Enragée Point Lighthouse
Heritage Lighthouse
Chéticamp Island, Nova Scotia
Enragée Point Lighthouse
(© Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada)
Address :
Chéticamp Island, Nova Scotia
Recognition Statute:
Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act (S.C. 2008, c 16)
Designation Date:
2019-08-14
Dates:
-
1956 to 1956
(Construction)
-
1937 to 1937
(Established)
Description of Historic Place
The Enragée Point Lighthouse is an octagonal, tapered, reinforced-concrete lighthouse built in 1956. The lighthouse
measures 13.3 metres (44 feet) and overlooks the Gulf of the St. Lawrence from its location on Chéticamp Island. It is the second lighthouse built on the site, and it guides vessels through the Northumberland Strait, as well as into Chéticamp Harbour.
Heritage Value
The Enragée Point Lighthouse is a heritage lighthouse because of its historical, architectural, and community values.
Historical values
The Enragée Point Lighthouse is a very good example of the Department of Marine and Fisheries’ initiative to establish lighthouses along Cape Breton’s coastline. The first light at this site was established in 1937, a year after the steamer Kinburn wrecked near Chéticamp Island. It was immediately replaced after a fire in 1956 in a new reinforced concrete form, illustrating the theme of modernization of lighthouse design and technology.
The lighthouse is a very good example of the socio-economic development of the nearby village of Chéticamp and the island by the same name. Many villagers relied on the fisheries for their survival and the establishment of this major coastal light helped to ensure their safety while at sea.
Architectural values
The Enragée Point Lighthouse is a very good example of an octagonal, tapered, reinforced-concrete lighthouse. With its simple clean lines, well-proportioned tapered tower, and red-and-white paint scheme, the lighthouse is a graceful example of a common Canadian lighthouse design favoured in the mid-20th century.
The lighthouse was built according to a standard Department of Transport plan. The reinforced-concrete design was prevalent in regions known for severe weather, as it was extremely durable and resilient. The lantern, constructed at the Dominion Lighthouse Depot in Prescott, Ontario, was also made to weather the extreme maritime conditions.
Community values
The Enragée Point Lighthouse sits on the northern tip of Chéticamp Island, above the rocky shoreline and surrounded by farmland. Its visual presence from the village of Chéticamp and the famous Cabot Trail on the mainland reinforces the maritime character of the area.
The lighthouse remains highly valued to the local community, as both an aid to navigation for mariners and a significant tourism attraction. Enragée Point lighthouse is a picturesque reminder of the region’s rich maritime heritage.
Related buildings
No related buildings contribute to the heritage character of the lighthouse.
Character-Defining Elements
The following character-defining elements of the Enragée Point Lighthouse should be respected: its location at the northern tip of Chéticamp Island, overlooking the Gulf of the St. Lawrence; its intact, as-built structural form, height, profile, and proportions; its octagonal, tapered structure of reinforced concrete; its doorway on the south elevation, surmounted by a shallow, projecting, sloped lintel; its three windows set equally above on another on the rear side; its gallery, supported by the coved cornice that transitions from the tapered walls; the design and material of the railing that surrounds the gallery; its octagonal metal lantern; its traditional colour scheme, consisting of white for the tower and red for the door, gallery railing, lantern, and; its visual prominence in relation to the water and landscape.