Cape Spear

Cape Spear
Cape Spear
	Location of Cape Spear in NewfoundlandShow map of NewfoundlandShow map of CanadaShow map of North AmericaShow all
Location	Newfoundland, Canada
Coordinates	47°31′25″N 52°37′10″W / 47.52361°N 52.61944°W
Elevation	75 metres (246 ft)
Current light
Constructed	1955
Construction	concrete
Tower height	13.7 m (45 ft)
Markings	white (tower), white (lantern), red (railing)
Operator	Parks Canada
Heritage	recognized federal heritage building of Canada
Focal height	71 m (233 ft)
Range	20 nmi (37 km; 23 mi)
Characteristic	Fl(3) W 15s
NGA no.	110-1868
Admiralty no.	H0454
CCG no.	507
ARLHS no.	CAN148
Original light
Constructed	1836
Construction	limestone
Markings	white (tower), white (lantern), red and white (dome)
Heritage	national historic site of Canada, classified federal heritage building of Canada, heritage lighthouse
Deactivated	1955
CCG no.	507
ARLHS no.	CAN748

Cape Spear (French: Cap d'Espoir) is a headland located on the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland near St. John's in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. At a longitude of 52°37' W, it is the easternmost point in Canada and North America, excluding Greenland.^[1]

Cape Spear is within the municipal boundaries of the city of St. John's, located about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from downtown St. John's.^[3]

The Portuguese named this location Cabo da Esperança, meaning "cape of hope", which became Cap d'Espoir in French and finally "Cape Spear".

Cape Spear is the trailhead/trail end for two components of the East Coast Trail.^[4]

History[]

The Cape Spear region was originally inhabited by Beothuk peoples.^[5] Additionally, Mi'kmaq communities practiced a non-sedentary presence in the area,^[5]^[6] harvesting subsistence resources on a temporary basis prior to permanent residency at settlements such as St. George's Bay and Conne River from the nineteenth century onwards.^[6] In contrast to European settlers who viewed the cape as a place of significance as the easternmost point in Canada, there is no known archaeological evidence to indicate that Cape Spear was viewed by local Indigenous communities as a place of symbolic geographical importance.^[5] According to Fife and Roseman, historically there are "no indications that either the Beothuk or the Mi'kmaq equated Cape Spear with a 'land's end' that was meaningful to them."^[5]

World War II[]

World War II battery

Because of its proximity to convoy routes during the Second World War, a Canadian-manned gun battery including two Lend-Lease ex-US 10-inch M1888 guns on disappearing carriages was installed at Cape Spear to defend the entrance to St. John's harbor. Barracks and underground passages leading to the bunkers were built for the use of troops stationed there. The gun barrels remain in place.^[7]^[8] The bunkers and gun barrels that are located at the site afford a sheltered view of the ocean.

Lighthouses[]

A lighthouse has operated at Cape Spear since September 1836. The original Cape Spear lighthouse was the second lighthouse built in Newfoundland; the first was built in 1810 at Fort Amherst, at the entrance to St. John's Harbour. In 1832, the first legislative assembly for the colony created a lighthouse board. Cape Spear was chosen as the site for a new lighthouse because it was on the rocky eastern coast near the entrance to St. John's harbor.

Nicholas Croke and William Parker, two St. John's builders, won the contract for the lighthouse and work began in 1834 or early in 1835.^[9] The first lighthouse was a square wooden building with a tower in the middle containing the light. A foghorn was added in 1878. The first light used at Cape Spear had already been used since 1815 at a lighthouse on Inchkeith on the east coast of Scotland. The original light used seven Argand burners and curved reflectors. This was later replaced by a dioptric lens system; the light was first lit by oil, then acetylene, and finally electricity in 1930.

A new concrete lighthouse was built in 1955, and the original light was moved to the new building.^[3]

Lightkeepers[]

In 1835, dense fog enveloped an approaching warship carrying a VIP visitor to St. John's. The Governor sent out several pilot boats, and a young harbour pilot names James Cantwell succeeded in locating the ship and guiding it safely into harbour. Asked what reward he would like, he requested the job of keeper at the Cape Spear lighthouse, then under construction. It had been promised to another man, Emmanuel Warre, but when Warre died ten years later Cantwell became the second keeper. He served for 35 years; his son Dennis, who had been his assistant, later took over and, with two intermissions, the Cantwell family kept the Cape Spear light for over 150 years.^[10]

List of Keepers^[11]
Name	Years
Emanuel Warre	1836–1846
James Cantwell	1846–1879
Austin Oke Sheppard	1880–1886
Dennis Cantwell	1886–1909
James Cantwell	1909–1918
William Cantwell	1918–1925
Jack Cantwell	1925–1939
Weston Cantwell	1939–1944
Frank Cantwell	1944–1965
Martin Hefferan	1965–1982
Gerald Cantwell	1982–1997

National Historic Site[]

The original Cape Spear lighthouse is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Newfoundland and the location has been designated a National Historic Site of Canada.^[12] The original lighthouse building and the lightkeeper's residence have been restored to the period of 1839, and are open to the public. The visitor centre includes a gift shop. The lighthouse was designated under the federal Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act in June 2016.^[13]

Some visitors attracted by the scenery and history have been swept away by the large and unpredictable waves at Cape Spear, prompting Parks Canada to post numerous warning signs in the area.

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Staveley, Michael (February 6, 2006). "Cape Spear". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Southeast Newfoundland". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site". Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
^ Brown, David; Findlay, Arthur (2008). 501 Must-Take Journeys. Octopus Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-7537-1592-5.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d Fife, Wayne; Roseman, Sharon R. "Where North America Ends," The Tourism Imaginary and Pilgrimages to the Edges of the World. Tourism and Cultural Change, vol. 44. Channel View Publications, 2015. Web. p.143-144. Retrieved from Google Books; March 12, 2017. ISBN 9781845415235
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Martijn, Charles A. "Early Mikmaq Presence in Southern Newfoundland: An Ethnohistorical Perspective, c.1500-1763." Vol. 19, No 1: The New Early Modern Newfoundland: Part 2, Newfoundland and Labrador Studies. St. John's, Newfoundland: Memorial University, 2003. Web. n. pag. Retrieved March 12, 2017. ISSN [https://www.worldcat.org/search?fq=x0:jrnl&q=n2:1715-1430 1715-1430]
^ Berhow, Mark A., Ed. (2015). American Seacoast Defenses, A Reference Guide, Third Edition. McLean, Virginia: CDSG Press. p. 225. ISBN 978-0-9748167-3-9.
^ US coast defences in Newfoundland at the Coast Defense Study Group website
^ "Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site of Canada". Parks Canada. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
^ Molloy, David (1994). The First Landfall - Historic Lighthouses of Newfoundland and Labrador. Breakwater. p. 53. ISBN 1550810960.
^ Cape Spear Lighthouse Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Lighthouse Friends
^ Cape Spear Lighthouse. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
^ "Cape Spear Lighthouse Receives Heritage Lighthouse Designation". News, Government of Canada. Government of Canada. June 30, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2017. Cape Spear Lighthouse is one of 76 lighthouses from across Canada to be designated since the Act was adopted in 2008, with more designations to come.

External links[]

Parks Canada site
Aids to Navigation Canadian Coast Guard

Coordinates: 47°31′25″N 52°37′10″W / 47.52361°N 52.61944°W / 47.52361; -52.61944

[staveley-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b Staveley, Michael (February 6, 2006). "Cape Spear". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 21, 2019.

[2] Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Southeast Newfoundland". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved December 30, 2015.

[tourism-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site". Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism. Retrieved August 21, 2019.

[4] Brown, David; Findlay, Arthur (2008). 501 Must-Take Journeys. Octopus Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-7537-1592-5.

[Fife-Roseman-5] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d Fife, Wayne; Roseman, Sharon R. "Where North America Ends," The Tourism Imaginary and Pilgrimages to the Edges of the World. Tourism and Cultural Change, vol. 44. Channel View Publications, 2015. Web. p.143-144. Retrieved from Google Books; March 12, 2017. ISBN 9781845415235

[Martijn-6] Jump up to: ^a ^b Martijn, Charles A. "Early Mikmaq Presence in Southern Newfoundland: An Ethnohistorical Perspective, c.1500-1763." Vol. 19, No 1: The New Early Modern Newfoundland: Part 2, Newfoundland and Labrador Studies. St. John's, Newfoundland: Memorial University, 2003. Web. n. pag. Retrieved March 12, 2017. ISSN [https://www.worldcat.org/search?fq=x0:jrnl&q=n2:1715-1430 1715-1430]

[7] Berhow, Mark A., Ed. (2015). American Seacoast Defenses, A Reference Guide, Third Edition. McLean, Virginia: CDSG Press. p. 225. ISBN 978-0-9748167-3-9.

[8] US coast defences in Newfoundland at the Coast Defense Study Group website

[9] "Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site of Canada". Parks Canada. Retrieved June 26, 2014.

[10] Molloy, David (1994). The First Landfall - Historic Lighthouses of Newfoundland and Labrador. Breakwater. p. 53. ISBN 1550810960.

[11] Cape Spear Lighthouse Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Lighthouse Friends

[12] Cape Spear Lighthouse. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved July 1, 2012.

[13] "Cape Spear Lighthouse Receives Heritage Lighthouse Designation". News, Government of Canada. Government of Canada. June 30, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2017. Cape Spear Lighthouse is one of 76 lighthouses from across Canada to be designated since the Act was adopted in 2008, with more designations to come.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

show v t City of St. John's
Government	Mayors City Council
Geography	Bannerman Park Bowring Park Buildings Cape Spear George Street Grand Concourse Memorial University National War Memorial Neighbourhoods Pippy Park Quidi Vidi Lake Rawlins Cross Signal Hill Tallest buildings Water Street
Sports	Bally Haly Golf & Curling Club King George V Park Memorial Stadium Mile One Centre Newfoundland Growlers Royal St. John's Regatta Swilers Rugby Park St. Patrick's Park
Culture	Architecture Arts and Culture Centre People LSPU Hall Nickel Film Festival
Transportation	Metrobus St. John's International Airport Newfoundland Railway
Category

show v t National Historic Sites of Canada by location
Provinces	Alberta British Columbia Manitoba New Brunswick Newfoundland and Labrador Nova Scotia Ontario Hamilton Kingston Niagara Ottawa Toronto Prince Edward Island Quebec Montreal Quebec City Saskatchewan
Territories	Northwest Territories Nunavut Yukon
Other countries	France
Category History portal Canada portal WikiProject

show v t Protected areas of Newfoundland and Labrador
CRHP St. John's Avalon Peninsula Labrador Western Newfoundland Central Newfoundland Bonavista Bay
National parks	Gros Morne Mealy Mountains Terra Nova Torngat Mountains
National historic sites	Cape Spear Lighthouse Castle Hill Hawthorne Cottage L'Anse aux Meadows Port au Choix Ryan Premises Signal Hill more...
Provincial parks	Barachois Pond Blow Me Down Butter Pot Chance Cove Dildo Run Frenchman's Cove J.T. Cheeseman La Manche Newfoundland T'Railway The Arches more...
Wilderness & Ecological Reserves	Baccalieu Island Bay du Nord Burnt Cape Cape St. Mary's Funk Island Gannet Islands Mistaken Point Witless Bay more...
Category St. John's geography Commons

show v t Lighthouses of Canada
British Columbia	Amphitrite Point Ballenas Island Boat Bluff Brockton Point Cape Beale Cape Mudge Cape Scott Carmanah Point Chrome Island Discovery Island Entrance Island Estevan Point Fisgard Langara Pachena Point Point Atkinson Race Rocks Sheringham Point Trial Islands Triple Island
Manitoba	George Island Warren Landing Lower Range Warren Landing Upper Range
New Brunswick	Beaver Harbour Belyea's Point Bouctouche Cape Enrage Cape Spencer Cape Tormentine Caraquet Caraquet Island Cocagne Dalhousie Island Fort Monckton Gagetown Gannet Rock Grand Harbour Lighthouse Leonardville Long Eddy Point Long Point Machias Seal Island Maisonnette Point Miscou Island Musquash Head Petit-Rocher Point Escuminac Point Lepreau Quaco Head Richibucto Head St. Andrews North Point Shediac Harbour Range Rear Swallowtail
Newfoundland and Labrador	Baccalieu Island Balcalhoa Island Bay Bulls Bell Island Belle Isle Northeast Brigus Burnt Islands Cape Anguille Cape Bonavista Cape Norman Cape North Cape Pine Cape Race Cape Ray Cape Spear Cape St. Francis Channel Head Conche Cow Head Dawson Point Ferryland Head Flower's Cove Fortune Bay Fox Point Garnish Grand Bank Hant's Harbour Heart's Content King's Cove Lark Harbour Lobster Cove Long Point Rose Blanche New Férolle Peninsula Offer Wadham Point Amour Point Riche Port de Grave Puffin island Random Head Cape St. Mary's Westport Cove Woody Point
Nova Scotia	Balache Point Cape d'Or Cape Forchu Devils Island Fort Point Georges Island Grandique Point Kidston Island Louisbourg Low Point Peggys Point Point Prim Sambro Island Schafner Point Seal Island
Ontario	Battle Island Bois Blanc Island Caribou Island Chantry Island Colchester Reef Cove Island Gibraltar Point Gros Cap Reefs Ile Parisienne Kincardine Lion's Head Mimico Cruising Club Point Abino Point Clark Port Burwell Queen's Wharf Toronto Harbour Windmill Point
Prince Edward Island	Annandale Range Big Tignish Brighton Beach Cape Tryon Cascumpeque Haszard Point Leards Range Little Channel Range Malpeque Harbour Malpeque Outer Range Miminegash Range Murray Harbour North Cape North Rustico Harbour Northport Range Point Prim Seacow Head St. Peters Harbour Summerside Outer Range Warren Cove Range Wood Islands Wrights Range
Quebec	Cap-des-Rosiers Île-Verte Pointe-au-Père
Canada portal