IMPERIAL LIGHTHOUSES

John Brown's Legacy

In the early days of settlement, the Lake Huron/Georgian Bay shoreline was sorely lacking in navigational lights, as historical records of the many disastrous shipwrecks illustrate. When the Queen's Bush was opened up for settlement, the steady arrival of settlers to the area increased the demand for water transportation of goods and supplies. Water transportation was the most effective means of moving supplies and products in and out of the area, making the need for brightly-lit navigational aids along the shoreline a top priority.

Of the six imperial lighthouses built in the 1850's by contractor John Brown, four are right here, in Ontario's Natural Retreat. Three--Chantry Island, Cove Island, Point Clark--are open for tours, while the fourth, Griffith Island can be viewed from the waters of Georgian Bay. The original plan called for 11 lighthouses, but due to construction difficulties and the expense, only six were completed.

Brown, from Thorold, built the lighthouses to last. Below the ground, the foundation of each lighthouse is seven feet thick, narrowing to five above ground and eventually to three at the top of the structure. The lighthouses measure 80' from base to tip, but the height above the water varies due to the terrain upon which they are built.

Things To Think About

• Climb to the top of an imperial lighthouse and take in the view. Imagine climbing outside in mid-winter to scrape the ice from the windows.
• Try and spot the differences between the imperial lighthouses.
• Lighthouses are romantic...Ontario's Natural Retreat is full of romance!

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