Bruce County Museum has a new treasure

Heritage

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Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre

After more than 100 years of service, Stokes Bay lighthouse has a new home.

In December, 2009, the lighthouse was carefully dismantled in order to be saved and, after a helicopter lift and long truck ride, the lighthouse arrived in Southampton, Saugeen Shores.

The top of the lighthouse was carefully wrapped in plastic sheeting to preserve it over winter as it sat in the Town of Saugeen Shores Public Works yard.

When the Coast Guard decided to get rid of the lighthouse, the plan was to make it part of the Bruce County Museum's marine heritage exhibit and to have it overlook Fairy Lake (Little Lake) behind the Museum in Southampton. The move would be a big one but when County Tourism got on board under Chris Hughes' direction, the undertaking went ahead.

Mike Sterling begins hand-excavation

After careful hand-excavation and pouring of cement forms by volunteers, headed up by Mike Sterling, the new home was ready for the lighthouse.

Local contractor, Ron Seaman and Mike Sterling carefully make certain everything is level

Cement forms were poured and allowed to cure

Given the age of the lighthouse and its wood, the move had to be delicately manoeuvred by a master crane operator and Brian Fisher was called in.  On Saturday, May 29th, he arrived with a mammoth crane and the actual move began.

Archie Gillies (foreground) lends his expertise to the move

The base is successfully loaded and tied down

Lifting each piece separately and gently laying them on a flatbed truck provided by Willy's Contracting, the lighthouse began its final trek to what would be its last home.

Today, the little lighthouse sits behind the Museum overlooking the little lake and, although its beacon will no longer warn ships, it will give future generations an understanding of the importance that lighthouses played in the early days of shipping and the lives of pioneers who settled the coastal waterways.

From Stokes Bay to  Southampton

• To see the move from Stokes Bay, Click Here
• For more, Click Here
• Lighthouse arrives in Southampton, Click here

The move to the Museum

• Lighthouse leaves the Town yard on Peel Street for the Museum. Click Here

• Base is lifted over the Museum to its new home. Click Here.

• Top is placed on the base.  The Lighthouse has a new home. Click Here

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Tuesday, June 08, 2010