First Annual Head Harbour Day

03/10/05 8:57 AM

1-800-758-1444

First Annual Head Harbour Day

The Friends of Canada’s Head Harbour Lighthouse (a/k/a East Quoddy Lighthouse) recently hosted their first annual Lighthouse Day in honor of what is truly one of the most picturesque lighthouses in North America.

The newly formed group is hoping to draw more public attention to their proposals that the historic lighthouse, no longer used by the Canadian Coast Guard, be preserved as a tourist attraction.

The lighthouse is located on Campobello Island just over the border from Lubec, Maine. It is estimated that about 120,000 people a year visit former President Franklin Roosevelt’s summer home at the International Park on the island, and many more of those people could and should be visiting the lighthouse. It is also noted that the large numbers of people that do visit the lighthouse site do so with little or no promotion.

With the exception of the boathouse, which has fallen into ruin, the rest of the station is structurally sound; however it will need a lot of upgrading to open the site for the public. The costs are estimated to be in the area of $350,000 and much more if bridges are built to make access much easier.

The first event raised $2000 which is extremely good for that area. Representatives were on hand from the Canadian government and other Canadian lighthouse groups. The boat parade for the event was led by the Canadian Coast Guard Cutter Partridge Island which blew water in the air to give the rainbow effect. Then there was an impromptu boat race back to Head Harbour, which will be an official part of next year’s festivities.

If you would like to help out, join the group or simply make a donation, you can e-mail Gordon Phillips, Treasurer

The Friends of Head Harbour Lighthouse at gordyp@campnet.nb.ca

This story appeared in the November 2000 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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