East Point foghorn building saved from cliff's edge Structure moved 200 yards back from eroding bank
NANCY WILLIS The Guardian
Harry Harris, the last keeper of the East Point Light and foghorn warning system, and Friends of Elmira member Valerie Flannery were delighted Wednesday when the 100-year-old foghorn building was saved from soon falling over the cliff into the ocean. The building was moved back approximately 200 yards from its original site. Guardian photo by Nancy Willis
EAST POINT — The 100-year-old foghorn building that sits on the cliff in front of the East Point Light was saved by the Friends of Elmira Wednesday when it was lifted off its foundation and moved 200 yards back out of harm’s way.
The cliff in front of the building had eroded so much that only a foot remained between the bank and the southeastern corner of the foundation wall.
Valerie Flannery, who is with the Friends of Elmira, said it was a major goal to have the historic building moved in order to preserve the site for the community and for the 30,000 to 50,000 visitors that come to East Point each year.
The foghorn building was built in 1908. At that time, at least 200 feet stood between the building and the bank.
“The amount of erosion has been phenomenal,” said Flannery.
Harry Harris was the last keeper of the East Point Light. He came there in the 1940s and retired in 1989.
He kept the beacon burning brightly and the foghorn engines always ready to go.
The original foghorn was steam- powered by large boilers all housed within the building.
In 1937 they were switched to gasoline, and that was followed by the installation of a direction finding radio and communication system for station VGD soon after.
Harris ran that system for close to 50 years.
When he retired, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans downsized and removed the powerful type F diaphone horn and electronic horns with automatic fog detectors were installed.
But the electronic horn wasn’t as good.
Harris said the old diaphone was the loudest horn in the coast guard and the 55-milometer beacon atop the East Point Light was the brightest in the agency’s inventory all across Canada.
“This is a very important reef and at that time it was treated so,” he said.
Harris’ pride in the place was apparent. He kept the floors and walls shining and polished the brass every week until it gleamed.
“I used to take my shoes off when I went up the stairs of the lighthouse and I dreaded a rainy day because of the red mud that would track in,” he said.
He also kept track of the radio every hour and had the fog engines shining like the rest of the site.
Saving the old building was no easy task for the Friends of Elmira.
The project was spearheaded by chairman Garry MacDonald. The cost of the move will end up somewhere between $60,000 and $70,000.
The money was raised from lighthouse tours and outside funding sources.
“We were determined to save it, because it is still officially owned by the federal government, but it has no value to them and they would have just torn it
down,” said Flannery.
The project was carried out by P and D Construction of Charlottetown, which was one of the few contractors willing and able to do it without having access to the back of the building.
Once situated work will begin on the inside and the group hopes to have the craft shop and a new coffee shop/tearoom operating by next spring.
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frank displaced islander from toronto, ont writes: Good News.
Hats off to Valerie Flannery,Garry MacDonald,Harry Harris,And P and D Construction..
Maybe the old sight could be used for the new Montague High School!!!!!
Frank..
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Mark from PEI writes: Great save! This should keep it safe for another 300 years at the same rate of erosion. How is the lighthouse faring? This type of move may need to be done in other locations as similar concerns exist. While the lighthouses navigation role has diminished with technology they certainly have both historic and tourism value.
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Heritage Minded from PEI writes: How WONDERFUL!
This is a really worthwhile endeavour ...and I hope others with heritage buildings in jeopardy will be inspired...
I feel we need to save as many examples of our built heritage as is possible..
Thanks for the story, thanks to all the concerned folks who make things like this actually HAPPEN!
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kristin from pei writes: i worked there for a few summers. the number of people who asked when the building would be moved was EXPONENTIAL.
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Tuna Cowboy from PEI writes: Atta boy Grammpy! Looking good. Spent alot time in that building as a kid....we always thought the attic was haunted..ha.
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Reginald MacIntyre from Nepean, Ontario writes: Congratulations to those responsible for saving this landmark building. My grandfather, Angus MacIntyre, was lightkeeper from 1912 to 1926. I have many happy memories of time spent at East Point.
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Barry MacDonald from Seaforth, NS writes: Congratulations!! I have been involved in efforts to secure Federal legislation to protect our lighthouses (Bill S-215). Efforts like this are the examples we need, to show the Federal bureaucrats just how seriously we take our lighthouse heritage. Best of luck with your future plans.
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