Through the window

On a recent beautiful summer day at the Souris lighthouse, there was an idyllic view of the Northumberland Strait and the fishing boats.

One can imagine it is not always so however. In days gone by, what was it like during the worst storms, looking out the window as you tended the light while the tower shook and the wind howled? Sometimes a wall of white was all that was visible.

The keeper’s house, now relocated, was through this door. 

It stood, with the light itself, on Knight Point at the entrance to the harbour at Souris in eastern Prince Edward Island. Today the light remains, automated, standing its lonely vigil whatever the weather. No problems with the weather this day however. 

The various floors of the building show an aspect of the work involved with tending the light. The old light was run by kerosene which was pumped up to the light.

Now, the lantern room at the top of the building holds the current light. It was a thrill to go out on the gallery

outside the room and take a photo of this light and the community below.

This is the only lighthouse where we have been able to go out on the gallery. We watched the boats and thought of earlier days, in the 1880s, when the light was new and mariners welcomed the guidance.

The ferry for the Îles de la Madeleine comes into the wharf at Souris,

taking visitors to and from the Québec island. There were numerous French speaking people visiting the lighthouse as they waited for the ferry to arrive from the island.

Later, as we proceeded along the southeast coast, we saw the ferry on her way into Souris. A visit to the Îles de la Madeleine may be in our future. After all, we are island people.