Cape St. Mary's Lighthouse Postcard

Located at the southwest tip of the Avalon Peninsula, Cape St. Mary’s is surrounded by what were once some of the richest fishing grounds in the world. In 1858, Assemblyman George Hogsett called for the appointment of a committee to enquire into the advantages that would result from a lighthouse at Cape St. Mary’s. Hogsett was appointed chairman of the committee that took testimony on the matter and determined,“there is no point on this Island more needing the erection of a Light House than Cape St. Mary's.” Cape St. Mary’s light, which consisted of twelve lamps and an equal number of lenses and reflectors and revolved to alternately produce a brilliant white and red light every minute, was lit for the first time on September 20, 1860. In 1926, the original lighting apparatus was replaced “by one of the most modern Kerosene lights,” and the light’s characteristic was changed to a group of three white flashes every thirty seconds. During the mid-1950s, the iron tower, rusted beyond repair, was encased in reinforced concrete, which gave the tower its current octagonal shape. The light was changed from kerosene to electricity in 1966, and in 2010, a directional coded beacon mounted inside the tower’s modern aluminium lantern room was producing a white flash every five seconds. Resource: Lighthouse friends.com If you like this artwork, please visit: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/cape-st-marys-lighthouse-zinvolle-art.html