Port George Lighthouse

Photo - © Lew PerryPort George Lighthouse c. 2000White, square, "pepper-shaker" wooden lighthouse with a red lantern, 25 feet (7.6m) high .

A light has guided mariners to shelter since the first wharf was built at Port George in the 1880's. First, there was a temporary light, presumably a "pole light" - a kerosene lantern hung on a pole near the wharf. When the East wharf was constructed in 1889, the first "real" lighthouse was built on the end of the wharf. The fixed red light was lit by kerosene. Each evening the lighthouse keeper cleaned the shade, trimmed the wick and lit the lamp. In the morning he would have to return to the building to blow out the light.The kerosene was brought by a large boat which anchored offshore and lowered a smaller boat to bring in several 45 gallon drums of kerosene. These were stored in the lighthouse for future use.

From 1860 to 1875 much of the trade for the Annapolis Valley was shipped into Port George. The surrounding villages were prosperous. Ship building was very successful and fishing was a lucrative occupation. Later, the building of the railway and other economic factors changed the industrial life of the villages but one thing was constant - the shining beacon of the lighthouse.