McKay Island Lighthouse on the North
Channel of Lake Huron
The McKay Island Lighthouse is a
familiar landmark in the Bruce Mines area and its history is a long and
interesting one detailing details of construction as well as names of
individuals who maintained the light and who worked to preserve its
presence for posterity.
In 1902 the first light
at the Town of Bruce Mines, Ontario was a lantern which was placed on a
wharf's shed to guide ships into Bruce Mines new 1000 foot public wharf.
The light was white dioptic ( refractive) that shone white and then red
and had a visibility of 5 miles (8km). The fog horn was operated by a hand pump.
The efforts of Merritt Strum for saving this shed and having it moved to the
Agricultural Grounds were it still stands today are greatly appreciated.
McKay Island had several
owners, the Crown, Montreal Mining Company, Bruce Mines Copper Ltd.,
Copper Mining and Smelting Co of Ontario. Ltd.
Indenture # 902 shows the
lighthouse survey plans drawn by Mr. James S. Dobie Ontario land
surveyor on June 3, 1905.
The lighthouse was built
in 1907 by the Canadian federal government in response to an increase in
marine traffic caused by the timber industry which had replaced the
copper mining industry as the main commercial activity in Bruce Mines.
On June 7, 1910 the deed from the Bruce Mines Copper Ltd. transferred
title to the lighthouse covering 1 acre of land in deed # 903 registered
on July 20, 1910 to His Majesty King George V for $ 25.00
The lighthouse was
constructed at the east end of McKay
Island, 2 miles ( 3.2 km) from Bruce Mines the lighthouse was
constructed: a wooden dwelling with tower rising from the roof with a
height of 32.8 feet (10 meters). The light was a fixed white dioptic coal vapour model with visibility of 9.3 miles (15 kms).
The fog horn was hand cranked. The battery room was on the main
floor. It contained glass containers which had a
white powdery residue along the glass wall. Today that room is a
bedroom. There was a shed close to the water to store the
boats, fuel and coal oil plus gallons of white paint, white and
battleship grey. The old boathouse foundation can still be seen on
the east shoreline by the lighthouse.
The Keepers of the Light:
The main job for the
Keepers of the light was to keep the light well cleaned, fuelled
and lighted and extinguished at the proper times.
1907 - 1913:
Joseph Harvey - He was a
faithful servant of the light until his death.
1915 May 15 - 1946 April 7 -
Angus
James McNeish - born on April 7, 1881.He descended from a Cornish
family.
1946 April 7 - 1947 May 15
Merritt Strum - born on Jan.28 1924.
MPP Lynn Miller approached Merritt a war veteran about the job.
The salary was $ 2.14 a month and he tended the light for 1 year and
then went to work for Noranda Mines in Quebec.
1947 May 15 -1953 May 31
Gordon Inch - born on March 8, 1917.
He was an OSA World War 2 Army veteran and resigned May 31, 1953
1953 June 1 - 1955 Oct.1
Harold Wing -born July 21,1909. The
waters were rough and the trips to the lighthouse by boat were
dangerous. He would drop his wife Eva and 3 children off and they would
walk the last half kilometer across the island he would take the boat.
1955 Oct 1 - The light became
unwatched.
In the 1960's for cost
reasons, the Canadian federal government decided to build a steel tower
and tear down the deteriorating lighthouse. The windows were
broken, birds had made their nests inside but the light was still
operational on a battery system. Harold Peterson persuaded the
Government to sell him the lighthouse as he was the owner of the rest of
the island.
The Canadian Coast Guard
owns the square of land that presently holds the skeleton tower.
The steel tower was erected June 9 - 11, 1975. Mr. Rumley, from the
Coast Guard, removed the light from the lighthouse and placed a white 4
second blinking light in the tower. The Coast Guard is responsible
for its maintenance. Today this tower still guides the freighters
into the Trap Rock wharf and recreational boats into the Bruce Mines
Marina.
Harold and Fern Peterson
who owned French Island had put in a road from Highway 17 through
the west end of Bruce Mines and onto French and McKay Islands. Along
with the Road came hydro power lines. The federal government, in
1967, made arrangements with Harold Peterson to use his power poles so
they could make the tower light electrically operated.
Harold Peterson's goal
now was to save the lighthouse structure and renovations began under
directorship of Norman Beilhartz. Norman was a skilled carpenter,
plumber and electrician so he along with James Beilhartz, together
with James Gjos and Fred Gjos (2 brothers form Desbarats) renovated the
lighthouse. Their skilled work included handmade pine cupboards. A water
pressure system and septic system were also installed in 1971.
Presently the lighthouse
is under the care of the Peterson family operating as Bruce Bay
Cottages and Lighthouse and is an all season self catering lighthouse.
You can still climb the ladder to the "widow's walk" for an amazing
panoramic view of the North Channel. Each season is unique.
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