Saint John in Saint John County, New Brunswick — The Atlantic Provinces (North America)

Shedding Light on the Three Sisters Mystery

Faire la lumière sur le mystère des trois sœurs

— Harbour Passage Trail —

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 13, 2019

1. Shedding Light on the Three Sisters Mystery / Faire la lumière sur le mystère des trois sœurs Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

English:
Where does a nickname come from?

No one can say why the Three Lamps light is better known as The Three Sisters. Nevertheless, local residents know the landmark by its nickname and have many stories to explain it. Some say that three faithful sisters waited here for a first glimpse of the ship bearing their seafaring husbands home. Others speculate that the sisters are a nautical reference to a group of three stars in the northern constellation Perseus. Another suggestion is that a popular local radio show host started using the name in the 1940's, and it caught the popular imagination.

The original single oil lamp at this site was designed as a navigation aid in 1842. When lined up with the Beacon Light that used to stand in the harbour entrance, it had marked the inner end of the Eastern Channel. Vessels approaching from the Western Channel (now blocked by the breakwater to Partridge Island), could line up the light with the Trinity Church spire to navigate safely into harbour. A four-sided gas lamp came next and had two red glass panels facing seaward and two white ones facing land.

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This was replaced by the three lamps on a metal trident seen today. The lamp stood 27 feet high and 42 feet above high water, making it visible up to five miles away. The lamps were designed to shine through a 67 1/2 degree arc, showing red towards the water and white on other bearings. Today the electrically powered light is no longer used for navigation, but is well-known and loved as the historic Three Sisters Light.

Français:
D'où un surnom tire-t-il son origine?

Personne ne peut dire pourquoi le triple réverbère est mieux connu sous le nom des Trois Sœurs. Toutefois, les résidents du coin connaissent ce repère par son surnom et ont de nombreuses histoires pour en expliquer l'origine. Certains disent que trois sœurs fidèles attendaient à cet endroit afin d'être les premières à apercevoir le bateau de long cours qui ramenait leurs maris à la maison. D'autres avancent que les sœurs sont un terme de marine faisant référence à un groupe de trois étoiles situées dans la constellation nordique de Persée. Une autre hypothèse suggère que, dans les années 1940, un animateur populaire d'une station de radio locale aurait commencé à employer le nom qui aurait capté l'imagination populaire.

La lampe à huile simple qui se dressait sur le site à l'origine était conçue en 1842 pour aider à la navigation. Lorsqu'elle était en ligne

Marker detail: The Three Sisters in 1953 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Lou Wilson

2. Marker detail: The Three Sisters in 1953

English:
The three decorative crowns atop the Three Sisters, are clearly visible in this 1953 photo.

Français:
On voit clairement le trois « couronnes » qui décorent la lampe dans cette photo de 1953.

directe avec le phare érigé autrefois à l'entrée du havre, elle indiquait l'extrémité intérieure du chenal de l'Est. Les bateaux qui s'approchaient par le chenal de l'Ouest (maintenant obstrué par le brise-lames devant l'île Partridge) pouvaient aligner la lumière avec le clocher de l'église Trinity pour pénétrer en toute sécurité dans le havre. Elle a été remplacée par une lampe à gaz à quatre faces qui comportait deux panneaux de verre rouges faisant face à la mer et deux de verre blancs tournés vers l'intérieur des terres.

Finalement, on a installé sur un trident de métal les trois lampes que l'on voit aujourd'hui. D'une hauteur de 27 pieds, le réverbère s'élevait 42 pieds au-dessus du niveau de la mer, de sorte que la lumière était visible à une distance allant jusqu'à cinq milles. Les lampes étaient conçues pour briller selon un arc de 67,5 degrés, faisant voir du rouge vers la mer et du blanc dans les autres directions. De nos jours, la lumière alimentée à l'électricité ne sert plus à la navigation, mais garde un valeur historique très appréciée en tant que les Trois Sœurs.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1842.

Location. 45° 16.031′ N, 66° 3.629′ W. Marker is in Saint John, New Brunswick, in Saint John County. Marker is at the intersection

Marker detail: The Three Sisters in 1848 image. Click for full size.

Courtesy New Brunswick Museum, Saint John • 1966-44-15(2)

3. Marker detail: The Three Sisters in 1848

English:
The three Lamps were much closer to the water when they were erected in 1848, before the Lower Cove waterfront was filled in and built outward to accommodate larger ships and commercial uses.

Français:
Les trois lampes étaient situées beaucoup plus près de l'eau lorsqu'elles furent érigées en 1848, avant que le front de mer de Lower Cove ne soit rempli et que l'on n'y ait aménagé de nouvelles structures construites vers l'extérieur afin d'accommoder les navires de fort tonnage et des usages commerciaux.

of Prince William Street and Saint James Street, on the left when traveling north on Prince William Street. Marker is located along the walkway, beside the subject Three Sisters Lamp, overlooking the Diamond Jubilee Cruise Terminal. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saint John NB E2L 0C5, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. An Island Abounding With Life (here, next to this marker); The "Three Lamps" (a few steps from this marker); A Portal to the New World (within shouting distance of this marker); The Marco Polo / Le Marco Polo (within shouting distance of this marker); Irish Immigrant Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); The Largest in British North America (within shouting distance of this marker); Clearing Customs in Style (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); The Troop Fleet in the Days of Sail (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Saint John.

Also see . . . Three Sisters Lamp. The Three Sisters Lamp is in direct line with the steeple of Trinity Church, so that sea captains were able to navigate their way safely into Saint John Harbour at night. Three red gas lamps, visible from three miles seaward, were stationed at the end of Prince William Street. If the three red lamps appeared individually, sailors would know they were heading straight into the harbour, however if only one or two could

Shedding Light on the Three Sisters Mystery Marker<br>(<i>wide view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 13, 2019

4. Shedding Light on the Three Sisters Mystery Marker
(wide view)

be seen, sailors knew they needed to alter their course. (Submitted on February 20, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

The Three Sisters (<i>marker visible, edge-on, on right</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 13, 2019

5. The Three Sisters (marker visible, edge-on, on right)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 18, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 771 times since then and 148 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 20, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.