History
In 1855 the Board of Works contracted with John Brown, a builder from Thorold, Ontario, to build eleven lighthouses and dwellings lighting Lake Huron and Georgian Bay between Point Clark and Christian Bay. In the event, only six of the towers were completed. These were:
- Point Clark Lighthouse 44°04′22″N 81°45′26″W / 44.07281°N 81.75731°W / 44.07281; -81.75731
- Chantry Island Light 44°29′22″N 81°24′07″W / 44.48938°N 81.40194°W / 44.48938; -81.40194
- Cove Island Light 45°19′37″N 81°44′06″W / 45.32699°N 81.73505°W / 45.32699; -81.73505
- Nottawasaga Island Light 44°32′12″N 80°15′25″W / 44.53656°N 80.25702°W / 44.53656; -80.25702
- Griffith Island Light 44°51′02″N 80°53′29″W / 44.85058°N 80.89137°W / 44.85058; -80.89137
- Christian Island Light 44°47′12″N 80°09′22″W / 44.78664°N 80.15607°W / 44.78664; -80.15607
All six were built between 1855 and 1859; for the most part, their construction was simultaneous. Cove Island was the first to be lit, on October 30, 1858; Christian Island, the first to be completed but the last to be lit, began work on May 1, 1859.
The locations of the towers were chosen based on known traffic patterns; each tower marked a prominent navigational hazard which was already well-recognized. Sites were also chosen based on their proximity to good anchorages.
Read more about this topic: Imperial Towers
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