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Cape Tryon, PE |
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Description:
Cape Tryon, located 2.4 km (1.5 miles) northwest of New London Harbour, is a remarkable red sandstone cliff with a height of 33.5 metres (110 feet). From this lofty perch, the Cape Tryon Lighthouse guides mariners along the northern coast of Prince Edward Island between Richmond Bay and New London, warning of the shallow water that extends out a considerable distance from shore.
The first Cape Tryon Lighthouse was put into operation on the opening of navigation in 1905 and stood on ground 15.2 metres (50 feet) back from the edge of the cliff. B. D. Huntley of Vernon River Bridge was awarded a $1,590 contract to construct the lighthouse, which consisted of a rectangular, wooden dwelling, painted white, with an octagonal, red iron lantern mounted on the north end of its gambrel roof. The lighthouse stood 11.3 metres (37 feet) tall from its base to the ventilator on the lantern, and its first beacon was a temporary seventh-order white light, visible for sixteen miles from all points of approach. In 1906 the temporary lens was replaced with a fourth-order Fresnel lens manufactured in Paris, France by Barbier, Benard & Turenne. The lens had four lenticular panels and completed one revolution in twenty seconds producing a 0.638-second flash every five seconds. The illuminant was petroleum vapor burned under a mantle. Captain William Bell from French River was the first keeper of the Cape Tryon Lighthouse, serving from 1905 until his passing in 1915. The lantern deck was recanvassed and the flashing around the lantern base renewed in 1928. An unused chimney was also taken down at that time, the resulting hole boarded over, and leaks in the roof and plaster in the dwelling were repaired. James Graham was hired as a temporary keeper in 1936 but resigned in early 1937 only to return as a permanent keeper later that year after William Brander was relieved of duty. Keeper Graham took a leave of absence in September, 1942 to join the armed forces and returned as keeper in 1948. Arthur Paynter kept the light from 1953 until it was automated in 1962. The original Cape Tryon Lighthouse was replaced by the present square pyramidal tower in 1967 and relocated to serve as a private residence. The current tower at Cape Tryon stands 12.4 metres (40.7 feet) tall, has a focal plane of 33.4 metres (110 feet), and exhibits a two-second flash every six seconds. Keepers: William Bell (Mar. 17, 1905 – 1915), J. Adams (1915 – 1927 ), Frank Pidgeon (1927 – 1936), James Garnet Graham (1936 – 1942, 1948 – 1952), William Brander (1937), Arthur Lea Pidgeon (1942 – 1945), John L. Graham (1946 – 1948), Arthur Elwood Paynter (1953 – 1962). References
Purchase prints and gifts featuring photographs on this page Location: Located on Cape Tyron, just north of French River. Latitude: 46.53393 Longitude: -63.50606 For a larger map of Cape Tryon Lighthouse, click the lighthouse in the above map or get a map from: Mapquest. Travel Instructions: From Highway 6 in New London at the Lucy Maud Montgomery Birthplace, go north on Highway 20 for 6.9km (4.3 miles) and then turn right on River Road (Route 263). Follow River Road until it ends, then turn left onto Cape Road. After 1.0km (0.6 miles) there will be a dirt road (Cape Tryon Road) on your right. The Cape Tyron Lighthouse is located at the end of this private dirt road. The lighthouse is owned by the Canadian Coast Guard. Grounds open, tower closed. Find the closest hotels to Cape Tryon Lighthouse See our List of Lighthouses in Prince Edward Island Canada |
