Shining summer underway at Yarmouth Light

Manager Denise Nickerson is tickled pink at the work underway. Last fall the Yarmouth Light received a total of $364,000 in funding from ACOA, the Municipality of Yarmouth and Friends of the Yarmouth Light Society.

“It’s just like Christmas,” said Nickerson as she watched the entrance sign being secured.

A portion of the funds will be directed towards the painting of the lighthouse and the tower.

Repaving the driveway and work on the lower parking lot is also planned, though not necessarily for this year.

Engineers are working on ensuring that the drainage and the power of the water during storms do not wash away or damage the new work on the rocky site.

Nickerson is especially pleased with the four, 3 x 5 feet interpretive panels, designed by Sperry Design of Dartmouth.

Three of the panels will be installed on the look offs. The 4th panel will face Yarmouth Harbour.

The signs present a wide range of information on several subjects:

‘In Dire Need of a Lighthouse - past and present’ talks about the town of Yarmouth being a prosperous fishing and shipbuilding centre, the dynamics of the first lighthouse, the current lightkeepers [The Friends of the Yarmouth Light Society] and includes a aerial view of the light.

‘Cape Forchu’s Guiding Light’ includes the history of the lightkeepers and life as a lightkeeper.

‘A Diverse Fishery’ – describes life on the Bar, dumping day, the different catches, and the Cape Islander boat.

‘The Power of the Sea’ – portrays weathering the climate at Cape Forchu, storm surges and shipwrecks.

The Cape Forchu Lightstation operates on donations, memberships, tearoom sales, consignment gift shop sales of handcrafts by local people, and volunteers.

“This much needed work to enhance the site could not have happened without this funding. Both the Friends and myself are excited and overjoyed about these projects,” said Nickerson.