Georgetown, the county seat of Kings County, is situated on the southeast part of Cardigan Point, a peninsula bounded by the Brudenell and Montague Rivers on the south and the Cardigan River on the north. Early French settlers called the area Three Rivers, but after the English gained control of Acadia, Cardigan Point was surveyed in 1768 as the site for Georgetown, named after King George III.

The deep-water harbour at Georgetown, which remained ice-free for most of the winter, was one of the most important ports on Prince Edward Island. Steamships linked Georgetown to Pictou, Nova Scotia, where connections to the Intercolonial Railway were possible. Georgetown was also the eastern terminus of the Prince Edward Island Railway that also included stations at Charlottetown, Summerside, and Alberton.

In 1868, a lighthouse was constructed on St. Andrew’s Point, located across the confluence of the Brudenell and Montague Rivers from Georgetown, to help guide vessels into the harbour. In 1883, a second light was established inland from this lighthouse to form a set of range lights for helping mariners maintain the proper alignment for approaching the harbour.

In 1906, a light was established at the head of the railway wharf at Georgetown to guide mariners up to the landing. The Canada Gazette for that year carried the following information on the new light:

A light has been established by the Government of Canada on the roof of the coal shed on the outer end of the railway wharf, Georgetown, east coast of Prince Edward Island.

The light is a fixed red light, elevated 23 feet above high-water mark, and should be visible two miles.

The light is shown from a square wooden lantern on the roof of the coal shed. The sides of the coal shed are painted red. The lantern is painted white.

Vessels entering the port will keep the Georgetown range lights in one until Georgetown wharf light opens; when they should steer direct for it, N. 15° W.; this will clear Thrumcap spit and lead to the head of the railway wharf; allowance must be made for the set of the current.

John Westaway was hired on January 16, 1906 at an annual salary of $100 to serve as the first keeper of the wharf light. He held the position until 1913, when Samuel Hemphill took over.

In 1928, the wharf light was discontinued, and a mast light was established near the outer end of the wharf to serve as the front light of a range that also included a rear light located 375 feet inland. These range lights remained in operation until being discontinued in 1963.

Keepers: John Westaway (1906 – 1913), Samuel Hemphill (1913 – at least 1923).

References

1. Annual Report of the Department of Marine and Fisheries, various years.

No light exists at this location today.

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