The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutX2023-013-067/ � l..t�C�.-, y,��. -�r tJ The Lighthouses at Frenchman's Bay Township of Pickering, Ontario Lot 24, Conc. B.F. II 43, 449 45 Lat N / 79, 2, 0 Longitude W 1798 - Gibraltar Point Lighthouse at entrance to York Harbour (Toronto) commenced by money voted by Legislature of Upper Canada. First lighthouse on any of the Great Lakes. Freshwater by George A. Cuthbertson — 1803 - Legislature of Upper Canada passed an Act to tax vessels over 10-ton burden, also rafts, barges, timber booms for the purpose of building and upkeep of lighthouses. 1816 - Upper Canada Lights Act amended. Administration of lights turned over to Trinity House Committee. 1840 - As navigation increased it was essential that aids to navigation be improved. Between 1828 and 1837 various sums of money were granted for the erection of a lighthouse at several points along the shores of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. By 1837 it became apparent that several lighthouses should be built. Instead of passing separate legislation for each lighthouse, as heretofore, on March 4 an Act granting to his Majesty a sum of money for the erection of certain lighthouses was passed. Publications of the Province of Upper Canada and of the Great Britain relating to Upper Canada 1791-1840 — 1841 - Cap 95, WM-7 An Act granting to his Majesty a sum of money for the erection of certain lighthouses within the province and for other purposes therein mentioned from 1837 to 1840 inclusive together with a statement including the cost of the several lighthouses that have been erected under and by virtue of the said Act, and the respective and aggregated expenses of keeping and maintaining the same during the period and to lay the said Statements before this House. 1854 - Appendix D, 17 VIC Maintenance of Lighthouses Salaries of Lightkeepers in Canada West for the year ended 31 Dec. 1853 - £1,600. 1857 - Harbours and Ports of Lake Ontario - Edward Hodder, M.D. Published by Toronto Maclean & Co., 16 King St. West Regarding the harbour light of Frenchman's Bay in 1857, "On the East Pier is a low miserable lighthouse, the light of which cannot be seen five miles in the lake." In the copy of the above in the Baldwin Room - Metro Reference Library there is a written notation re the harbour light: "1880 - lighthouse 75 ft. high - good white light." 1863 - Frenchman's Bay or Pickering lighthouse established in 1863. Usque Ad Mare - T.E. Appleton 1968 — 1863 - Sessional Papers No. 3, 26 VIC Lake and River Lighthouses, Buoys, etc. above Lachine Seven lighthouses were fitted up with coal -oil as a means of illuminating them. Lightkeepers Salaries for 1862 - $17,036.37 1868 - Control of all Canadian lights, markers and buoys, also fog warnings and storm signals was taken over by the Federal Government at Ottawa. — Freshwater - George A. Cuthbertson - 1934 — 1869 - Thompson's Coast Pilot 5th Edition The Port of Liverpool or Pickering Harbour, formerly called Frenchman's Bay. The Port is 26-miles N.E. '/z E of Toronto. It is formed by a bay running into the land and separated from the lake by a sandy and gravelly beach, through which is a cut 100-ft wide. The light is on the East pierhead and is visible for 5-miles. 1869 - S.P. No. 12, 32 VIC The management of lighthouses in Ontario was formerly vested in the Department of Public Works and during a portion of the year ending 30th of June, 1868 until the staff of this department was appointed. 1870 - S.P. No. 2, 33 VIC Lighthouses turned over the Department of Marine and Fisheries. 1871 - S.P. No. 5, 34 VIC By Act 33 VIC, CAP 18 the Minister of Marine and Fisheries given the authority to construct lighthouses. 1871 - S.P. No. 5, 34 VIC List of lights in the Dominion of Canada under the charge of the Department of Marine and Fisheries. "Pickering or Liverpool, East Pier, Fixed Light, year Lighted 1863, not under Marine Dept. - Colour of Light not given." 1872 - S.P. No. 1 to 1876 - S.P. No. 1 - no mention of Frenchman's Bay. 1874 - Oct. - Survey of Pickering Harbour by Wm. Kingsford and F.M. Hamel - NMC-0026083. No lighthouse shown on the piers. 1876 - Apr. I - Township of Pickering By -Law 4404 Passed April first, 1876 re granting a bonus of six thousand dollars to the Pickering Harbour and Road Joint Company. Item 3 - "And shall have erected a Lighthouse on one of the piers and shall have provided suitable equipment for the same." "And shall have given the aforesaid Council of the Municipal Corporation of the Township of Pickering a Bond satisfactory to the said Council." The bond was about maintenance of harbour improvements, and "for keeping the lighthouse suitably lit up during the season of Lake Navigation for a period of thirteen years from the delivery of the said debentures by the Corporation of Pickering to the said Company." 1876- Sessional Paper #5 - 39 VIC Report by the Superintendent of Lights above Montreal for fiscal year ending 30 June 1875. - no mention in this report of a lighthouse at Frenchman's Bay 1877 - List of Lights and Fog Signals - Dept. of Marine #162 - Pickering or Liverpool, White fixed light, lighted 1863, not under Marine Dept. 1878 - Frenchman's Bay Report of the Superintendent of Lights for the District above Montreal, on a Tour of Inspection, in the steamship "Celtic" for the year 1878. Sessional Papers - Vol III, 42 Vic - 1879 "The steamer arrived here on the 6th of July. I found everything clean and in good order. This is an octagonal wooden tower painted white. It stands on the end of a pier, which has sunk on the N.E. side, giving the tower a list in that direction; it shows a white catoptric light from a wooden lantern 5-ft in diameter, containing four glass lamps suspended from the top in a chandelier from the roof of the lantern, with two 15-inch and two 10-inch reflectors. It should be seen 10- miles. Size of glass 24-in x 26-in. A new set of lamps and a proper table for lamps are required for this lighthouse. The top of the lantern leaks and requires repairs. The piers and the lighthouse require immediate attention. James McClellan has a family of six." Expenditures on account of Maintenance of Lights at Frenchman's Bay: James McLellan - 12 month's salary as Light Keeper is $100.00 1879 - Dec. 31 - List of Lights and Fog Signals, Dept. of Marine and Fisheries #183 - Frenchman's Bay or Pickering Light on East pier head at Lat 43-48- 45, Long 79-7-20. A white fixed light, lighted in 1863. 1880 - (see 1857) 1882 - Frenchman's Bay - Expenditures John Leng - 12 month's salary as Lighthouse Keeper - $100.00. E. Chantiloup - 6 panes of green glass - $12.50. — 45 VIC - A1882 - Vol. IV - Sessional Paper V — 1883 - Liverpool - Breakwater on West Side of Harbour $5,000.00 46 VIC - A1883 - Sessional Papers I 1883 -May 25 - The lighthouse is now undergoing thorough repairs, a number of Government men being engaged in the work. 1883 - June 1 - Government men are engaged in thoroughly repairing the lighthouse at Pickering Harbour. — Whitby Chronicle — 1883 - June 15 - The Government engineer is still here in connection with the repairs going on at the lighthouse. 1891 - May 1 - The lighthouse Inspector visited our village the other day and examined thoroughly that institution. We are told that the Government intends to make some needed repairs during the summer. 1891 - May 15 - The Government having decided to furnish our lighthouse with a boat, asked for tenders, and several were received from Toronto and other firms. W. Edwards, of this place received the contract and we expect to see a flying skiff afloat over one of these days. 1891 - May 29 - The boat which is being built by Wm. Edwards for the lighthouse is near completion. 1892 - Scott's Coast Pilot Fixed green light visible 10-miles. White octagonal wood tower 47-ft high on East pier. 1896 - July 17 - The supply ship "Acadia" called last Saturday with supplies for the lighthouse. 1896 - C.H.J. Snider's "Schooner Days" DCLXII, Telegram Oct. 21, 1944. Snider mentions the green light of the lighthouse. 1898 - Sept. 16 - Abraham Stoner, the lighthouse keeper died Sept. 10. As keeper he received $125.00 per year - 62 VIC 1898. 1898 - Oct. 13 - Matthew O'Brien appointed lighthouse keeper - 62 VIC 1899. 1899- William Edwards - for painting lighthouse $10.00 - 62 VIC 1899. 1902 - July 18 - The work on the piers is nearing completion. It is understood that in the near future the present lighthouse will be torn down and a more modern one constructed. 1902 - Nov. 14 - The pier work is almost completed and the building of the lighthouse is going on. It is expected to be completed in about two weeks. 1902- Frenchman's Bay: The lighthouse on the south end of the east pier had formerly stood on a cribwork block raised 10-ft about the deck of the piers. This block has been removed and the lighthouse has been lowered to the deck of the pier. At the same time the foundation of the tower in the cribwork of the pier is being rebuilt. The work is being done under the direction of Mr. H.A. Gray, Resident Engineer, Public Works Department in connection with extensive repair work on the breakwater at an estimated cost of $1,500.00. Chief Engineer's Report for 12 months ending Nov. 30, 1902 1903 - June 19 - The lighthouse which has undergone extensive repairs and improvements is now considered about the best on the North Shore of Lake Ontario. Repairs were under the direction of W.W. Sparks. 1905 - Repairs to Lighthouse being $327.67. 1907 - The Lake Pilot's Handbook by Capt. Trimble - Pickering - a fixed green light - 8-ft depth in piers. No custom office listed for Frenchman's Bay or Liverpool Market. 1910 - Scott's New Coast Pilot - as in 1892 with the addition of Direction of Piers is S by E '/z. East pier is 685-ft lg, W-pier 835 ft lg. 1911 - Scott's Coast Pilot - 8th Edition - as 1910 - and a fixed green light visible 6-miles. White octagonal wood tower 47-ft high on East pier. 1912 - C.H.J. Snider's "Schooner Days" DCLXVI - Telegram Nov. 11, 1944 In this column a Mr. W.B. Dunbar writes about the lighthouse. "The old pier gave away and listed badly to the East. Temporary bracing was used for awhile. Finally the old lighthouse had to come down and the pier rebuilt. The crib was built on the Bay side of the sandbar to the west, launched and floated into place. The lighthouse in the picture was then erected." 1915 - List of Lights and Fog Signals shows: A white, wooden, octagonal tower, 47-ft high, established 1863, altered 1880. White light, visible I I -miles, visible 10-secs, eclipse 5-secs. 1915- Last year for service of the lighthouse. — Canadian Coast Guard 1992 — 1915- NOTICE TO MARINERS No 8 of 1915 ONTARIO (22) Lake Ontario, Frenchman's Bay, intended change in character of light Position - On East, Pierhead Date of Alteration - Opening of navigation in 1915 without further notice. Alteration - The fixed green catoptric light will be replaced by an occulating white light visible 7-secs and eclipsed 3-secs alternately Order - Fourth Dioptric Dept File No 21811 A N to M No 8 (22) 26-1-15 Canada Gazette 1915, page 2,599 1915- NOTICE TO MARINERS No 40 of 1915 ONTARIO (134) Lake Ontario, Frenchman's Bay Former Notice, No 8 (22) of 1915 Position - On East Pierhead New characteristics of light - occulting white light, visible 10 secs and eclipsed 5 secs, alternately. Dept File No 21811A N to M No 40 (134) 6-4-15 List of Lights - 1914, No 1811 Canada Gazette 1915, page 3,365 1915- NOTICE TO MARINERS No 87 of 1915 Inland No. 26. All bearings unless otherwise noted, are true and are given from seaward in degrees from 00 (North) to 3600, measured clockwise, followed by the magnetic bearing in degrees in brackets, miles are nautical miles, heights are above high water, and all depths are at mean low water. ONTARIO (299) Lake Ontario —Frenchman's Bay —Light to be discontinued. Position. —On east pierhead, Frenchman Bay. Light to be discontinued. —On 1 st September, 1915, the maintenance of the occulting white light at Frenchman Bay will be discontinued, without further notice. N. to M. No. 87 (299) 21-7-15 Authority: Memo from Commissioner of Lights. Admiralty charts: Nos. 1152 and 797. Publication: U.S.H.O. Publication No. 108 D, 1907, page 138. Canadian List of Lights and Fog Signals, 1915: No. 1811. Departmental File: No. 21811 K. Canada Gazette 1915, page 524 1917 - Marine Survey of Frenchman's Bay shows lighthouse but "discontinued" printed beside it. 1921 - Sailing Directions for the Canadian Shores of Lake Ontario, Dept. of Naval Service - Piers are 630-ft long and 100-ft apart. A disused lighthouse is erected on the outer end of the East pier. The winding channel from the inner end of the piers to the ice houses and elevator on the East side of the Bay has a depth of at least seven feet. The channel is not buoyed and outside of it, the Bay is very shallow. 1923-Aug. 10 The lighthouse was still standing in 1923. According to the Pickering News it was used to hide stolen goods taken from cottages on the east beach. Paul Greison was sentenced to six months in the Ontario Reformatory by Magistrate Clark for the theft. 1924 - Lighthouse torn down by Dept. of Transport according to local inhabitants. Parts of the structure ended up in local homes, a piece of the stairs went to a house on the 4th Concession and another section is still in use (1999) in a house in the Village of Fairport. 524 THE CAIYADA GAZETlT, - ,-%-T-I!-`[' TO MARINERS. NTv I L.,,✓ No. 87 of 1915. Inland No. 26. All hearings, unless otherwise noted, are true and are given from seaward in degree, froua; W (North) to 36T. measured clockwise, followed by the magnetic bearing in degrees in brackets miles are nautical mile..+, heigia-i atw above high water, and all depths are at mauan luw water. C ONTARIO. ) (299) Lake Ontario —Frenchman bap —Light to be s discontinued. j Position. —On east pierhead, Frenchman bay. j Light to be discontinued. —On 1st September, 1915, the maintenance of the occulting white light at Frenchman bay willbediscontinuv5l, without further notice. N. to Al. No. 87 (--rJ{ at Authority: Memo. from 6minilmloner of Light,. Admiralty chaff Nos, X152 and 797. Publication: U. S. 11. O. blicution Na 108 D, ]!0)7, page 13i Canadian List of Liyhis and buy Signals, 191e : Nu. ISII. Deparinieadal bile: No; 21811 K. ONTARIO—MICHIGAN. (300)—Detroit river —Livingstone channel —Changes in aids to navigation. The following changes have been made in the aids in Liviug-,tone channel, on account of widening the channel at the north- ern end. (1) Buoy 25 A. Posthi n.—This spar buoy has been established in 23 feet water at thedge of channel abreast of Light No. 9. (2) Livingstone Channel Light No. 9, Position. —'rids light has Mien - established 15 yards west of the edge of the cut at entranccl'to channel, in 14 Feet water. Character. —Fixed woe light, shown from a lens lantern. Elevation. —34 feet. Power. ' 230 candles. { ! Structurp.—Steel mast on a concrete pier. Remarks. —The temporary gas buoy, heretofore moored in this locality, ias been withdrawn. (3) Buoy 27, New position. —This buoy has been moved 45 yards 276' ( . 82° W. Mag. ), to the present edge of the channel. (4) Gas buoy 29, New posi-tiohl•.--This gas buoy has been moved 75-- yards 276e (N. 52e W. Mag.), to the* present edge of the channel. N. to M. No. 87 130)) 21 -15. Variation in 1915: 2' IV. Authority: U. S. H. O. N. to 11f. No. 29 of 1915. Adrairgity charts : Nos. 331), 332 and 1178. Publication: U. S. I1. O. Publication No. 108C, llx17. pago 18. Canadian List ojLiytds and Buy Signals, 191:-: page :q. ` tt, ONTARIO. (301) .Lake Huron —North channel —Little Current— List of buoys. i Previous notice. —No. 13 (42) of 1915. 1' The following is a corrected list cif wooden spar buoys in Little Current channel ; as lately located by the lfydrographic Survey branch of the Naval Service of Canada. i 1915- Last year for service of the lighthouse. — Canadian Coast Guard 1992 — 1915- NOTICE TO MARINERS No 40 of 1915 ONTARIO (134) Lake Ontario, Frenchman's Bay Former Notice, No 8 (22) of 1915 Position - On East Pierhead New characteristics of light - occulting white light, visible 10 secs and eclipsed 5 secs, alternately. Dept File No 21811 A N to M No 40 (134) 6-4-15 List of Lights - 1914, No 1811 Canada Gazette 1915, page 3,365 1915- NOTICE TO MARINERS No S of 1915 ONTARIO (22) Lake Ontario, Frenchman's Bay, intended change in character of light Position - On East, Pierhead Date of Alteration - Opening of navigation in 1915 without further notice. Alteration - The fixed green catoptric light will be replaced by an occulating white light visible 7-secs and eclipsed 3-secs alternately Order - Fourth Dioptric Dept File No 21811 A N to M No 8 (22) 26-1-15 Canada Gazette 1915, page 2,599 34 Victoria. Sessional Papers (No. 5.) A. 1S71 of the Department of Marine and Fisheries.—Con.tizz,zzed. Time harbor Light is shown. Color or any peculiarity of Lighthouse. �A ° y r H 9 ° ; v r a EI 4°. v �n Character and order of illuminating apparatus. Remarks. —Continued. All night while navigation Not Marine Depart- is open ............... Square, wood....... 1- 8 B 1 1 ............ under ment. �. .................. .... .... 1863 .......... do „ Hexagonal, stone.... 66 62 1820 ............ High light, red........... „ Wood, square, red... 22 16 1838 ............ Red light is on the arm of the pier, to be panned closely on port hand. i Variation in 1868, 2' 50' W. Harbor light not under Marine Derart- ment. .................... ...... ...... 1863 ............ Notunder charge of Marine Department ............ „ Octagon, wood...... 42 36 1836 } „ One white, one red, ( GO 54 1838 square, octagon.... j 1.9 14 180) Wood ............... 53 44 1552 ......... Entrance to Welland Canal „ Brown, square tower. 46 39 11870ld .... ..... ERIE. I Wood ............ 14 10 } 1852 ............ Entrance to Welland Cana' „ Round, stone....... 61 60 1848 ............ IVariationsin1870, 2'40'W, „ Hexagon, wood, white ...... ...... 1848 ............ Grand River entrance. Tc be rebuilt this season. „ do 20 20 1846 Octagon, wood...... 65 60 1843 ............ Variations in1870,1' 40'W „ do ..... 96 46 1840 .................... ...... ...... ............. .. Light not under Marine Department. „ „ Lantern........... Round, stone........ 20 4.5 20 40 1844,........... 1833 ............ W. by N., clears I'eiee Shoal. Variations it 1870, '0 4 E. ........ ....... .....I.............. .... 76 61 118611 ' I i5'1 7 7 c I I 34 Victoria. Sessional Papers (No. 5.) f A. 1871 LIST ckf Lights in the Dominion of Canada, under the charge Name -of Light. Place. a G a.s Numbers of Lights and relative positions. a �a ,� `� � Interval of revolution of flash• o .� q ci a • ° LAKE ONTARIO Whitby Harbor.... W. pier ............. 43 51 001 0 78 57 OU One.............. F ................I 5 Pickering or Liver E. )}ead........ pool ............ j pier Gibraltar• Point, S. 43 48 45179 2 00 One .............. F """""""" IV. side of point 1 Toronto....... i' miles S. of Toronto fZueen's Wharf W. 43 37 00 79 23 30 One .............. F ................ 18 part, the other on l arm of pier....... 43 38 10 79 23 45 Two ............. F ................ 6 credit Port........ On pier..............43 33 30 79 35 00 One )akville .......... Pier head........... 43 26 45 79 40 30 One. ............. F ................ 12 3arlington Bay... c S. pier of entrance... 43 18 00 79 48 30 Two ............. F { 14 Dalhousie Harbor.. E. pier head ........ 43 13 3079 15 30, One .............. Rev 10 ?ox Island........ Lake Simcoe........ 44 18 0077 28 OD One.............. F ................ 12 ;olborne Port and LAKE Range Light..... W. pier head....... 42 53 30 79 17 00 Two. ......... F i 12 dobawk Island.... On an Islandbetweeu Colborne and Mait- land Ports, 1 mile S.W. of mainland. 42 50 40 79 35 00 One .............. Rev Every three min- Port... . W. pier ............. 42 52 00 79 37 45 One.. ....Saitland u.........10 )over Port........ W. pier ............. 42 47 3080 13 00 One.. ...... F 8 %'orth Point, or ................ North Foreland.. E. extremity....,... 42 33 00 80 5 30 One .............. F 25 rig Utter Creek, or • •' ........... Burwell Port.... 'attlslr 333 yards in shore... 42 39 00I80 49 30 One .............. F 12 Creek-, or BAce Port ...... .................... 42 40 00 81 1 00 One...... ....... F ........... .. tanley Port....... Extreme of W. pier. 42 40 0081 12 30 One .............. F 4 elee Island....... N.E. point.......... 41 50 00182 37 45 One .............. F •• elee Spit......... On caisson, 21 miles southerly from ex treme end of point from N.nhore.....141 52 20 82 29 4510ue ............. F................ ..-- A U ce: tjoif�/ ��6✓C �je-a • � (n/co iI n�RS rvt 0l39/5/v W/I,A,/19A,% O'PR/4'4/ r /A/14 c gBf?! 6t/ fa jP ids` 1%� /704 !` 1AF t7,sr tr+n^, o 'f36lrN, o'V IT Ia l Some Notes on the Wreck of the Steamer A.H. Jennie of Toronto at Frenchman's Bay November 21, 1900 Canadian Registered Steam Vessels on Registry Book, December 31, 1901 No - 77820 Built 1882 at Port Rowan Length 119.0 ft, Breadth 21.1 ft, Depth 9.3 Gross 197 tons, Register 121 Owner: Agnes M. Britnell, Toronto, Ont. Freight: Screw Type Nov. 21, 1900 - Steamer A.H. Jennie of Toronto, in a severe gale, and endeavouring to make shelter in Pickering Harbour, Lake Ontario, floundered near the entrance to the harbour, and is a total loss; no fatalities. — Sessional Paper #21, 1902, Vol 9, p 67 From the Pickering News Nov. 23, 1990 - The Jennie, a steam barge with pig iron from Hamilton for Cobourg ran ashore near the piers in Wednesday's gale. The crew reached land, but not before they sank the vessel, in order to save her from complete wreckage. Dec. 7, 1900 - Divers engaged in unloading the Jennie Jan. 4, 1901 - The contract of unloading the Jennie's cargo off Fairport Harbour was awarded to B. Fawcett. The ship's cargo is being loaded on railway cars on the Spink's siding. Mar. 1, 1901 - The Jennie has entirely gone to pieces. 100 tons of iron still remain but will be removed next Spring. Aug. 2, 1901 - The work of lifting the iron from the Jennie is about completed From the Meteorological Service, Dominion of Canada Vol XXIV November 1900 P 137 Storm No. 9 travelled from the vicinity of New Mexico to the Gulf of St. Lawrence between the 21" and 23rd. It was a fairly energetic area and in Canada from Ontario to the Maritime Provinces it was attended by moderate to fresh gales and light falls of snow and rain. Note: A gale on the Beaufort Scale was winds of 32-54 mph. J.D. O'Brien