Description of Historic Place

The Lighttower and its attached dwelling are integral to the Mississagi Strait Light Station on the south-west part of Manitoulin Island where they face the Mississagi Strait. The square tower is a tapered, wooden structure of sturdy appearance appended to a one-storey, rectangular dwelling with a gable roof and a small addition. The Lighttower features a gallery and a prominent lantern. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

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

Historical Value:
The Lighttower and attached dwelling are clearly associated with efforts to improve maritime safety for increasing commercial marine traffic, by building a network of coastal lights at dangerous locations. The inclusion of a dwelling at the Lighttower reflected the importance of maintaining the light at this location. The light aided the development of lumbering and fishing industries on Manitoulin Island, in Georgian Bay and along the North Shore. Towers with attached dwellings were a short-lived phenomenon of the 1870s and 1880s, and were usually adopted for remote minor coastal lights.

Architectural Value:
Utilitarian in nature, the Lighttower and attached dwelling are valued for their good aesthetic design. The lantern is a prominent feature whose scale reinforces the sturdy and durable appearance of the tower. The bracketed cornice and gallery handrail exhibit good craftsmanship and contrast with the simple exterior walls and the informally placed doors and windows. The weatherboard and shingle-clad façades with corner boards contribute to the structure’s traditional appearance.

Environmental Value:
The Lighttower and attached dwelling are compatible with the rugged maritime character of Manitoulin Island at the approaches to the St. Lawrence River system, and together are well known to the shipping community. As well, the structure is a well-known regional landmark that has been extensively promoted in Manitoulin Island tourist literature.

Sources:
Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Report 93-057; Benchmark Building Reports 93-053, 93-054, 93-055, 93-056, 93-057 93-061; Heritage Character Statement 93-057.

Character-Defining Elements

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

Its good aesthetic, functional design and good quality materials and craftsmanship, for example: the simple, low massing of the tapered tower and prominent lantern with attached one-storey, dwelling with gable roof and small addition; the wood-frame construction; the weatherboard and shingle-clad façades with corner boards; the trim details such as the bracketed cornice and the gallery handrail; the informally placed doors and windows with multi-paned wood sash windows with heavy sashes and lighter muntins; the wood panelled entrance doors and surviving original interior room configurations and finishes.

The manner in which the Lighttower and attached dwelling are compatible with the present character of the maritime setting and together form a familiar regional landmark for maritime traffic as evidenced by: the picturesque qualities of its design and form, which complement the rugged island environment; the building’s association to the other buildings in its setting; the Lighttower’s visibility to passing maritime traffic, to visiting tourists, and its high local profile through its current role as a museum, and extensive promotion in Manitoulin Island tourist literature, make it a familiar landmark.

Heritage Character Statement

Disclaimer - The heritage character statement was developed by FHBRO to explain the reasons for the designation of a federal heritage building and what it is about the building that makes it significant (the heritage character). It is a key reference document for anyone involved in planning interventions to federal heritage buildings and is used by FHBRO in their review of interventions.

The lighttower with attached dwelling at Mississagi Strait was constructed in 1873. The design was prepared by the Department of Marine and Fisheries. Alterations include removal of early attached sheds, changing the lantern, and rebuilding the platform. The building is currently a museum and is no longer used as an aid to navigation. The Canadian Coast Guard is the custodian. See FHBRO Building Report 93-57.

Reasons For Designation
The lighttower with attached dwelling has been designated Recognized because of its historical associations and its environmental significance as well as its architectural value.
The construction of the lighttower is associated with efforts to improve marine safety by building an extensive network of coastal lights at dangerous locations. The inclusion of a dwelling at the lighttower reflected the importance of maintaining the light at this location. The light aided the development of lumbering and fishing industries on Manitoulin Island, Georgian Bay and the North Shore.

The inter-relationship of the lighttower and attached dwelling to adjacent buildings reflects the early functional character of the site. Despite the remote location, the lighttower is a familiar landmark extensively promoted in Manitoulin Island tourist literature.
The low-height, square tapered lighttower with attached dwelling is one of the most picturesque of lighttower types. The interior layout reflects departmental guidelines for providing sufficient room for the light keeper and family.

Character Defining Elements
The heritage character of the lighttower and attached dwelling resides in the overall form and proportions, plan, construction materials, and site relationships.
The massing is picturesque, with a tapered low-height tower appended to a one-storey gable-roofed dwelling. The lantern is a prominent feature and its scale reinforces the sturdy and durable appearance of the tower. The offset footprint is comprised of the square tower intersecting the larger rectangular dwelling. The stepped profile includes

the prominent chimneys, the gallery guardrails and the lantern. The massing, profile, and footprint reflect internal functions and should be maintained.

The picturesque qualities of the building derive from the simplicity of the tower shaft contrasting with the detailing of the bracketed cornice and gallery guardrails. The informal door and window placements contribute to the visual richness. The fine-scaled texture of the weatherboard and shingle-clad facades with corner boards contributes to the traditional appearance and should be maintained. The painted metal and glass detailing of the lantern housing is expressive of the industrial character of this component. Exterior materials would benefit from an ongoing maintenance program employing conservation expertise.

Asphalt shingle roofing on the dwelling has replaced wood shingles seen in early photographs. The newer material introduces a smoother and less textured appearance and does not follow traditional material precedents. A return to wood shingles would enhance the heritage character of this element.

The multi-paned wood sash windows with their relatively heavy sashes and lighter muntins appear to follow the original design intentions and contribute to the heritage character of the tower, and should be maintained. The wood panelled entrance doors also appear to follow the original design intentions and should be maintained. Surviving original interior room configurations and finishes should be documented and preserved.
The informal landscape consisting of rock outcrops, conifers, and scrub brush contributes to the heritage character and should be maintained. The site's role as the residence for the light keeper is reflected in the plant material that has been allowed to come to maturity to ameliorate climatic conditions. Large conifers should be retained if they are not detrimental to the buildings.