Long Point Light Station Dwelling is a wooden, two-and-a-half storey double dwelling. Built in 1876, it is located in the community of Crow Head, NL, along the northeast coast of the island portion of the province. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.
Formal Recognition Type
Registered Heritage Structure
Heritage Value
Long Point Light Station Dwelling was designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2006 because of its aesthetic, historic and cultural value.
Long Point Light Station Dwelling is located on the northeastern coast of the island of Newfoundland at the entrance to Notre Dame Bay, just outside of Twillingate. Its location provides an open view of the islands that dot this section of coast, of shipping activities and of icebergs that drift past in the spring. The dwelling has been well known to mariners and local residents since its construction and is perhaps the most prominent man-made landscape feature in the region.
Built in 1876 by Messrs Colman and Kelly, and possibly designed by Newfoundland Board of Works Official Inspector of Lighthouses and Public Buildings J.T. Neville, the double dwelling is an example of a Newfoundland light keeper’s house enlarged to accommodate two families. Decorative wood mouldings result such as eaves returns and window drip mouldings make this vernacular building stand out.
Twillingate was one of the largest centres for the cod and seal fisheries in nineteenth century Newfoundland, and the Long Point Light Station was a significant landmark for those seamen navigating the waters of Notre Dame Bay. It is also a physical reminder of the development of early navigational aids along the coast of Newfoundland. During the second half of the nineteenth century, the Newfoundland colonial government, in cooperation with Britain and Canada, established numerous inexpensive but effective light stations around its coastline. Long Point was established not because it was crucial to overseas shipping but for the welfare of countless ordinary fishermen and coastal traders engaged along the northeast coast.
Apart from its navigational role, Long Point was the base for life-saving and weather reporting services. Fishermen, sealers and hunters relied heavily on the services provided at Long Point and consequently held light-keepers in great esteem. While men toiled on the water and ice floes or along the coast, light-keepers kept a constant vigil.
Source: Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador property file “Crow Head – Long Point Light Station Dwelling – FPT 2900″
Character Defining Elements
All those environmental features that embody the purpose of the site, including:
-unobstructed view planes to and from dwelling;
-location and orientation of dwelling in respect to the surrounding environment;
-the geographical setting of the site on Long Point, and;
-the location at the edge of the Atlantic ocean.
All original features which relate to the age, style and purpose of the double dwelling including:
-simple, near-symmetrical facade and gabled volumes;
-cross gable roof;
-symmetrical alignment of roof-lines;
-mouldings at the eaves line and eave returns;
-wooden rain gutters;
-chimney style and placement;
-number of storeys;
-narrow wooden clapboard;
-wooden corner boards;
-regular pattern of window and door openings on facade;
-wooden window size, style, trim and placement;
-window drip mouldings supported by Classically inspired consoles;
-defined door openings for separate entrances as part of double dwelling;
-size, style, trim and placement of exterior wooden doors;
-fineness of eave and window detailing to emphasize bold form;
-typical white main exterior colour, and;
-dimension, location and orientation of dwelling.
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