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Outdoor Nova Scotia: "The Best Way to be Informed."
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Restoration
Venture No Light Project by Thea Atkinson August 28th, 1999 Liverpool, N.S. - It was plain from the number of participants that foggy skies couldn't dampen the plans of the Coffin Island Lighthouse Heritage Society to proceed with a one-day tour that included its lighthouse. In all, 40 people boarded boats at 10 a.m. for a 20-minute sail. The destination of those half-dozen pleasure boats was the southern end of Coffin Island about a mile from the nearest mainland village of Beach Meadows, Queens County, NS. The island boasts the fifth oldest lighthouse in Nova Scotia. Built in 1811, the tower was also the first to own a revolving light powered by whale oil. Even as the foundation was being laid, there were worries that at 90 feet from the sea wall, land would be eroded until the lighthouse itself would become endangered. Over the years, the cribwork has been repaired and rebuilt many times. The lighthouse itself, was rebuilt 150 feet from the sea wall after being destroyed by fire in 1913. As early as July 1998, the Canadian Coast Guard saw the tower as a safety hazard and made plans to replace the light with a bell buoy. The Coffin Island Lighthouse Heritage Society lobbied and won a one-year reprieve on demolition to find a way to save the tower and protect the site. The island is about 160 acres in all, with 130 owned by the province and 30, by the Coast Guard who agreed to contribute funds to help save the light. So far, the conservation group has managed to have armour rock and infill installed around the lighthouse. The Coast Guard says it not only meets, but exceeds their standards. The group still needs to raise about 15,000 dollars to pay the remainder of the $70,000 bill to the Mahone Bay contractor, Mailman and Kelley Marine Construction Ltd. Which is where the fundraising foray came into play. "It was all possible thanks to volunteer support from boaters at the Brooklyn Yacht Club," said Ken Wilkinson, president of the local conservation group. The Lighthouse restoration venture added about 1,000 from a group of participants, who paid 20 dollars apiece, 10 for children, to trek from landing to light. While some opted for the virgin forest route, many picked their way along the beach as skies gradually cleared and favored the crowd with weather fine enough to savor the trip. More than just a lighthouse, the island is home to old shacks believed left over from a small fishery founded by Peleg Coffin in 1759. This remaining fishing village is connected to the light by a road cut through the woods. A view from the mainland may prompt local interest, but the conservation group's venture allowed many to appreciate and see up close, their shared heritage. Since the event went so well, the group hopes to offer another such outing come September 18th with a rain date for the next morning. Let's hope the weather cooperates and pleasure crafts are available for transport. RELATED WEBSITES: http://www.coffinislandlighthouse.ns.ca/The Coffin Island Lighthouse page http://www.ednet.ns.ca/educ/heritage/nslps/coffin2a.htmA full page by the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society devoted to the Coffin Island Site. http://WWW.Ednet.NS.Ca/educ/heritage/nslps/coffin1a.htmA full page by the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society
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