Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Sooke Elementary School Exploring the Lighthouse Division 2 2023-2024
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 2 SHERINGHAM POINT LIGHTHOUSE PRESERVATION SOCIETY Project Team (Change Canada Consultants Ltd.): Ian Fawcett (Project Manager) Kathleen Arnason (Project Coordinator) Bill Turner (Project Advisor) Commemorative Book designed and written by Ian Fawcett. SPLPS: John Walls (President) Contact: [email protected] Address: PO Box 1002, Sooke, BC V9Z 1J1 Website: http://sheringhamlighthouse.ca http://changecanadaconsultants.com Cover photo: Marley Cover inset: Clariza Back photo: Ruth
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 3 Exploring the Lighthouse Sooke Elementary Division 2 Contents The Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society........................................................................4 Exploring the Lighthouse............................................................................................................................ 5 Exploring the Lighthouse - The Program..................................................................................................6 A Brief History of the Lighthouse...............................................................................................................7 Exploring the Lighthouse - Reflecting What You See..............................................................................9 Exploring the Lighthouse - Telling Your Stories...................................................................................10 Photographs and Stories from the Students in Division 2 (Ms. Stupich’s Class)................................11 A BigThank You .........................................................................................................................................63 Raising Funds to Protect the Lighthouse..............................................................................................64 Unintended Consequences.......................................................................................................................65
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 4 The Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society In 2003, the Government of Canada declared that the historic Sheringham Point Lighthouse was no longer needed to ensure maritime safety in the Juan de Fuca Strait. Advances in technology meant that the Lighthouse could now be discarded — torn down, sold off for other uses or, simply, left to rot and eventually to fall apart. In response, a small group of neighbours gathered to form the Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society. They were determined that the Lighthouse, which had stood for almost 100 years as a symbol of their community, would not be lost. For the next twelve years, the Society’s volunteers worked extremely hard to fight for the Lighthouse’s protection, doing everything they could to raise awareness about the threat to their community heritage. They rallied their community, local businesses and other groups, lobbied and strategized with all levels of government, raised funds and, eventually, put forward a plan to take on the responsibility to care for and conserve the Lighthouse themselves. In 2015, the Society’s efforts were successful. The government agreed to transfer the property to the Society and also, at the same time, they officially designated Sheringham Point Lighthouse a “Canadian Heritage Lighthouse”. As the new owners and stewards, the Society worked for the next seven years to restore the Lighthouse to its former glory, and to make sure it will always be accessible for the public to enjoy and appreciate. The Lighthouse is now protected and is open to the public as a community heritage park.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 5 Children today have a greater range of opportunities open to them than at any time in recent history, and greater freedoms than ever before. Thriving in this chaotic environment requires an ability for all children to be able to find a strong foundation from which they can build their lives, achieve their full potential and realize their dreams. For most of us, that foundation starts with the family, and extends outward into the community. Just as a tree needs deep roots to grow tall and strong, so does a child draw nourishment and vitality from his or her own roots, from the comfort of belonging, from having a place to call home. Understanding and, in particular, experiencing their own connections to the people and places around them is invaluable for children in so many ways. Learning about their own and their community’s history provides a base from which they can explore their world and help them answer that most fundamental of questions: “How did this come to be?” Our history is not just an academic pursuit to be left to historians. It’s not just about dates and far-off locations, nor is it just about great battles, world-shaking events, the comings and goings of kings and queens and presidents. It’s also about the lives of the people who lived here before, their struggles and triumphs, their thoughts and ideas that nurtured their families, built their communities and shaped their world. It’s about the stories our grandfathers told us, and those from our neighbours. We all have stories in our lives and they are, in their way, as full of drama and intrigue as any of the great sagas of our history classes. It is our stories that shape us, that make us who we are. Our history – our heritage – is best lived and experienced, understood through the things we can see and touch and feel, and passed on in a way that warms our hearts and feeds our imaginations. It’s why we need to work hard to conserve, appreciate and celebrate our heritage — not just the castles and stately mansions, but the cottages and the old lighthouses as well. Those remnants of our past have stories to tell. “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” ~ Albert Einstein Exploring the Lighthouse Sooke Elementary Division 2
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 6 ...The Program To help children in the local area strengthen their connections to their own community, we wanted to provide an opportunity for them to visit Sheringham Point Lighthouse, to learn about its history and operations, to appreciate its significance and understand why it is being conserved. It was also our hope to inspire them – and, through them, their families and friends – to take a personal interest in further exploring their community and helping to protect and celebrate their heritage and the future of the Lighthouse. We developed this short program, called “Exploring the Lighthouse”. This program has several parts: 1. History and Operations – we provide a short presentation outlining the history of the Lighthouse, and also talk about how lighthouses work and their role in maritime safety and community development. 2. Visit to the Lighthouse – the students visit the Lighthouse to see firsthand what it’s all about, and to experience its remarkable character and ambience. 3. Reflections – we ask the students to creatively express their impressions of the Lighthouse site by: • Taking photographs while they are at the site, focusing on the features that capture their attention/imagination. • Writing a story (either fictional or non-fiction) about a Lighthouse. 4. Commemorative Book - we compile the students’ photographs and stories into this commemorative book, which is being provided online to all the children, their families and the whole community. Exploring the Lighthouse It is the Society’s hope that we will be able to find the ongoing resources to make this project an annual event, and to make it available to all the elementary schools in the local area, with the result being that all children growing up in this part of the world will have the opportunity – through their visit to the lighthouse – to better understand and appreciate the community they call home. Focused in on the visit to the Lighthouse
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 7 A Brief History of the Lighthouse... Sheringham Point Lighthouse was built in 1912, and illuminated for the first time on September 30 of that year. The Lighthouse was built in response to the tragic wreck of the steamship SS Valencia, on January 22, 1906. En route from San Francisco to Victoria and Seattle, late at night and in rough weather, the Valencia missed the turn into the Strait of Juan de Fuca and steamed directly on to the rocks near Pachena Point. Of the 173 people aboard, 136 were lost. Creation of the Lighthouse began in 1911, with the purchase of 4 acres of land from Shirley resident Edwin Clark. The following year, the lighthouse tower was built, along with a small boathouse and a house for the lighkeeper and his family. The first lightkeeper, Eustace Arden, arrived in September 1912, and continued at the site until 1946. The light itself was a 3rd Order Fresnel Lens. Originally lit by oil lamps (and later by electric lamps), it was made up of many prisms which focused the light into a powerful beam that could be seen up to 25 km away. The lens Exploring the Lighthouse Under construction - 1912 Newly completed - ca 1912
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 8 rotated through a clockwork mechanism of pulleys and weights – each about180 kg – that had to be re-wound every three hours. Because of the size and weight of the lens, it was seated in a bed of liquid mercury, to allow it to turn without much friction. In 1925, a fog-alarm building was added to the site, and a new “diaphone” (two-tone) fog-horn was installed. Originally a wooden, peaked-roof building, constructed in front of the tower, this building was replaced in 1976 with the concrete block building that is still on site. The diesel engines that provided power for the site were also located in this building. A number of other structures were added to the site over the years, including radio towers and sheds, a fallout shelter (that was actually never used as such, but came to be used to grow mushrooms instead), other utility buildings and, in 1964, a new, more modern house for the Lightkeeper. During the 1980s, the Lighthouse was automated and it was finally destaffed in 1989 when the last lightkeeper left. Except for the tower and the engine room (fog-alarm building), all the other structures on site were taken down, or deliberately burned, to avoid vandalism. Left largely unattended for the next thirty years, the Lighthouse began to deteriorate and was in danger of being lost forever. Then, after many years of lobbying by the local community, in 2015, it was transferred to the Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society. It has now been restored to its former glory, and is open to the public as a community heritage park. ...A Brief History of the Lighthouse Exploring the Lighthouse Following construction of the fog alarm building - ca 1926 Following construction of the boat house - 1912
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 9 Exploring the Lighthouse “The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.” ~ Dorothea Lange, Photographer Reflecting what you see... Photography is a powerful tool for exploring the world around us. It causes us to focus more intently on what we are looking at, to look more closely, pay attention to the details, and take nothing for granted. It creates an intimate connection with the subject and with the environment that surrounds it. While it’s a very personal process, the end result is universal. To appreciate a photograph requires no ability to read, no language in common, no prerequisite level of education or life experience. Just an ability to see and to feel, and a willingness to participate. For this part of the program, we provided each student with a cell phone camera and some basic instruction in its use, as well as a brief overview of the art of photography. Then we asked them to take photographs while they were at the lighthouse, focusing on the things that caught their attention and/or their imagination. When we returned to the school later, each student chose his or her favourite photo, and explained why they chose it. There were lots of amazing photographs – creative and insightful! The following pages showcase their chosen photographs. Enjoy! “Photography represents the world we know, and suggests a world beyond what we can see. Creativity is the gap between perception and knowledge.” ~ Emmet Gowin, Photographer
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 10 Exploring the Lighthouse “Tell me the facts and I’ll learn. Tell me the truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever.” ~ An old First Nations proverb “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” ~ Rudyard Kipling, Author Telling your stories... Story-telling has always formed the underlying basis of human communication. Our stories are the ways that we connect ourselves to one another and to our communities. They help define who we are and where come from. Children naturally understand the power of story-telling, and we wanted to provide them with tools and strategies to explore and expand their own story-telling abilities, to share their own stories and to learn from others. Author Kathleen Arnason spoke to the students about the basic elements of creative writing, focusing on getting the children to explore their own feelings and values and to think about what is important and has meaning for them. Each student was asked to write a story (factual or fictional) about a lighthouse, incorporating what they had learned and what they had seen throughout the day. The following pages contain the results of that work, and they speak for themselves. Kathleen talks about the importance of storytelling and creativity. Ian tells the story about how the Lighthouse was built.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 11 Photographs and Poems from the Students in Division 2 (Ms. Stupich’s class) Exploring the Lighthouse
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 12 Alanna’s Pages OCEAN VIEW “I like this photo because of the beautiful ocean and all the nature.” Alanna’s Photo Selection:
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 13 Alanna’s Pages (continued) THE TINY LIGHTHOUSE by Alanna There was a tiny blue and white lighthouse. In the middle of the great ginormous sea. Sitting on a tiny rock. It sat there through lightning, hail, sunlight, snow and rain, bouncing off it. Like tiny little pebbles into the ocean.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 14 Amya’s Pages THE WAVE “I chose this photo because I love the water.” Amya’s Photo Selection:
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 15 Amya’s Pages (continued) SUNSET by Amya Roses are red, violets are blue. I love how flowers bloom. When the wind starts to blow my hair, I feel like I’m dancing in the air. When the ocean crashed on to the lighthouse, then the birds flew through the sunset sky. As I sit on the rock happily watching the sunset. Yellow like a sunflower in the meadow. After the sunset I quiet tiptoe to my bed.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 16 Andrea’s Pages THE SIDEWAYS LOG “I chose this photo because it made me really curious. Maybe a storm left it there?” Andrea’s Photo Selection:
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 17 Andrea’s Pages (continued) THE LIGHTHOUSE by Andrea There were long trees blowing in the wind oh a roasting. I could heard the crinkling of leaves on the trees when it rains. The squishy moss gets really wet. Long beautiful and colorful flowers swaying in the wind. The crimson and white lighthouse was crusty and rusty. It was as quiet as tiptoeing to the bathroom at night. You can smell seaweed.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 18 Avery’s Pages ROCKS “I chose this photo because it’s pretty and I eat rocks!” Avery’s Photo Selection:
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 19 Avery’s Pages (continued) THE LIGHTHOUSE by Avery I could hear the birds chirping and the ocean consulting. I looked up at the big red and white lighthouse admiring its winsomeness. I saw the birds flying and singing, I spotted flowers swaying in the breeze, the grass as green as ever and the sky bright blue. The birds keep chirping and even a couple land on the lighthouse. My hair sways in the breeze and I can feel the wind on my face. I close my eyes as I feel my body relax. I feel more calm. The sun starts to set and the sky turns many different colors. It’s time to go home now, Goodbye lighthouse.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 20 Chalisa’s Pages THE WALL “I chose this photo because it would be a really nice example of hopping the border in my story.” Chalisa’s Photo Selection:
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 21 Chalisa’s Pages (continued) THE WALL... by Chalisa The water splashes on my face It’s going quite the fast pace The boats horn loudly calling my name . The wall is my Only escape. I tremble with Fear as the time is here, I hop the wall and on to the Cold wood dock only to see nobody where is my family? I thought they’d be here ? A small boat in front of me has tape on the Window I ran to the boat and in through the Door as the guards chase me, I rip off the Rope it feels like tangled hair I slowly breathe The air as I set off on my own journey.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 22 Clariza’s Pages WATER BELLS “I loved the photo because of the bluebells. I chose it because it looked awesome with the lighthouse.” Clariza’s Photo Selection:
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 23 Clariza’s Pages (continued) THE LIGHTHOUSE by Clariza Beautiful sky shining down. Lighthouse so hefty, it hovers over all of us. The paint as white as a cloud. The ocean as quiet as the moon. Lightbulb so bright like the sun, can’t even look even if you try. Some things are bright some are not. Daisies and Bluebells dancing in the air like the ocean waves sway in the air.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 24 Cooper’s Pages Cooper’s Photo Selection: Cooper wasn’t able to be with us when we went to the lighthouse. But if he had been, we think he’d have taken photographs like this. It reminds us of his poem.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 25 Cooper’s Pages (continued) OCEAN FREE by Cooper As I stand from afar, I look to the lighthouse. The light giving guidance to ships at sea. The brown rust, sharp like tiny daggers. I can almost feel it just like the cold spring breeze. The lighthouse, so old and rigged. So out of touch but in a way it isn’t. The breeze so chilling yet still refreshing. And still you see The ocean wild, open and free.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 26 Emily’s Pages THE GREAT BLUE OCEAN “I chose this photo because it has great details and vey beautiful colours of blue. And you can see some bits of mountains.” Emily’s Photo Selection:
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 27 Emily’s Pages (continued) THE SHINY LIGHTHOUSE by Emily A long time ago, dark and blue as the sea at night. There was a lighthouse, shiny and red. There were a lot of people that went there. Just to see the beautiful lighthouse shine. The flowers would bloom every month, but April and August were the most busy months. But the place started getting low ratings. Because the lighthouse caught on fire! And so the lighthouse got taken down. But years and years later, people have saw the lighthouse and decided to call people and fix the lighthouse.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 28 Farrah’s Pages Farrah’s Photo Selection: Farrah wasn’t able to be with us when we went to the lighthouse. But if she had been there, we think she’d have taken photographs like this. It reminds us of her poem.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 29 Farrah’s Pages (continued) MY LIGHTHOUSE by Farrah Once there was a Lighthouse, far far away. Children would go there, to run around, and play. We saw big trees everyday. I could smell the ocean from afar. The ocean breeze was so cold like my hands. I went in the lighthouse, it was very fun. But now the day is over, it’s the end of the day. Goodbye Lighthouse, I’ll see you another day.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 30 Hunter’s Pages THE SEAWEED OCEAN “I liked this photo because in it the sea is glittering, and I also like shiny things.” Hunter’s Photo Selection:
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 31 THE LIGHTHOUSE by Hunter Hunter’s Pages (continued) Standing on the rocks, The breeze cool in my hair, Off in the distance, I see, A giant red and white lighthouse, With jagged edges, And a rusty old top, The light shining like the brightest moon, The sea sparkling and shining, Like the night sky, The sound of waves crashing, I see the birds flying high above, The trees swaying in the breeze, I feel calm and peaceful, That is the lighthouse, Tall and free.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 32 Johnny’s Pages THE ROCKY COVE “I chose this photo because of the extraordinary atmosphere and the ocean-front house was unique.” Johnny’s Photo Selection:
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 33 Johnny’s Pages (continued) THE LIGHTHOUSE POEM by Johnny There was a man, wise like Master Oogway. He set to sea to find a lost lighthouse . Before he left he kissed his wife and 4 kids goodbye. “I’ll be back.” He was a brave man, some said he was brave like the alpha willing to save his pack. As he set to sea he thought, “How am I going to find it?” But he remembered his dad’s last words before he died. “You must find the lighthouse, it means so much to me…” His dad said follow the sea line and you will find it. As he followed the sea line, he smelt the salty fresh ocean. And he got to the lighthouse. He saw a note it read… the lighthouse holds a deep meaning you just have to find the meaning. He climbed the lighthouse and found out it still worked. He found out the meaning. His dad just wanted him to save the lighthouse. So he did, his family did too. The end…
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 34 Keegan’s Pages THE GREAT LIGHTHOUSE “I like this photo because if’s a clear picture of the lighthouse.” Keegan’s Photo Selection:
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 35 Keegan’s Pages (continued) THE LIGHTHOUSE by Keegan There was a seal, who lost his son so he went to the lighthouse and made it shine bright like a supernova. Because there was a dock nearby he saw a boat docking so he rushed down to the boat. He asked the man “have you seen my son?” The man said “Yes he’s on my boat here have him.” The seal was so excited and the seal and his son went home.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 36 Lily’s Pages FLOWER “I chose this photo because it is a flower and it is pretty.” Lily’s Photo Selection:
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 37 FLOWER by Lily Lily’s Pages (continued) The brown trees, big like mountains, leading down the path to the lighthouse. The fresh rain makes me happy as it calms me down. The grass swayed in the strong breeze. The blood red lighthouse staring from afar. The bright, beautiful flowers moving with the wind. The lighthouse is as lonely as the only one left.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 38 Mariama’s Pages Mariama’s Photo Selection: Mariama wasn’t able to be with us when we went to the lighthouse. But if she had been, we think she’d have taken photographs like this. It reminds us of her poem.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 39 LIGHTHOUSE by Mariama Mariama’s Pages (continued) The light house is really dusty that when I look at the trees I see it blowing the long thin grass like a fan, the light house is so huge that when u go inside it’s so old and silent to the point the ocean’s as loud as the light house.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 40 Marley’s Pages LAVENDER ESSENCE AND THE OCEAN BLUE SKY “I chose this photo because it spoke to me.” Marley’s Photo Selection:
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 41 Marley’s Pages (continued) LIGHTHOUSE by Marley I see the cold wet rain drops drip off on to the freshly watered grass that lays by the entrance of the lighthouse. The lighthouse is still standing after so many years, because of the people who helped, the owner’s shed lots of tears. The lighthouse is a place where so many people come to visit, people also “love” learning about the lighthouse and its history.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 42 Nathan’s Pages THE WAVEY WAVES “I chose this photo because I enjoyed the view very much.” Nathan’s Photo Selection:
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 43 ROSES IN THE SNOW by Nathan Nathan’s Pages (continued) The fish swim through the sea at lightning speeds, almost ripping out the Seaweed. The seagulls soaring into the air. It’s as cold as some winter air. As the rain falls from the trees, the beautiful flowers are blooming in the spring. The color of the lighthouse looked like roses in the snow.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 44 Noah’s Pages Noah wasn’t able to be with us when we went to the lighthouse. But if he had been, we think he’d have taken photographs like this. It reminds us of his poem. Noah’s Photo Selection:
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 45 Noah’s Pages (continued) THE CALMING LIGHTHOUSE by Noah A lighthouse is as calming as the quiet nature outside. A lighthouse is as old as a dinosaur fossil. A lighthouse is bright at night. A lighthouse stands in rain, getting stained with rust. A lighthouse is happy and nappy. A lighthouse is as strong as a shining star. A lighthouse is calming!
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 46 Rayah’s Pages THE DAY AT THE BEACH “I chose this photo because the mountains were beautiful.” Rayah’s Photo Selection:
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 47 Rayah’s Pages (continued) THE GREAT LIGHTHOUSE by Rayah While walking on the tall dazzling emerald grass I look up to see the lighthouse looking down on me I look at the rust on the roof I look at the great huge light. I feel a light breeze go down my neck. It’s as cold as the frigid glaciers in Antarctica. I look down and see the ocean looking up at me. I see the waves bounce off the rocks. I threw a rock into the ocean and wonder How deep it will go. I listen to the wind as if it could speak to me. I listen to the waves splashing. I hear the birds chirping. Next time come with me and see the great lighthouse and all the beauty it can be. Goodbye lighthouse. I hope you remember me.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 48 Rosie’s Pages LAVENDER HAZE “I chose this photo because of its beauty and also because it reminds me of Taylor Swift’s song “Lavender Haze”, so I named the picture Lavender Haze!!” Rosie’s Photo Selection:
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 49 Rosie’s Pages (continued) THE LIGHTHOUSE by Rosie As I stand on the tiny platform above the waves, the gentle breeze caresses over my shoulder like a gentle touch, delivering a feeling of calmness washing over me. As I walk inside the tall lighthouse, my voice echoes through the staircase like the sound of a whale song in the distance. When I stroll through the beautiful garden, I see delicate and colorful flowers dancing freely in the breeze. I copy their movement, swaying in the air, gleefully dancing. As I look at the deep blue ocean, I see whale pods swimming freely. I close my eyes, feeling the calm touch the wind delivers. Then I wake up in my bedroom, the sunlight shining through my bedroom window onto my face. What a dream…
Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 50 Rykir’s Pages SEASORE CLIFF “I chose this photo because I really like the dark blue water at the shore and the light blue water farther out.” Rykir’s Photo Selection: