Leslie Martindale, 1906-1925

Les Martindale and his wife, Saburn came to Cabot Head in 1906. By trade, Captain Martindale was a boat builder. He built the "Falljay" in Wingfield Basin and named it for his sons Francis, Abram, Lloyd, Leslie and Jarvis. In his heart, Captain Martindale was a lighthouse keeper, serving a time at Big Bay Light before coming to Cabot Head. Cabot Head was an important light station and many Great Lake freighters travelled pas the light every season. Les often saluted them as they passed.

Shipping season began before all of the ice had melted from the bay in the spring, and continued well into the fall. Saburn made sure Les was prepared for the cold weather by shrinking the largest pair of long underwear she could find in a large copper boiler of boiling water. They would become so thick Les could venture out in the dead of winter in only his underwear and be warm.

In 1911, Harry Oswell was appointed to work as the assistant light-keeper. Mr Oswell was mechanically inclined and was responsible for the maintenance of the light and foghorn.

During the spring and fall months the families of the two keepers lived in Lion's Head. Once school was dismissed for the summer Saburn, her children and the Oswells would join Leslie and Harry at their port. For the summer months the Martindale and Oswell families lived together in the lighthouse.

In 1915, a phone line was strung through the forest from Gillies Lake to Cabot Head. This line of communication provided a link to the rest of the peninsula, but the lighthouse remained a remote place to live. Visitors walked through the bush from dyer's Bay, but were warned to watch for lynx in the trees. Despite these grave warnings a minister made the trip by foot twice a year to give an Anglican service and baptize any new children. Everyone in the area came to hear the sermon.

In 1923 Leslie Martindale was struck by stomach cancer. He was taken out by Harry Oswell to the Preston Cancer clinic where he died. His post was taken over by Howard Boyle in 1926.