Lighthouse Near Collapse

01/26/04 10:34 PM

1-800-758-1444

Canadian Coast Guard wants to demolish it!

The Coffin Island Lighthouse located near Liverpool, Nova Scotia, in Canada is in extreme danger of collapsing. The Canadian Coast Guard wants to tear the tower down for safety reasons and replace it with a lighted buoy. A local group, Coffin Island Lighthouse Heritage Society, has been formed to try to a last ditch effort to save the lighthouse.

The Coffin Island group has asked the Canadian Coast Guard for a temporary reprieve while it tries to figure out a way to save the lighthouse where it stands. Coast Guard officials are skeptical and do not believe the lighthouse can be saved where it stands. Money is a factor. The Coast Guard says it will cost more than $100,000 to save the lighthouse where it stands but would only cost $20,000 to tear it down, a savings of $80,000. However, the Coast Guard has also indicated that they might consider moving it to a location on the mainland as a historic monument.

The first lighthouse at this site was established in 1812, making Coffin Island the fifth oldest light station in Nova Scotia. The current concrete tower was built in 1914 to replace the original and automated in 1961.

If you are interested in more information on how you can help save the lighthouse (sending a donation is the best way) write to, Coffin Island Lighthouse Heritage Society, Attn: Ken Wilkinson, P.O. Box 223, Brooklyn, Nova Scotia, B0T 1H0, Canada.

This story appeared in the October 1998 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

All contents copyright © 1995 - 2004 by Lighthouse Digest®, Inc. No story, photograph, or any other item on this website may be reprinted or reproduced without the express permission of Lighthouse Digest. For contact information, click here.