The Lighthouse
The need for a lighthouse at the east end of Lake Ontario was obvious to many at an early date. This item from the Upper Canada Gazette in 1826 may be part of the inspiration for the title of Marc Seguin’s book “For the Want of a Lighthouse”, which is a terrific resource that I use routinely. It is clear that the sentiment was genuine, even in the 1820s.
The need for a lighthouse at the east end of Lake Ontario was obvious to many at an early date. This item from the Upper Canada Gazette in 1826 may be part of the inspiration for the title of Marc Seguin’s book “For the Want of a Lighthouse”, which is a terrific resource that I use routinely. It is clear that the sentiment was genuine, even in the 1820s.
Plans were developed during the 1830s for a large lighthouse on the east end of Presqu’ile Point but the project was delayed by the McKenzie Rebellion. The architect was civil engineer Nicol Hugh Baird and the work finally commenced in the spring of 1840.
When the lighthouse first began operating, Joseph Swetman was the lighthouse keeper. The initial construction had not included accommodations for the keeper, but two years later, in 1842, a stout cottage was built for Joseph and his family, just a little to the west of the lighthouse. That structure survives to this day, becoming an art display and presentation space linked with the Interpretive Centre that was built near the lighthouse in the 1980s.
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Creation of Brighton Township
At the beginning of the 1850s, Brighton and area was on the cusp of major change. Robert Baldwin and his reform party won a landslide victory in the election of 1848 which resulted in a massive amount of legislation to modernize Canada West and Canada East. In the process, local government was re‐organized. In Toronto, on August 2nd, 1851, legislation was passed to make changes to the borders of counties and townships. A unique element of this change happened in Northumberland County. Effective January 1, 1852, Brighton Township was created out of lots 1 thru 10 of Cramahe Township and lots 23 thru 36 in Murray Township, as well as Presqu’ile Point. I have found no documentation to reveal the reasons for this change, but we can see the results. Now there were three townships of similar population and geographic size and shape. Each township had a town at the south end near the lakeshore which could act as a centre of governance and commercial activity. For better or worse, Presqu’ile Point was now part of Brighton Township. |
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The Entrance to Presqu'ile Bay
Increased schooner traffic during the 1840s was supported by the main lighthouse but more was needed to help sailors navigate the difficult entrance into the bay. The entrance to Presqu’ile Bay is a mile wide, but, most of that distance is covered by shoals in the form of limestone shelfs. Here we can see that, outside the entrance to the bay, is the Middle Ground Shoal. It is large and relatively shallow in some places. However, there was a natural channel, here called “The Old Channel” which allowed sailors to avoid the shoals.
Ships had to sail to the far east end of the entrance to the bay, they turn sharply west and follow the channel into the bay. The channel took them to a point just north of Salt Point. That is why, in the days before lighthouses, Salt Point was the location where a beacon fire was set up to help sailors into the bay.
The help with this, range lights were installed on the bay shore west of Salt Point. These lights were lined up with the old channel so that sailors could match the lights over top of one another and hold that course to navigate into the bay.
The government recognized this as a weak point and in 1871, a channel was dredged directly through the shoals, as we see here, to allow direct access to the bay for larger ships.
Increased schooner traffic during the 1840s was supported by the main lighthouse but more was needed to help sailors navigate the difficult entrance into the bay. The entrance to Presqu’ile Bay is a mile wide, but, most of that distance is covered by shoals in the form of limestone shelfs. Here we can see that, outside the entrance to the bay, is the Middle Ground Shoal. It is large and relatively shallow in some places. However, there was a natural channel, here called “The Old Channel” which allowed sailors to avoid the shoals.
Ships had to sail to the far east end of the entrance to the bay, they turn sharply west and follow the channel into the bay. The channel took them to a point just north of Salt Point. That is why, in the days before lighthouses, Salt Point was the location where a beacon fire was set up to help sailors into the bay.
The help with this, range lights were installed on the bay shore west of Salt Point. These lights were lined up with the old channel so that sailors could match the lights over top of one another and hold that course to navigate into the bay.
The government recognized this as a weak point and in 1871, a channel was dredged directly through the shoals, as we see here, to allow direct access to the bay for larger ships.
Over the years, the use of land on The Point was very dis‐organized. The local joke was that life on the point had more to do with pirates and smuggling than anything else. By the 1860s, several families had settled around the peninsula, in many cases, simply squatting on the land. This map from a survey done in 1869 shows many small farms, scattered around the peninsula.
With Confederation in 1867, responsibility for lighthouses was transferred to the new Dominion Department of Marine and Fisheries. A report about the status of Presqu’ile resulted in concern that too many trees were being cut down on Presqu’ile Point. The forest on The Point was thought to enhance the protective character of the bay in its role as a Harbour of Refuge.
By order in council on April 18, 1871, control over Presqu’ile Point was handed over from the province to the federal government. Management of the land by the Department of Marine and Fisheries over the next decades would be a key factor in protecting the natural environment on the point.
With Confederation in 1867, responsibility for lighthouses was transferred to the new Dominion Department of Marine and Fisheries. A report about the status of Presqu’ile resulted in concern that too many trees were being cut down on Presqu’ile Point. The forest on The Point was thought to enhance the protective character of the bay in its role as a Harbour of Refuge.
By order in council on April 18, 1871, control over Presqu’ile Point was handed over from the province to the federal government. Management of the land by the Department of Marine and Fisheries over the next decades would be a key factor in protecting the natural environment on the point.
Presqu'ile Becomes a Summer Resort
As the merchants and tradesmen in Brighton and area became more prosperous and as the professionals, such as doctors and lawyers, became more established, the demand for leisure time became a real thing. As a result, that lovely stretch of shoreline on the bay shore of Presqu’ile Point, up toward the lighthouse, became a very popular picnic location.
Over time, day picnic excursions grew into weekend visits. Camping became part of the process, and people found it so pleasant, their stays became longer and longer. By the early 1890s, Presqu’ile Point was being described in the newspaper as a “Summer Resort”. Families loaded tents and furniture into boats and took them across the bay, setting up on their favorite spots. Sam Nesbitt, a Brighton businessman, built the first dance floor near the shore where campers could kick up their heels on warm summer nights.
As the merchants and tradesmen in Brighton and area became more prosperous and as the professionals, such as doctors and lawyers, became more established, the demand for leisure time became a real thing. As a result, that lovely stretch of shoreline on the bay shore of Presqu’ile Point, up toward the lighthouse, became a very popular picnic location.
Over time, day picnic excursions grew into weekend visits. Camping became part of the process, and people found it so pleasant, their stays became longer and longer. By the early 1890s, Presqu’ile Point was being described in the newspaper as a “Summer Resort”. Families loaded tents and furniture into boats and took them across the bay, setting up on their favorite spots. Sam Nesbitt, a Brighton businessman, built the first dance floor near the shore where campers could kick up their heels on warm summer nights.
During the later 1890s and into the 1900s, camping became even more serious. Families would set up elaborate tents in the early summer. Some folks would stay all summer, while others travelled back and forth to work in Brighton.
The land was still owned by the federal government, and there were strict rules about how large or elaborate the structures could be. Families carried on friendly competition to see who could produce the most comfortable home on the point while staying just inside the rules. Temporary floors and walls were installed, all in anticipation of a quick tear‐down in the fall for the boat ride back to the mainland. As we can see here, signs were put up to identify a family’s camping domain.
The land was still owned by the federal government, and there were strict rules about how large or elaborate the structures could be. Families carried on friendly competition to see who could produce the most comfortable home on the point while staying just inside the rules. Temporary floors and walls were installed, all in anticipation of a quick tear‐down in the fall for the boat ride back to the mainland. As we can see here, signs were put up to identify a family’s camping domain.
Murray Canal
A very important event occurred in 1890 when the Murray Canal was opened. It provided a new, easier and shorter water route to the recreational facilities at Presqu’ile for all the folks who lived to the east around Trenton, Belleville, Napanee, Kingston, and beyond. It made a trip to the picnic and camp grounds on Presqu’ile Point a relatively pleasant day excursion on one of the many steam boats that were carrying people around the Bay of Quinte and up the St. Lawrence.
Certainly, there was also commercial traffic on the canal. Barges and smaller boats carried all sorts of products between Brighton and points east. Very often, barges loaded with construction supplies would sail up the canal to Brighton or Presqu’ile.
However, when the canal opened in 1890, it was already undersized for the commercial ships of the day. Instead, the new canal would become known best for recreational traffic. It would take a decade for this to ramp up, but the stage was set.
A very important event occurred in 1890 when the Murray Canal was opened. It provided a new, easier and shorter water route to the recreational facilities at Presqu’ile for all the folks who lived to the east around Trenton, Belleville, Napanee, Kingston, and beyond. It made a trip to the picnic and camp grounds on Presqu’ile Point a relatively pleasant day excursion on one of the many steam boats that were carrying people around the Bay of Quinte and up the St. Lawrence.
Certainly, there was also commercial traffic on the canal. Barges and smaller boats carried all sorts of products between Brighton and points east. Very often, barges loaded with construction supplies would sail up the canal to Brighton or Presqu’ile.
However, when the canal opened in 1890, it was already undersized for the commercial ships of the day. Instead, the new canal would become known best for recreational traffic. It would take a decade for this to ramp up, but the stage was set.
Lighthouse Repair
In 1895, the big lighthouse at the east end of the point was in bad shape. It had been constructed in 1840 but was already showing signs of wear. The type of limestone used for the main structure was not according to Mr. Baird’s instructions, and workmanship was also blamed to some degree.
The Department of Marine and Fisheries analyzed the condition of the structure and decided that the most cost‐effective approach was to cover the limestone surface with wooden planking and shingles. It was thought that strong wooden sheathing covered by
shingles would protect the limestone from further decay and maintain the long‐term integrity of the structure.
There was also a consideration that the body of the lighthouse should be more visible than the gray stone of the original. As a result, the bright white lighthouse we revere today came into being.
In 1895, the big lighthouse at the east end of the point was in bad shape. It had been constructed in 1840 but was already showing signs of wear. The type of limestone used for the main structure was not according to Mr. Baird’s instructions, and workmanship was also blamed to some degree.
The Department of Marine and Fisheries analyzed the condition of the structure and decided that the most cost‐effective approach was to cover the limestone surface with wooden planking and shingles. It was thought that strong wooden sheathing covered by
shingles would protect the limestone from further decay and maintain the long‐term integrity of the structure.
There was also a consideration that the body of the lighthouse should be more visible than the gray stone of the original. As a result, the bright white lighthouse we revere today came into being.
