Caption
Many ships came to grief off Scatari's jagged shore before the first light was erected in 1871. Some 71 vessels are numbered among its victims. The devotion of the two lady lightkeepers of the Maritimes serves to keep thousands of ships each year which rely on their beacon safely on course.
Release Date
November 24, 1959
Materials
Typescript with illustrations
Photographers
Brooks, BobCollection
CMCP fonds
Credit Line
Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography fonds, National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives
Caption
For many years two of Nova Scotia's most important shipping lanes have been watched over by women: Mrs. Eliza Campbell (above) who has tended the light on lonely Scatari Island off Cape Breton Island since the death of her husband in 1942, while some 200 miles away on the province's south shore, Mrs. Effie Wilkie acts as caretaker for the beacon at LaHave._x000B_
Date
September 1, 1959
Accession Number
LAC-NFB90067
Materials
Black and white negative
Photographer
Enumber
e011177171
Collection
National Film Board of Canada
Credit Line
Library and Archives Canada, Mikan no. 205928
Caption
Days of lightkeepers are numbered. Department of Transport has rendered over half of the 3000 lights in Canada automatic. Last stand is the foghorn: machine can't tell when it's foggy. Mrs. Wilkie hand-pumps foghorn above.
Date
September 1, 1959
Accession Number
LAC-NFB90064
Materials
Black and white negative
Photographer
Enumber
e011177169
Collection
National Film Board of Canada
Credit Line
Library and Archives Canada, Mikan no. 205928
Caption
Mrs. Wilkie buys her groceries from the "store on wheels" which calls regularly. Her light, which she has tended for over 15 years, marks the channel for ships coming from the Atlantic into the LaHave River.
Date
September 1, 1959
Accession Number
LAC-NFB90066
Materials
Black and white negative
Photographer
Enumber
e011177170
Collection
National Film Board of Canada
Credit Line
Library and Archives Canada, Mikan no. 205928
Caption
Mrs. Campbell maintains her lonely vigil 11 months of the year; leaves her island outpost only during her annual 30 days' leave. Supplies are brought to her by rugged Cape Breton fishermen who know the Scatari current.
Date
September 1, 1959
Accession Number
LAC-NFB90061
Materials
Black and white negative
Photographer
Enumber
e011177167
Collection
National Film Board of Canada
Credit Line
Library and Archives Canada, Mikan no. 205928
Photostory #237: Lady Lightkeepers: Maintain Lonely Vigil
Photographers
Maker
National Film Board of Canada
Release Date
November 24, 1959
Collection
CMCP fonds
Credit Line
Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography fonds, National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives
Main Text
Many ships came to grief off Scatari's jagged shore before the first light was erected in 1871. Some 71 vessels are numbered among its victims. The devotion of the two lady lightkeepers of the Maritimes serves to keep thousands of ships each year which rely on their beacon safely on course.
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