Original Robertson Point Lighthouse in 1925 Photograph courtesy Canadian Coast Guard

Grand Lake is the largest freshwater lake in New Brunswick and drains into the Saint John River through the 6.7-kilometre-long (4.1-mile-long) Jemseg River. Six lights were established along the Saint John River between Saint John and Fredericton in 1869, but the next three lights to be established in the Saint John River watershed were along the shores of Grand Lake. A light was commissioned at Cox Point in 1871, and two years later, wooden towers were placed at Robertson Point and Fanjoys Point, sites selected by John Ferns.

Charles Macpherson built wooden towers, each of which measured sixteen feet from base to the vane on the lantern room, at Fanjoys Point and Robertson Point, and the lights were placed into operation on October 1, 1873. It wasn’t uncommon for landowners to have points named after them or for landowners to be placed in charge of lighthouses built on their land, and such was the case for the lights on Grand Lake, as John Robertson and William Fanjoy were appointed keepers of the two lake lights established in 1873. (Note that early spellings of the names were Robertson's Point and Fanjoy's Point, which more clearly captured the fact that the points were named after people.)

In 1898, Charles Robertson, who was keeper of the light, cut down trees on his land that were obscuring the light from being seen up the lake. Robertson Point Light was improved in 1905 when a seventh-order lens and lamp were substituted for the reflectors and lamps previously in use.

The original Robertson Point Lighthouse has been replaced by a cylindrical tower topped by a red light.

Information on Robertson Point Lighthouse

History	Light Characteristics	Focal Height	Nominal Range	Description/Height of tower above ground
First light established here in 1873.	Red flash every 4 seconds.	12.3 m.	7 M	White, cylindrical tower. 7.5 m. (24.6’)

Keepers: John Robertson (1873 – 1874), Samuel W. Robertson (1874 – 1895), Joseph Stevens (1895), Charles M. Robertson (1896 – 1912), C. W. Dean (1912 – at least 1923).

References

1. Annual Report of the Department of Marine, various years.

From the Trans-Canada Highway, take Exit 339 and go north on Route 105 for 4.8 km (3 miles). At this point, Route 105 makes a sharp right turn, and you need to turn left onto Robertson Point Road. Follow Robertson Point Road for 1 km (0.6 miles) to its end where you will find Robertson Point Lighthouse.

The lighthouse is owned by the Canadian Coast Guard. Grounds open, tower closed.

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