Category Archives: Heritage lighthouse

Nicholas Bertucci , Assistant lighthouse keeper

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Nicholas Bertucci came to Victoria from Italy in 1862. He was assistant at Race Rocks for 5 years: from either 1863-1867 or 1863-1968. He later owned and operated the Ferry Boathouse until selling it in 1889. He died in 1917
( information provided from an e-mail from Annamaria Bamji, February 2008)

Annamaria was doing research on the life of Mr. Bertucci and sent us this obituary from the Victoria Daily Colonist of 1917.

“Nicholas Bertucci , res/here for 55 years. aged 79. N/o Lavagna Ita. he left there in early 1860’s and came here by way of Cape Horn. Prior to coming to Victoria, he worked on an American Survey ship, and after arriving here worked for 5 years as asst. lighthousekeeper at Race Rocks. Later he owned amd operated the Ferry Boat house, situated at that time where the E&N RR bridge now stand, selling it in 1889.

He leaves a widow, 7 sons: BG; D and J, now on active service:
N;A,Al,and F all of VIctoria.
Also 5 daughters: Mrs J. Sauit, Mrs. H Gallinger; Miss J, all of Victoria,
and MrsF Arnott, Los Angeles; Mrs. H.F.Silk, now in Eng.

VX/NewsPh/Jun23,5-A/Cpl Joseph Francis Bertucci, Victoria, WIA 2nd time. Left Victoria w/2 bros. Louis and Jack, both at front. Was employed in Times Business Office. U 073 B53 (location of burial in Ross Bay Cemetery in Victoria,BC.)”.

Recent information indicates that after his death, of the three sons who went to war, two died in active service in World War 1.

Another more thorough entry can be found on the Markes Family History page: http://marko.dgmm.net/bertucci.html

Newspaper Archives 1859-1906

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July 20 1859:  House of Assembly Notice of Intention to select sites for the two lighthouses

Aug 12-1859:  HMS Plumper with Capt. Richards left Esquimalt to select a site for the lighthouse on Race Rocks

Sept 19, 1859: Last evening three “square rigged ” vessels were inside Race Rocks heading towards Victoria.

Dec.25 1859:  Wreck of the Idaho still afloat in Strait of Juan de Fuca 

April 12 1860:  HMS Topaze is stationed in Victoria.. See story on our history page of their crew providing labour on Race Rocks Tower Construction

April 14 1860 House of Assembly re appropriations for Race Rocks and FIsgard.

April 26, 1860: Estimates for erection of public works.. Race Rocks and Fisgard

May31860: Band from the H.M.S.Topaze leads the Mayday parade.:  Further evidence of this ship being stationed in Victoria while its crew helped build the tower at Race Rocks. Plus two other articles.

June 09, 1860 Mr. Morris , Civil Engineer now erecting the lighthouse at Race Rocks—Home government appropriates 7000 pounds for the construction of the two lighthouses.— 3500 to be paid by the Imperial government, , the other half by this colony and British Columbia– “In that case we ought to have had the right to select the lightkeepers as there are many persons her just as well qualified as any that can be imported from England”

June 30, 1860 A discussion arose as to whether the Home Government, British Columbia or Vancouver Island had to pay for the lightkeepers.
and  July 05, 1860 The Assembly discusses who should pay the wages for the lightkeepers.–
Mr. Franklin ” The Home government having built the lightouses and stocked them , it was natural to suppose that they should pay for their keeping”—

July 20 1859 House of Assembly dispatches have passed between the Governor
(Sir James Douglas) and Sir L.B. Lyton ( British parliament) regarding payment for the two lighthouses.

August 28 1860 Letter from “an old sailor” on payment for Pilotage. Vessels coming in from San Francisco would pick up a pilot off Race Rocks.

August 30,1860: The gun boat “Forward” receives the two lanterns for the l;ighthouses which have just arrived from England by the “Grecian”

December 25 1860 to Jan23, 1861. Several articles relating to the wreck of the Nanette off Race Rocks:
Dec. 25 1860 Total Loss of the British Barque Nanette, wrecked on Race Rocks
Dec 27, 1860 Pilotage bill not passed yet–two days ago the Nanette sank on Race Rocks.. On Nov 9 a pilot lost his life..—The pilots say they cannot maintain a boat outside because the remuneration they receive is insufficient to support them—
–Jan.15 1861:  the schooner “Rebecca” was caught stealing from the wreck of the Nanette on Race Rocks
Jan 22, 1861 Reference to loss of the Nanette on Race Rocks.
Jan 23, 1861 Reference to Nanette as one of several shipwrecks.
Jan. 26, 1861 Two men arrested for stealing goods from the Nanette wrecked at Race Rocks
Feb.1 1861 Court of Naval Inquiry re theft from wreck of Nanette.
Feb. 9 1861 Captain of Schooner Rebecca accused of stealing from wreck of Nanette

Feb.11 1861 Court of Naval Inquiry re : Wreck of Nanette
Feb.13 1861 he Nanette is sold at auction for $650.00

Dec.27, 1860—the beacon on Race Rocks was lighted last evening for the first time—

Jan. 26, 1861 False Alarm–Two heavy guns heard in the direction of Race Rocks

Feb.1 1861 Notice to Mariners about the new light being exhibited in the Light House recently erected on Great Race Rock and cautioning about the strong tides at Race Rocks No ti ice to Mariners of Lighthouse on Race Island , Strait of Juan de Fuca
Directions for Fisgard and Race Rocks — Notice to Mariners;

Feb. 4, 1861 Tax assessment for John Morris at Race Rocks of 2500 pounds.

Sept.21 1861 Topaze arrives from Chile , she left here last April (1861) En route took in tow a sloop from the Fannings Islands with starving occupants on board who had resorted to cannibalism in order to survive.

Jan. 08, 1862 Discussion on the Pilot Bill .. Government had killed the passage of an excellent Pilot law in 1860

Dec 10 1862 House of Assembly recognizes the work of Capt. Richards who surveyed and chose the site for Race Rocks.

March 22, 1864 Use of semaphore signal at Race Rocks

Dec. 17, 1866 Death at the Lighthouse Geo. N. Davies first lightkeeper died on Friday night last-

–Feb.5,1867 Disaster to the Ship Nicholas Biddel

Mar.4, 1873 Lightkeeper reports ship aground on Rosedale Reef

May 11, 1873 Dominion Estimates.. gives lightkeepers salaries,

May 29 1873 Lightkeepers spend time blasting and removing large rocks making a landing at Race Rocks1874Sessional Papers- Dominion of Canada-lighthouse repair

1874–Sessional papers on repairs to lighthouse,

Feb2, 1877:  “Murder”—– “Mr.T. Argyle arrived in town yesterday bringing with him in a canoe the body of an Indian woman, which , from the marks upon it, leaves but little doubt that the woman was foully murdered.”

Nov. 7, 1877 Wreck of the HMS Swordfish off Beecher bay

Nov. 7, 1877 H.M.S.Opal rescues crew of the Swordfish

Nov. 7 1877Trial of James Argyle for rescuing deserters from a naval ship (Full newspaper page!)

Nov.11,1877 Sale of the Swordfish ( wreckage)

March 22 1881 Report on lack of a granite quarry on Vancouver Island.. This may be evidence that the grey granite of Race Rocks was probably not quarried locally 21 years previous to this date.

March 31, 1881 The tug Etta White rescues American barque Antioch. note reference to the Idaho which later comes aground at RR.

July 31 1888 A watery grave: Thomas Argyle Jr., at 25 years of age the eldest son of lighthouse keeper Thomas Argyle, along with three other friends who were on their way out to Race Rocks to stay overnight with his parents, all drowned in a gale.

Aug 2 1888 Lightkeeper Argyle searches and is unable to find his son and other drowning victims.

Dec 25, 1889 Wreck of the Idaho still afloat after slipping off Race Rocks

Aug 11 1895 A Fortunate Escape: (by the New Zealand Vessel Warrimoo.)

Sept 19 1900 Lightkeeper Eastwood charged with leaving the station and employing Japanese(!!)

June 10 1909 The tug Sea Lion Sunk in Collision--run down by Oceania Vance during thick fog near Race Rocks

Sept 51909 Proposal to build a Fort (Fort Rod Hill) at the entrance to Esquimalt Harbour :
“The width of the Strait East of the Race Rocks is such that a ship of war, keeping well out to sea would be out of range of the guns at Esquimalt or at Fort Macaulay, and would be free to proceed on its way to Vancouver without interuption unless a fort were erected at some point commanding the passage.”

Sept 18 1909 Lightkeeper F.Eastwood saw drowning by the overturning of a Columbia River boat loaded — Hesquiot Indian tells another story—-No one drowned!-

1889-1906 Reference page for entries from the Daily Colonist for Lightkeeper W.P. Phil Daykin

File on Shipwrecks at Race Rocks
See also Digitized records of newspapers  by University of Victoria ,
 
For photographs of the Light station in the early years go to

The 150-year-old tower at Race Rocks under threat

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Senators ‘just want to get the facts’

By Sandra McCulloch, Times ColonistNovember 12, 2010

The 150-year-old tower at Race Rocks is among nearly 1,000 lighthouses and light stations under threat.

Photograph by: Bruce Stotesbury, Times Colonist, Times Colonist

Senators examining the proposed destaffing of lighthouses insist they want to hear from all sides when they visit Vancouver Island next week.

The members of the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans aim to hand its report and accompanying recommendations to federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea by the end of the year.

In 2009, Shea announced lightkeepers would be eliminated. But a public outcry prompted her to ask the senate committee to investigate and make recommendations.

The senators will visit the west coast Nov. 16-20. But its appointment-only format has left some people concerned that only select parties are being heard.

“The senate committee’s schedule does not include any public meetings where B.C. residents can tell the senators what they think about eliminating lightkeepers from B.C.’s 27 remaining staff lightstations,” the Canadian Lightkeepers Association. Its comments came in a press release titled “B.C. public shut out of lighthouse hearings.”

Senator Dennis Patterson, deputy chairman of the committee, said the press release is an example of the misunderstandings over the visit and added that the senators wanted to meet as many people as possible.

“I know there has been some concern about this format, that we’re cherry-picking witnesses, and I want to assure you this is not the case,” Patterson said.

“We’re very open to hearing all points of view. We just want to get the facts.”

Financial constraints prohibit the senate from holding full-blown public hearings here, Patterson said. Instead, the committee will hold “fact-finding” sessions around kitchen tables, at lighthouses and in places like council chambers, said Patterson.

The format can be less intimidating than formal hearings, he said.

“In my opinion [it] can work very effectively,” he said. “You can sit around a table and have an informal exchange of views. We want to hear from the maximum number of people in an informal way.”

With a deadline of Dec. 31, there is a sense of urgency, Patterson said. Last week, he canvassed public opinion in Newfoundland and Labrador.

“The destaffing question we feel is most urgent — it has evoked a lot of concern on both coasts,” said Patterson.

The committee has already heard from representatives of the Coast Guard, the Canadian Lightkeepers Association and others who have testified in Ottawa.

Former senator Pat Carney, who opposes destaffing lighthouses, is scheduled to testify in Ottawa on Nov. 23.

The public hearings have a place in the system, said Patterson, “it’s just that we’re not able to take the show on the road for financial reasons.”

The committee expects to visit 10 to 12 lighthouses on the west coast and meet people in Victoria, Nanaimo, Campbell River, Prince Rupert and Vancouver.

The senators represent both sides of the house and there is no hidden agenda, Patterson said.

“Senate committees, I believe, have a reputation for doing good work and being independent,” he said.

Anyone wishing to address the committee should contact its clerk, Danielle Labonte, at 613-949-4379. The committee’s email is fish-pech@sen.parl.gc.ca.

smcculloch@timescolonist.com

© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist

Lighthouses Part of Canada’s Culture :

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.bclocalnews.com/

Opinion Column : Goldstream Gazette: Lighthouses Part of
Canada’s Culture : November 11, 2010
Lighthouses part of Canada’s culture
Published: November 11, 2010 1:00 PM
Updated: November 11, 2010 1:41 PM
Its easy on southern Vancouver Island to allow lighthouses to become part of the scenery. Unless one is a boater, a person may simply take the presence of these light stations for granted.

But there is a certain romance with lighthouses. They are a part of our history, a slice of coastal living that we envision as part and parcel of experiencing the rugged life of a maritime resident.

A Senate committee is further looking into whether Canada’s 51 remaining stations with lighthouse keepers need to be staffed.

No one would argue that having a live set of eyes available with the ability to take action in the event of a crisis isn’t critical at times.

On the other hand, technology has improved since the first lighthouses were installed along our coastlines. The notion of setting up a series of cameras, perhaps linked to satellites, to monitor the waters off Vancouver Island, for example, doesn’t seem like such an out-of-this-world solution.

But what of the actual light stations?

The revelation that the federal government has listed the majority of Canada’s lighthouses as surplus had many Canadians collectively raising their eyebrows.

It’s easy to envision high rollers buying the land cheap and erecting pricey spa-lodges on prominent waterfront properties currently anchored by lighthouses.

But is that what we want to see?

Other coastal communities and jurisdictions, the state of Oregon for example, have created successful models for saving these picturesque and culturally significant icons and utilizing them in a different way. Cultural tourism, facilitated by community groups and other agencies, could be the answer for saving the lighthouses of Canada’s Pacific Coast.

The federal government, if it chooses to divest itself of these assets, must commit to work with interested groups to enhance the viability of lighthouses, either as working navigational aids, tourist attractions or both.

Once they’re gone, they’re gone forever.

This article was originallyfound at:
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/goldstreamgazette/opinion/107312893.html
now discontinued.

Lighthouses Part of Canada’s culture

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Published: November 11, 2010 1:00 PM
Updated: November 11, 2010 1:41 PM

Its easy on southern Vancouver Island to allow lighthouses to become part of the scenery. Unless one is a boater, a person may simply take the presence of these light stations for granted.

But there is a certain romance with lighthouses. They are a part of our history, a slice of coastal living that we envision as part and parcel of experiencing the rugged life of a maritime resident.

A Senate committee is further looking into whether Canada’s 51 remaining stations with lighthouse keepers need to be staffed.

No one would argue that having a live set of eyes available with the ability to take action in the event of a crisis isn’t critical at times.

On the other hand, technology has improved since the first lighthouses were installed along our coastlines. The notion of setting up a series of cameras, perhaps linked to satellites, to monitor the waters off Vancouver Island, for example, doesn’t seem like such an out-of-this-world solution.

But what of the actual light stations?

The revelation that the federal government has listed the majority of Canada’s lighthouses as surplus had many Canadians collectively raising their eyebrows.

It’s easy to envision high rollers buying the land cheap and erecting pricey spa-lodges on prominent waterfront properties currently anchored by lighthouses.

But is that what we want to see?

Other coastal communities and jurisdictions, the state of Oregon for example, have created successful models for saving these picturesque and culturally significant icons and utilizing them in a different way. Cultural tourism, facilitated by community groups and other agencies, could be the answer for saving the lighthouses of Canada’s Pacific Coast.

The federal government, if it chooses to divest itself of these assets, must commit to work with interested groups to enhance the viability of lighthouses, either as working navigational aids, tourist attractions or both.

Once they’re gone, they’re gone forever

.This article was originally found at:
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/goldstreamgazette/opinion/107312893.html–now discontinued.

Reaction to DFO Announcement on Selling off its Lighthouses

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In June of 2010 a few days after the Heritage Lighthouse Act came into effect, the Department of Fisheries, in charge of Coast Guard, announced that it was selling off all its surplus lighthouses across Canada. Race Rocks was included on the list of 960 surplus lighthouses. Our initial response was ” How could the federal government even think of selling off a heritage structure–the only rock built lighthouse on our Pacific Coast and especially in the year of its 150th anniversary of construction?” We contacted BC Parks for clarification since the Lighthouse is on Provincial Crown Land leased to the Federal government, and therefore it would be hard to see how the tower could be sold. Their response was as follows:
  • ” I looked through our files and confirmed that the lands occupied  by the light are provincial lands under a transfer to the federal government for lighthouse purposes.
    Also our planner David Brown in Terrace has contacted a Pacific Region federal staff member that assured David that DFO/Coast Guard knows that they cannot enter into any arrangement to sell, lease or otherwise tenure out, most of the lighthouses in BC because the land is under provincial ownership. This implies that Pacific Region will simply not act on this initiative where it has to do with the lights that are on provincial land.”

    Doug Biffard
    Aquatic Ecologist
    Parks Planning and Management Branch
    Ministry of Environment
    250 387-4598
  • DOCUMENTS: 1894 and 1997 re Lighthouse Reversion In September of 2011, I contacted Andrew Anderson in DFO and asked for a clarification based on the above statement. after a telephone conversation, his response is below: September 29, 2011 5:52 AM
    Mr. Fletcher:      As discussed – Under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act, the Department was required to publish a list of lighthouses deemed surplus to operational requirements. Canadian Coast Guard has determined that ownership of the structure that supports the aid to navigation at Race Rocks is no longer required for program purposes and as such it forms part of the surplus list. The preamble to the list of surplus lighthouses on the DFO web-site acknowledges that despite surplus status there could be administrative or legal issues related to some sites that would restrict the capacity of DFO to transfer ownership.
    thank you
    Andrew Anderson
    Real Property, Safety and Security / Biens Immobiliers, Protection et Sécurité Fisheries and Oceans Canada / Pêches et Océans Canada
    200 Kent Street, Ottawa, ON K1A 0E6 / 200, rue Kent, Ottawa ON K1A 0E6

 

rrgoldstreamgazetteThe colonial-era stone building is on the list of surplus properties the federal government wants to sell.
By Edward Hill – Goldstream News Gazette
Published: June 11, 2010 2:00 PM
Newspaper Version Wednesday, June 16, 2010 

 

 

 
gilbertsSee other articles published on this topic
  • EXCERPT FROM “Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act Implementation, May 2010
    Heritage Lighthouses of Canada

    “Fisheries and Oceans Canada has declared approximately 480 active lighthouses and approximately 490 inactive lighthouses across Canada surplus to its needs. Under the new Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act, these properties can be transferred to new owners wishing to take advantage of their heritage designation or tourism potential.

The Act comes into force on May 29, 2010 as a means to protect federally-owned heritage lighthouses by allowing them to be used for other purposes, as long as they are maintained in a manner consistent with established conservation practices.

Individuals, municipalities or non-profit groups may apply to Parks Canada for heritage designation of any federally-owned lighthouse property. For the surplus lighthouses, a written commitment to acquire ownership and protect the lighthouse must be accepted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in order for it to be designated under the Act. Potential owners must submit a business plan that shows their proposed use of the property will be economically viable over the long term, and that they have the capacity to manage the property.

In some cases, lighthouses contain aids to navigation, which must remain operational. Parties wishing to purchase these properties would need to enter into an agreement with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, permitting it access to the site for maintenance and operation of the aid to navigation.

Pursuant to the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada has determined that the lighthouses on the lists below are surplus to the operational requirements of the Department. A surplus lighthouse may only be designated as a heritage lighthouse if a person or body submits a written commitment to acquire the lighthouse and protect its heritage character in the event that it is designated as a heritage lighthouse.” See continuation in the original version (2010) with Gail Shea as Minister of Fisheries:

For the Current version of this — See this on the DFO website

Note in particular, the following paragraph:from this reference:

“For the surplus lighthouses, a written commitment to acquire ownership and protect the lighthouse must be accepted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in order for it to be designated under the Act. Potential owners must submit a business plan that shows their proposed use of the property will be economically viable over the long term, and that they have the capacity to manage the property.”

On the Environment Canada website one finds the following version:

Petition Process

You are encouraged to participate in the designation of heritage lighthouses!

Residents of Canada can nominate a lighthouse for designation under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act by forwarding a petition to the Heritage Lighthouse Program by 29 May 2012.

To meet the requirements of the Act, petitions must:

nominate a lighthouse that is currently owned by the federal government;
be signed by at least 25 residents of Canada who are 18 years of age or older, including the names and addresses of all petitioners; and
be addressed to the Minister responsible for Parks Canada (the Minister of the Environment).

Return to the Heritage Lighthouse Index

Return to the History Index

150 years of Operation of the Race Rocks Lighthouse

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The British Colonist July 18,1859: ” The Imperial Treasury had advanced 7000 lbs to construct two lighthouses, a large one on Race Rocks : a smaller one on Fishguard (sic) Island, mouth of Esquimalt Harbor. Half the sum to be paid by British Columbia and Vancouver’s Island: the other half to be borne by the Imperial Government.”

 

The British Colonist December 27, 1860: “The Race Rocks Light—The beacon on Race Rocks was lighted last evening for the first time. We had not the pleasure of seeing it shine ; but are informed that it was very brilliant, and every way suited to the duty it will henceforth perform.”

You can read other interesting articles from the Daily Colonist of the 1800’s here: 
Night time exposure by Ryan Murphy. For this and other images of the lighthouse see this file;On Dec 26, 2010 we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the lighting of the lamp in the lighthouse at Race Rocks. This lighthouse, on the most southerly tip of the West Coast of Canada, is the only rock-built lighthouse in British Columbia. It has served the people of the West Coast marine community uninterrupted all this time, and still continues as an important lighthouse and foghorn station today .To mark this sesquicentennial year, Lester B. Pearson College, who manages the island and the Ecological Reserve for B.C.Parks, has set up the Race Rocks Endowment Fund dedicated to the on-going sustainable operation of Race Rocks.

This file has many aspects of the history of the light station.

In the past year as much information as is available has been extracted on the early keepers of Race Rocks and several of the stories of heroism and tragedy are linked here.

Last year the tower underwent an extensive restoration and it now is in excellent condition.

From the top of the lighthouse, Camera1provides 360 degree coverage of the Eastern entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, from this most southerly point of land on the West Coast of Canada.

Race Rocks Light tower is situated in the Race Rocks Ecological reserve, on an envelope of land on Great Race Rock leased from the Province of British Columbia. Lester B.Pearson College has since the tower and foghorn were automated by the Canadian Coast guard in 1997, provided an Ecoguardian to live on the lightstation and has a long term lease from B.C.Parks for the operation and management of the area.

Garry Fletcher


See the News Page for recent articles about Race Rocks

 

Restoration Begins on the Race Rocks Lighthouse: February, 2009,

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From the Heritage Protection for Lighthouses Page:

panoramaworkREPAIR PLANS ANNOUNCED: October, 2008…DFO has informed us that they intend to refurbish the tower over the next 6 months: The DFO/CCG project engineer responsible for the Race Rocks Beacon, John Lauder, P.Eng. of Fisheries & Oceans Canada in Vancouver has tended contracts

Click to see this animated gif replay, it was taken by Ryan Murphy of the tower scaffold being removed in early October, 2009

Click to see this animated gif replay, it was taken by Ryan Murphy of the tower scaffold being removed in early October, 2009

based on the recommendations prepared by Mark Byram, their consultant with GOAL Engineering of Victoria. This will involve stripping of existing paint, re-pointing/repairs to masonry, application of new weatherproof coatings and repairs to lantern house glazing. We are pleased with the extent of the proposed repairs, and are grateful to those who worked so hard to get legislation passed that has required this action.

On February 25th of 2009 contractors started the job of restoring the Race Rocks Lighthouse. A team of workmen were ferried to the island by the Pearson college boat Second Nature and the process of stripping the flaking paint from the inside top of the tower, where the top one- third is made of sandstone began. Below, equipment gets transferred to shore for the restoration process.

gazetteWith an enviable view of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Chris Tobiassen sands off layers of lead paint outside the lamp house of the aging Race Rocks lighthouse. Together with his father Toby, the pair have been stripping paint from the 149-year-old structure so they can seal and repaint it. Work is expected to wrap up in July.

This article appeared originally at:http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/goldstreamgazette/news/46944072.html

 

Published: June 04, 2009 1:00 PM
Amy Dove/News staff

Published: June 04, 2009 1:00 PM

Tight quarters, gnarly winds and dizzying heights come part and parcel with this remote job site.

For father and son team Toby and Chris Tobiassen with TriCity Finishing, it’s worth it for the views from the top of Race Rocks Lighthouse. The pair have spent a month stripping layers of lead paint from the 149-year-old structure only so they can repaint its iconic red cap.

One particularly blustery morning the wind ripped the goggles right off of Toby’s head. It’s not uncommon for the paint to fly off the brush before even touching the walls. Conditions inside aren’t always easy either — every gallon of paint had to be hauled up more than 100 stairs.

Nothing parallels the view though, Chris said, and despite the island’s population of one, there is no shortage of company. The wildlife is abundant, evident in the elephant seal that greeted them on their first day of work.

The lighthouse sits within a marine ecological reserve on Race Rocks, an island about one nautical mile off Metchosin. Pearson College of the Pacific is the steward of the island, but the lighthouse is maintained by the Canadian Coast Guard. Part of a two-year project, the restoration work was commissioned to combat rust, broken window panes, peeling paint and an overall leaking structure.

The lighthouse was constructed in 1860 after a series of ships went down on the notorious rocks. Built to work in tandem with the Fisgard Lighthouse in Colwood, Race Rocks is the bigger of the two.

“Race Rocks sort of sticks out into the Strait and tells ships where to make the turn. Fisgard guided the ships the last 10 miles (into Esquimalt Harbour),” said Dale Mumford, Parks Canada community relations officer based at Fort Rodd Hill.

Fisgard was completed in November 1860, six weeks before Race Rocks, earning it the title of Canada’s first West Coast lighthouse.

That and the easy access to the site garnered it federal heritage status, something yet to be granted to Race Rocks lighthouse, Mumford said. The lighthouses were the only two built during the colonial period, he added.

NOTE: This is incorrect as Race Rocks was designated a heritage Structure in 1991

The lighthouses were funded by a loan from the British government that the Vancouver Island colony never fully repaid.

There are rumors that the materials used to build Race Rocks were brought over as ballast in ships from Scotland, but that just isn’t true, Mumford said.

“Shipping rocks around the world doesn’t make a lot of sense when you start to think to about it,” he said with a laugh.

Parks Canada has the original contracts for its construction, clearly showing the material was sourced locally. The lower portion is made from granite blasted from the island. When that ran out, sandstone was brought in to complete the top portion.

NOTE: an alternate explanation is provided here and reference is made to the T. Appleton report.

That change in materials would account for the restoration work needed as sandstone doesn’t stand up to the elements as well, Mumford said.

The lighting mechanisms and the metal lantern (a term to describe the metal top portion of the lighthouse) came from England, along with its first lighthouse keeper, George Davies.

Davies lived and worked at the Fisgard lighthouse for the first two months of its operation before moving to Race Rocks with his family. He was keeper there until he died in 1866.

The tradition of keepers on the island continued until 1997 when the Coast Guard automated the light.

Since that time Pearson College has stationed “eco-guardians” on the island to ensure technical systems such as web cameras and solar panels are maintained, as well as to monitor human impact on the marine reserve.

For more information on the history of Race Rocks and its lighthouse, go to www.racerocks.com.

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com

 

 

 

Barry MacDonald visits Race Rocks

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barryandairchimeBarry MacDonald, President of the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society went out to Race Rocks with Garry today. Barry has been instrumental in getting the Lighthouse Heritage Protection Bill  through parliament and working for the protection of the Atlantic Coast Lighthouses: http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/history/heritagetower.htm#Anchor-Pat-11481 .  In this picture, he tells us about how the Air Chime Fog horns were once used across North America, but are now all discontinued.The one he is examining was removed for the installation of solar panels and has since been replaced, preserving the look of the four air chimes on the energy building.
http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/history/foghorn/foghorn.htm