Part of the plaster ceiling is falling off the building
The movement to save one of the province’s most well-known lighthouses feels even more urgent now that damage has been found.
Grand Manan’s Swallowtail lighthouse, which has long been in need of repairs, has recently suffered further damage, including water damage. Part of the plaster ceiling is falling off the building..
Now, the head lighthouse keeper, Ken Ingersoll, says that there is a race on to save the building, which could be damaged beyond repair in less than a year. “It would be terrible to lose that tower,” he said.
“It’s one of the first things you see when you get to Grand Manan, and one of the last things you see when you leave… “I don’t know how many pictures of Swallowtail lighthouse are taken each year.”
The lighthouse was built in 1860 and is still in use. For more than 16 years, people have been trying to fix it up.
These efforts recently got a boost when the building was chosen as a finalist in a competition by the National Trust of Canada. It didn’t win, but it did get some attention.
Before the latest damage, it was estimated that the lighthouse and keeper’s house would cost $479,000. So far, $160,000 has been raised.
Andrea Kelter, who runs the gift shop and visitor center at the Swallowtail lighthouse, said that the lighthouse is more than just a place for tourists to visit. It is also an important part of the community.
“It is a safety feature for mariners, and for the inshore fishery, it is a very important safety feature for mariners,” said Kelter.
“For them, it can really save their lives in a lot of different ways.”
The island has started doing things like a telethon and online donation drives to raise even more money.
Kelter said that if the lighthouse were to be destroyed, it would be a huge loss for the town.
Kelter said, “There will be a new light tower, and it will do the job.” “What it will never do is capture the hearts, souls, and imaginations of the people who come to Grand Manan.”