Seniors club hears Medway lighthouse story

Their first station was on Beaver Island and in 1952 the couple moved to Beaver Harbour Head. There was no electricity. The Smileys had four children at that time, with only a scrub board and hand ringer to process their clothes. There was also a big oven on an oversized kitchen stove, and, of course, an outhouse. They spent seven years in that first location and left it with eight children in tow.

In 1959, the Smiley’s moved to Medway Head, where they were blessed with electricity and a fog alarm was installed, but no bathroom facility. In 1960, Earl Wentzell joined the staff of the lighthouse as assistant Lighthouse Keeper.

In 1963, the day President Kennedy was assassinated in the USA, carpenters and plumbers started drilling for a new house, and poured cement for it on October 9, 1964.

The family moved into the new house in February, 1965. On April 10, 1966, Department of Transport workers installed a tower on the property. On February 16, 1975, CHNS Radio station personnel interviewed the Smiley family and took some photographs.

In March 1975, a team from Radio station CJCH Halifax, and also QCTW Toronto took photographs, talked with the children and made a film called “Kids Stuff.”

December 28, 1981 - Eaglevision Films, Toronto also took some film and interviewed the children. In 1980, the lighthouse was sold to Alden Wamboldt, Mass, USA. In 1981, the tower that is presently on site, and holds the fog alarm and light, was erected.

Lighthouse Keepers at Port Medway through the years were:

Elson Perry 1850 – 1892

Israel Foster 1892 – 1908

Will Atkins 1908 – 1910

Jonas Whynot 1910 – 1934

Stanley Hubley 1934 – 1956

Russell Hynick 1956 – 1959

Douglas Smiley 1959 – 1987

Memorial To Lighthouse Keepers

Port Medway

I thank god for the Lighthouse

I owe my life to him

King Jesus is the Lighthouse

And from the rocks of sin

He has shown his light around me

That I might clearly see

If it wasn’t for the Lighthouse

Where would this ship be?