Featured Point Of Interest
History
History Of The Garnish Lighthouse
Probably one of the most distinctive structures in Garnish is the lighthouse. The present Garnish Lighthouse and what you see in many publications has been repaired and rebuilt since it was first erected.
In 1874, the first Garnish lighthouse, or beacon, was built near the end of the town breakwater. On the south side of Fortune Bay, it was the first of its kind. Because of Garnish's position, it took a long time to build. Garnish was a way point for mail coming over the new road from Burin and bound for Harbour Breton in the year before regular coastal steamer service debuted in Fortune Bay; these mail packages needed access to Garnish harbour day or night. Moreover, unlike the sheltered beacons of Belleoram and Harbour Breton, the Garnish light was clearly visible at sea, serving as a signpost to mariners going for that part of the bay.
George T. Snelgrove was the first keeper of the light in 1874. Following his death in 1884, William Reeves, a Garnish schoolteacher, took on the additional responsibility of light keeper, which he held until 1911. He was succeeded by his son George, who was followed by his son George, who ran the light until the mid-1960s. Following the retirement of the younger George Reeves, the Federal Government built an automatic light, which was managed by Bert Marsh until it stopped working in 19(?) and was replaced by the current light at the breakwater's head.
