HistoryIn 1885, due to the dangerous passageways ships had to pass through from Lake Huron and Georgian Bay to reach the harbour, the Department of Marine and Fisheries purchased three lots on the west side of the entrance to Big Tub harbour in Tobermory for a lighthouse. The lots were purchased for $18.00. The first lighthouse, costing $675.00, was erected that same year by John George and David Currie of Port Elgin who were contracted to do the job. Previously, during the 1870's, Charles Earl--one of the area's first settlers--hung a lantern on a tree branch to guide the ships to the harbour's refuge. The tree's location later became the site of the lighthouse itself. Earl was paid the grand sum of $100 per year for this duty. In September 1885, Abraham Davis was appointed permanent keeper of the light. In 1913, a wild storm tore off over half of the lighthouse's shingles. They were replaced and the light shone on.The first lighthouse was later replaced by the present-day structure, a six-sided wooden tower, 43' from the ground to the lantern vane, with a red iron lantern room at the top. At one time, the coal oil standing lamp shed its light from the harbour entrance. It had a large burner which was turned up or down, according to the lamp brightness desired. Today, an automated red harbour light acts as a guide for boaters. The lighthouse became automated and electrified in 1952. A hand fog horn, discontinued in 1963, was established in 1910 and was later replaced with a fog signal of unknown type. |
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