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Photographer: Jeffrey W. Churill |
Construction : Conical, Limestone Status : Active/museum Location : 9 miles South of Kincardine, Ontario Lat. 44º 04' N - Long. 81º 46' W Height : 87 feet Access : Car, parking near the Light. Take Huron Concession #2 off of Hwy 21, follow it to Huron Road and turn left. Then turn right at Lighthouse Road. |
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(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 : At Point Clark a rocky shoal extends approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) offshore, directly in line with vessels traveling the coastline. This hazard was marked by locals with a simple lantern hung from a pine tree at night, thus the story behind the areas original name of "Pine Point". It was later renamed Point Clark after families settled in the area from Clark Township near Toronto, Ontario. The construction of a permanent "Imperial Tower" lighthouse was started here in 1855, supervised by John Brown. In 1859, the Argand lamp and Second Order Fresnel lens began exhibiting a revolving white beacon. The lens focal plane of 87 feet above Lake Huron is visible for approximately 15 miles (26.5 km). The characteristics of flashing once every thirty seconds, easily distinguishes her from Goderich to the South and Chantry Island to the North as both of these lights have a fixed beacon. Constructed of limestone from nearby Inverhuron and Kingston, the base measures 6 feet thick tapering up to the lantern. The upper part of the tower is made of granite, supporting the cast iron lantern room base plate. The (12) sided cast iron lantern is capped with a red domed roof which has bronze "lion heads" around the perimeter, common to the "Imperial Towers". These decorative "lion heads" worked as spouts for the internal troughs that direct condensation on the inside of the lantern room ceiling to the outside of the tower. The original use of sperm whale oil had a need for this, with every gallon of oil burned, a quart of condensation was created. In the winter months, this condensation would freeze on the inside of the glass surrounding the lantern. The keeper would then have to regularly scrape it of so the light would remain clearly visible. Though only a short distance away, a tunnel runs from the tower to the two story keeper's house. This was done to allow the keeper to easily tend to the light, even during the harshest of weather experienced along the Eastern shore of Lake Huron. The lighthouse was tended by keeper's until being automated in the 1960's. This is a beautiful Light overlooking the rocky shore of Lake Huron, and is a Canadian National Historic Sight since 1967. The lighthouse can be toured for a nominal fee. A Maritime/Lighthouse museum is operated by the Township of Huron and open in the summer months from June through Labor Day, 10:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. daily. Also a very nice public beach is within walking distance. For more information call: (519) 395-2494 or (519) 395-3725 |
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Built
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1859
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