McNab Point Range Light

13/01/2009 04:24 PM

Range Light Painted

The Marine Heritage Society and Propeller Club do wonderful work to maintain the historic nature of Southampton.

Southampton is blessed with four Lighthouses.  The magnificent Imperial Tower on Chantry Island is the key to the harbour struction that still in large part exists.  The second light is on the end of the pier at the mouth of the Saugeen River.  The third is across Highway 21 and lines up with the other range light.

The last light is on McNab point and it has had a storied history. It anchored the Harbour of refuge and was lined up with a small light on the Island Dock at the gap between the Island Dock and the Short Dock.

Large vessels were guided through the gap by the confluence of the directional beacons. 

Later in its life it housed a radio beacon that was used by ships and planes to get their position.  It has been decommissioned for a long time.

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Cedar Shakes Complete.  Note the debris of the material removed and replaced.

The Marine Heritage Society has systematically restored these lights.  The McNabb Point Light was in terrible condition.  Aluminum siding was put over the old shingles in a cost cutting move by the Coast Guard.  This same technique was tried at the inner Range Light and the town formed a ring around it some years ago to prevent this from happening.

The result at the McNab Point Range Light was moisture collection and a lot of dry rot.  Over the last year all this has been repaired and the Light is again a grand sight from the water.

A hope of the Marine Heritage Society is to return the light to service as a private navigational aid.  Anyone who has gone through the gap at night GPS or not will love to see it in service again.

Congratulations to the MHS and the Propeller Club for a great job.