Journal entry by Al Negstad —
A good tour guide is a great gift and we had two excellent guides; at the lighthouse at Cape Schanck and at the wildlife sanctuary. Malcolm, at the lighthouse, was a font of knowledge who ex-posited for an hour of a 'forty minute' tour.
There was way to much for me to remember and repeat but I can hit a few high points. The lighthouse was built in 1858-59, and has not missed a night since. It withstood an earthquake which registered 6, on the Richter Scale with not even a crack in the paint.
It was built in the day when craftsmanship mattered which is evidenced by the beautiful, South American Mahogany paneling in the upper chamber. The walls are rock blocks that were cut at a distant stone quarry, cut with tongue and groove, they were numbered for assembly at the Cape. At ground level the walls are about 3, feet thick, tapering as they ascend.
The power source for tuning the light has twice been changed. Originally the power was provided by a reverse windlass. Every half hour during darkness a keeper would wind the windlass lifting a weight as the rope wound around the shaft. The weight would then drop at a measured pace providing the energy for turning the beacon. Eventually the windlass was replaced by a small diesel engine, which was in turn replace by electricity in 1939. The beacon floats on a tub of pure mercury which is changed every six months. The mercury provides a liquid which is stable and almost friction-less.
When candidates for qualification as lighthouse keeper completed three years of apprenticeship there was a test. They had to climb from the upper walkway, clean the windows as they went and grease the weather vane at the very top. On the picture it would be the dark above the walkway and the red dome above that...no safety harness used. There was one lighthouse keeper and two assistants.
I'll never view lighthouses the same after Malcolm's excellent presentation.
Blessings,
Al
There was way to much for me to remember and repeat but I can hit a few high points. The lighthouse was built in 1858-59, and has not missed a night since. It withstood an earthquake which registered 6, on the Richter Scale with not even a crack in the paint.
It was built in the day when craftsmanship mattered which is evidenced by the beautiful, South American Mahogany paneling in the upper chamber. The walls are rock blocks that were cut at a distant stone quarry, cut with tongue and groove, they were numbered for assembly at the Cape. At ground level the walls are about 3, feet thick, tapering as they ascend.
The power source for tuning the light has twice been changed. Originally the power was provided by a reverse windlass. Every half hour during darkness a keeper would wind the windlass lifting a weight as the rope wound around the shaft. The weight would then drop at a measured pace providing the energy for turning the beacon. Eventually the windlass was replaced by a small diesel engine, which was in turn replace by electricity in 1939. The beacon floats on a tub of pure mercury which is changed every six months. The mercury provides a liquid which is stable and almost friction-less.
When candidates for qualification as lighthouse keeper completed three years of apprenticeship there was a test. They had to climb from the upper walkway, clean the windows as they went and grease the weather vane at the very top. On the picture it would be the dark above the walkway and the red dome above that...no safety harness used. There was one lighthouse keeper and two assistants.
I'll never view lighthouses the same after Malcolm's excellent presentation.
Blessings,
Al
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| Malcolm & Amy in the control room...note the Mahogany |
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| A selfie at the top |
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| Looking down from the walkway |
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| The stairs to the top |
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