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Lighthouses of Newfoundland and Labrador Part 1

Canadian Connection

By: Text by Joan Foster/Photographs by Margaret Angel

King’s Cove Head Lighthouse, 16" x 18", wool yarn on linen. Designed and hooked by Alice Kelly, Gander, Newfoundland, 2012. Photo source: Photo by Kraig Anderson of Lighthouse Friends.

A Project of the Rug Hooking Guild of Newfoundland and Labrador

Faced with the fact that some of our history is in danger of disappearing forever, I suggested to the executive committee of the Rug Hooking Guild of Newfoundland and Labrador (RHGNL) that we undertake a project to pay tribute to these well-loved landmarks through the art of rug hooking. A committee consisting of Ruth Chaffey, Lillian Dwyer, Venissa Fancy, Kelley Fewer, and myself sent out a call for submissions in 2011. Each entry had to feature an operational lighthouse (past or present) of this province and be no more than 24 inches wide when completed.

We received a total of 44 hooked pieces depicting 34 lighthouses from Battle Harbour and Point Amour, Labrador, and around the entire island of Newfoundland. They vary in style from realistic to folk art and in size from quite small to a large 22- by 43-inch piece. Each one is an original design, and most were based on Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) pictures, personal and old family photos, or research at local museums.

For a 34-piece preview of these hooked lighthouses, see our selection below, as well as part 2 and part 3. For the full set of lighthouses, buy this November/December 2013 issue of Rug Hooking magazine.

Part 1 of Lighthouses of Newfoundland and Labrador

If you like these lighthouses and want to see more of the submissions, be sure to continue to part 2.

Rugs 1-12

King’s Cove Head Lighthouse, 16" x 18", wool yarn on linen. Designed and hooked by Alice Kelly, Gander, Newfoundland, 2012. Photo source: Photo by Kraig Anderson of Lighthouse Friends.
Barometer Falling, Point Amour Lighthouse, Labrador Straits, 20" x 28", hand-spun and dyed as well as commercial yarn on burlap. Designed and hooked by Anne LeMessurier Pinsent, Corner Brook, Newfoundland, 2012. Photo source: Personal photo.
Down to the Lighthouse, Port-de-Grave Lighthouse, 21" x 29", wool yarn on burlap. Designed and hooked by Audrey Burke, Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland. Photo source: personal photo.
Ramea Lighthouse, 22½" x 24", wool fabric and wool yarn on burlap. Designed and hooked by Bernice Miller, Botwood, Newfoundland. Photo source: personal photo.
Ferryland Lighthouse, 21" x 26", velour fabric on rug warp. Designed and hooked by Christina Kieley, Gander, Newfoundland. Photo source: Leon and Mirjam Peute.
Carbonear Island Lighthouse, 24" x 29", wool fabric on linen. Designed and hooked by Diana Dove, Victoria, Newfoundland. Photo source: Carbonear Museum.
Cape Bonavista Lighthouse, 24" x 24", wool fabric on linen. Designed by Glenn Ploughman, hooked by Diane Hodder, Clarenville, Newfoundland. Photo source: personal photo.
King’s Cove Head Lighthouse, 18" x 31", mixed fibers on burlap. Designed by Winnie Glavine, Paradise, Newfoundland; hooked by Winnie Glavine, Janet Bungay, Debbie Meade, Isabelle Reading, Carole Pike, Katrea Hilton, and Cynthia Hatcher. Photo source: Alice and Maurice Lewis.
Keeping Watch, Burnt Point Light,Seldom Come By, Fogo Island, 24" x 30", wool fabric and wool yarn on burlap. Designed and hooked by Gwen Burt, Northern Arm, Newfoundland. Photo sources: Gloria Rowe and Haldon Anthony.
Fishing Point Lighthouse, Fox Point, St. Anthony,12" x 15", wool yarn on burlap. Designed and hooked by Ina Budgell, Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland. Photo source: personal photo.
The South Head-Out in a Gale, Lark’s Harbour Lighthouse, 22" x 43", wool yarn and roving on burlap. Designed and hooked by Jackie Alcock, Corner Brook, Newfoundland. Photo source: Jean Brake.
Rose Blanche Lighthouse, 17½" x 21", hosiery on linen. Designed and hooked by Jane Fudge, Corner Brook, Newfoundland. Photo source: personal photos and photos by the Rose Blanche Lighthouse Committee.