List of Lights
My grandfather, Captain Alfred John Sinclair, spent many years coasting Newfoundland and Labrador as a fishing captain, as a trading captain, and as captain of a Government cutter. He amazed me as a child with his memory of all the lights around the coast and their flashes which he would rhyme off in a song-like cadence. Where, in the 1892 directory and handbook the lights are described as "11 seconds light and 9 seconds dark"; my grandfather's memnonic called it "11 seconds white and 9 seconds black". Shaded cells were lights operated by the Canadian government. Most lights listed included the name of the keeper. Some were considered communities and are included in Where Once They Stood. Others were close to communities and considered part of them.
Details about the types of light are omitted here. To see a brief description of the various types click here. Try these sites for more detailed information about Newfoundland and Labrador lighthouses Newfoundland Lighthouse Society and Canadian Coast Guard
| Place | Lat. North | Long. West | Date Lit | Description of Light | Height (ft. asl) | Miles visible | Arc of view | Description of Building |
| Gull Island (Cape John) | 49°59'54" | 55°21'33" | 1884 | Intermittent White; 11 seconds light; 9 seconds dark | 525 | 26 | 360 | Iron tower painted Red and White vertically four stripes of each colour; Keeper's house painted White, 112 feet distant W. by N. |
| Long Point (Toulingate) | 49°41'23" | 54°47'34" | 1876 | Revolving White; greatest brilliancy every 30 seconds | 331 | 21 | All Seaward | Light tower painted Red, square on lower part, changing to octagon and finished by a circular drum gallery and lantern; Keeper's house square (vertical parts White, roof Red), distant 25 ft. from Tower. |
| Wharf light (Toulingate) | 1885 | Fixed Red | ||||||
| Cann Island (Seldom-Come-By) | 49°25'05" | 54°10'35" | 1874 | Fixed White | 85 | 10½ | 270 | Building wood, Light Tower rising from gable of house, vertical parts painted White, roof Red. |
| Penguin Island, 9 mi. S.W. mag. from Offer Wadham Island Light | 49°26'55" | 53°48'00" | 1890 | Fixed White | 62 | 9 | 360 | A circular Iron Tower and Keeper's dwelling (wood); house and tower painted Red and White, alternately, in vertical stripes; House attached to Tower on its Eastern Side. |
| Offer Wadham Island | 49°35'35" | 53°45'12" | 1858 | Revolving White; flashes White every 30 seconds | 100 | 11½ | 360 | Round Red Brick Tower; Keeper's dwelling wood, (vertical parts White; roof Red), 30 feet from Tower. |
| Cabot (Stinking) Island, Bonavista Bay | 49°10'26" | 53°21'21" | 1880 | Intermittent White; 11 seconds light; 9 seconds dark | 74 | 10 | 360 | Iron Light Tower in centre of square wood building; roofs flat; sides banded horizontally; Red & White alternately. |
| Puffin Island (Greenspond) | 49°03'37" | 55°32'37" | 1873 | Fixed Red | 85 | 10½ | 270 | Buildings granite, roofed with slate; Light Tower at one corner. |
| Denier Island | 49°31'05" | 53°34'05" | 1888 | Revolving White; single flashes at 30 seconds | 298 | 19 | 360 | Iron Light Tower and a Keeper's dwelling (wood) 17ft. 6 in. apart. House and Tower painted Red and White alternately in vertical stripes. |
| Cape Bonavista | 48°42'01" | 53°04'35" | 1843 | Revolving alternate white and red at intervals of 90 seconds | 150 | 15 | All Seaward | Square Wood Lighthouse, painted Red and White in alternate vertical stripes; Lantern in centre of roof. |
| Green Island (Catalina) | 48°30'15" | 53°02'20" | 1857 | Fixed White | 92 | 11 | 202½ | Wooden House, painted White, from centre of which rises the lantern. |
| Fort Point (Trinity) | 48°21'55" | 53°20'51" | 1874 | Fixed White | 75 | 10 | 320 | Wooden Tower, painted White. |
| Hant's Hr. (Trinity Bay) | 48°01'07" | 53°15'07" | 1881 | Fixed White | 65 | 9 | All Seaward | Octagonal Tower, painted White, small store at rear. |
| Baccalieu Island | 48°08'58" | 52°47'32" | 1859 | Revolving White light, shewing a flash every 20 seconds. Note:-The light is often obscured by fog when lower part of the Island is clear. | 443 | 24 | 360 | Round Red Brick Tower. Keeper's dwelling detached square White building with Red roof. Building situated on Northern point of the Island. The Southern end of Island obscures the light for 8 miles when bearing N.N.E.½E. |
| Carbonear Island | 47°44'24" | 53°09'22" | 1878 | Fixed White | 195 | 16 | 360 | Buildings Wood; light Tower rising from the gable of the House; (vertical parts White, roof Red). |
| Harbour Grace Island | 47°42'45" | 53°08'11" | 1836 | Revolving, shewing 2 White flashes, followed by 1 Red flash, each attaining greatest brilliancy in 30 seconds | 151 | 15 | 360 | Square Wood House, (sides painted White, roof Red), from centre of which rises the lantern. |
| Har. Grace Har. Light | 47°41'27" | 52°12'33" | 1850 | Fixed White | 40 | 7½ | Hexagonal Wood Tower, painted White. | |
| Green Point (Bay Roberts) | 47°36'40" | 53°10'15" | 1883 | Fixed White. Immediately beneath the principal White light is a projecting lantern in which three lamps are placed; the two outer ones will shew White, and the centre one, in a line with the Southern Rocks, N.E.½E., (mag.), from the Tower, will shew Red. | 56 | 8½ | All Seaward | Round Iron Tower, painted with 2 Red and 3 White horizontal bands. Store in the rear, painted White. |
| Brigus, North Head | 47°32'54" | 53°10'35" | 1885 | Fixed Red | 113 | 12 | Round Iron Tower, painted Red and White vertical stripes (3 of each). House also painted Red and White vertical stripes. | |
| Cape St. Francis | 47°48'30" | 52°47'10" | 1877 | Fixed Red | 123 | 12 | Buildings of Wood, painted White, roof flat. On the higher roof is the lantern elevated above it on a square block. The lower building is the Fog Alarm house. | |
| Fort Amherst | 47°33'47" | 52°40'20" | 1813 | Fixed White | 104½ | 12 | Seaward between W.S.W. & N.N.E. | Stone. Whitewashed; Lantern on roof. |
| St. John's (1) Leading Light | Red | 76½ | Light in q Drum, (painted White) on roof of Custom House. | |||||
| St. John's (2) Leading Light | Red. Keeping the lights and discs in line, bearing N.W. ¾W., will clear all dangers. | 174½ | This light is 400 yards in the rear of the lower one. It is in a small octagonal Tower, painted White, with conical roof, one side of which is painted White, as is also a disc that surmounts the roof. The line connecting this and the above signal shews the middle of the channel. | |||||
| Cape Spear | 47°41'11" | 52°36'39" | 1835 | Revolving White; greatest brilliancy every minute. | 264 | 22 | All Seaward | House White. Roof banded Red and White horizontally; the lantern rises from the centre. |
| Ferryland Head | 47°00'58" | 52°51'07" | 1871 | Fixed White | 200 | 16 | All Seaward | Round Red, Iron Tower, 28 feet from Keeper's House, which is Wood, painted White with Red roof. |
| Cape Pine | 46°37'04" | 53°31'45" | 1851 | Fixed White. The intervening land being low the light can be seen over it from St. Mary's Bay. | 314 | 30 | Round Iron Light Tower, 50 feet high, painted with Red and White horizontal bands. Keeper's dwelling wood, connected with the Tower by a covered way. | |
| Point La Haye (St. Mary's Bay) | 46°54'28" | 53°36'40" | 1883 | Fixed White | 63 | 9 | All Seaward | Round Iron Tower, painted with 3 Red and 3 White horizontal bands. The bands are continued around a flat roof Store in rear. |
| Cape St. Mary's | 46°49'34" | 54°11'43" | 1860 | Revolving shewing alternately a Red and a White light at intervals of 1 minute. | 390 | 23 | All Seaward | Round Iron Tower, painted Red. A Wooden House on each side of the Tower and connected therewith by a covered way. These houses are painted White, with Red roofs. |
| Point Verde (Placentia) | 47°14'11" | 55°00'19" | 1879 | Fixed White | 98 | 11 | All Seaward | Wooden House, painted White, flat roofs. Light Tower rises from the centre of the house. |
| Dodding Head (Burin) | 47°00'26" | 55°08'43" | 1858 | Revolving White light (silvered reflectors and annular lenses), attains greatest brilliancy every minute. Owing to great height this light is often obscured when the coast is clear. | 430 | 24 | All Seaward | Square Wooden House, roof Red. The lantern rises from the centre of the house. |
| Allan Island (Lamaline) | 46°51'00" | 55°45'30" | 1879 | Fixed White | 64 | 9 | 170 | Wooden octagonal Tower, painted Red and White on alternate sides. |
| Brunette Island (Fortune Bay) | 47°15'32" | 55°51'50" | 1865 | Flashing White light, attains greatest brilliancy every ten seconds. Obscured by the land from E.S.E. to S. | 408 | 23 | All Seaward | Square Wooden House, painted White with Red roof. The lantern rises from centre of roof. |
| Grand Bank (Fortune Bay) | 47°08'00" | 55°42'00" | 1890 | Fixed Red | 28 | 5½ | S.E.byS. Southerly to W. | Wooden Beacon on Breakwater, 300 feet from end. Beacon painted red and white horizontal bands; light bears W.N.W. from end of Breakwater. |
| Garnish (Fortune Bay) | 47°14'00" | 55°24'00" | 1875 | Fixed Red, Port Light | 20 | Square Beacon Tower of Wood, standing at end of Breakwater, carrying an octagonal drum and lantern. | ||
| Belleoram (Fortune Bay) | 47°29'00" | 55°27'15" | 1873 | Fixed White | 35 | 7 | 270 | Wooden Tower, painted White on North point of the beach. |
| Rocky Point (Hr. Briton) | 47°27'30" | 55°47'45" | 1873 | Fixed White. Not visible in a line with Harbor Rock, in which direction it is obscured. | 68 | 9 | Circular Iron Tower, painted Red and White in horizontal bands. | |
| Pass Island (entrance to Hermitage Bay) | 47°29'15" | 56°12'02" | 1879 | Fixed White. A Fixed Red light is placed below the White light to distinguish the rocks and reefs extending from the Wolf rocks, bearing (from light-house) S77.44 W. to Basse Terre Point, S 61.33. The Reef over the Wolf rocks is about 1½ miles from the Island. At a distance of about 4 miles the two lights merge into one. | 281 | 19 | 300 136.2 |
Wooden House, sides painted White, with flat roof, on which the principal lantern stands. The one shewing the Red light is 14 feet lower, and at the angle of the building. |
| Gaultois | 47°36'00" | 55°54'00" | 1885 | Fixed White light on an iron column. The light should be brought to bear N.E. before steering for the entrance of the harbor, to clear a sunken rock S.W.byW. about 100 yards distant. | 14 | All Seaward | ||
| Boar Island (Burgeo) | 47°36'12" | 55°35'13" | 1874 | Fixed Red | 207 | 11 | 270 | Buildings Wood. Light Tower rising from the gable of the house. Vertical parts painted White, roof Red. |
| Ireland Id., La Poile Bay |
47°37'52" | 58°22'13" | 1886 | Revolving White light, alternate flashed and total eclipses, attaining greatest brilliancy every 12 seconds. | 67 | 9½ | Whole horizon | Circular Iron Tower; Keeper's dwelling of wood, 16 ft. apart, (W.S.W.), painted red and white alternate bands continuous round both buildings. |
| Rose Blanche P't. | 47°35'48" | 58°41'30" | 1873 | Fixed White, shewing all seaward | 95 | 11 | 168.75 | Buildings Granite, (one side and one end painted in red and white vertical stripes), roofed with slate; Light Tower at one corner. |
| Channel Head, (Port-au-Basque) | 47°33'49" | 59°07'09" | 1875 | Fixed White | 90 | 12 | All Seaward | The Square Light Tower and the Keeper's dwelling are attached, they are of Wood. |
| Sandy Point, (St. George's Bay) | 48°27'27" | 58°30'31" | 1883 | Fixed White | 35 | 7 | All Seaward | Round Iron Tower, painted with Red and White horizontal bands (3 of each). Store on South side painted White. |
| Cape Ray | 47°37'05" | 59°18'00" | 1871 | Revolving White attaining greatest brilliancy every 20 seconds | 127 | 17 | All points seaward | Wooden Octagonal Tower, painted white; Lantern brown. |
| Point Rich | 50°42'05" | 57°34'30" | 1871 | Destroyed by fire, To be rebuilt. | White, Hexagonal wood, with roof red. | |||
| Cape Norman | 51°38'07" | 55°54'06" | 1871 | Revolving White; greatest brilliancy every two minutes. | 116 | 20 | All points seaward | |
| Cape Bauld | 51°38'50" | 55°25'00" | 1884 | Alternating red and white every 45 seconds | 152 | 18 | All points seaward | White square wooden tower, surmounted by a red lantern; dwellings attached. |
| Belle Isle | 51°53'00" | 55°22'15" | 1858 | Fixed white light | 470 | 28 | All points seaward | Circular stone tower, covered with clapboards, painted white. Dwelling attached. |
| Belle Isle (Low Light) |
1880 | Fixed white | 137 | 1 | From N.W.byN. round by S. to E. In approaching from the Gulf. | White square wooden tower; surmounted by a brown lantern. | ||
| P't. Amour (Forteau) | 51°27'35" | 56°51'00" | 1855 | Fixed white | 152 | 18 | All points seaward | Circular white stone, covered with clapboards; roof red. Dwelling attached. |
| Greenly Id., (Blanc Sablon) | 51°22'35" | 57°10'50" | 1878 | Showing white ½ minute, red ½ minute. White do. and eclipse 1½ minute. | 108 | 15 | All points seaward | Octagonal wooden tower painted white, with red lantern; white wooden dwelling attached. |
| Cape Race | 46°39'00" | 53°04'20" | 1856 | Revolving White light attains greatest brilliancy every half minute. Visible between N.N.E to W.S.W. A conical Beacon stands 150 feet S. of Lighthouse. | 180 | 19 | 180 | Round iron light tower 40 feet high, painted red and white in broad vertical stripes. Keeper's house - feet distant, is square, painted white with red roof. The light tower is connected with the Alarm house, by a covered way, 250 feet long. |