Les premiers phares
⎯⎯⎯
The first lighthouses
Au service de la poste royale
Le phare de Pointe-au-Père doit son origine à la poste. En 1856, la Montreal Ocean Steamship Company obtient le contrat de transport du courrier entre Londres et Montréal. Ses propriétaires, les frères Allan, décident de maintenir leur propre équipe de pilotes à Pointe-au-Père, déjà fréquentée par les pilotes locaux. Le plat relief de la côte et l'absence de repères par mauvais temps incitent la compagnie de navigation à construire un phare équipé d'un feu et d'un signal de brume.
Une idée qui s'enracine
La Montreal Ocean Steamship Company construit son phare en 1859. Le gouvernement s'en porte acquéreur deux ans plus tard. Ce phare brûle le 23 avril 1867. On en construit aussitôt un deuxième du même modèle. Le bâtiment sera converti en maison des pilotes quelque 40 ans plus tard, après la construction du troisième phare, puis sera démoli en 1966. Les vestiges de ces deux premiers phares sont enfouis de l'autre côté de la rue du Phare.
[Illustrations, en haut à gauche, dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre, lisez]
• Un bateau portant l'inscription Allan Line Royal Mail Steamships,
this page online
• Le deuxième phare au début du 20e siècle. Les premiers phares de Pointe-au-Père sont des maisons en bois surmontées d'une tour abritant la lanterne. Le gardien habite les étages inférieurs.
• Aquarelle représentant le deuxième phare, vers 1885-1889.
In service to the Royal Mail
The Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse owes its existence to the postal service. In 1856, the Montreal Ocean Steamship Company secured a contract to carry the mail between London and Montreal. Its owners, the Allan brothers, decided to use their own team of pilots based at Pointe-au-Père, where local pilots were already operating. The shoreline's flat topography and absence of landmarks for navigation in bad weather convinced the shipping company to erect a lighthouse equipped with a light and foghorn.
An idea that took hold
The lighthouse built by the Montreal Ocean Steamship Company in 1859 was acquired by the government two years later. It burned down on April 23,
[Illustrations, clockwise from top left, read]
• A boat belonging to Allan Line Royal Mail Steamships docked at the company wharf in the Port of Montreal, circa 1890.
• The second lighthouse at the dawn of the 20th century. The first lighthouses of Pointe-au-Père were wooden structures mounted atop towers equipped with lanterns, with living space for lightkeepers on the lower floors.
• Watercolour of the second lighthouse, circa 1885-1889.
Erected by Parks/Parcs Canada.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1856.
Location. 48° 31.066′ N, 68° 28.113′ W. Marker is in Rimouski, Québec, in Rimouski-Neigette. It is on rue du Phare, on the left when traveling east.
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Québec & Gaspésie and in Bas-Saint-Laurent. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Rupert’s Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Modernisation / Modernizing (here, next to this marker); Innovation (here, next to this marker); L'épave du RMS Empress of Ireland / The Wreck of RMS Empress of Ireland (here, next to this marker); Vivre à / Daily Life at Pointe-au-Père (a few steps from this marker); Les premices / In the beginning (within shouting distance of this marker); Les signaux sonores / The sound signals (within shouting distance of this marker); Témoins de l'automatisation de la station de phare (within shouting distance of this marker); Bienvenue / Welcome (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rimouski.
Also see . . .
1. Lieu historique national du Canada du Phare-de-Pointe-au-Père. (Submitted on January 8, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse National Historic Site. (Submitted on January 8, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 8, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 226 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 8, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
