Family of former lightkeeper disappointed in Point Amour upkeep
The family of the former lightkeeper at the Point Amour Lighthouse feels more can be done to improve the appearance of the famous Labrador Straits landmark.
The Sheppard family once made its home at Point Amour.
After serving as assistant lightkeeper for five years, Max Sheppard Sr. manned the station as lightkeeper from 1969 to 1995.
He was the last keeper of the light before it was fully automated.
For a time, he and his wife, Faith, raised their four children there.
Today, the children look back fondly at their time at Point Amour.
Daughter Nancy Sheppard, who lives in Alberta currently, calls it her “favourite place on the planet.”
But Nancy and sister Sheila Park feel the present upkeep of the site isn’t doing justice to its legacy or to the lightkeepers.
In their father’s time, and for all the previous lightkeepers, the lightkeeper and his assistants were responsible for the upkeep of the tower inside and out.
Sheila says they had to make sure everything was pristine.
According to her, on a regular basis, they kept the fence surrounding the property, the fog horn house, the lighthouse double dwelling, Max’s House (as it is known today), the shed and the other assistant’s house (today’s gift store), painted.
The painting of the 125-foot tower itself was contracted out, but sometimes it was the family, including Sheppard siblings Max Jr. and Morgan, who took the contract to do it.
“It was like you took pride in your property,” Sheila said.
“It was never allowed to get into the state it is there now. It really bothers me, because it looks like nobody owns it.”
Nancy and Sheila point out that Point Amour, now a provincial historic site, is a popular tourist destination on the Labrador coast. But they worry visitors may be left unimpressed by the level of disrepair it has fallen into.
“It’s marketed as a tourist attraction, people from all over the world spend lots of money to visit and I’m sure the majority of pictures they see are not how it looks currently,” said Nancy. “I would think it’s somewhat disappointing when they show up and see it the way it currently is.”
Shingles need to be replaced on some of the buildings and the tower hasn’t been repainted in a number of years.
Sheila calls the present appearance almost an “insult” to the lightkeepers who once took care of it.
When Nancy most recently visited Point Amour last October, she was disappointed by its appearance as well.
She added that the grass should be mowed and taken care of as well.
Both siblings take issue with the exterior and not so much the interior. They expressed satisfaction with how the interior of the lighthouse was renovated and restored to its original layout when the province took over the site.
And there is some good news as the province has started replacing some of the shingles.
Per the Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation (TCII), a tender was awarded for renovations to the roof of the old house of the site at $69,500.
The renovations include the repair of rot and replacement of shingles over the doors, the passageway to the light tower and the main roof, as well as repair to the eaves for all roofs.
The project was scheduled to already be completed but was delayed due to weather.
“Work is currently ongoing and will be completed soon, weather permitting,” said the June 15 release.
Sheila and Nancy are encouraged by this development but feel more needs to be done.
“It makes me really happy to see they’re doing it and I hope they’ll go on ahead now and paint the buildings,” said Sheila. “And make them look good.”
Their father’s house, which is just across the single lane dirt road from the lighthouse itself, has also been done and renovated.
Nancy hopes the province will be willing to allot a little bit of extra money each year to improve its appearance.
“I understand the province only has so much money, but it’s a huge tourist attraction,” she said. “If a little bit was allotted every year, it could go a long way.