Wood Islands Lighthouse facts for kids

The Wood Islands Lighthouse is a famous lighthouse on the southeastern coast of Prince Edward Island, in a community called Wood Islands. It was built by Donald MacMillan. This lighthouse is a tall, three-story tower with a home for the lighthouse keeper attached to it.

The tower is covered in white shingles and has a bright red iron top, which is where the light shines from. There's also a white railing around the top deck. The red roof of the keeper's house looks great against its white walls.

This lighthouse was one of the last three on Prince Edward Island to become fully automatic. It was also the very last one where the keeper and their family actually lived inside. Today, the lighthouse and the keeper's home are a museum. You can learn about the history of lighthouses, the ferry service, and fishing on the island. The museum even has a kitchen and keeper's rooms set up to look like they did in the 1950s.

History of the Lighthouse

Wood Island Lighthouse: Meacham 1880

In 1874, the Canadian government decided to build a lighthouse at Wood Islands. They set aside $6,000 for the project. The land was bought in June 1875.

The lighthouse was finished in the autumn of 1876 and started working on November 1, 1876. A man named Archibald MacKay first signed the contract to build it. But he didn't make much progress. So, Donald MacMillan, a skilled local carpenter, was hired to finish the job.

Before the federal ferry dock was built in 1937, the lighthouse helped ships navigate the Northumberland Strait. It also guided fishing boats in and around Wood Islands Harbour. Starting in 1940, Northumberland Ferries Limited began using this light for their ferry service. This service runs between Wood Islands and Caribou, Nova Scotia.

In 1950, the house attached to the tower was updated. A new kitchen was built for the light keeper. In 1958, both the house and the lighthouse got electricity. The light then used a powerful 1000-watt lamp. It also changed from a steady light to a flashing light, which it still is today.

In 1984, the light tower was renovated again. A generator and fog alarm equipment were added. Windows were changed for better air flow. A special fire alarm system was put in. A balcony was also built in 1984 for the fog alarm equipment.

After standing in the same spot for 133 years, the lighthouse had to be moved. The shoreline was eroding, meaning the land was washing away. On March 10, 2009, the lighthouse was moved 70 meters (about 230 feet) back to safer ground. The move happened in winter so the ground would be frozen and strong enough to support the heavy structure.

Lighthouse Keepers

In the early days, it was very hard for lighthouse keepers to get to their home and the light. They had to go through thick woods or walk along the beach. The lighthouse was first reached by a path that went south from what is now Pioneer Cemetery Road. This path led to a narrow strip of land that stretched to the lighthouse's corner.

Over time, this path disappeared. A new way to access the lighthouse was made from what is now McLeod Road. The area where the lighthouse stands eventually became connected to the main shore. This happened when the Wood Islands ferry terminal and its docks were built.

Here are some of the people who kept the Wood Islands Lighthouse working:

Harbour Range Lights

The Wood Islands Harbour Range Lights are a pair of special lights. They are now located near the main Wood Islands Lighthouse, which was built in 1876. These two range lights, called the Front Range and Rear Range, were built in September 1902. They were moved to the southern pier at the harbour entrance in 1940. They are no longer active today.

The Department of Marine designed these lights, and M. Walsh built them. The Front Range Light was a square, wooden tower that got narrower towards the top. It was about 4.5 meters (18.4 feet) tall. Later, it got a small shed attached and a sloped roof over its door. The Back Range Light was larger and kept its original design. Its most noticeable features are the wooden railing and wooden supports on its lantern deck.

Range lights are like a special guide for ships. They are two lights placed one behind the other. When a ship lines up both lights, it means the ship is on the correct path to enter a narrow or tricky channel. The light closer to the ship is called the front light, and the one farther away is the rear light. The front light is usually lower than the rear light.

If a ship goes too far to the right, the rear light will appear to move to the right of the front light. If the ship goes too far to the left, the rear light will appear to move to the left. This helps the captain know exactly how to steer the ship.

Here are some details about the Wood Islands Harbour Range Lights:

See also

• List of lighthouses in Prince Edward Island
• List of lighthouses in Canada