Description of Historic Place

The Lighthouse at Nine Mile Point is a circular stone tower with gracefully tapered sides situated at the southwest tip of Simcoe Island, nine miles (14.5 kms) out from Kingston. The 40-foot (12.2 m) Lighthouse is constructed of rubblestone painted white and supports a prominent red lantern. An arched doorway provides access to a spiral staircase. The adjacent fog alarm building and the contemporary fog alarm complete the ensemble. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Lighthouse is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical Value:
The Lighthouse is closely associated with the provision of navigational aids for marine traffic on the approaches to the St. Lawrence River system and the entrance to Kingston Harbour. Part of a trio of lighthouses, the lighthouse continues to serve as one of the key navigational aids in this treacherous section of Lake Ontario.

Architectural Value:
The Lighthouse is valued for its good aesthetic design and is an early example of an imperial light, a common lighthouse built between 1830 and 1860. The imperial lights were characterized by a tapered, circular tower, rubblestone construction and a spiral staircase, characteristics seen in the design of the Lighthouse. It is one of the earliest imperial lighthouses still in service. Excellent functional design and good craftsmanship are evidenced in the two-and-a-half-foot (76 cm) thick rubblestone wall.

Environmental Value:
The Lighthouse reinforces the picturesque maritime character of Simcoe Island. The Lighthouse is well known to the shipping community and is a conspicuous landmark.

Sources:
Marilyn E. Armstrong Reynolds, Nine Mile Point Lighthouse, Simcoe Island, Lake Ontario, Ontario, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Report 88-106; Nine Mile Point Lighthouse, Simcoe Island, Lake Ontario, Ontario, Heritage Character Statement 88-106.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Lighthouse should be respected.

Its good aesthetics and excellent functional design and good quality materials and craftsmanship, for example:
-the building’s cylindrical form and massing, tall profile and flared platform surmounted by an iron lantern;
-the two-and-a-half foot (76 cm) thick rubblestone exterior walls;
-the placement of windows and the arched door;
-the wooden spiral stairway through which descends a system of weights for rotating the beacon;
-the white-painted exterior and the red-painted lantern.

The manner in which the Lighthouse reinforces the picturesque, maritime setting on Simcoe Island, and acts as a landmark as evidenced by:
-the aspects of its design and materials that complement its picturesque maritime setting;
-the Lighthouse’s high visibility due to its location at the western tip of Simcoe Island, which makes it a familiar landmark to the shipping community.