Work on a lighthouse at Port Lewis on the southern shore of St. Lawrence River began in 1874. When the contractor failed to finish the project, the Department of Marine was forced to complete the lighthouse. Donald McKillop was hired as the first keeper of the lighthouse on September 7, 1874, and he placed the light in operation on May 20, 1875, at the opening of navigation. The lighthouse, a square, wooden tower that stood thirty-one feet high, was located on McKillop Point and it used three flat-wick lamps set in twenty-inch reflectors to display a fixed white light.

On September 20, 1875, Damase Caza became keeper of the lighthouse after Donald McKillop died. In 1878, the government increased the annual salary of Keeper Caza from $100 to $115. In 1890, plans were finalized to relocate the lighthouse at Port Lewis, on the south shore of Lake St. Francis, to a pier on the edge of the channel opposite Saint-Anicet, where it would “be of much greater utility.” Tenders for this work had been invited the previous year, but it was so late in the season that a reasonable rate could not be obtained and the project was consequently postponed a year.

The following description of the new light to mark Saint-Anicet Shoal appeared in the Annual Report of the Department of Marine for 1891:

As proposed last year the lighthouse at Port Lewis, on the south shore of Lake St. Francis, in the County of Huntingdon, P.Q., was removed to a pier built on the north-west point of the bar, which extends out, on the south side of the channel, into Lake St. Francis, opposite the village of St. Anicet. The pier consists of a substructure built of timber cribwork, surmounted by a steel cylinder filled with stone. It is sunk in 9 feet water on the south edge of the steamboat channel, and is distant 5,700 feet N. 1/2 E. from St. Anicet parish church, and about two miles from the old position of the lighthouse. The tower which was removed is a square wooden building painted white, surmounted by an iron lantern painted red. The part of the steel cylinder above water is painted brown, and the height of the tower from the top of the pier to the vane on the lantern is 31 feet.

The light, which was put in operation upon the opening of navigation last spring, is fixed white, catoptric, elevated 31 feet above the summer level of the lake, and visible, in clear weather, 10 miles from all points of approach. The lowest tender received for doing this work was $2,600. As this was considered excessive the work was done by the Department under the superintendence of Mr. Noble, Foreman of Works, at a total cost of $1,914.37, but modifications were made from the plans on which tenders were asked by substituting iron and stone for a wooden pier, which greatly enhanced the cost and also improved the durability of the structure.

Keeper Caza continued to serve as keeper of the light until 1892, when Donald McKillop was placed in charge. Keeper McKillop looked after the light until 1921, when an AGA light was placed in the tower, and the light was automated. Prior to automation, Keeper McKillop would sound a hand-operated foghorn in response to signals from vessels. Just 100 feet north of the lighthouse, the channel had a depth of seventeen feet.

A 1922 Light List shows that the lighthouse at Saint-Anicet was no longer standing. Rather, a gas buoy, anchored 150 feet west of the pier on which the lighthouse stood, was exhibiting an occulting white light.

In 1979, St. Anicet Shoal Light D27 was placed in operation. This light is exhibited from a white circular tower that extends from a circular pier.

Keepers: Donald McKillop (1875), Damase Caza (1875 – 1892), Donald McKillop (1892 – 1921).

References

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

A modern light marks St. Anicet Shoal today.

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