Cape Sable Lighthouse

Owned by the Government of Canada

For local tourist information, go to  Cape-Sable-Historical-Society on Facebook.

View No Ka Oi Drone Video - Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, Canada

Photo - © Chris Mills, Cape Sable Lighthouse before 1988

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History

Post Card of Cape Sable Light Station Showing the First Tower
The first light tower was built of wood in 1861 close to the southern seawall. On November 12 the first lightkeeper, John Hervey Doane, lit the lamps atop the 65 foot octagonal tower. Because more lives and property had been lost at Cape Sable than on any other part of the coast, the installation of a white light of the first order was recommended. However, the decision was made to provide a red light on the cape. This red light, with nineteen lamps, was by far the most expensive to operate of any on the coast. On a clear night, it could not be seen over a distance of eight miles. Four-sevenths of the power of the light was lost through the thick red glazing of the lantern.
In 1869, the lantern glazing was changed to clear with ruby chimneys on the lamps to show a red light. This greatly improved the range. Recommendations were made to have two lighthouses on Cape Sable, both showing a white light. These would not only serve to distinguish this point from any other on the South Shore, but they could be arrayed as to guide the mariner clear of the dangerous shoals lying to the west of Cape Sable. In 1870 a clockwork mechanism was installed and on 15 July, the light was changed to flashing white.

On 1 July, 1902, installation of a 3rd order Fresnel lens was completed. A fog alarm building and steam-whistle came in 1876. In 1897 a 16 foot lifeboat was placed at Cape Sable. Lightkeeper Isaac Doane was coxwain, but he had no organized crew. In 1900, this was abandoned in favour of a new lifeboat stationed at Clark's Harbour, on Cape Sable Island. On its low land-base, the light was not visible far enough to seaward. In 1923/24 a new tower of reinforced concrete, 101 feet from base to vane, was constructed nearby. This is the tallest lighthouse in Nova Scotia.

In high winds, the keeper's house would lean sideways! In one direction, the doors would stick, in the other they would pop open.

When Sid Smith was keeper, he found the steam fog horn the most interesting equipment to run. Maintaining the light mechanism was hard work. The lamp was kerosene vapour in the 1950's, which meant carrying the kerosene up the light and pumping the pressure tank.

Photo - © Courtesy Sid and Betty June Smith

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The Lighthouse Today

The station was de-staffed in 1986, and was remotely monitored from Cape Forchu, Yarmouth. Currently, the light is monitored from Letete, New Brunswick. A variety of buildings and dwellings were erected over the years. They were burned down by the Coast Guard in 1988 and today, only the concrete tower remains. On July 28, 1989, the Federal Heritage Building Review Office designated the Cape Sable Light tower a Classified Building, providing it with the highest level of on-going protection.

The Cape Sable Light can be viewed from the beach at The Hawk, Cape Sable Island. It's well worth the drive out the Island to get a view of this magnificent example of a concrete tower.

Photo - © Courtesy Sid and Betty June Smith, Cape Sable Light Station before 1988

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Cape Sable Lighthouse Locator Map

Cape Sable itself is a low, sandy islet about 3 miles long, lying just offshore from Cape Sable Island at the extreme SW corner of Nova Scotia. The Mi'kmaq name for the island was "Kespoogwitik" which meant "where the land ends." As early as 1554, Portuguese cartographers called the area Beusablom, "a sandy bay." French explorer Champlain used the French version of that name, "Cap de Sable," and when New England settlers occupied the land in 1761, the name became Cape Sable.
Ledges and shoals run seaward south and west of Cape Sable for 4 1/2 miles, hazardous to all shipping from the start of exploration here. Though vessels and lives were lost, petitions for a light at Cape Sable were set aside until after the loss of the SS Hungarian on February 20, 1860, her crew, and her passengers - 205 souls.

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CAPE SABLE I - Light Details

• Location: Southern portion of Cape Sable Island
• Standing: This light is no longer standing.
• Operating: This light is no longer operating.
• Began: 1861
• Year Lit: 1861
• Structure Type: Octagonal wood tower, white
• Light Characteristic: Flashing White (1922)
• Tower Height: 050ft feet high.
• Light Height: 053ft feet above water level.

History Items for This Lighthouse

• 1861 - red glazed lantern, nineteen lamps, expensive and poor range
• 1869 - clear lantern installed, increasing range, revolving white (40s)
• 1876 - steam powered fog whistle installed - 1883 - catatropic lens
• 1902 - 3rd order Fresnel lens installed - 1922 - 3rd order Fresnel lens

CAPE SABLE II - Light Details

• Location: Southern portion of Cape Sable Island
• Standing: This light is still standing.
• Operating: This light is operational
• Automated: All operating lights in Nova Scotia are automated.
• Date Automated: Automated by 1986
• Began: 1923
• Year Lit: 1924
• Structure Type: Octagonal concrete tower, white, red lantern
• Light Characteristic: Flashing White (1992)
• Tower Height: 101ft feet high.
• Light Height: 097ft feet above water level.

History Items for This Lighthouse

• 1924 - tallest lighthouse in Nova Scotia - 1941 - 3rd order dioptric lens
• 1989 - Federal Heritage Review classified tower as a Classified Building
• note - two references refer to a light prior to 1861 (1834, 1847)
• 1990 - 1992 - 3rd order dioptric lens, mercury vapour, electric, fog signal

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Lightkeepers for Cape Sable Lighthouse

• Doane, Hervey 1861-1871
• Doane, Isaac 1871-1902
• Cunningham, Arthur H. 1902-1916
• Wise, Albert 1916-1927
• Johnson, H.L. 1927-1931
• Smith, Benjamin F. 1931-1945
• Smith, Albert 1945-1952
• Smith, B.F. 1952-1970
• Smith, Sydney F. 1970-1979
• Smith, James Reginald 1979-1984
• Casey, Francis 1984-1986
• Dugandzic, Andy XXXX