Description of Historic Place

The Keeper's House is located along the shores of Lake Huron adjacent to a lighthouse at Point Clark Lighthouse National Historic Site of Canada. The dwelling is a simple three-bay, stone structure with a gable roof and projecting end chimneys. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Keeper's House is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
The Keeper's House is closely associated with the provision of navigational aid in the Great Lakes. The house was built with the lighthouse at Point Clark as part of a lighting campaign along the shores of Lake Huron. As part of Point Clark Lighthouse National Historic Site of Canada, the building now houses a small museum operated by the Township of Huron.

Architectural Value
The Keeper's House is valued for its good aesthetic design, which is similar to other Imperial lighthouse dwellings. Its proportion and symmetry suggest the influence of British classicism, also seen in 18th- or early 19th-century stone cottages in Scotland. The building’s very good craftsmanship and materials is evidenced in its rock-faced stone walls that are set in even courses.

Environmental Value
The Keeper's House is compatible with the present character of its historic lightstation setting at Point Clark Lighthouse National Historic Site of Canada. The house is familiar within the area.

Sources: Joan Mattie, Lighthouse and Keeper’s Dwelling, Point Clark National Historic Site, Point Clark, Ontario, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Building Report, 93-084; Lightkeeper’s Dwelling, Point Clark, Ontario, Heritage Character Statement, 93-084.

Character-Defining Elements

The following character-defining elements of the Keeper's House should be respected.

Its good aesthetic and functional design and very good materials and craftsmanship, for example: the massing and symmetry of the rectangular structure; the gable-roof with projecting end chimneys; the three-bay façade arrangement; the rock-faced stone walls set in even courses; the surviving significant features of the interior such as the fireplace and the boxed stairway.

The manner in which the Keeper's House is compatible with the present character historic light station setting and is a familiar building within the area, as evidenced by: its scale, design and materials, which are compatible with its surrounding building at Point Clark Lighthouse National Historic Site of Canada; its role as a museum at a national historic site of Canada, which makes it familiar.

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 lightkeeper's dwelling at Point Clark was built with the lighthouse between 1855 and 1859 as part of a lighting campaign along the shores of Lake Huron. It was commissioned by the Department of Public Works, Province of Canada, and built by contractor John Brown. The dwelling was acquired by Parks Canada in 1967 and today houses a small museum operated by the Township of Huron through a management agreement with Parks Canada. Point Clark has been operated as a National Historic Site since 1977. Parks Canada is the custodian. See FHBRO Building Report 93-84.

Reasons for Designation

The lightkeeper's dwelling at Point Clark was designated Recognized for the compatibility of its design with the lighthouse, creating an ensemble, and for its supporting role in the historical theme of Great Lakes navigational lighting.

Character Defining Features

The heritage value of the keeper's dwelling at Point Clark resides in the symmetry and simplicity of its design, and in the quality of its construction and materials.

This house issimilarto other"Imperial" lighthouse dwellings, with its rock-faced stone walls set in even courses, its 3-bay facade arrangement and its prominent end chimneys. The proportions and symmetry of this building suggest the influence of British classicism, also seen in 18th or early 19th century stone cottages in Scotland. Unfortunately, an enclosed porch and two lean-tos were added over time and detract from the original symmetry of the house. Any future interventions should respect the intended symmetry of the building.
The interior has also undergone some changes. Most evident is the addition of a partition wall on the ground floor that divides one of the original end rooms at the walled-in fireplace. Reinstating the original room and fireplace in future would be desirable. Also of interest is the boxed stairway leading up from the kitchen, typical of British vernacular traditions. This element should be retained.
The keeper's dwelling relates to the lighthouse more than to nearby cottages because of its obvious age, stone construction and red and white Coast Guard colouring. This compatibility should be maintained.

1996.02.14

For further guidance, please refer to the FHBRO Code of Practice.