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The imperial towers were originally spelt with a small "i" and this is the definition of an imperial tower - Webster's
Dictionary 1904-1951. imperial : In architecture, designating a form of dome or roof, as used in a Moorish buildings. imperial: In architecture, a kind of dome which viewed in
366:
Consequently, Brown was facing bankruptcy by 1857, and petitioned the provincial government for assistance. Presumably, the government responded favorably since he completed all six and remained in business until his death. By 1859 all six towers were lit. The final cost was approximately $ 223,000,
437:
As of 2017, all six towers are still standing and are functioning as automated lights. Three have been extensively restored. However, Griffith (on a private island), and especially
Nottawasaga, are deteriorating due to lack of maintenance. A fund raising effort is underway to restore the Nottawasaga
385:
Only minor variations exist in the design of the six towers, as was required for the different building sites. They are all 80 feet (24 m) tall, with the exception of
Christian Island, a 55-foot (17 m) tower. The rock courses at the bottom of the towers reach some seven feet thick, and
329:
All six were built between 1855 and 1859 and all were lit by 1859; for the most part, their construction was simultaneous and the design virtually identical, although the
Christian Island Light is not as tall as the others. Cove Island was the first to be lit, on October 30, 1858; construction on
346:
Construction of the lights was plagued by difficulties. Brown lost four full supply boats, all of which sank before reaching their destinations and unloading. More supplies were lost from being swept overboard during storms and rough seas. Furthermore, delivery of the lighting apparatus for each
474:
on the
Labrador coast; and at West Point on Anticosti Island. Other imperial towers are Mohawk Island (Gull Island), Lake Erie, built in 1848 by John Brown and Government historians list Bois Blanc near Amherstburg Ont built before that as also being an imperial tower.
337:
hazard which was already well-recognized. Sites were also chosen based on their proximity to good anchorages. The projects cancelled were to be at White Fish Island, Mississagi Strait, Isle St. Joseph, Clapperton Island and
Badgley Island.
60:
is not certain, but some historians speculate that because the towers were public construction built under the colonial administration while Canada was a self-governing colony of
Britain, the name would assure at least some funding from the
330:
Christian Island was the first to be started but this Light was the last to be lit, on May 1, 1859. (The projects cancelled were to be at White Fish Island, Mississagi Strait, Isle St. Joseph, Clapperton Island and
Badgley Island.)
72:
locks in 1855. The settlement of the Bruce
Peninsula was already well underway at the time, also making the lighthouses timely as navigational aids for the boats and ships. All are currently operating as automated lights.
355:
were made by the Louis
Sautter Company of Paris and installed by specialist workmen from France. The most powerful (second-order) lenses were used at Point Clark, Chantry, Cove and Nottawasaga Island.
68:
All were built at a time when commercial shipping traffic was increasing on the Great Lakes between Canada and the U.S. because of new trade agreements and the opening of the
434:
According to the Heritage Character Statement from the Government of Canada (for the nearly identical Chantry Island light), the design is very strong and somewhat ornate.
753:
462:(1866); and a movable lighthouse at Isle aux Raisins, Quebec (1867). Four towers were built along the approaches to the Saint Lawrence: at
438:
light but more funds will be required. The Christian Island light, located on Beausoleil First Nation lands, also requires restoration.
540:
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the walls at ground level are six feet thick, tapering towards two feet thickness at the top. Though the lighthouses are
728:
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125:
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This light was originally contracted to be built on Point William 10 nautical miles SE of Griffiths Island.
405:. Most other lighthouses of the era were built of brick, wood, iron or concrete. The lanterns are made of
120:
69:
20:
447:
333:
The locations of the towers were chosen based on known traffic patterns; each tower marked a prominent
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profile, pointed toward the top and widens as it descends, as in Moorish buildings; an imperial dome.
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This article is about the six lighthouses in Canada. For the towers in Mumbai, India, see
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Other Imperial Lights were built in the 1860s usually of rock shipped from Scotland, at
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http://www.historicplaces.ca/media/15197/1990-213(e)chantryislandlightstationtower.pdf
716:"Lighthouses@Lighthouse Digest ... The Imperial Towers of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay"
702:"Lighthouses@Lighthouse Digest ... The Imperial Towers of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay"
688:"Lighthouses@Lighthouse Digest ... The Imperial Towers of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay"
647:"Lighthouses@Lighthouse Digest ... The Imperial Towers of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay"
575:"Lighthouses@Lighthouse Digest ... The Imperial Towers of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay"
561:"Lighthouses@Lighthouse Digest ... The Imperial Towers of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay"
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458:(1865); Port St. Francis, Quebec on Lake St. Peter (1865); Isle aux Prunes opposite
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tower was delayed by competing demand from lighthouse expansion in the
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section near the top of the tower for extra rigidity to support the
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Eventually, only six of the towers were completed. These were:
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Wright, Larry Articles and Great Lakes Lighthouse Encyclopedia -
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and painted with red trim. Each was initially equipped with a
741:"Preservation society to shrink wrap Nottawasaga Lighthouse"
491:|The Imperial Towers of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, 1996
431:; they were the first Canadian lighthouses so equipped.
662:"The Imperial Towers of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay"
590:"The Imperial Towers of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay"
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and a bottleneck in the delivery of the lenses. The
390:, their interior diameter is 10'6'' throughout.
754:of Architects in Canada Henri Maurice Perrault
52:, all constructed primarily of stone, by the
8:
393:The towers and dwellings are constructed of
510:John Brown's Imperial Towers: End of an Era
16:Group of lighthouses on Lake Huron, Canada
552:
362:Cove Island tower and keeper's dwelling
613:
611:
7:
442:Other Imperial lighthouses in Canada
40:of Ontario were six of the earliest
541:Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act
14:
619:"Cove Island Lightstation: Tower"
156:Chantry Island Lightstation Tower
764:History of Lighthouses in Canada
526:History of Lighthouses in Canada
503:The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses
56:. The origin of the designation
494:Berger, T. & Dempster, D.;
466:on the Gaspe peninsula; in the
531:List of lighthouses in Ontario
496:Lighthouses of the Great Lakes
1:
536:List of lighthouses in Canada
501:Crompton, W. & Rhein, M.
452:Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec
367:a massive sum in that era.
795:
18:
225:Nottawasaga Island Light
112:Chantry Island Lighthouse
660:Sapulski, Wayne (1996).
588:Sapulski, Wayne (1996).
470:; at Pointe Amour near
779:Lighthouses in Ontario
382:
363:
258:Griffith Island Light
121:Point Clark Lighthouse
113:
70:Sault Ste. Marie Canal
33:
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314:44.78664°N 80.15607°W
277:44.85058°N 80.89137°W
244:44.53656°N 80.25702°W
211:45.32699°N 81.73505°W
176:44.48938°N 81.40194°W
141:44.07281°N 81.75731°W
111:
29:
21:The Imperial (Mumbai)
668:. Foghorn Publishing
596:. Foghorn Publishing
468:Strait of Belle Isle
380:Chantry Fresnel Lens
319:44.78664; -80.15607
310: /
282:44.85058; -80.89137
273: /
249:44.53656; -80.25702
240: /
216:45.32699; -81.73505
207: /
181:44.48938; -81.40194
172: /
146:44.07281; -81.75731
137: /
65:'s Board of Trade.
512:; Inland Sea; 1992
505:; Thunder Bay 2003
464:fr:Cap-des-Rosiers
448:Lotbinière, Quebec
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54:Province of Canada
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666:Lighthouse Digest
626:HistoricPlaces.ca
594:Lighthouse Digest
488:Sapulski, Wayne;
460:Verchères, Quebec
191:Cove Island Light
85:, a builder from
31:Point Clark Light
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670:. Retrieved
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598:. Retrieved
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508:Weaver, H.;
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472:L'Anse Amour
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429:Fresnel lens
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342:Construction
335:navigational
332:
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95:Georgian Bay
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50:Georgian Bay
37:
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425:whitewashed
371:Description
317: /
280: /
247: /
214: /
179: /
144: /
99:Point Clark
42:lighthouses
631:October 8,
547:References
305:80°09′22″W
302:44°47′12″N
268:80°53′29″W
265:44°51′02″N
235:80°15′25″W
232:44°32′12″N
202:81°44′06″W
199:45°19′37″N
167:81°24′07″W
164:44°29′22″N
132:81°45′26″W
129:44°04′22″N
91:Lake Huron
83:John Brown
46:Lake Huron
418:cast iron
397:, with a
395:limestone
81:In 1855,
44:built on
773:Category
672:16 March
600:16 March
520:See also
454:(1862);
450:(1860);
97:between
58:Imperial
483:Sources
399:granite
388:conical
77:History
416:, and
410:alloys
407:copper
295:Light
622:(PDF)
414:glass
674:2017
633:2022
602:2017
101:and
93:and
48:and
36:The
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610:^
592:.
420:.
412:,
105:.
718:.
704:.
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23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
