History The running of
the lighthouse was a two-man operation. Before mechanization, the
keepers kept up the air pressure for the fog horn by using a bicycle
pump, while a weight system worked the rotation of the light with
the weights being cranked up manually. The keepers worked 6-8 hour
watches around-the-clock to keep the coal-oil light burning.
In the early years, the keeper and his family arrived for their seasonal
duty by boat. Later, a wagon trail was cut through the bush north
of Gillies Lake and they arrived via this route.
The first square wooden tower was torn down in 1971 and replaced
with an automated signal beacon atop a steel tower. The foghorn station
was replaced with unmanned equipment during the same time period.
In 1987, the lighthouse was unmanned and fell into disrepair.
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