Description of Historic Place

The Light Tower is located on a headland known as Lighthouse Point that marks the entrance to one of the finest natural, deep-water harbours on the Great Lakes. The tapered wooden tower is hexagonal in shape with a pine wood-shingle finish and an elegant profile. The Light Tower is capped by a metal gallery with iron and wire rope railing and a cast-iron lantern. Simple gable windows and door heads speak to the tower’s classical inspiration. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Light Tower is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
The Light Tower is directly associated with the federal government’s program to provide navigational aids on the Upper Great Lakes. The construction of the Light Tower marks the entrance to the harbour of Tobermory, on the Great Lakes.

Architectural Value
The Light Tower is valued for its good aesthetic qualities as a simply detailed, wooden tapered light tower with a hexagonal shape. The early cast-iron lantern is a well-proportioned feature of the tower that is functional and also contributes to its picturesque, slim profile. The iron and wire rope railing at the gallery and the bracketing detail are lightweight in appearance, which reflects a very good functional design. Good craftsmanship is demonstrated in the simple building construction used for this wood-frame light tower and in the traditional finish materials such as the narrow, wood shingle siding with wide corner boards.

Environmental Value
The Light Tower reinforces the picturesque character of its maritime setting on a headland. The Light Tower is well-known to all mariners in the region and its image has been extensively promoted in travel literature.

Sources: Lighttower, Tobermory, Ontario, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Building Report, 90-211; Lighttower, Lighthouse Point, Tobermory, Ontario, Heritage Character Statement, 90-211.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Light Tower should be respected.

Its good aesthetic design, very good functional design and quality craftsmanship and materials, for example:
- the tower’s hexagonal footprint and medium-height, tapered massing which is surmounted by a metal bracketed plank gallery and cast-iron lantern;
- the wood-frame construction;
- the white painted, narrow, wood shingle siding with wide corner boards and the curved trim pieces in the cover boards at the top of the tower;
- the gable hoods over the windows with minimal fascias and the simple detailing;
- the iron and wire rope railing at the gallery;
- the vertical sliding wood sash windows.

The manner in which the Light Tower reinforces the picturesque character of its maritime setting and is a well-known landmark, as evidenced by:
- its elegant tapered design, details and cast-iron lantern which contribute to the picturesque setting on a headland;
- its visibility to mariners in the area as well as its high profile via its promotion in travel literature.