Huronia's Lighthouses
Posted by Bill Molesworth
Jamie Hunter introduced David Maynard whose family has been vacationing on Christian Island since 1965 and who has developed an interest in the lighthouses of the area as a result. He's been the President of HLPS since 2002 and, when not preoccupied with that, is an air ambulance paramedic based in Toronto.
David said that the Huronia Lighthouse Preservation Society has about 60 active members who have already devoted over 10,000 hours to saving these structures and have raised over $65,000.00 to help. The lights of South Easter Georgian Bay promoted the trade and development of the area and of towns like Midland and the HLPS group is dedicated to maintaining public access to these historic sites, to educating the public as to their value and importance, and to ensuring they become self sustaining sites.
To this end the group hopes to maintain good relations with the Coast Guard, as these sites are still valuable aids to navigation.
Many of the lighthouses have been transferred from federal to private hands, but the one on Hope Island is being put in the hands of the Beasuoliel First Nations, which is working with the HLPS.
There used to be over 50 lights in Georgian Bay but half of them are gone now. The first were built down the Bruce Peninsula because that was the main waterway. These are called Imperial Stations because they are built in the European style, tall round stone structures. After the builder went bankrupt after building only half the contracted stations, the later structures were built in a timber frame style.
The last one was automated in 1990. New technologies such as GPS have put their futures in doubt and the Coast Guard have no definitive plans in place. However, the Christian Island light was recommisioned in 2000, which shows they still have a role, especially for the heavy recreational traffic.
The waters around Hope Island are littered with wrecks, making it an attraction for divers. The light stations is one of only two remaining with its outbuildings, including privy, intact, and the group is focusing its first efforts on it.
So far they have replaced the roof shinglesl, cleaned up the site, will have a new roof structure in place in the tower in September and are expecting a new lantern room from the Coast Guard. The original lantern room was lifted off by helicopter and dropped in the Bay because the skeleton tower that was built to hold an automated light was built only so high. When the light rotated a segment was blocked out by the lantern room so rather than raise the tower, they lowered the lighthouse - at some cost to its historical value and at no consideration to the esthetics. Your government at work.
The HLPS welcomes new members and volunteers in its work.
To this end the group hopes to maintain good relations with the Coast Guard, as these sites are still valuable aids to navigation.
Many of the lighthouses have been transferred from federal to private hands, but the one on Hope Island is being put in the hands of the Beasuoliel First Nations, which is working with the HLPS.
There used to be over 50 lights in Georgian Bay but half of them are gone now. The first were built down the Bruce Peninsula because that was the main waterway. These are called Imperial Stations because they are built in the European style, tall round stone structures. After the builder went bankrupt after building only half the contracted stations, the later structures were built in a timber frame style.
The last one was automated in 1990. New technologies such as GPS have put their futures in doubt and the Coast Guard have no definitive plans in place. However, the Christian Island light was recommisioned in 2000, which shows they still have a role, especially for the heavy recreational traffic.
The waters around Hope Island are littered with wrecks, making it an attraction for divers. The light stations is one of only two remaining with its outbuildings, including privy, intact, and the group is focusing its first efforts on it.
So far they have replaced the roof shinglesl, cleaned up the site, will have a new roof structure in place in the tower in September and are expecting a new lantern room from the Coast Guard. The original lantern room was lifted off by helicopter and dropped in the Bay because the skeleton tower that was built to hold an automated light was built only so high. When the light rotated a segment was blocked out by the lantern room so rather than raise the tower, they lowered the lighthouse - at some cost to its historical value and at no consideration to the esthetics. Your government at work.
The HLPS welcomes new members and volunteers in its work.