Beaver Island Lighthouse

The present light on Beaver Island is a circular fibreglass tower erected in 1986, replacing the original 1846 lighthouse on the same eastern-end site — the earlier tower no longer stands. Maintained by the Canadian Coast Guard and automated since 1987, the current beacon shows a flashing white light (20 seconds) and carries a fog horn.

The first lighthouse was a house 35 feet high with the lantern on the roof, erected in 1846. It stood on the eastern end of the island. The building was painted white with two black balls placed horizontally on the gable facing S.S.W. The revolving white light, 70 feet a above high water, was most brilliant every two minutes. In clear weather it could be seen for 12 miles.

In 1860, keeper Simon Fraser drowned on his way from Beaver island to Port Dufferin. There are several contemporary accounts of this tragedy. Fraser left the island early in the morning of February 10, expecting to have a fine time visiting. At about 4 PM he was observed trying to work his small whaler at the mouth of the harbour. The water was freezing, and there was ice inshore. Fraser was caught. William Whitman and his two sons manned their boat and tried to get out to him, but it was impossible. It was with great difficulty that they succeeded in getting back to shore. Night came on and Fraser had to be left in his perilous condition.