Heritage

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The Goderich Lighthouse has the distinction of being the first lighthouse built on the Canadian side of Lake Huron.

Unlike many other lighthouses along the shoreline, it does not sit on the edge of the water, but up on a bluff overlooking Goderich Harbour.

The tower was built in 1847 by Scottish stonemason Adam MacVicar. It stands 10.1 metres high (about 33 feet) and 42.7 metres above the lake (about 140 feet). 

The design is almost unique in that most lighthouses built before and after were taller, cylindrical and tapered.

In 1849, the lighthouse and the land it is built on were sold to Her Majesty Queen Victoria by Thomas Mercer Jones, Commissioner of the Canada Company.

A new flashing light was installed in 1914, in an attempt at improvements following the Great Storm of 1913. The lighthouse keeper's home and outbuildings were removed at the same time.

The light was wired for electricity in 1925, and the power used to turn the huge mirrors that make the flash. It flashes twice in 25 seconds, with intervals of six and 19 seconds. In clear weather, it can be seen for about 46 kilometres (about 21 miles).

In 2003, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II sold the lighthouse and the land it is built on to the Town of Goderich.

Storm Warning Signal: A pole in front of the lighthouse (as seen in old photos) was not a flag pole. At 35 Canadian ports and harbours along the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, and Atlantic Coast, wind warnings were posted using wicker baskets, cones or drums hoisted up a mast or pole.

The type of object used indicated the approach of a storm and its expected strength. This was an improvement over the then-current American practice of only indicating that winds would be strong. Later, lanterns were also used to send the warnings by night.

The wicker basket and signal drums reportedly flew until the 1950s when the last storm station was decommissioned.

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Tuesday, August 03, 2010