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| Six Imperial Towers | |
| A | Point Clarke |
| B | Chantry Island |
| C | Cove Island |
| D | Griffith Island |
| E | Nottawasaga Island |
| F | Christian Island |
Construction was begun on six limestone towers in 1855. These locations were so remote and blackfly infested that the contractor, John Brown, had to pay high wages to entice skilled labour to stay. One of his perennial problems was the loss of supply ships in violent storms. On such occasions, his expensive crews sat idle.
-Parks Canada/Don Wilkes Cove Island, the first of the six Imperial Towers to be lit in 1858, and the last Georgian Bay lighthouse to be destaffed in 1991. It is now the only lightstation that still has its original lens, and its fog station on Georgian Bay. Former lightkeepers have claimed the lighthouse is haunted by the ghost of Captain Tripp. |
-Woodward Grant and Co. Lith. The contractor, John Brown, a stonemason from Thorold, Ontario, was nearly forced into bankruptcy in order to complete the towers, but they still stand today as a legacy to his fine work. |
-Courtesy of Jamie McMaster George Collins, lightkeeper of Cove Isand 1858-1859, Nottawasaga Island 1860-1890 |
-From the film, Alone in the Night
Cove’s original "Fresnel" lens was manufactured in Paris, France. The installation crew, afraid to be trapped on the island over the winter, abandoned Cove’s first keeper, George Collins. He was left to solve the technical problems on his own: |
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Captain George Collins Lightkeeper, Isle of Coves 9th November 1858 I beg to report that in consequence of the rain which has been coming in the tower since Mr. Scott left Cove Island and for the want of a stove to keep it dry, all the inside parts of the lantern glass is a glitter of ice. I have been tending the machinery and the above. Myself and acting assistant is nearly frozen before our watch is over... Collins was also having difficulty with his government-appointed assistant: ...this last two weeks he had refused to obey my orders by saying he was hired by the Government - it is then unpleasant and unsafe to be with such a man for he said that if I discharge him he wants to smash my head. |
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