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
• 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, 1867, and was promptly replaced by a second, identical structure. The building was converted into a residence for pilots some 40 years later, after a third lighthouse
was built, then demolished in 1966. The foundations of these first two lighthouses lie on the other side of Rue du Phare.
[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. Marker is on rue du Phare, on the left when traveling east. Marker is on the Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse station grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1000 rue du Phare, Rimouski QC G5M 1L8, Canada. Touch for directions.
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/The Wreck of RMS Empress of Ireland
Also see . . .
1. Lieu historique national du Canada du Phare-de-Pointe-au-Père. (Submitted on January 8, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse National Historic Site. (Submitted on January 8, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 8, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 146 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 8, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.