Most Popular Post

Monday 5 September 2016

Point Prim lighthouse

The light house is the oldest in the province, built in 1845. 

 

It is one of a few round brick lighthouses in the country. It sits on the southeast entrance of Hillsborough Bay directing ships safely to Charlottetown Harbour, Prince Edward Island. 

 
Storyboard map: Point Prim, white pin, bottom R of center. Entrance to Charlottetown Harbour, top L of center

The tower is made of bricks of island sandstone, but two years after it was built, workers covered the brick because of its deterioration.

 
 Storyboard photo: shingles over brick


While the light house keeper could stay in the structure, a keeper's cottage was nearby for his family. Today, the light is automated and the lighthouse is a museum, with artifacts from its earliest days as a manned structure.

 

The tower has four levels with steep ladder-like stairs. 

 

The second floor houses information and various lights which lit the way for vessels for more than sixteen decades. 

 

The third level has the living quarters of the light keeper while he tended the light. 

 

At the highest level is the current light,

 

the fog horn 

 

plus a great view of the Northumberland Strait and Hillsborough Bay. 

 

Far in the distance, Nova Scotia is a faint line on the horizon.

Of the lighthouses we've visited on the island, this one is exceptional because it is open to the public and provides much historic information about island lighthouses in general and this one in particular. It was worth the visit!

 

25 comments:

ann @ studiohyde said...

What a gorgeous building, I love lighthouses. Although, I wouldn't want the job of re-painting those bricks, vertigo springs to mind! Wonder what it is about a lighthouse that makes them so appealing though, must be the shape, like windmills (although I wish the modern wind turbines looked more like traditional windmills, I think people wouldn't be so anti them, if they looked traditional, lol).

DJan said...

Thank you for taking me on this tour of the lighthouse. It truly is exceptional! If I ever make it to PEI, I will go visit this one. :-)

Joanne Noragon said...

Lighthouses remain important. I lived near Lake Erie for many years, and we visited several lighthouses along the shore. The Point Prim lighthouse is exceptionally handsome.

Tabor said...

Reading "The Light Between Oceans" has given me a better understanding of a Lighthouse Keeper's duties and responsibilities.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Very cool! Yes, I would imagine that sandstone bricks would deteriorate quickly.

Anvilcloud said...

We visited a few in NS but not Peggy. They were both grounds only. It must be a treat to actually get inside.

Elephant's Child said...

There is something very special about lighthouses. It must have been a lonely life for many. A lonely life of immense service in beautiful, exciting, dangerous surroundings.
Can you tell they tug at my heart?

Karen said...

Lovely! It wasn't open when I was there last year.

Marie Smith said...

It is a beautiful building, and a reminder of an important history which is outlined there. I love lighthouse too, Ann.

Marie Smith said...

Thisone is worth a visit. Wish I had photographed the stairs. Such a steep ladder!

Marie Smith said...

When we visit an area, if there is a lighthouse, we want to see it. Those structures attract lots of people wherever they are located.

Marie Smith said...

The book sounds interesting. I will look for it.

Marie Smith said...

I can't imagine anyone thought sandstone bricks were a good idea.

Marie Smith said...

It is great to see the inside. You need to visit the Cape Spear lighthouse in Newfoundland. Fabulous!

Marie Smith said...

They tug at mine too. My mother was friend with a family who ran the lighthouse at the most easterly point in North America. She stayed at the lighthouse often and had great stories about the place. I have a.ways been fascinated with lighthouses.

Marie Smith said...

It wii be open for your next visit, Karen! It is great to see the inside!

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Interesting info on this lighthouse and the history of it through the years.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

Great to have it open as a museum; all to often they stand empty, despite the constant flow of interested people who visit.

Marie Smith said...

It is an interesting and beautiful place, Judith.

Marie Smith said...

It is a great museum. The others we have visited are empty!

The Furry Gnome said...

Always enjoy lighthouses. There are a lot around the Great Lakes.

Marie Smith said...

They are fascinating places!

Down by the sea said...

That is a wonderful old lighthouse and amazing to think that some of the fishermen from this port would have seen it centuries ago too. Sarah x

Marie Smith said...

I always think of the lives saved by the work of those light keepers, most they never even know about.

baili said...

Thank you for making me part of this beautiful trip dear Marie!

light houses are always fascinating to me !
though this one is quite old yet remarkably great
glad to see insidious glimpse of unknown world really