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Garnish Newfoundland |
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Garnish Newfoundland |
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Note: This Page is being updated as I receive contributions to the archive. If you have something that belongs here, please contact the webmaster or 826.2290.
Additions are almost always at the bottom, with the lighthouse being the end of the page.
A History Lesson
Text by Elroy Grandy. Contributors include Janice Grandy and Robert C. Parsons.
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On This Page A History Lesson |
Garnish lies along the western shore of Little Garnish Barrisway, a natural harbour protected by a spit of land and two breakwaters. Philip and Charles Grandy are believed to be the first setters to settle in Garnish. They were born in Jersey, Channel Islands, United Kingdom. It is believed they first settled in St. Pierre, but were forced out by the French in 1763. Garnish, as we know it today, was known as "Little Garnish" and Frenchman's Cove was known as "Great Garnish". Nobody knows exactly how Garnish got its name.
The first Official census of Newfoundland, taken in 1836, shows that Garnish had a population of seventy-six people. In the Census of 1921 the population was recorded as 665. When the resettlement program began in the 1960's the people of Garnish welcomed the former residents of Point Rosie. The resettlement of Point Rosie increased the population of Garnish considerably.
Like most Newfoundland out ports, Garnishmen have a long history of leaving home to find work. Some of those who did not fish, and there were lots, found work in the employment of the local fish merchants. They worked at curing the fish, packing lobsters and canning salmon. Major employers in Garnish included Lorenzen Brothers and Richard Legge. Most others went where the work was to be found, be it the American Naval bases or the lumber woods. Robert C. Parsons, noted writer and historian, relates an interesting account of fifty or sixty Burin Peninsula men who went to the woods in 1934 to make money. Finding they were going deeper in the hole, they took a ride back from Badger and area on the train without paying the fare. They had no money. When they got to Clarenville the police were there waiting for them and escorted the whole lot to St. John's for trial. These Garnishmen included Rendell Grandy, Charles W. Grandy, Garfield Grandy, Harvey Grandy, Clayton Harris, George Harris and Gabriel Harris. You can learn more about this interesting footnote in history in "Courting Disaster: Crime and Mischief on Land and Seas," by Robert C. Parsons, due for publication in 2009.
As in the majority of Newfoundland outports, the fishery has been the economic mainstay of Garnish since the first days of settlement. The barrisway around which the town is built provides a natural small-boat harbour where fisherman can moor their craft. The inshore fishery is still an important industry today. The barrisway also served as a natural site to build the banking schooners which were the major technology of the Grand Banks fishery during the years before and after the First and Second Great World Wars. The wooded area around Garnish Pond supplied much of the timber, and the Garnish River was used to get it to the sawmills downstream. Included among those schooners launched at Garnish were the Jean and Mona, Joan and Madelyn, Daphane and Phyllis and Garnish Queen.
Garnish Boat Builders 1920
(Original photo courtesy of Shawn Grandy)
Many fisherman sailed from Garnish to take part in the Grand Banks Dory Fishery. Some of them were lost at sea leaving many widows and orphans as part of that tragic fishery. When the Partanna, out of Grand Bank, was lost in April 1936, there were ten Garnishmen lost with it. According to Mr. Parsons, their names were Captain Charles W. Anstey, Joseph Cluett, Thomas R. Grandy, Aaron White, Joseph Brown, Victor Day, Thomas Cluett, Ernest J. Grandy, Earl Marsh and William Grandy. For the next year, many widows wore black and families suffered hardships having lost the sole bread winner. There were not many years in the 1930's when one could not find at least one Garnish widow in the same distress. There is much more information about the Partanna sinking at The Anstey Project link at the bottom of this page. Click on "Family Tragedy" on the left.
Photograph taken in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia of four Garnish Grand Banks Dory Fishermen.
George Grandy and Arch Adams are on left and right. Can some one name the two in the middle?
Below, Wilbert Grandy, after hauling his Grandy Banks trawl lines, uses a pick fork to move cod from his dory to the schooner, tied along side.
These fishing schooners were replaced by steel trawlers. The first of these fished over the side and so were called Side Trawlers. The latest generation of the trawler fished from the stern, were larger and safer. Many Garnishmen also were crewmen on those ships, particularly after the fish plant opened in Marystown in 1965.
Most fishermen today, fish from large long liners that fish for crab, shrimp and other deep sea species. Many of them also fish for lobster in smaller boats. Garnish has a reputation as being one of the better lobster fishing grounds.
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Grand Banks fishing schooner leaving port. Note the dories on the left side. |
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Side Trawler |
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Stern Trawler |
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Garnish Harbour, 2008 |
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Jessie Ann Marsh has shared some photos from her childhood and before on her Facebook Group.
Some of them are below.
 Captain Charles Anstey |
Both were drowned when the Partanna sank in 1936. |
 Earl Marsh |
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 Gid Lorenzen at center - Oct. 1963 |
At right,
building our present Post Office April 1960 |
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 Garnish 1961 - The car is a 1959 Chevrolet Impala being driven by Morgan Thomas Pardy. |
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Members of the Fisherman's Lodge - August 1961
Front Row (L-R): Fred Day, Charlie Henry Grandy, Bert Marsh, Herb
Cluett |
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 Jessie Ann and Miss Greta Hollett, Garnish librarian for many years. |
 Marsh's Taxi (Caleb Marsh on right) was our connection to St. John's and other places for many years.
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 Norm Marsh |
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 Easter Ann Grandy |
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 Caleb Marsh with teacher Bill Burfitt - Sept. 1958 |
 (R-L) Caleb Marsh, Gid Lorenzen, Otto May and Jimmy Grandy Celebrating Christmas Eve 1982 |
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 May 1959 - Closest to Camera is Carrie Cluett nee Legge.
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 Mr. Will Marsh and Aunt Jess- April 1960 Mr. Marsh was postmaster in Garnish for many years. |
The child at left is now Donna Cluett of Frenchman's Cove. To her left is Brownie. |
 Caleb Marsh at Royal's Head on the Garnish River. |
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 St. Giles Anglican Church under construction in 1964 |
At right, Caleb and bride being married by Rev. Owen Coffin in January 1969. |
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 Newspaper clipping about Garnish written by Lloyd Vey |
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 The kid at center front is Caleb Marsh. |
At right, Calvin Grandy now living in North Bay Ontario. |
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Right Front (L-R) Edward Myles and Lloyd Newport Back Row (L-R) Jeffery Grandy and Cecil Banfield |
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At Left,
"The Gas House" and Roger Cluett |
 Wilbert Grandy and Jeffery Grandy (in dory) |
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 At center is Principal, Jake Barnes with some class at Seaman's Elementary. Anyone know what year? |
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| Alameda Grandy and Alice Grandy on
Left and Right. Little guy in the middle is Arthur Cluett. |
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 (L-R) Jeffery Grandy, Wilbert Grandy, Winnie Grandy, Henry (Harry) Grandy |
 Ice Sailing on the Barrisway |
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 Intersection at Sunset Drive and Short Road from two time periods.
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 Class with two Ruth's Little guy second from far right is Keith Grandy. You guys certainly have come a long way. |
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 (L-R) Harold Grandy, the Late Ms. Effie Banfield, school teacher Alice Tucker, Gordon Walters |
 Anglican School and the Manse to the left. The school burned to the ground in Feb. 1967. |
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If you're a Garnisher, chances are one of your relatives is above. |
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Tom Grandy on right and sister Louie
on left. Next to Tom is Photo was taken in 1943. |
 Second and third from left are the late Wallace Grandy and Rex Mouton. |
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 Were you in Grade 1 at Seaman's Elementary during 1969-1970? Teacher is Judy Grandy nee Kenway. |
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 Anyone who knew Frank will never forget him. |
Two Garnishers who went to their great
reward while still in the prime of their lives. Both gentlemen were one of a kind and they live on in our hearts and on this website. |
 Dr. Thomas Grandy |
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At right, Sam Grandy and his bride,
Millie. Millicent was a Cooper from Creston, who came to Garnish as a teacher. (There is more at right.) This photo was taken close to 1935. |
 June 14, 1963 |
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Family with Three Doctors
Family of Sam and Millie Grandy |
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Number Please! Some of us can remember the party lines and listening to our neighbours on the sly. |
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Members of the Orange Lodge and the Black Preceptory
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The Late Harvey Day at Left. Susie Grandy at right. |
Those three pics taken from the 1979-1980 Memory Book. |
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Teacher Roland Barter (far left) and Principal Jacob Barnes (far right) and some of our finest in between.
 Cluda Banfield |
At right, Emma Walters nee Grandy more affectionately known as Aunt Sis
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The Original Garnish Gulls
Garnish Soccer Team Photo taken on the grassy fields at Frenchman's Cove. Date of photo is close to 1940???
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(Lying on left at front) Herb (Herbie George) Legge (L-R Front Row) Bert Banfield, Gid Lorenzen, Murray Grandy, Edwin Grandy, Sam White (L-R Third Row) Angus Brown, Clar Riggs (L-R Back Row) Norm Grandy, Ray White, Lloyd Vey The Garnish Gulls 1969
In the photo above, standing next to Coach Melvin Grandy is Raymond Grandy Jr.
Last Paragraph above, Walter Grandy should read Wallace Grandy.
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The Little Guy at left is "Big" Joe Grandy. Holding him is his grandfather Charles Grandy.
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 (L-R) Clayton Harris, Ida Grandy, Chess Grandy and Mrs. Liza Cluett of Frenchman's Cove Uncle Ches sold chips for 5 cents and pop for 10 cents. |
 Blanche Banfield |
At right, Jim Grandy, affectionately known as "Dummy Jim" holding his niece, Shirley Grandy |
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 Captain Gord Walters with Lindsay Cluett and her sister Flora. |
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 (L-R) Fred Cluett, Joyce Cluett and Wilfred Newport |
Lillian
Legge and Elsie Cluett in front of Mrs. Cluett's Shop |
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 Lindsay Cluett |
 Mrs. Liza Cluett nee Grandy of Frenchman's Cove |
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(L-R) Ray Abbott, Frazer Grandy and Cyril Pittman of Lamaline Photo was taken in England, Nov. 4, 1940 when all three served with the Royal British Navy. Fifteen months after this photo, Mr. Grandy was lost in the sinking of HMS Jupiter. |
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Lt. Governor Sir Leonard Outerbridge visits Garnish in 1955
Can someone confirm the year??
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| Ladies on the Left, Closest First Georgie Hardiman, Meta Hardiman, Shirley Day, Annie Evans, Susie Legge, Francis Grandy, Edith Moulton, Jeanette Anesty, Harriet Myles Shirley Anesty, Georgie Newport, Annie and Mable Barnes Boys on the right, closest first Lloyd Grandy, Bill Harris, the late Keith Legge
Ladies on the left (L-R) Audrey Grandy, Dorothy (Dot) Moulton, Annie Liza, Annie Marshall, Francis Grandy and daughter Boys at right (R-L) Lloyd Moulton, Bill Barnes, Albert Grandy, the late Stephen Grandy Behind the boys, standing in doorway is Nurse Meyer. The clergyman is Rev. Vardy. |
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At left Charlie Henry Grandy and Hubley Grandy, first mayor of Garnish |
 Edwin Anstey and Tom Marsh |
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(L-R) Jeffrey Grandy, Max Grandy, John Hardiman, Sam Grandy, George Grandy, Wilbert Grandy
Photo taken around 1950
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Wilbert Grandy with two forms of transportation, now only fond, or not so fond, memories. |
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Were you in the United Church Mission Band in 1960?
Carlson Grandy was. Can you find him?
Photo taken in the United Church School, now the Church Parking lot.
Front Row (L-R) Emma Caines, "Binnie" Cluett, Blanche Grandy
Second Row (L-R) Annie Grandy (Aunt Nan), Frances Grandy, "Aunt" Martha Legge, Millicent Grandy
Rack Row (L-R) Violet Cluett, Betsy Skinner, "Aunt Nan" Lorenzen, "Nettie" Grandy, Winnie Newport, Ida Grandy
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Minister who opened the new Church was Rev. Vardy. (1953) |
Now (less extensions) |
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At left, Alex and Alfreda Moulton standing in front of "Uncle Rich" and "Aunt Marty" Legge's home on Well Path Road. Who is the handsome guy at right? |
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At left,
young Annie Grandy. At right, "Aunt Nan" with her good friend, Emma Caines
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At left, the late Hector Cluett, a great fan of our Bakeapple Festival and Grande Meadows Golf Course. He is holding Grand daughter Julia.
At right, George and Winnie Newport |
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(L-R) Garfield Anstey, Mr. Mullins, "Uncle" George Anstey, Roland Balsom, Wilbert Grandy
The Late Charlie Henry Grandy with his horse, Silver.
A Poem From the Past
Contributed by Jeanette Vey
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December 1962 Front Row (L-R) Lorraine May Nee Grandy, Mona Cluett nee Grandy Back Row (L-R) Mary Tryphena (Triffie) Day, Joan Legge, Blanche Banfield nee Follett, Rita (Rit) Reeves nee Matthews, Rowena Legge nee Grandy |
Oct. 1956 Steve Cluett with Grandson Larry Grant |
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 (Left to Right) Larry Cluett, Grand Father Steve Cluett, Larry's sister, Barbara, and Clifford Grandy. |
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| Gid Lorenzen and some Betty Cluett's
mother. (1947) |
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 Anglican Church Women - Photo taken around 1995 Note the late Mrs. Ettie Day in the back row. |
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At left, George Reeves, grandfather of
Bill Reeves. At right, George's wife, Margaret Jane Reeves nee Grandy. (More names as they become available.) |
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 Cedric Cluett (Older brother to Walter P.) Died at age 13 in 1945 |
 (L-R) Mildred Hardiman, Doreen Bolt nee Moulton, Cora Price nee Hardiman, Betty Cluett, Dorothy Hardiman |
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 Best Friends (L-R) Sadie Legge nee Brown and Beatrice Vey nee Anstey |
 At left, Martha Newport who married Captain Eli Anstey At right, her sister Elley who married Clifford Grandy |
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 Captain Eli and Martha Anstey |
 Home of the couple at left. It used to be where the Anglican Church parking lot is now. |
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 Sadie Legge nee Brown (left) and Beatrice Anstey nee Vey. Does the "S" represent Salvation Army?? |
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 At Left, the late Gilbert Grandy, and at right, his brother Jeffrey. At center is David Legge |
At Right, Carlson Grandy, brother to
Gilbert and Jeffrey at left. Surviving sibling is Audrey Grandy |
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 Raymond Grandy Sr. |
 Levi Moulton |
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 Sisters Wanda May nee Moulton and Doreen Bolt nee Moulton - 1967 |
At right, Marilyn Miles nee Marshall
and Linda Hatcher nee Harris. 1967 |
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At Left (L-R) Chess Grandy, Alfred Grandy, Norman Grandy, William J. May, Levi O. Moulton |
 (L-R) Joseph L. Grandy, Levi O. Moulton, Ralph Grandy Sr. |
 Would you recognize yourself in 1976??? |
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At Left (L-R) Annie C. Grandy, Leah Moulton nee Grandy, Matilda Moulton |
 1959 Sunday School Garden Picnic Organizers Front Row (L-R) Blanche Grandy, Florrie Cluett, Elsie Cluett, Almeda Senior Back Row (L-R) Sadie Legge, S.A. Captain and Ms. Stanley, Martha Legge |
 (L-R) Doreen Bolt nee Moulton, Gloria Anstey nee Douglas, Betty Cluett, Colleen Clarke nee Harris |
 Hockey on the Barrisway 1967 |
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At Left Leah Moulton with son,
Randell and grandson, Victor.
At Right, Matilda Moulton with Grandson Randell |
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 (L-R) Annie Evans nee Moulton, The late Lloyd Moulton, Jean Hollett nee Cluett |
At Right, in front of Richard Legge's
Shop in 1961 Home of Will and Hannah Banfield is over Marven's right shoulder. |
 (L-R) Marven Cluett, Keith Legge, Wallace Moulton, Fraser Grandy and Winston Marshall |
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At Right (L-R) Dorren Bolt nee
Moulton, Jerry Moulton, Wallace Moulton and Gordon Day (1950??) |
 Levi O. Moulton, at right, and friend on board schooner |
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 History of the Garnish Lighthouse
Text courtesy of Dianne Geraghty Research by Bill Reeves
The original Garnish lighthouse, or beacon, at left, was erected near the end of the settlement breakwater in 1874. It was the first such facility on the south side of Fortune bay. Its construction was in large part due to Garnish’s location. In the year before regular coastal steamer service arrived in Fortune Bay, Garnish was a way station for mail coming via the new road from Burin and destined for Harbour Breton; these mail packets needed access to Garnish harbour day or night. Also, unlike the beacons in sheltered Belleoram and Harbour Breton, the Garnish light was openly visible at sea, a guide to vessels inward bound into that portion of the bay. As traffic increased in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, pressure mounted, especially from steamer captains, for a light on the bay’s north side. In 1908, a large new lighthouse at St. Jacques began operation, and the one at Garnish lost its distinction as “practically… [the] only lighthouse in Fortune Bay… that was of any service.” (Captain Thomas Bonia, House of Assembly, March 23, 1906, in The Evening Telegram, March 31, 1906). Though its importance diminished, the Garnish Lighthouse continued to provide vital assistance to fishermen and mariners as a manually operated facility into the 1960s.
The original keeper of the light, in 1874, was George T. Snelgrove. After his death in 1884, the Garnish schoolteacher, William Reeves, took on the additional role of light keeper, holding the position until his retirement in 1911. He was succeeded by his son George, who in turn was succeeded by his son George, who operated the light into the mid 1960s. Following the younger George Reeves retirement, the Federal Government installed an automatic light which was tended by Bert Marsh up to the time it ceased operation in 19(?) and was replaced by the present light at the head of the breakwater. |
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You can learn a lot about the history and people of Garnish at
Click on "Communities" on the left.
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Over time, the Garnish lighthouse has been relocated
small distances, at least twice. The 1874 structure, according to
Inspector J. T. Nevill, was a “local erection”. (House of Assembly, 1896
Appendix, p. 155), and shortly after, the government took charge, it was
decided that the light would be more effectively placed if at the very
end of a strengthened breakwater. This was done in 1877. Over half
century later, in the late 1930s or early 1940s(?), after the lighthouse
suffered storm damage, another relocation occurred. Under the direction
of schooner builder Wilson Grandy (?), the lighthouse was moved to its
current, more protected site, perhaps closer to its original placement.