 Lighthouse
& Museum
The Lighthouse Downtown!
Close to downtown Kincardine, nestled on the shoreline at the
inner end of the harbour at the edge of the Penetangore River, this
white wooden lighthouse was built in 1881.
One hundred and fifty feet tall, the eight-sided tower rests on
a stone foundation. Above the rear-entrance door, the year 1880
is inscribed in the cornerstone. The three levels of the lighthouse
are joined by steep, straight, almost perpendicular staircases making
a total of 69 steps (climbed at least twice daily by past lightkeepers).
Barrels of kerosene, used to fuel the lamp, were hoisted up these
stairs by the keepers.
The tower is capped by a red iron lantern and balcony, painted
in the familiar "lighthouse red". The first lamp had shutters
rotated by weighted chains to make the light flash. In 1922, the
lamp became electrically powered and, today, large lenses rotate
around a 500-watt bulb.
During the 1800's, the harbour was home to major industries which
required a safe harbour for shipping products in and out of Kincardine.
Salt was mined at the harbour; lumber and furniture companies and
fishing boats needed a safe port.
Harbour is a hub of activity
 As
early as the 1890's, excursion boats from Detroit travelled up Lake
Huron to stop in Kincardine. Today, the beacon--which can be seen
for 34 kms (21 miles) in clear weather--is still used as a navigational
aid for pleasure boaters. The lightkeeper was also the Harbour Master,
maintaining the harbour and collecting mooring fees. During the
1950's, it cost a mere $.02 per foot to moor a boat!
The keeper's job was a demanding one, covering 365 days a year,
24 hours a day. In 1977, the keeper's job was discontinued, and
the light was automated.
 The
six-room keeper's house below the tower is now the Kincardine Yacht
Club's clubhouse and a marine museum. Artifacts from the Bruce County
Museum & Archives and vintage photos of the harbour printed
from glass negatives trace the area's marine history for the public
to explore and enjoy.
Since September 1980, the Canadian Coast Guard has leased the lighthouse
to the Kincardine Yacht Club, who are responsible for maintaining
and operating the lighthouse, the range light and the fog horn.
When the light from the lighthouse is aligned with the 250-watt
light at the north end of the pier, vessels are able to steer a
safe passage into the harbour. The front range light is equipped
with an electric fog horn used when the harbour entrance is obscured
by fog. In 1999, the front range light was changed to a TRI-SECTOR
light. The old 250-watt light is now in the Museum.
|
The museum and lighthouse are open to the public through
the summer months until Labour Day Weekend.
There is a nominal charge to tour the lighthouse and museum.
See the sun piped down every evening except Saturdays by
the "Phantom Piper", July 1st through to Labour
Day.
|
*Content for this page courtesy Lighthouse Partners. For more information
on Lighthouses in Bruce County see www.naturalretreat.com/lighthouses.
Links
|
