Huron-Perth Boomers Summer 2024

HISTORY
If you are familiar with Bruce County, especially
along the beautiful Lake Huron shoreline, it’s
likely you’re familiar with one of its most iconic
structures, the Point Clark Lighthouse.
Nestled at the tip of Point Clark in Huron-Kinloss,
Bruce County’s most southwestern point, the
lighthouse has stood the test of time for 165 years.
Rising 87 feet into the sky, this National Historic
Site has been home to many brave Lightkeepers and
their families, and remains a beacon of pride for
local residents and cottagers, while acting as a major
tourist attraction for those visiting Bruce County.
Yet the allure of Point Clark stretches far beyond
the confines of its iconic beacon. Delve deeper, and
you’ll uncover a rich tapestry of history that dates
back much further than when construction of the
lighthouse began in 1856 – much, much further back.
At the end of the last Ice Age, about 9,000 years ago,
melting glaciers formed a small body of water since
named Lake Stanley. When it first emerged, the lake
was divided by a high ridge of land. Over centuries,
the water levels rose and formed Lakes Huron and
Michigan, submerging the ridge.
However, an amazing discovery was made in Lake
Huron in the early-2000s that provided a greater
understanding of what life was like before European
settlement. A team of underwater archaeologists
from the University of Michigan embarked on
a groundbreaking expedition beneath the serene
surface of Lake Huron. Led by Dr. John O’Shea,
their journey unearthed a remarkable discovery – an
ancient drive lane and remnants of preserved trees,
nestled 37 metres below the lake’s surface.
This submerged corridor, known as the Alpena to
Amberley Ridge, stretched from Alpena, Mich., to
Amberley/Point Clark, offered a glimpse into the
lives of Indigenous caribou hunters who roamed
the land over 9,000 years ago. These parallel lines
of boulders, called the Drop 45 lane, is the most
complex hunting structure identified to date in the
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