Lighthouse Takes Flight - Saving the Stokes Bay Lighthouse

Heritage

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Another significant part of Bruce County’s Marine history is scheduled for demolition. The Stokes Bay Lighttower, located along the Lake Huron shoreline within Blacks Creek Provincial Park has been identified by the Canadian Coast Guard to be replaced beginning October 12th, 2009.

The Stokes Bay Rear Range Light Tower consists of a three-tiered, tapered steel frame, surmounted by a wood watchroom and lantern, standing 22.6 meters high. The watchroom is clad in cedar shingles and flares at its top into a coved cornice supporting a gallery and wood lantern, itself capped with a pyramidal roof and vent stack. The Lighttower is painted white, and features contrasting red elements and a day marker on its front face. It sits on the west shore of Bruce Peninsula, marking the channel into Stokes Bay.

Since the structure is located along the Lake Huron shoreline surrounded by Black Creek Provincial Park near Stokes Bay, removal options are limited to water and air only. The Canadian Coast Guard is permitting the County to ‘lift’ the top of the structure in tact and relocate it to the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre at the County’s expense. An air-lift using a medium duty helicopter is the only option for salvage.

It is proposed to lift the structure and fly it to the staging area of the Black Creek Provincial Park parking lot, then transport it using a float to the Museum in Southampton. Government agencies do not have a helicopter with enough lift capacity to perform the task therefore a private contractor is required. Construction and removal is scheduled for the week of Oct 12th, 2009.

 

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30/09/2009 08:52 PM

 In late summer 2009 Bruce County staff were made aware that the Coast Guard had plans to replace the historic structure. Because of the County’s deep commitments to protecting and preserving Bruce Coast marine history, it was identified that the structure must be saved and relocated to the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre to be incorporated into the Bruce Coast Marine Gallery.

The closest ‘medium duty’ helicopter of this type is located in Sudbury, Ontario and is expected to cost between $15,000-$20,000 to perform the lift. The County is currently looking for funding partners to help off set the costs.

The Stokes Bay Light is a classic Rangelight style with similar structures found at Tobermory, Southampton, and Lions Head. Being built upon stilts has protected the structure from rotting and moisture, leaving it in remarkable condition. It is proposed to rebuild the bottom structure and remount the lighthouse on top for an overall height of 75 feet at the museum.

Bruce County has been a long time member, supporter and promoter of the Bruce Coast Lighthouse Tour www.brucecoastlighthouses.com and is committed to working with marine heritage organizations to protect the heritage assets along the coastline. The Lighthouse tour consists of 13 marine heritage sites, four of which are the infamous 150 year-old John Brown Imperial Towers. Lighthouse Tours have been identified as a ‘core trip motivator’ for Bruce County, meaning that segments of the tourism market will travel great distances for an authentic marine heritage experience. Visitors to Bruce Coast Lighthouses reside in all parts of North America and are thrilled with the accessibility and diversity of Bruce Coast Lighthouses. The Stokes Bay Range Light will add even more authenticity to Bruce County’s rich marine history.
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