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Exploring the Lighthouse                                                                                                                                          Exploring the Lighthouse



            ...The Program                                                                                                                                                    A Brief History of the Lighthouse...






            own community, we wanted to provide an opportunity for them to visit                                                                                              SSheringham Point Lighthouse was built in 1912, and illuminated for the   Creation of the Light-
            Sheringham Point Lighthouse, to learn about its history and operations,                                                                                           first time on September 30 of that year.                            house began in 1911,      Under construction - 1912
            to appreciate its significance and understand why it is being conserved.  It                                                                                                                                                          with the purchase of 4
            was also our hope to inspire them – and, through them, their families and                                                                                         The Lighthouse was built in response to the tragic wreck of the steamship   acres of land from Shir-
            friends – to take a personal interest in further exploring their community                                                                                        SS Valencia, on January 22, 1906.  En route from San Francisco to Victoria   ley resident Edwin Clark.
            and helping to protect and celebrate the future of the Lighthouse.                                                                                                and Seattle, late at night and in rough weather, the Valencia missed the   The following year, the
                                                                                                                                                                              turn into the Strait of Juan de Fuca and steamed directly on to the rocks   lighthouse tower was
            We developed a short program, called “Exploring the Lighthouse”.  This has                                                                                        near Pachena Point.  Of the 173 people aboard, 136 were lost.       built, along with a small
            several parts:                                                                                                                                                                                                                        boathouse and a house
            1.  History and Operations – we provide a short presentation outlining                                                                                                                                                                for the lighkeeper and
               the history of the Lighthouse, and also talk about how lighthouses                                                                                             Newly completed - ca 1912                                           his family.  The first
               work and their role in maritime safety and community development.                                                                                                                                                                  lightkeeper, Eustace Ar-
            2.  Visit to the Lighthouse – the students visit the Lighthouse to see first-                                                                                                                                                         den, arrived in Septem-
               hand what it’s all about, and to experience its remarkable character                                                                                                                                                               ber, and continued at the
               and ambience.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      site until 1946.
            3.  Reflections – we ask the students to creatively express their impres-
               sions of the Lighthouse site by:                                 Focused in on the visit to the Lighthouse                                                                                                                         The light itself was
                   •   Taking photographs while they are at the site, focusing on the                                                                                                                                                             a 3rd Order Fresnel
                       features that capture their attention/imagination.                                                                                                                                                                         Lens.  Originally lit by
                   •   Writing and illustrating a story (either fictional or non-fic-                                                                                                                                                             oil lamps (and later by
                       tion) about a Lighthouse.                                                                                                                                                                                                  electric lamps), it was
            4.  Commemorative Book - we compiled the students’ photographs,                                                                                                                                                                       made up of many prisms
               stories and art work into this commemorative book, which is being   It is the Society’s hope that we will be able to find the resources to make                                                                                    which focused the light
               provided on-line to all of the children, their families and the whole   this project an annual event, and to include all the schools in the local                                                                                  into a powerful beam
               school community.                                                area.                                                                                                                                                             that could be seen up to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  25 km away.  The lens ro-


                  Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society                                                                           Page 6                                 Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society                                                                           Page 7
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