File:Margaretville Lighthouse.jpg

Margaretville Lighthouse.

The Margaretville lighthouse was built when the residents of the thriving village of Margaretsville decided in 1859 that a lighthouse was a necessity to navigation for vessels plying the water of the Bay of Fundy in ever increasing numbers. A deed was drawn up between Sir Brenton Haliburton, Knight, Chief Justice of the Province of Nova Scotia, and Stephen S. Thorne, Chairman, George P. Mitchell and Andrew McKinley, Commissioners of Public Property on the other.... and whereas said Legislation made appropriation for the erection of a public lighthouse or beacon light at or near Margaretsville... and the said commissioners accept all that certain land situated at Margaretsville, Wilmot, and being a portion of land originally laid out as a shipyard.

The deed was signed by Brenton Haliburton on June 7, 1859. At the time that this deed was written, Sir Brenton Haliburton still owned a part of the land which is now Margaretsville. Originally, the land grant had been made out to Sir Brenton's father, Dr. John Haliburton, surgeon from Rhode Island, for his service in His Majesty's Royal Navy.

When the Margaretsville lighthouse was erected it was one of the first along the Nova Scotia side of the Bay of Fundy. Before that time there were only about half a dozen lighthouses in operation on the Bay. But the year 1859 seemed to be a good one for lighthouse building as there were several more built at about this period.

The light was powered by a kerosene lamp. According to the diary of one of the lightkeepers, Joseph Cleveland, the amount of kerosene used during light summer months was about 7 gallons. During the winter dark days about 12 gallons were consumed on average, per month. Lights were lit just before sunset and extinguished at dawn. Before the new lantern was installed in 1911, the light was powered by 8 large red lamps with brass reflectors. These had to be cleaned and polished each day and filled with oil.

Location:On end of point, south of breakwater Standing:This light is still standing. Operating:This light is operational Automated:All operating lights in Nova Scotia are automated. Date Automated:Automated by 1965 Began:1859 Date Lit:Oct 25, 1859 Year Lit:1859 Engineer:Breton Halliburton Structure Type:Tapered square wood tower, white, black bands Light Characteristic:Occulting White (1941) Tower Height:022ft feet high. Light Height:030ft feet above water level.

Information from: www.nslps.com/index.aspx