| The Point Prim Lighthouse was constructed in 1845, the first lighthouse constructed on Prince Edward Island and one of the oldest surviving lighthouses in Canada. The Point Prim Lighthouse, which went into service in 1846, is located at the southeastern entrance to Hillsborough Bay, at the outer approach to Charlottetown Harbour. The Point Prim Lighthouse protects marine traffic from the extensive reefs at the entrance to Hillsborough Harbour and points the way into Charlottetown Harbour. It is the only lighthouse on PEI to have the Federal Heritage Review Board designation of CLASSIFIED.
Isaac Smith, designed the Point Prim Lighthouse. However, he is best known for having designed Province House. In April 1845, £550 was allotted to defray the cost of the construction of the lighthouse. Richard Walsh was hired to build the lighthouse and construction was completed by December 1845.
The Point Prim Lighthouse is 18.5 m (60.7 ft) in height from base to vane and its focal height is 25.0 m. The Point Prim Lighthouse is a circular brick lighthouse which is very unusual in Canada. Only one other circular brick lighthouse exists in Canada, the Fisgard Lighthouse at the entrance to Esquimalt Harbour,British Columbia.
Circular lighthouses made from stone are more common in Canada. The brick on the Lighthouse weathered quickly and in 1847, the brick had to be covered. It was first covered with clapboard and later with shingles. The foundation, made from stone, has been covered in concrete. The Lighthouse displays the usual Coast Guard color schemes with the basic structure painted white with the lantern and doorway painted red. The Lighthouse's four windows are situated on the west wall, each directly above the other.
The interior of the Point Prim Lighthouse consists of four levels connected by steep wooden stairs. The brick can be seen from the interior and the wall is about a foot thick. There is a central weight shaft which runs from the ground floor to the light platform. In 1958 the light was comverted from fixed to flashing as marine traffic found it difficult to distinguish the light from the headlights of Irish Moss fisherman who use their headlights to search for the Irish Moss.
Many of the buildings that once stood close to the Point Prim Lighthouse have disappeared. The small dwelling that was built shortly after the lighthouse, is now a small cottage not far from the lighthouse. The dwelling was so small that it was not suitable for year round accommodation for the light keeper's family, so the light keeper would have to remain alone at night during navigation season. The horse shed was removed and is now located at MacAuley's Wharf where it is used as a bait shed. The oil storage building is now located one mile away from the tower. The well house has also been removed.
At the north end of the point, there were at one time some small cabins and a warehouse used by the Irish Moss fishermen. The cabins are gone but the warehouse remains. The warehouse has been bought by a local group, the Lighthouse Artists Cooperative. This group renovated the building and now operates it as a tea room and gallery during the summer.
The Point Prim Lighthouse has seen many light keepers since 1845. John Ings was the first light keeper from 1846 until August 19 , 1854. Ings actually lived on the second floor of the lighthouse while the keeper's dwelling was being built. From 1854-1857, Ewen MacLeod took care of the Lighthouse. John Gillies and Donald MacPherson looked after the Lighthouse when MacLeod became sick and until Finlay MacDonald was appointed keeper on August 6th, 1857. Ten years later on July 1st, 1867, Simon Murchinson became the keeper of the light. From 1870 until 1872, Finlay MacDonald manned the light. Alex John MacRae held the position for about a year from June 15th, 1872 until June 3rd, 1873. Micheal MacLeod took over from MacRae and manned the light until 1910. Alex John MacRae(Sandy) became light keeper hi 1910 and Simon A. MacLean took over in 1912 and manned the light until 1920. Angus Murchison manned the light for 35 years, leaving the position in 1955. The next two light keepers were temporary keepers until a permanent keeper could be found. Manson Murchison held the position from September 1st to 7th, 1955 and Norman Gillis from September 8th till February 23rd. Manson Murchison was the last light keeper at the Point Prim Lighthouse. He held the position from 1956 until March 10th, 1969 when the light became automated.
Two of the Point Prim light keepers have reported seeing strange occurrences during their watch. Manson Murchison and Angus Murchison both claim to have seen the Phantom Ship. The Phantom Ship is a ship that appears all ablaze in the Northumberland Strait and has been sighted by many people. Manson Murchison tells of observing the ghostly apparition just west of Pictou one dark night. The ship looked so real to Angus Murchison that he opened the light in the spring of the year, which keepers were required to do if a ship was sighted in the Northumberland Strait. By the time Angus got the light working, the ship had disappeared.
During the winter months, many of the lighthouses are shut down as there is very little marine traffic. During the winters of 1942 to 1945, several Island lighthouses remained open, one being Point Prim. They were kept open to aid in night flying by the British Commonwealth Air Training School.
The area surrounding the Lighthouse is now a picnic area that is kept and maintained by the Women's Institute of Point Prim and Mt. Buchan. The lighthouse has interesting displays and artifacts. It is open to the public in the summer.
To locate the Point Prim Lighthouse, on Route 1 of the Trans Canada Highway, look for the turn off to Point Prim on Route 209 between Eldon and Pinette. At the end of the road, turn left and go through the woods to the lighthouse.
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