Yesterday the sun made brief appearances so we headed north for some holiday exploring. Tobermory has been a favourite destination for me since childhood. Rocks, trees, and big water always grab my fancy, and of course, there is a lighthouse.
A light was first shown in 1881 to guide ships into Tobermory's natural refuge, Big Tub Harbour. Charles Earl, one of the earliest settlers, was paid to hang a lantern on a long pole. In 1885, the white, hexagonal tower that we know today was constructed. The lighthouse was manned from 1885 to 1952 when it was automated. The lightkeeper's cottage along the Big Tub shore is now a private residence.
The big storm of 1913 took most of the shingles off the lighthouse tower but it was repaired. The community has always rallied around to maintain this historic building. The Canadian Coast Guard would prefer to demolish this and many other traditional lighthouses, and relpace them with low-maintenance steel structures. Parks Canada has been inundated with requests to maintain lighthouses, and is simply unable to take them all on. Once again, the community has come together to fundraise and protect this unique structure.
Under the umbrella of Friends of Bruce District Parks, major repair work begins in the spring of 2020. Hooray!
https://brucepeninsulapress.com/2019/10/31/survival-of-big-tub-light-threatened-community-financial-support-needed/
