THE SOUTHWEST COAST DEVELOPMENT ASSOC AND THE TOWN OF ROSE BLANCHE, NEWFOUNDLAND
Wishes to thank you for your continued interest in The ROSE BLANCHE LIGHTHOUSE
HISTORY
1873
After a petition was presented to the government of the day by local residents construction began on the ROSE BLANCHE LIGHTHOUSE. Situated on a rocky outcrop known locally as THE NECK.
The lighthouse opened in 1875 and this old photo may have been taken at a "Garden Party" held to mark the opening of this first lighthouse on the Southwest Coast of NEWFOUNDLAND.
Built from local grey granite, quarried at a site just yards from the lighthouse. Over the years the lighthouse {with its 4th order light} shone as a friendly beacon to local fishermen and passing sailors.
Alas, the old lighthouse surrcumbed to modern technology and was abandoned in 1946 for a more modern facility on nearby Caines Island.
Since the motar that had been used was of poor quality,just 10 yrs after it was decommissioned,the light keepers house collapsed during a fierce autumn storm Oct.1957
This marked the end of an era.
Only the actual light tower remained standing. In 1972 when a Rural Development Association was formed in the area to foster economic development the rebuilding of the lighthouse was quickly identified as a potenial tourist attraction. For the next 20 yrs this was THE DREAM.
Just when it looked like the Rural development asociation were being put out to pasture our lucky break came, when govermaent called for proposals for substainable development our proposal for the Rebuilding of the Old Lighthouse was sitting there all ready to go in the mail! This was not to be the end of our struggle, it received mixed reviews from the people holding the purse strings. Finally in late August we received word that the project was going to be funded. We were esstatic--but not for long, when the number crunching was over, we were only going to get 60% of the money we were going to need to complete it. now it was our turn to crunch numbers. It was back to the table to negotiate the cost of different components of the proposal. We came up with a plan in which 80% of the lighthouse would be finished and about 50% of the park area.
WORK BEGINS OUR DREAM IS BECOMING A REALITY
This is what the crew started with:
During the fall, the usuable stone was recovered from the rubble They were cleaned and catalogued. throughtout the winter the crew were in school learning their new trade. Stone Masonary
March 1997 our egos got a bit of a boost. The SWCDA was notified that we were to be the recipients of The Manning Award .
These awards are presented by The Newfoundland Historic Trust. They honor groups and individuals for their contribution to the preservation of our cultural heritage. So it is off to Government House, the home of the Lt.Governor of Newfoundland to be presented with the award on behalf of the SWCDA
The next day Rita and I were guest of honor at a reception at the Canadain Coast Guard Base.
While there we were presented with a working light to display at Rose Blanche
We were both given 10 yr service pins in recognition of our devotion to the restoration
THE SPRING 1997
Work finally begins and each week we see another course
being finished. The walls slowly rise, the peaks are built and the day we went down and were finally standing under a roof, Rita and I both cried.
THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION PLEASE REVISIT SEPT 27*****WORK STATED AGAIN TODAY ON THE LIGHTHOUSE!!!!
"THE PINK TRINITY SLATE ROOF IS NOW BEING PUT IN PLACE" All broken peices are being save to make souveniers
April 17 1999
Finally the task we under took is completed
The Rose Blanche Lighthouse will be opened officially on
July 23 1999
We are now in the process of setting up
A Board of Trustees
who will manage the site, for the town of Rose Blanche
The Southwest Coast Development Associtation
will move on to other things
I am house hunting in another area, and will turn this over to others
Reluctantly, but proudly.
This is a time to thank our funding agencies, and partners
To acknowledge those who stuck with this projectTHANK YOU ONE AND ALL.
