Restoration Details

Heritage

Photos by Larry LePage

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2009 is the 'Year of the Light'.  It is 150 years since the Scot John Brown constructed the Imperial Tower on Chantry Island.  The Light was first lit April 1, 1859.  Thousands of hours have gone into the restoration and some of it is unique and never has been done before. 

Below we will show you many pictures of the inside and outside of the Tower.  Some we will show before and after and add some commentary about the work and the materials used.

The late Bob Greenberg said it best about the Imperial Tower.  The tremendous stone work done by John Brown harked back to Egypt, Greece and Roman times and they would have understood it.  The Pedestal Room and the Lantern Room with its giant 2nd order Fresnel Lens were products of the emerging industrial revolution where things could be fabricated in pieces in one place and transported across Oceans to be assembled by specialists.

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19/07/2009 02:23 PM

John Brown's Masterpiece.... The Chantry Island Imperial Tower and Keeper's Quarters

Overall Work Plan for the Tower Repair

For a larger zooming version click here

Before

The very top of the Lantern Room on the inside. Notice the copper and iron and the interesting brass L-brackets (circled in red) that were designed to isolate the copper from the iron.  These worked very well for 150 years, but needed a new way to hold the copper sheathing on the Tower for it to last another 150 years.

After

L-Brackets changed to a new fastener, but still brass.  They now use high tech adhesives on the copper-brass interface

Before

The level just below the lantern room is known as the 'Pedestal Room'.  To the  left is the pedestal for the 2nd order Fresnel Lens.  The trap door is shown with a hand-hold on the right.

After

The new rail for safety with the pedestal at the right  This prohibits anyone falling after descending from the Lantern Room.

Floor showing some wear and damage due to moisture  Over 150 years, moisture has accumulated on some of the floors.  Where needed repairs were made.  The Lighthouse acts as a giant chimney. If proper ventilation occurs air will rush up the tower and be exhausted by the vents on top of the copper roof and the unique copper openings below the windows.

After

The floor just below the Lantern Room with the floor replaced.  Notice the milled stone around the base done in France.  Where the stones below the Pedestal Room are carved out of bed rock from Inverhuron, the stones at this level were brought and sized to fit from France.

Before

Floor under the Pedestal Room showing large I-beams with some chemical deteriorations due to  action between mortar, iron and moisture

After

Repaired  under-floor.  Notice the new mortar work.

The ceiling was obscured from view by the heat shield since installation.  The craftsmanship is wonderful

Before

Spalling on the south side of the tower.  This is caused by freezing in winter nights and then warming in the daytime.  The sealant used on the Tower may be responsible for some of this.

Some of the stone used to repair the 'spalling'.  More work is to be done this summer.  These stones are quarried and cut up the Bruce

Before

Stairway with some of the 106 steps to the top with a single handrail on the right.  Notice the massive stones on the left each hand cut and hand formed to encircle each floor.  The timbers above are original as is the stairway

After

Sturdy 150 year old stairs with two railings

Beautiful Helical Stairs from the Pedistal Room to the Lantern Room above.

Some lighthouses have a helical stairway going right from the base on the inside because a helix forms an ideal structure for climbing using least effort.

Can you imagine this stair being built in France and ready for assembly  on the shores of Lake Huron?  In total 6 Imperial Towers were built, each one  different at the top.

This entire structure of the Lantern Room and the Pedestal Room were brought from France and placed on the top of the huge stone structure along with the lens