Swift Point Lighthouse

Swift Point Light

Swift Point Lighthouse in May 2024
Location	Saint John, Canada
Coordinates	45°16′57″N66°07′17″W / 45.28241°N 66.12135°W / 45.28241; -66.12135
Tower
Constructed	1869
Height	13.9 m (46 ft)
Shape	square pyramid
Power source	solar energy
Operator	Canadian Coast Guard
Light
Focal height	28.1 m (92 ft)
Characteristic	Fl G 4s

The Swift Point Lighthouse, also known as the Green Head Lighthouse, is an active lighthouse in Saint John, New Brunswick. Located along the entrance of the Saint John River, ^[1] Swift Point Lighthouse was built along the river along with five other lighthouses in 1869. The lighthouse is owned and operated by the Canadian Coast Guard, ^[2] and is accessible through a dirt road measuring around 1 kilometre (0.62 mi). ^[3] The area is a frequented hiking and geocaching spot. ^[4]

History

On August 20, 1869, Swift Point Lighthouse began operating along with five other lighthouses sitting by the Saint John River. Its first keeper was John Nelson Williams, who worked there from 1869 to 1889. The Swift Point Lighthouse was later rebuilt in 1896 due to the Department of Marine reporting it to be in bad condition. ^[5]

During the evening of June 14, 2017, the Swift Point Lighthouse caught fire. Due to remoteness of the tower, firefighters who travelled to the location by foot were unable to save the building on time, ^[2] and it was later rebuilt by the Canadian Coast Guard in January 2018 with an equipped solar power source. According to the fire department in Saint John, the cause of the fire was unable to be determined. ^[6]

References

1. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Canada: Southern New Brunswick". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . Retrieved May 13, 2024.
2. "Historic Saint John lighthouse destroyed by overnight fire". The Canadian Press . CTV Atlantic. June 14, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
3. Cromwell, Andrew (April 16, 2018). "Saint John lighthouse rebuilt less than a year after being destroyed by fire - New Brunswick". Global News . Retrieved May 13, 2024.
4. Wright, Julia (June 14, 2017). "Historic Saint John lighthouse destroyed by fire". CBC News . Retrieved May 13, 2024.
5. "Swift Point (Green Head) Lighthouse". LighthouseFriends. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
6. "Swift Point Lighthouse In West Saint John Rebuilt". 97.3 The Wave . February 7, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2024.