 An 1855 chart showing White Head Island. | |
  White Head Island Location in the Bay of Fundy | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Bay of Fundy |
| Coordinates | 44°37′52.6″N66°42′28.63″W / 44.631278°N 66.7079528°W /44.631278; -66.7079528 |
| Archipelago | Grand Manan Archipelago |
| Area | 6.17 km2 (2.38 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 59 m (194 ft)[2] |
| Administration | |
Canada | |
| Province | New Brunswick |
| County | Charlotte |
| Parish | Grand Manan Parish |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 162 (2011)[3] |
| Pop. density | 26.3/km2 (68.1/sq mi) |
Long Point Lighthouse   | |
 Long Point Lighthouse at the southern tip of White Head Island | |
| Constructed | 1966 |
| Foundation | concrete base |
| Construction | concrete tower |
| Height | 11 m (36 ft) |
| Shape | quadrangular tower with balcony and lantern rising from the fog signal building[4] |
| Markings | white tower, red lantern |
| Power source | solar power |
| Operator | Canadian Coast Guard[5][6] |
| Fog signal | 2s. blast every 20s. |
| Focal height | 15.5 m (51 ft) |
| Range | 12 nmi (22 km; 14 mi) |
| Characteristic | Iso W 12s |
White Head Island is located east ofGrand Manan in theBay of Fundy,New Brunswick. In 2011 the island had a population of 162. White Head Island was governed as alocal service district[3] prior to the2023 New Brunswick local governance reform.
For approximately four hours surroundinglow tide, the island can be reached on-foot from Grand Manan walking across sandbars and ledges through shallow water.[7] A channel wasdredged to allow fishing boats to reach the wharf to access White Head Village.[8]
Its economy is based largely aroundaquaculture and fishing, historically through herringweirs.[9][7] There is a series of very small islands marked on charts but typically not appearing on maps, west of White Head Island and north of Three Islands.[10]
The island has a two-classroom elementary school, and older students take a ferry toGrand Manan Community School. From 1976-2012, the island was serviced by theMV Lady White Head, until it was replaced byCoastal Transport Limited'sWilliam Franklandcar ferry between White Head and Grand Manan.[11][12]
Until 2022 the community had a small general store.
There is a Baptist church on the island that was completed in 1981. However, there are records of a religious house in use until 1928, when the second of three churches was dedicated.[13]
There are 5km of paved roads circling the northern half of the island, while the southern portion has only gravel roads that are less accessible.[14]
The island has been identified as one of those written about in the 1604 writings ofSamuel Champlain andSieur de Monts.[15]William Francis Ganong notes the "Beach Island" referenced in the works ofSamuel Champlain and appearing on his 1612 map of the region is a reference to White Head.[16]
The son ofFrançois Gravé Du Pont abandoned the ship left to his care and went to live among the indigenous tribes, adopting their customs for himself.[17] He was arrested byJean de Biencourt de Poutrincourt in 1610 but escaped captivity.[17] The following yearJesuit priestPierre Biard found the younger DuPont and brought him out on White Head Island to take publicConfession, participate inHoly Mass and receiveCommunion reconciling himself to Poutrincourt.[17] The younger DuPont asked Poutrincourt to dine with him as he reclaimed the ship left to his care, but during the meal Potrincourt lost his temper and seized the ship requiring Biard to come out again to make peace between the pair.[17]
In October 1741, thebrigantineMartha and Eliza wrecked in a storm and drifted to what is believed to be White Head Island, with approximately 200 passengers. Dozens of survivors were picked up in at least three separate rescues over the next six months, scattered across nearby islands.[18]
The island was granted to Captain William Frankland who was for years its sole resident,[19][20] Frankland invitedJ. J. Audubon to visit the island May 22 1833 to study the Herring Gulls, whose eggs were harvested on the island.[19] Frankland's journal later went to auction and was purchased by the New Brunswick Museum who created a copy to display at White Head.[21]
Edward Cheney died January 23, 1835 alongside Nathaniel Bancroft, when their small boat spent an hour crashing upon a rock betweenCheney Island and White Head Island.[22] In 1845, the Lighthouse approved £200 for afog bell on White Head.[23]
In 1912, the lighthouse keeper Patrick Conway was dismissed leading to years of Parliamentary inquiry.[24] In 2010, its lighthouse was declared "surplus" by the Department of Fisheries which no longer wished to maintain it.[25]
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