As I mentioned yesterday, the first stop on our Bruce Coast lighthouse tour was Point Clark, Ontario. According to the Lighthouse Destination pamphlet that we consulted, the lighthouse was:
“Built in 1859 to warn sailors of the shoal extending 3.2 km offshore, its elegant proportions and limestone exterior are typical of the six “Imperial” towers built in the region, a lighthouse style rarely seen elsewhere in Canada. Acquired by Parks Canada in 1967 to commemorate the vital role of lighthouses in navigation on the Great Lakes, it still serves its primary function – an aid to navigation. The light keeper’s dwelling, built at the same time as the lighthouse, is now operated as a museum by the Township of Huron-Kinloss. A breathtaking vista is your reward for climbing the 114 stairs up the winding staircases at the Point Clark lighthouse.”
I had myself totally pumped about climbing to the top of the lighthouse, so you can imagine my disappointment when we arrived only to find that the lighthouse was under renovation and was fenced off. We talked to a couple of locals who were biking along the waterfront, and they told us that apparently the damage to the lighthouse was far more extensive than originally anticipated and the money ran out. The project will be retendered this fall, with plans to see restoration work restart in spring 2013. About one-third of the lighthouse’s stones, or about 300, require either full replacement, or at least half of the actual stone replaced. With many of them weighing about 800 lbs., they are not the normal-sized bricks and must be handled with care. The lighthouse has been closed to the public since July 2010, when engineers deemed it unsafe due to falling rocks and the potential for someone being harmed. Even bandaged up as it was, I thought the Point Clark lighthouse was still pretty impressive, and we will definitely return once the repairs are complete to make the climb to the top!
photos from the loonybin 
Awww, da poor wittle wight house got itself a boo-boo. 😉
What a bummer, getting all the way there to find you cant go in 😦
Ya, it’s got a big boo-boo :). We were bummed out, but then we continued north to Kincardine where we had a tour of a beautiful lighthouse at the harbour, so it was all good!
And they lived happily ever after 😀
It’s a beautiful crumbling landmark that worked itself into failing old age. Sounds a bit like me! 🙂 I love it that you are impressed with fading landmarks though, and you’ve caught the spark of life that’s still there.
Oh, you are always so hard on yourself Dor! Age doesn’t matter – you are still beautiful :). And yes, I think this lighthouse is majestic even if it does need some sprucing up!!
That’s too bad you couldn’t get closer, but it is still pretty cool. I was amazed on my trip how many of the places I wanted to see were under renovation or the surrounding roads were under repair preventing me from visiting. On one level I was disappointed, but at least historical places are being maintained and people are working. Sigh, not everything is about me. I need some chocolate to deal with this.
Chocolate!!!! Are you going to share? LOL When I was in Amsterdam in 2010, I was so disappointed because the Royal Palance was under renovation and the whole outside was covered up and there was scaffolding everywhere. It’s such a beautiful building, but you couldn’t see any of it. Oh well, it’s like you say – at least they are being maintained :).
Chocolate and share are two words that don’t go together for me.
Yes, I must admit, I’m kind of selfish about my chocolate too :). I guess that’s why the scale keeps groaning every time I stand on it!!
I stepped on the scale yesterday and it kept registering error…too many sausages and beer on my last trip I guess. Talk about feeling bad about myself…more chocolate please! I’m a slow learner.
Chocolate makes everything better :).
That’s a lot of bandaids! 😀
I know eh? He must have really bad ouchies under there :).
I wonder if it will hurt when they “just rip” them off lol
You’re hilarious :)!! By the way, I don’t know if you follow him or not, but you must go to TBM’s blog at http://50yearproject.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/the-british-museum/ because there are pictures of Egyptian rubber duckies!!!!! They are sooo cute :).