The picturesque lighthouse tower on Chantry Island in Southampton is going to need over $ 1million in work.
It’s one of six ‘imperial towers’ built in the 1850s on Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.
Marine Heritage Society member and past chair Eric Tolton gave an update about the tower to council’s committee of the whole Monday.
Tolton says last year, there were discussions with the federal government’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans, noting, “We were able to successfully get a renewed licence that allowed us continues access to the tower.”
He says as part of that process, they hired an engineering firm to assess their operation. According to Tolton, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans also hired another firm to look at the integrity of the tower and determined a large part of the problem with stones falling off of the tower is because the last time it was painted, it was done using latex paint instead of whitewash.
“This causes moisture to be trapped inside the stone during the winter’s freeze-thaw cycles, the water expands and contracts and causes pieces of stone to break off,” says Tolton.
The only way forward is to meticulously remove that coating either by scraping or sandblasting.”
Tolton says it’s estimated this work will cost $1.5 million or more. He says structurally, it’s in good shape, the concern is more about pieces falling off the surface. He notes they’ve committed to putting a fence out around the tower to prevent people from getting close enough to be at risk from falling pieces of stone.
“We need to sit down with DFO and town staff and jointly agree to a way forward. We’re ready to get our fundraising wheels in motion,” says Tolton.
During discussion follwing Tolton’s presentation, CAO Kara Van Myall noted, the Town recently received an email from the DFO acknowledging the lighthouse is still a navigational aid, so the DFO has no intent of seeing it decommissioned in any way, shape or form. ” She added, it’s unclear if the federal government has funding to repair it.
Mayor Luke Charbonneau noted, “What it comes down to, is the fact that the Town of Saugeen Shores and the Marine Heritage Society have always had a pretty strong partnership when it comes to looking after these towers, both the tower and the range lights and we’re going to continue to have a strong partnership on that point. We don’t know where we’ll come up with $1.5 million, but I’m pretty confident us working together, we’ll figure it out.”
He continued, “One thing that’s not going to happen is we’re not going to let that tower go. We’re not going to let it degrade.”
He says the Town has been talking with the Department of Fishieries and Oceans about extending its lease (there is one year left) and says, “We have dialogue going back and forth between the Town and the DFO already about that tower and our need to have it remain there, and our need to continue to access it, so we’ll keep standing right in front of them and telling them that they need to support our work there and your work there.”
Meanwhile, among other lighthouses, Tolton says the well known range light at the mouth of the Saugeen River in Southampton, underwent a complete restoration in 2022. He says, “It stands at the end of the pier as a testament to the hard work and generous donations of many groups, businesses and individuals.”
Tolton says there is still work to do to protect it from the return of high water levels.
He adds, “Its twin sister, the rear range is in need of attention. It has lost several shingles and rot has started to set in, in a few places.”
That range light is smaller, and sits further back from the lake at the corner of Albert Street North (Hwy 21) and South Rankin Street.
Tolton says the society has already procured new shingles for it and more than 350 volunteer hours have gone into applying a first coat of stain to them.
In late September, Tolton says there’s a plan to do a complete overhaul of it, before the winter weather arrives.
Meanwhile, the McNab Point Lighthouse, which is stationed along Miramichi Bay off Bayview Point Road is falling into disrepair. Tolton says this spring, they hired a structural engineer to assess the building and his recommendation was that no one should be allowed inside the building and that it should be demolished.
“What would we recommend as we go forward at this point? Good question. We will want to consult with the neighbours and the community,” says Tolton.