Huron-Perth Boomers Summer 2024

Construction of the Point Clark Lighthouse
commenced in 1856, with its inaugural lighting on
April 1, 1859. Crafted from limestone quarried in
Inverhuron to the north, the tower features inner
and outer walls filled with rubble. The top section
consists of a single granite wall designed to support
the weight of the ironworks, including a distinctive
red cast-iron polygonal lantern room crafted by
skilled artisans from France.
Its completion in 1859 marked a significant milestone,
with its light visible up to 15 miles away. The original
structure rested on a foundation of sturdy timber
concealed beneath the sand.
As lighthouse construction commenced at Pine Point,
a small community emerged around it, complete with
many shops and a hotel. There were high hopes that
the Point Clark community would be a bustling and
thriving town. However, Point Clark was still remote
and hard to get to, dashing the hopes of the vision of a
port town. The absence of a proper harbour and the
construction of a more convenient trade route (along
today’s Hwy. 21) between Kincardine and Goderich,
led to disillusionment, prompting numerous families
to relocate to more promising locales. Combined
with a devastating flood in 1868, the settlement
plunged into hardship, and even Captain Gamble,
one of the original settlers, returned to his homeland
in Ireland.
Despite the hard times, lighthouse construction
continued. The keeper’s residence was finalized
in 1857, and consisted of a kitchen, parlour and
bedroom, with a loft with two small rooms up a
set of steep stairs. A separate structure housed the
lighthouse’s oil supply, still detectable by its distinct
oily scent today. Although a barn once housed
animals on the property, it has since been relocated
nearby and transformed into a cottage.
To keep the light running, warning mariners of the
shallow shoal, lightkeepers were employed by the
federal government. Married men were preferred
SUMMER 2024 • 17