The Lantern Room at Race Rocks

Posted on Saturday,July 15, 2006 by Garry Fletcher

: In pictures from our history file, dated 1875 and 1915, the original lantern cage was in place.

: This artist’s interpretation from original plans show the lantern cage with the large glass lens Sometime, probably in the 1920’s the first lantern cage was replaced with a new steel model. We think t

: Sometime, probably in the 1920’s the first lantern cage was replaced with a new steel model. We think that this corresponds to the change from oil lamps to an electric beacon.

: Today,the lantern room is essentially the same as it has been for over 75 years

: See this file on the lights of the Race Rocks Station

: This metal plaque on the upper south side of the current lantern room was placed by the manufacturer, the Corbet Foundry & Machine Co.of Owen Sound.

: The City Heritage Register of Owen Sound gives the details of the Corbet Foundry.http://city.owen-sound.on.ca/planning/collection-heritage.php?ID=157

: These iron straps, now corroded help to anchor the lantern room to the sandstone walls.Update: In 2009 the tower was completely renovated and repaired by DFO.

: The short ladder to the trap door of the lantern room from the small equipment room underneath.

Archival Records 2 Early lighthouse reports–Marine and Fisheries Dept.

Posted on Thursday,December 21, 1905 by Garry Fletcher

Below are several articles from Archival resources where Race Rocks was involved. Note this is before British Columbia joined confederation so it was still a colony of Britain. Following is :The Report of the Honourable John A. Langevin Minister of Public Works 1872 Note: Error below in the date of construction of the Race Rocks Lighthouse:, it was actually opened on Boxing Day of 1860. 1874 fisgardlight From: 1874: CANADA Parliament Sessional Papers, Volume 3, First Session of the Third Parliament of the Dominion of Canada 1873: Report of the Agent for British Columbia of the Department of Marine and Fisheries For the Fiscal Year ended 30th of June 1873, Victoria, parliam1874 See below the part that pertains to Race Rocks 18733-1

A Fortunate Escape: (by the New Zealand Vessel Warrimoo.)

Posted on Sunday,August 11, 1895 by Garry Fletcher

Report on lack of a granite quarry on Vancouver Island..

Posted on Sunday,May 22, 1881 by Garry Fletcher

There was some controversy in the early years of 2000 that the granite of Race Rocks did not come from England , but was quarried locally. This report sheds great doubt on that theory, from which was floated by some of the historians associated with Fisgard Island.

This may be evidence that the grey granite of Race Rocks lighthouse was probably not quarried locally as this report was 21 years after Race Rocks was constructed. So it is quite obvious that the granite must have been shipped from England as is generally accepted. .