Description of Historic Place
The Cape Jourimain Lighthouse is a tapered, octagonal wood-frame tower that was built in 1869. It measures 15.5 metres (51 feet) and is located at the narrowest section of the Northumberland Strait. The lighthouse sits within the Cape Jourimain Nature Centre in Westmorland County, New Brunswick.
Heritage Value
The Cape Jourimain Lighthouse is a heritage lighthouse because of its historical, architectural, and community values.
Historical values
The Cape Jourimain Lighthouse is an excellent example of the efforts by the federal government to render marine navigation safer. In 1869, just two years after Confederation, the government set out to build a cordon of lights along the coasts of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. A lighthouse was erected at Cape Jourimain because the surrounding waters are shallow and contain rocky shoals. As the number of shipwrecks rose, the government responded by building a series of lighthouses to guide ships safely through the Strait.
The Cape Jourimain Lighthouse is closely linked to the development of the Atlantic fishery, as well as to the growth of other commercial marine concerns in the Northumberland Strait. The Strait, in the late 19th century, was used by a variety of vessels, including fishing boats, commercial vessels, and the Cape Tormentine-Port Borden ferry service. From its construction on, the lighthouse played a vital role in helping ships navigate through the Northumberland Strait.
Architectural values
The Cape Jourimain Lighthouse is an excellent example of a classically-inspired lighthouse, which is illustrated by the tower’s elongated and bracketed cornice, its use of belt courses and crown trims, and its prominent gallery guardrail. The elegantly tapered tower and its classically-inspired architectural details come together to make the Cape Jourimain Lighthouse a striking and elegant structure.
The wood-tapered, octagonal design of the Cape Jourimain Lighthouse was an excellent choice for its location. The tower is constructed of wood; an inexpensive, durable, and commonly found material. For these reasons, the majority of lighthouses built on Canada’s eastern coast in the late-19th century were made of wood.
Community values
The Cape Jourimain Lighthouse establishes the maritime and historic character of the surrounding area. Located just off the coast of New Brunswick and within the Cape Jourimain Nature Centre, the lighthouse is highly visible from the Confederation Bridge that connects Prince Edward Island to the mainland. The Cape Jourimain Lighthouse fits comfortably in its setting along the shoreline and among the native grasses that grow in the flat, open terrain.
The Cape Jourimain Lighthouse is held in very high esteem by people in nearby communities and it is a symbol of the region.
Related buildings
No related buildings.
Character-Defining Elements
The following character-defining elements of the Cape Jourimain Lighthouse should be respected:
— its prominent location as a coastal light in the Northumberland Strait;
— its intact, as-built structural form, height, and balanced proportions;
— its distinctive profile, consisting of an octagonal, tapered, wooden tower;
— its steel, ten-sided lantern topped by a hipped roof and "mushroom" type vent cap;
— its octagonal gallery and wooden railing;
— its elongated, bracketed cornice that supports the gallery;
— its three vertically-aligned wooden-sash windows on the seaward elevation, and one window placed on the opposite façade;
— its pedimented, wooden door;
— its shingle cladding;
— its interior, which includes exposed heavy-timber framing as well as a central stair that gives access to the lantern;
— its traditional colour scheme, consisting of white for the tower and gallery, and red for the lantern; and,
— its visual prominence in relation to the water and landscape.
