Quebec Head Wolfe Island Statistics

Quebec Head Lighthouse, Wolfe Island Statistics

Location: On the St. Lawrence River, on the east end of Wolfe Island, Ontario. Nearest town: Kingston.

Wolfe Island is one of the only islands in the Thousand Islands to have two light houses. Perhaps it is because Wolfe Island is about 54 square miles and it is the largest island in the area.

The lighthouse at the eastern end or “the foot” of Wolfe Island has had many names over the years. The names include Port Metcalf, East Point Light, Hemlock Point and Quebec Head and Quebec Point. The name that seemed to stick, however, is Quebec Head.

Wolfe Island, like Grenadier Island, was a different setting for the keeper than many of the Thousand Island lighthouses already established. Largest of the Thousand Islands (approximately 24,000 acres); it did not represent the isolated setting that most of the lighthouses did. Wolfe Island was a busy farming community, long before the government established it lighthouses. Serious settlement began in 1823, the year after the island became officially Canadian. The population that year consisted of only fifteen families, but it increased steadily, peaking at 3,601 in 1861, coincident with the establishment of the Wolfe Island Light. –Mary Alice Snetsinger (Lighthouse researcher).

Also possibly because Wolfe Island was near a farming community, and light keepers had other opportunities for income—Wolfe Island keepers were paid less than keepers in other isolated areas. Notice for example, the following article:

British Whig, (Kingston), March 1, 1883

P.3 OUR MARINE INTERESTS

The annual report of the Minister of Marine & Fisheries gives the following statistics of a local character: Number of sailing vessels registered here 208 (298 ?); number of steamers, 58; gross tonnage, 11,526, steamers; total net tonnage 27,189. The salary of Mr. Peter Kiel, Fishery Inspector of the district, is $200 per annum. The salary of Mr. P. Harty, Light-house Inspector, is $1,000 and expenses; that of Mr. Cook, keeper of the light at Gananoque Narrows $400; A. Dunlop, Nine-Mile Point, $400; John Prinyer, Point Pleasant, $300; W.H. Sherwood, Presqu' Isle, $375; L. Hudgins, Salmon Point, $300; R. Pye, Scotch Bonnet, $400; N.T. Orr, Snake Island, $495; D. McIntosh, South Bay, $112.50; R. Young, Weller's Bay, $150; R. Gillespie, Wolfe Island, $250.

Editor’s Note: Notice Robert Gillespie of Wolfe Island was paid $250 per year while N.T. ORR of Snake Island was paid $495. The duties were most likely the same—so the only thing I can think that would merit more pay was the isolated location of Snake Island.

There were probably at least two lighthouses at the foot of Wolfe Island. The first lighthouse was established in 1861. The second lighthouse was established around 1910. It is unknown what happened to the first tower. With the oil for burning the light nearby—it is not hard to imagine that the first tower may have burned down.

The second tower was a white pyramidal wooden tower. Reports say it was between 21 and 36 feet high. It had a fixed white light that was visible for approximately 12 miles.

The 1877 annual inspection report stated:

“The lighthouse is placed on Quebec Point, and is a square white building, containing a fixed catoptric light, 36 feet high. The light consists of three No. 1 flat wick lamps, with three 15-inch reflectors. The lantern is of iron, six feet in diameter. Mr. Robert GILLESPIE, the Keeper, has four children, and he keeps his light in good order. The lighthouse requires painting. Eight new window sashes are required for the dwelling, of 20 lights each; size of glass 7 x 9 inches. The Keeper was ordered to procure the same.” –Mary Alice Snetsinger (Lighthouse researcher)

The Quebec Head light was one of the last of the Thousand Islands lights to lose its lightkeeper. It is first listed an “unwatched light” in 1960.

The GILLESPIE family of Wolfe Island is closely associated with the lighthouse. See the genealogy information on that family.

The Islands: Lighthouses:Wolfe Island: Quebec Head: Stats