured some people from the community.
Yarmouth's Busy Port
By the 1800s, Yarmouth Harbour, which is close to Cape Forchu, became a very busy place for sailing ships. In fact, by the late 1800s, it was the second largest port in all of Canada for registering ships!
Lighthouses and Shipwrecks
Because so many ships were sailing nearby, shipwrecks were common along the coast. To help keep sailors safe, a chain of lighthouses was suggested for Nova Scotia's shores. This led to the building of the first Cape Forchu Lighthouse in 1840.
This original lighthouse was replaced in 1962 with a new concrete tower that looks a bit like an "apple core." The original special lens, called a fresnel lens, that was used in the old lighthouse is now at the Yarmouth County Museum.
Filming Location
The 2019 movie The Lighthouse was filmed almost entirely on Cape Forchu. This movie starred famous actors Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe. For the outdoor scenes, the filmmakers even built a full-size, 70-foot lighthouse tower right on the cape! It was built strong enough to handle very powerful winds.
A Lighthouse on a Stamp
The original 1840 lighthouse, which was taken down in 1961, was featured on a postage stamp in 2022. It was part of a set of five "Vintage Travel Posters" stamps released on June 9. These stamps were supposed to come out earlier but were delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The stamp shows the old lighthouse as it appeared on a 1950 poster that promoted "Canada’s Picturesque East Coast."
