Chantry Island, Ont.

Photographer: Robert Douglass (Sebastopol, California)

Chantry Island

Southhampton, ONT

Built : 1858

Construction : Conical, Limestone

Status : Active

Location : Near Southampton, Ontario

Lat. 44º 29' N - Long. 81º 24' W

Height : 86 feet

Access : Boat, located on the East side of Chantry Island. A short distance South of the Saugeen River. You can also view the Light from mainland shore along Claredon Road. Its worth the drive along the scenic shore line. From Hwy 21 exit Claredon Road. Follow this road along the shoreline.

(Imperial Towers) - Six lighthouses where built in the Great Lakes Region with this type of architecture know as the "Imperial" Tower. In the mid-19th century, obsolete navigational aids were keeping the British North America from strong economic development. The Bruce peninsula opening for settlement in the mid-1850's, the United States starting a free trade agreement with Canada in 1854 and the opening of the Sault Ste. Marie Canal in 1855 were creating a major need for better aids to navigation through Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. Lobbying by Montreal's Canadian Shipping magnate, Hugh Allan, along with Admiralty put a change to that by 1857. A (3) year construction program was started with all material and construction expenses provided by Great Britain. A total of $222,564 was spent for construction of all six lighthouses with the tall, conical, limestone towers built to withstand the elements, far surpassing the standards of the 1850's both structurally and financially.

Lighthouse History : Another one of the "Imperial Towers". Construction of this lighthouse was supervised by John Brown which began in 1855. It's purpose is to mark the shoal extending approximately 3/4 of a mile from Southwest corner of Chantry Island. It also enables vessels to seek the much needed shelter on the East side of the island. The light was first exhibited on April 1, 1858 with a Second Order Fresnel lens producing a fixed white beacon at a lens focal plane of 86 feet above Lake Huron. In 1871 the lighthouse received it's first coat of whitewash. The lighthouse was automated in 1954.

The tower still stands today as an active aid to navigation now exhibiting a flashing white beacon on 4 second intervals. The keepers house is in the process of being restored by the Southampton Propeller Club.