Guysborough’s historic hidden gem
Port Bickerton Lighthouse one of N.S.’S top under-explored attractions
“All they have to do is bring their toothbrush and groceries.” Don Dodge President of the Port Bickerton and Area Planning Association
With the largest number of lighthouses of any province in Canada, it’s not surprising Nova Scotia is a popular destination for many tourists from all over the world.
And while the iconic lights at Peggy’s Cove or Yarmouth’s Cape Forchu certainly draw the bulk of lighthouse sightseers, Guysborough County has its own historic beacon that’s worth visiting.
Located at the western point of Barachois Head on the Eastern Shore, the Port Bickerton Lighthouse has been a vital part of the local community since the original lighthouse was constructed in 1901.
“Prior to automation, it was as important as most lighthouses are along the Atlantic shore,” notes Don Dodge, president of the Port Bickerton and Area Planning Association (PBAPA). “There are stories down there of lightkeepers that have rescued guys from shipwrecks.”
Dodge notes the last known shipwreck took place in 1958 when a ship called Seadog grounded off the southeast point of Bickerton Island. Thanks to the unsung heroism of the local lighthouse keeper, that disaster ended without loss of life.
There is more of that folklore to be found in the lighthouse’s interpretive centre. Built in 1997, it is the result of the PBABA’S voluntary efforts to help preserve the local area from being turned into a dumpsite.
“A group of volunteers got together and they made a proposal to the federal government and said we want to rescue these lighthouses and make it a tourist destination,” says Dodge. “That’s what they ended up doing or that (area) very well could have been exactly what they wanted it to be.”
As such, the Port Bickerton Lighthouse Interpretive Centre offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into Nova Scotia history seven days a week from July 1 to Sept. 30. For $3 per person, visitors can see the original light from the 1930s, the early automated light as well as plenty of nautical artifacts.
“We were just gifted the first lightkeeper’s clock,” adds Dodge about the timepiece once belonged to Theodore O’hara, who kept the light for 30 years.
“His daughter, who is now 88 years old, got a hold of me last year and said, ‘I want to give you dad’s clock’ and we said, ‘Thank you very much, we’ll take it!’”
The Port Bickerton Lighthouse
also has a unique shop featuring primarily locally crafted gifts and artwork as well as a summer house rental and artist-in-residence program.
Designed to offer artists quiet seclusion while working on their craft, each year artists can apply to stay at the lightkeeper’s bungalow for one to two weeks throughout the summer.
“All they have to do is bring their toothbrush and groceries,” says Dodge about the program, adding when artists aren’t in residence, it’s available to the public as a vacation rental.
“There are writers, painters; we’ve had all kinds down there the last seven years.”
While Dodge notes this summer has been quite busy with visitors, he certainly invites people to visit the lighthouse before it closes in the fall. It’s an invitation that he even extends to local residents.
“There are people in the village (who say), ‘Oh, I’ve got to go down there someday,’” laughs Dodge. “Well, try not to wait too long — we’ve only been down there 23 years.”
For more information, visit: www.portbickertonlighthouse.ca.