Sooke Harbour: News: Maritime History

Triangle Island Lighthouse

Original Location: 30 miles west of the north end of Vancouver Island.

This light was discontinued because it was too high to be seen through fog. The concrete base of the tower still remains at the site. The lantern from the lighthouse was presented in 2004 to the Sooke Region Historical Society to be displayed at the Sooke Region Museum in Sooke, BC, with a first order lens from Estevan Point Lighthouse.

Height of Focal Plane: 680
Date Established: 1910
Date Deactivated: 1918

Photo Credit: Pirio Raits, Sooke News Mirror
Bobbie-Jo Peterson lovingly polishes the Triangle Island Lighthouse's lens getting it ready for the Open House scheduled for June 26. Dozens of dedicated volunteers worked tirelessly on the historic structure located at the Sooke District Museum on Phillips Road.

'Lighting the way to Sooke'

Piro Raits, Sooke News Mirror
June 15, 2005

The "eye" that guided ships at sea to safe harbour will now be guiding tourists into Sooke. The Triangle Island Lighthouse, located at the Sooke Region Museum, with its bulls eye lens and 500 prisms will soon light the way for marine historians, students and tourists.

An unveiling ceremony and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the re-furbished lighthouse and the new interpretive centre will take place June 26.

The Triangle Island Lighthouse sat in storage gathering dust at the Canadian Coast Guard base for over 20 years, until last year when the Sooke Region Historical Society acquired the de-commissioned lighthouse structure. The lighthouse was taken out of service in 1918 as it was deemed ineffective, as it was too high in the clouds to be seen by ships at sea
Money for the project, almost $200,000, came from donations from industry and individuals - the labour was a labour of love. Scores of volunteers have been working tirelessly on the 39' structure since it was acquired.

"An enormous amount of structural and mechanical work has been done and some major aspects have been rebuilt," says Elida Peers, executive director for the museum.

The six tonne lens, from the Estavan Point Lighthouse, was a modern marvel back in 1822. The lens, once rotated, floated in 950 pounds of mercury to prevent it from friction. Lens designer Augustine Fresnel never saw the completed lens, as he died from tuberculosis at 39-years-of-age. The lens is a sister to the one that sat atop the Triangle Island Lighthouse. The lens was manufactured in 38 different pieces, and putting it together was like working on a jigsaw puzzle, says Bobbie-Jo Peterson who has been assisting and researching for the exhibits under the direction of Peers. Peterson, hired through Sooke Works. is enchanted with the lighthouse.

"I've never been in love with anything like this in my life," says Peterson. "I'm so glad I got the opportunity to do it."

The interpreters at the centre will dress in period costume as they lead visitors through the various exhibits. The exhibits will feature information from the Estavan Point, Triangle Island and Sherringham Lighthouses.

Among the dignitaries expected at the open house will be the granddaughter of Rose Davies, one of the first women to raise a family in the lighthouse on remote Triangle Island. Triangle Island is located in the Scott Island group, 30 miles west of the northern tip of Vancouver Island.

The 30" outer galley, which surrounds the lantern housing, will be the venue for the draw prize to be won during the open house. Ray Vowles, president of the Historical Society and Mike Thomas, president of the Sooke Lions Club, will cook and prepare a dinner for four to be served on the lighthouse galley.

"It's a fun thing," said Peers.

For more information on the Open House and the events taking place, contact the Sooke Region Museum at 642-6351.


© Copyright 2005 Sooke News Mirror

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