Quirpon Island Lightkeeper’s Residence is a semi-detached, two storey wooden structure with a truncated hipped roof. Located at Cape Bauld on Quirpon Island, this residence is part of a grouping of marine navigational aid buildings, situated at the edge of the Atlantic ocean on the northernmost point of the island of Newfoundland. The designation of this house is confined to the footprint of the building.
Formal Recognition Type
Registered Heritage Structure
Heritage Value
Quirpon Island Lightkeeper’s Residence was designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2004 because of its historic and aesthetic value.
Quirpon Island Lightkeeper’s Residence has historic value due to its ties with transportation in both Newfoundland and Canada. The Cape Bauld lighthouse station was established as an aid for ships taking the “fast route” from Europe to Canada via the Strait of Belle Isle. Before the introduction of steamships, sailing vessels were forced to take the longer route past Cape Race as they were unable to navigate through the narrow, treacherous strait. Steamships were able to safely use the Cape Bauld route, decreasing sea time. For the residents in the surrounding areas, the Cape Bauld light station is historically significant as it is a lasting reminder of a time in Newfoundland’s history when Cape Bauld played an important role in the lives and safety of so many people travelling past the Great Northern Peninsula.
Quirpon Island Lightkeeper’s Residence has aesthetic value because it is a good example of a specific lightkeeper dwelling design developed by the Department of Marine and Fisheries in the early twentieth century. This two-storey wooden building was designed with a symmetrical front façade and truncated hipped roof with shed dormers, typical of many lightkeeper’s dwellings throughout Newfoundland. The wooden shingle cladding used to cover the residence is typical of this type of building due to its ability to withstand harsh coastal weather conditions. Like most other lighthouse structures in the province, this building is painted bright white with red trim and a red roof making it visible from sea against its barren surroundings.
According to the Coast Guard records, this dwelling was one of seven structures built using a specific plan administered by the Department of Marine and Fisheries. Certain decorative features in this plan, for example the wood working along the porch on the front façade, were simplified during the building of the lightkeeper’s residence at Cape Bauld, resulting in a much more modest looking building. Currently, this building is the last remaining lightkeeper’s dwelling of this particular series still standing.
Quirpon Island Lightkeeper’s Residence at Cape Bauld has further aesthetic value due to its environmental setting. Light stations are landmarks by nature and thus the location of the lightkeeper’s house as a part of the light station complex is important. The bright colours of the structures on the island contrast greatly with the barren environment, creating a visible landmark for passing ships at sea. This cluster of buildings is located at the northernmost point of the island of Newfoundland.
Source: Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador property file “Cape Bauld – Quirpon Island Lightkeeper’s Residence – FPT 2188”
Character Defining Elements
All original features which relate to the age and style of the building including:
-number of storeys;
-truncated hipped roof;
-size, style and placement of chimneys;
-size, style, trim and placement of shed dormers cut through roofline;
-wooden shingle cladding;
-wooden corner boards;
-size, style, trim and placement of wooden windows;
-size, style, trim and placement of exterior wooden doors;
-symmetrical façade;
-size, style, trim and placement of open porch on front facade;
-size, style, trim and placement of enclosed porch on rear facade;
-simplicity of exterior decoration;
-typical white exterior paint with red trim;
-dimensions, location and orientation of building, and;
-all remaining original interior features that reflect the age, style and usage of the building.
All those features which relate to the building’s environmental setting, including:
-location and context, and;
-positioning relative to coastline and light tower.
Google map
Linkum Tours Website
