Bruce County Gets Fresnel Lens Returned
By Sue Clark on Mar 9, 2009 in News 
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Lens To Reside In Museum
Formerly in use at the Cape Croker Lighthouse, Southhampton, Ontario (Georgian Bay), pictured at left, the the third order Fresnel lens was removed without a word from the Canadian Coast Guard two years ago. The reason for the removal? It was at risk of vandalism, thanks to its isolated location. Another sad commentary on our times, that our threatened lighthouses are not only subject to deterioration, but to actual damage by people.
When the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Center discovered it was in the care of the Coast Guard at Parry Sound, the directors immediately went into negotiation with them to have it returned, but this time to a protected setting…a display at the museum. In the last week of February, workers from the Coast Guard reassembled the lens onsite, where a crowd later gathered to watch in awe as the light was turned on. Visitors got a rare treat, as a higher wattage bulb than usually used for displays was put in place. In a lighthouse setting, it’s standard for 1000 watt bulbs to be used to illuminate the optic. But in a museum display, the wattage is usually around 25-30 watts.
According to the story at the Shoreline Beacon, the “light bounced off the lenses, creating a kaleidoscope of colors on the back walls of the museum. As a higher wattage bulb was later put in, the light dramatically intensified. The onlookers had a hard time diverting their eyes though, despite the blinding light, because of how impressive the lens was.”
Some History of the Light
Cape Croker as it currently stands is the second lighthouse on the site. The first, a five room home with a light tower on top, was built in 1898. In 1902 it was replaced with the current reinforced concrete tower. According to Lighthouse Friends, Norman Wheeton, the Keeper from 1949 to 1965, spent two years on his own time building a road to the isolated site. The keepers would arrive in April with their family, and stayed through December, when shipping on the Great Lakes shuts down.
The light is isolated from the rest of the peninsula, which is why it was so susceptible to vandalism. The former keeper’s house was demolished in 2008. The land the light sits on is owned by the First Nation Community of Nawash.
The Museum has negotiated a long term loan with the Coast Guard and is planning a more formal dedication in April. The Director/Curator of the museum, Barbara Ribey, said in the story, “This will be the center of our Ghostly Guardians Along The Bruce. This is the year of the light and we’re doing a great big new lighthouse exhibit here. This will be sort of the focal point of that exhibit.”
Photo Credit: Cape Croker lighthouse Originally uploaded by fotogran. All rights reserved.
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