Henry Island (Nova Scotia)
Encyclopedia
Henry Island is an island
located in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
in the Northumberland Strait
of Nova Scotia
, Canada
, just east of Prince Edward Island
and southwest of Port Hood Island.
s refer to the island as Iles aux Jestico or Juste-au-Corps, the previous county
name of the current-day Inverness County, Nova Scotia
. There is some debate over the origin of the current name, Henry. One theory has it that the island was named for Henry Hood, son of Admiral
Samuel Hood, commander-in-chief
of the Royal Navy
of North America
in the late 18th century. Others think it may have been named for Prince William Henry, the uncle of Queen Victoria.
The first person known to have settled the island was James Campbell during the 18th century. By this time an area of great maritime activity, a lighthouse
existed on the summit as early as 1854. During the period of the Canadian-American Reciprocity Treaty
which was in effect from 1854 to 1866, fishermen set up temporary camps each summer on Henry Island. Soon after the treaty expired the area was overcome by economic depression. Nearly 30 years later, the original lighthouse was replaced with the currently standing 53 feet (16.2 m) red and white lighthouse in 1902 under the supervision of foreman Jim MacDonnell of Margaree Harbor, Nova Scotia for a total cost of $3,489. The current lighthouse remains the property of the Canadian Coast Guard
. An adjacent house had also been constructed in 1901. This new lighthouse had been a campaign promise of Parliament
member Angus MacLennan
, M.D. The first three lighthouse keepers were relatives and descendants of MacLennan: John MacLennan from 1901, Daniel MacLennan, starting in 1907, and Charles MacLennan, the father of a local shopkeeper, Sadie Murphy. The last known keeper before the lighthouse was automated was Sterling Morrison, who became keeper in 1961 for a very brief period. By 1992, the adjacent house had not been lived in for 40 years and had been vandalized, and a nearby shed destroyed. The island was purchased by Dr. William F. Baker
, who undertook the restoration of the home back to its original state.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
located in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
Gulf of Saint Lawrence
The Gulf of Saint Lawrence , the world's largest estuary, is the outlet of North America's Great Lakes via the Saint Lawrence River into the Atlantic Ocean...
in the Northumberland Strait
Northumberland Strait
The Northumberland Strait is a strait in the southern part of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in eastern Canada...
of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, just east of Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
and southwest of Port Hood Island.
Geography
Consisting of 150 acre (0.607029 km²) of mostly forested tract, the 2½ mile long by 1 miles (1.6 km) wide island has up to 100 feet (30.5 m) cliffs along the west shore, and beaches of shallow shoals along the east shore. The water along the west shore reaches depths of up to 80 feet (24.4 m). There are no year-round residents. Privately owned, the family inhabits the island in the summer.History
Early nautical chartNautical chart
A nautical chart is a graphic representation of a maritime area and adjacent coastal regions. Depending on the scale of the chart, it may show depths of water and heights of land , natural features of the seabed, details of the coastline, navigational hazards, locations of natural and man-made aids...
s refer to the island as Iles aux Jestico or Juste-au-Corps, the previous county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
name of the current-day Inverness County, Nova Scotia
Inverness County, Nova Scotia
Inverness County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Its territory is almost contiguous with the Municipality of Inverness County, which only excludes the town of Port Hawkesbury and First Nation reserves.-History:...
. There is some debate over the origin of the current name, Henry. One theory has it that the island was named for Henry Hood, son of Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Samuel Hood, commander-in-chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
in the late 18th century. Others think it may have been named for Prince William Henry, the uncle of Queen Victoria.
The first person known to have settled the island was James Campbell during the 18th century. By this time an area of great maritime activity, a lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
existed on the summit as early as 1854. During the period of the Canadian-American Reciprocity Treaty
Canadian-American Reciprocity Treaty
The Canadian American Reciprocity Treaty, also known as the Elgin-Marcy Treaty, was a trade treaty between the colonies of British North America and the United States. It covered raw materials and was in effect from 1854 to 1865...
which was in effect from 1854 to 1866, fishermen set up temporary camps each summer on Henry Island. Soon after the treaty expired the area was overcome by economic depression. Nearly 30 years later, the original lighthouse was replaced with the currently standing 53 feet (16.2 m) red and white lighthouse in 1902 under the supervision of foreman Jim MacDonnell of Margaree Harbor, Nova Scotia for a total cost of $3,489. The current lighthouse remains the property of the Canadian Coast Guard
Canadian Coast Guard
The Canadian Coast Guard is the coast guard of Canada. It is a federal agency responsible for providing maritime search and rescue , aids to navigation, marine pollution response, marine radio, and icebreaking...
. An adjacent house had also been constructed in 1901. This new lighthouse had been a campaign promise of Parliament
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
member Angus MacLennan
Angus MacLennan
Angus MacLennan, MD was a Canadian politician.Born in Dunvegan, on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island, MacLennan was the Liberal Member of Parliament for the Canadian riding of Inverness from 1896 to 1908....
, M.D. The first three lighthouse keepers were relatives and descendants of MacLennan: John MacLennan from 1901, Daniel MacLennan, starting in 1907, and Charles MacLennan, the father of a local shopkeeper, Sadie Murphy. The last known keeper before the lighthouse was automated was Sterling Morrison, who became keeper in 1961 for a very brief period. By 1992, the adjacent house had not been lived in for 40 years and had been vandalized, and a nearby shed destroyed. The island was purchased by Dr. William F. Baker
William F. Baker
William Franklin Baker is an American television executive. He is Executive in Residence at Columbia University School of Business, Journalist in Residence at Fordham University and the Claudio Aquaviva Chair at the Graduate School of Education, and President Emeritus of Educational Broadcasting...
, who undertook the restoration of the home back to its original state.