Sheringham Point Lighthouse

Photos of Sheringham Point Lighthouse seem to be everywhere lately. To see the heritage maritime aid first-hand is to understand why.

The beautiful beacon was built in 1912 in response to the wreck of the SS Valencia six years previously, a tragedy that took the lives of 137 men, women and children.

After automation and eventual de-staffing in the ‘80s, the lighthouse fell into disrepair. The structure was eventually adopted by The Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society, who have raised tens of thousands of dollars toward its restoration. It has recently received a pristine new coat of white paint and reinforcements to the foundation.

Last week, my wife Amanda and I made the trip out along the West Coast Road to the little community of Shirley and hiked the short distance down to the site on the rocky Vancouver Island coastline on Juan de Fuca Strait.

Setting my tripod up on the pathway leading down to the lighthouse, I made the photo above. I turned to talk to Amanda who was standing beside me … or so I sensed. But she had retreated to a sunny step, back at the crest of the hill.

How strange. I distinctly “felt” someone standing at my elbow. I looked back up the path to Amanda’s position. My wife claims she can detect the sprits of the dead. Naturally dubious of supernatural beliefs, I humour her. The hair on my neck bristled for a moment. Then I thought nothing more of it.

After an hour or so, we hiked back to the car and drove back to the junction, stopping at the Shirley Delicious Café for coffee and a (wonderful!) fruit muffin.

There, pinned to the wall, was a Victoria Times Colonist clipping from 2015, the year the lighthouse was declared a federal heritage site. From the article I learned that my eerie experience was not uncommon. Former resident of the lighthouse, Elanie Bruton, who lived there from 1968 to 1986, says that the building is known to be haunted by the friendly ghost of Fred Mountain, who tended the light from 1959 to 1968.

I returned to our table to recount this story and tell Amanda about the strange feeling I’d experienced back at Sheringham Point. “Yes,” she said mater-of-factly, “Someone tapped me on the shoulder when I was sitting at the top of the path … scared the hell out of me — my first thought was, bear!”