Remembering the lightkeepers of Boar’s Head

The people of Long Island have erected a monument to remember those who served at the Boar’s Head Lighthouse.

Dennis Blinn, son of an assistant lightkeeper, unveiled the monument Aug. 24 at a ceremony hosted by the Tiverton and Central Grove Historical Association. Blinn’s father Albert was assistant lightkeeper from 1947-1950.

The historical association erected the 4-foot high memorial overlooking the red and white lighthouse, the Bay of Fundy and the mouth of Petite Passage. Boar’s Head is the north east tip of Long Island, just north of Tiverton; Petite Passage is the stretch of water between the mainland of Digby Neck and Long Island.

Craig Buckman, chair of the historical association, says the memorial is intended to honour all the lightkeepers who served at the site.

“These people provided a vital service to all the fishermen and others who navigated the waters of Petite Passage since the first lighthouse was erected at Boar’s Head in 1862,” said Buckman.

One side of the monument lists the names of the six lighthouse keepers from 1864 to 1987 and the other side lists the assistant keepers.

Approximately 35 people attended the ceremony, including family members of some of the former lightkeepers. Also present were Warden Jim MacAlpine and Deputy Warden Linda Gregory of the Municipality of the District of Digby.

Both council members spoke of the importance of preserving local lighthouses as part of our cultural heritage.

The ceremony was followed by

Assistant Lightkeepers

a reception held at the Tiverton Community hall, where guests enjoyed some light refreshments and shared memories and stories of times spent at the lighthouse.

The current lighthouse is the second on this site and was constructed in 1957. The lighthouse not only helped fishermen on the Bay of Fundy but also marks the shortest route from Saint John, New Brunswick to Yarmouth.

The Municipality of the District of Digby took over ownership of the lighthouse property in August 2016 and the Tiverton and Central Grove Historical Association looks after the site. Also at Boar’s Head, the Municipality owns the Althouse Look Off property, and the Nature Conservancy of Canada owns adjacent shoreline property on the Bay of Fundy and the land around another look off known as the YD Rock.

Henry Ruggles 1864-1901 Frank Ruggles 1901-1929 Earl Leeman 1930-1963 Murray (Barney) Outhouse 19631981

Jack Tinker 1982

Angus Smiley 1982-1987

Percy Ruggles

Harry Ruggles 1919-1933 Elmer Wyman

Clayton Leeman c. 1939-1943 Albert Blinn c. 1947-1950 Murray (Barney) Outhouse 19501963

Frank Thomas 1963-1979