Big Tub Lighthouse

Last updated
Big Tub Lighthouse
Bigtublight.jpg
Big Tub Lighthouse from the Tobermory Harbour
Big Tub Lighthouse
Location Northern Bruce Peninsula, Canada OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Coordinates 45°15′27″N81°40′22″W / 45.2575°N 81.6728°W / 45.2575; -81.6728
Tower
Constructed1885  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
ConstructionWood
Automated1952  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Height12 m (39 ft)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Shape Hexagon
MarkingsWhite with red accents
Operator Canadian Coast Guard
Heritage Recognized Federal Heritage Building
Light
First lit1885  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Focal height13 m (43 ft)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Range11 nmi (20 km; 13 mi)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Characteristic F R  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Big Tub Lighthouse is an active lighthouse located near Tobermory in Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada. The lighthouse was originally lit in 1885 and is still used up to this day. [1]

Contents

The lighthouse was originally built in 1885 when the Department of Marine bought the lots for the lighthouse and John George and David Currie constructed the lighthouse to prevent anymore ship accidents as the entrance to the Tobermory Harbour was hard to navigate and was often used as an asylum from bad weather. The lighthouse has a focal height of 13.2 metres (43 ft) and has a range of 11 nautical miles (20 km; 13 mi). [2]

History

The Commissioners of Public Works recommended a light be added to the area in 1857, but the light wasn't added until 1881. Charles Earl hung a lantern on a tree beach at night to provider safer access to the passageways that lead to the Tobermory Harbour. He started hanging displaying the light in 1881. He was allowed $100 per year for "keeping a light at Tobermoray Harbour.” [2]

In 1885 the Department of Marine purchased three plots of land on the west entrance of the Tobermory Harbour at the cost of $18. That same year, John George and David Currie constructed a wooden tower at the price of $675 on the same port Charles Earl previously hung his lantern on the tree. [2] The light was created 40 feet above the level of the lake's water. being visible 8 miles from all point of approach.

The tower was a hexagonal wooden building with a height of 43 feet. [3] Abraham Davis became the keeper of the lighthouse in 1885, replacing Charles Earl (who was only in temporary charge of the light). Davis was the keeper for ten years until he disappeared in 1895. After his disappearance, Flora Davis (Abraham's widow) applied for the position, but Alex McNeill, Member of parliament recommended Henry Bradley Davis should fill his father's role, he was appointed by the Department of Marine to become the keeper.

Henry was dismissed from the job in 1901 when it was found he was absent as was hiring people to fulfill his duty. In 1903 the wage was increased from $150 to $250 and Archibald Currie was hired, but he still didn't remain on site. In 1905 a keeper's dwelling was erected near the lighthouse. In 1912 John Henry Smith got the position, and was actually present at the station. John resigned from the position after falling too ill to maintain the light. The final keeper was Thomas Andrew Hopkins who served from 1926 until the light was automated in 1952. In 1929 illuminating apparatus was upgraded from a seventh-order lens to a fourth-order lens. [2]

In 1985 a pathway was created around the lighthouse. After a powerful storm in 1987, repairs were required for the lighthouse. [2]

On April 30, 1992, Big Tub Lighthouse became a Recognized Federal Heritage Building for its good aesthetic qualities as a simply detailed, being well known to all mariners in the region and other reasons. [4]

Location and characteristics

The lighthouse is a wooden hexagonal building, painted white with red doors, windows and a red roof. The building is 12.5 metres (41 ft) tall. The lighthouse is located just off Highway 6 and is close to Tobermory. The lighthouse is surround by dark green bushes and cedar trees.

Usage

An automated red light at the top of the lighthouse is used as a guide for boaters during stormy and fogy weather, a nearby lighthouse at the Tobermory Ferry Terminal is used by larger ships such as the MS Chi-Cheemaun. [1]

Tourism

Due to the fact the lighthouse is so close to Tobermory and Ontario Highway 6's mainland terminus, the lighthouse has become a popular tourist destination. [1]

Scuba diving

The waters near the lighthouse has become a spot for scuba diving and snorkeling for people from all over the world. There are many ship wrecks in the area, some of them being caused by the fog and navigation issues when accessing the harbour. [1] [5] The site offers an interesting wall dive with several crayfish in crevices in rocks. [6]

Keepers

This is a list of all the keepers of the lighthouse: [2]

Notes

  1. Not an official keeper; the lighthouse was created in 1885
  2. First official keeper of the lighthouse

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tobermory, Mull</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Tobermory is the capital of, and until 1973 the only burgh on, the Isle of Mull in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. It is located on the east coast of Mishnish, the most northerly part of the island, near the northern entrance of the Sound of Mull. The village was founded as a fishing port in 1788; its layout was based on the designs of Dumfriesshire engineer Thomas Telford. It has a current population of about 1,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tobermory, Ontario</span> Community in Ontario, Canada

Tobermory is a small community located at the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula, in the traditional territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation. Until European colonization in the mid-19th century, the Bruce Peninsula was home to the Saugeen Ojibway nations, with their earliest ancestors reaching the area as early as 7,500 years ago. It is part of the municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula. It is 300 kilometres northwest of Toronto. The closest city to Tobermory is Owen Sound, 100 kilometres south of Tobermory and connected by Highway 6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Peninsula</span> Peninsula in Southern Ontario, Canada

The Bruce Peninsula is a peninsula in Ontario, Canada, that divides Georgian Bay of Lake Huron from the lake's main basin. The peninsula extends roughly northwestwards from the rest of Southwestern Ontario, pointing towards Manitoulin Island, with which it forms the widest strait joining Georgian Bay to the rest of Lake Huron. The Bruce Peninsula contains part of the geological formation known as the Niagara Escarpment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fathom Five National Marine Park</span> National marine conservation area in Ontario, Canada

Fathom Five National Marine Park is a National Marine Conservation Area in the Georgian Bay part of Lake Huron, Ontario, Canada, that seeks to protect and display shipwrecks and lighthouses, and conserve freshwater ecosystems. Parks Canada has management plans for the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, with a multi-action plan for species that are at risk, including endemic species, the Monarch butterfly, the eastern ribbonsnake, and the eastern whip-poor-will. The aquatic ecosystems in the park are also of particular interest. Many fish, shellfish, amphibians, and eels are an attraction for naturalists in the park. Much of this wildlife is accessible to scuba divers and snorkellers in the park. The many shipwrecks make the park a popular scuba diving destination, and glass bottom boat tours leave Tobermory regularly, allowing tourists to see the shipwrecks without having to get wet. Additionally, there are three main popular hiking trails found within Fathom Five National Marine Park that provides visitors with views of old growth forests and the Georgian Bay. The Saugeen Ojibway Peoples have inhabited the Bruce Peninsula and the area that is now Fathom Five National Marine Park for thousands of years. This land provided for their communities and their people with the plethora of wildlife and plant life. They provide the local knowledge about Lake Huron and its ecological value to the reserve, park, and their overall livelihood. Parks Canada and Saugeen Ojibway People's collaboration is said to yield a benefit to both parties with regard to overall ecosystem knowledge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southampton, Ontario</span> Community in Ontario, Canada

Southampton is a community on the shores of Lake Huron in Bruce County, Ontario, Canada. It is close to Port Elgin and is located at the mouth of the Saugeen River in the Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory. The size of the town is 6.44 square kilometres. The permanent population in 2016 was 3,678, but the summer population is higher since cottagers and campers spend vacation time in the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gibraltar Point Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse

The Gibraltar Point Lighthouse is a lighthouse located on the Toronto Islands in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Begun in 1808, it is the oldest existing lighthouse on the Great Lakes, and one of Toronto's oldest buildings. The lighthouse is perhaps best known for the demise of its first keeper, German-born John Paul Radelmüller, whose 1815 murder forms the basis of Toronto's most enduring ghost story. Recent research has verified many aspects of the traditional tale of his death and identified the soldiers charged with but ultimately acquitted of the crime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape San Blas Light</span> Lighthouse in Florida, US

The Cape San Blas Light is a lighthouse in the state of Florida in the United States. There were four built between 1849 and 1885. It was located at Cape San Blas in the northwestern part of the state. Due to beach erosion and weather damage over the decades, it was moved in 2014 to Port St. Joe. The lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lighthouse keeper</span> Profession in the shipping industry

A lighthouse keeper or lightkeeper is a person responsible for tending and caring for a lighthouse, particularly the light and lens in the days when oil lamps and clockwork mechanisms were used. Lighthouse keepers were sometimes referred to as "wickies" because of their job trimming the wicks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site</span> Lighthouse

Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site, on Fisgard Island at the mouth of Esquimalt Harbour in Colwood, British Columbia, is the site of Fisgard Lighthouse, the first lighthouse on the west coast of Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Point Clark</span>

Point Clark is a lakefront cottage community on Lake Huron, in the municipality of Huron-Kinloss, Ontario, Canada. It is approximately 15 kilometres south of Kincardine and 40 kilometres north of Goderich. Main streets include Huron Road and Lake Range Road. Point Clark is served by Highway 21 (Ontario). It is a cottage town, and has a rare Imperial Tower style lighthouse. There is a sandy beach and a small harbour with a boat ramp. There are two streams or rivers that run into Lake Huron around Point Clark: Clark Creek and Pine River. There is a separate harbour in the mouth of the Pine River. Amberley is just outside and to the south of Point Clark and Lucknow is to the south-east of Point Clark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cove Island Light</span> Lighthouse

The Cove Island Light, at Gig Point on the island, is located in Fathom Five National Marine Park, but is not part of the Park. It is situated on the Bruce Peninsula, Ontario Canada. It has been a navigational aid in the narrow channel between Lake Huron and Georgian Bay since 30 October 1858. It was the first of six stone Imperial Towers to be completed; all were illuminated by 1859. Most other lighthouses of the era were built of brick, wood, iron or concrete.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lion's Head Light</span> Lighthouse

Lion's Head Lighthouse was a lighthouse on Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada near the village of Lion's Head. A recent lighthouse was a replica built by local high school students. This was destroyed by several storms in the winter of 2019–2020.

For other ships of this name, see Sweepstake (disambiguation)

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wood Islands Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse

The Wood Islands Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse built by Donald MacMillan situated on the southeastern shore of Prince Edward Island, located in the community of Wood Islands. The lighthouse is a well-preserved three storey tower with an adjoining 1+12-storey keeper's residence. The white shingled tower is topped by a red iron lantern, which is enclosed by a white railing on the observation deck. The red roof of the dwelling provides a striking contrast to the white shingled exterior of the dwelling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kincardine Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse

The Kincardine Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse located in Kincardine, Ontario, near the mouth of the Penetangore River. Built in 1881, it is 24.4 metres tall and was built above the light keeper's home. The tower is eight sided and sits on a stone foundation. The facility has been renovated and is now the Kincardine Yacht Club and a museum. It is open for tours from July 1 to Labour Day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Harbour Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse

The Grand Harbour Lighthouse was a Canadian lighthouse marking the entrance to Grand Harbour, Grand Manan, New Brunswick. It was built and first lit in 1879 and was decommissioned in 1963. It was severely damaged in the Groundhog Day gale of 1976 and destroyed by a gale in November 2013.

The Cape Croker Lighthouse is a lighthouse located on the south-east corner of Neyaashiinigmiing 27 native reserve in Ontario, Canada. It is a part of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "bpta | Lighthouses". Beautiful Bruce Peninsula. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Tobermory (Big Tub) Lighthouse". LighthouseFriends. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  3. Sessional Papers, Dominion of Canada. MacLean, Roger & Co. 1886. p. 11.
  4. "Light Tower". www.pc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-12-01.
  5. "Big Tub Lighthouse « Bruce Coast Lighthouses in Ontario". www.brucecoastlighthouses.com. Archived from the original on 2018-10-18. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  6. "Big Tub and Little Tub dive sites". Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada. Retrieved 2018-11-28.