The Town Seal

The town of Harbour Grace was incorporated on July 10, 1945, and held it's first council meeting on July 14, 1945. The seal was officially adopted by the second council in November, 1948. However, H. Herman Archibald (Mayor) and T. Jack Watts (Deputy Mayor) of the first council, who recognized the need for a distinct seal for the town, are credited with it's origin.

The water symbolizes the town's importance as a major seaport and haven for seafarers since 1505, the earliest recorded date of seasonal settlement in Harbour Grace. The lighthouse gives perpetual fame to the first one erected at the Point of Beach as a landmark to mariners. The building known by sailors the world over, was erected in 1850 by a famous shipbuilder of that day, Michael Kearney and his foreman, a fiery and herculean Scotsman with flaming locks of red hair named John Gunn.

Known as the ‘Beacon Light', it was originally lit by oil and on August 11, 1852, it was lit by gas and then electricity. It was a double light, one being placed over the other and holding that appearance for six miles. Further than that distance, to ten miles, the lights appeared as one.

Timber for the building was brought from St. Marharets and Mirimachi. The first light keeper was Captain George Brown, familiarly known as ‘Bully Brown'.

In November 1960, the Federal Government decided as a matter of economics to replace the century old ‘Beacon Light' with the present day open tower steel structure. Federal Transport Minister Balcer said at the time that the wooden lighthouse was in such a condition that it would cost $16,000 to replace the structure, but only $2,200 to build a new one.

Prior to the ‘Beacon Light', a ‘Head of Stones' served as the landmark. They were put there by the celebrated navigator Captain James Cook, who surveyed the coast of Newfoundland in the mid 1700's.

The late William E. Parsons, who served on the second council was asked to take the picture of the lighthouse that was later used by the printer when he moulded the die for the Harbour Grace seal. He took the picture from an open boat directly south of the lighthouse.