Point Clark
- This article is about the lakeside community in Ontario. For the city with a similar name in Alaska, see Clark's Point, Alaska
Point Clark is a lakefront community on Lake Huron, in Ontario Canada. It is approximately 15 kilometers south of Kincardine and 40 kilometers north of Goderich. Main streets include Huron Road and Lake Range Road. Point Clark is served by Highway 21 (Ontario). Point Clark has a mix of seasonal residents who have cottages and permanent residents. It has a rare Imperial Tower style lighthouse, which is a small National Park. On the north side of the lighthouse, there is a sandy beach and a small harbour with a boat ramp. On the south side of the lighthouse the beach becomes rocky and then becomes sandy again as you near the Huron - Bruce Border. On the Pine River, there is the Pine River boat club which also has a boat ramp. There are two streams or rivers that run into Lake Huron around Point Clark: Clark Creek and Pine River. It is wonderful and quiet place to rent a cottage, in the fall the MNR allows hunting on the beaches and residents should be aware of this activity. Amberley is just outside and to the south of Point Clark and Lucknow is to the south-east of Point Clark.
Canadian country/folk singer/songwriter Darrell Roberts is said to call Point Clark his home, although the exact location of his place of residence is unknown. Roberts, now out of the spotlight and often referred to as "reclusive," is rarely seen and has changed his appearance several times since his days as a recording artist. Those visiting and living in the area have claimed to have heard his voice and guitar playing near a wooded area in the southern end of the community. These claims have not been verified. Roberts' career on the country charts was cut short after a series of injuries and illnesses, including an operation on his vocal cords.
History
Early Days of Point Clark
In 1850, this area was known simply as "The Point". The name was then changed to "Pine Point" because a lantern was hung from a pine tree to warn sailors of the offshore shoal in pre-lighthouse days. The first settler to arrive in Point Clark was Robert Jardine who settled south of the present day lighthouse in 1850. He was a carpenter by trade and made most of the window sashes for the homes built in the area as well as coffins. James Jardine who was between 14 and 15 years of age lived there and help cleared the lot. The sashes were carried to McKendrick’s store in Kincardine where anyone who required them could purchase them. In the fall of 1850, he and William Henry walked to Port Elgin to get their deeds at the registry office. The trip required most of the day and they had to sleep in the registry office overnight and they had nothing to eat as there were no stores in Port Elgin. On their return, they purchased a pound of butter at McKendrick's store and ate potatoes at James McDonald’s farm. When returning home, they were attacked by Natives as they crossed the Pine River Bridge and managed to fight them off.
When, during the 1870s, settlers arrived from Clark Township, Durham County, near Oshawa they renamed their new-found home, Point Clark and settled along the bluff to the present day fourth concession boundary.
Lots 1, 2 and 3 were taken up Hugal Campbell a Scottish immigrant who came to the area in 1852. Daniel Campbell his son helped build most of the harbours in Kincardine and Goderich. His son David Campbell dug a lot of cottage wells and installed cement tiles. The Campbell family has a rich history in Huron Kinloss Township.
Lot 4 was taken up by Peter Shields who immigrated from Scotland and came here to do carpenter work in the building of the lighthouse. He died in 1938. His Grandson Ross Shields was a former owner of the Amberley Store.
Lot 5 was taken up by Robert Jardine in 1850 and was a carpenter.
Lot 6 was owned by James Stockwell a lawyer from England and was leased by the Courtney family. Mr. Stockwell son-in law James Taylor lived on Lot 7.
Lot 8 was taken up by Allan Blair in 1850, when he moved to Western Canada in 1894 with 8 boys. He sold the land to Captain Brown and the bush to John Ray. Major Brown fought in the Boer war later bought lots 8 and 9 and rented the lands to John Mahood until 1900. He later purchased lot 10. His granddaughter Jan Kelly is a former president of the Point Clark beach Association.
The Lighthouse is Built
Due to the danger of the shoals offshore on the lake to shipping the pre-dominion government decided that a lighthouse was necessary. John Brown of Thorold was awarded the contract to build the Lighthouse. The lighthouse was built in the years 1857-1858 and with stone brought on scows from north of Inverhuron. The lighthouse builders were: Foreman: David Henry Builders, Alex Vernon, John Carr, Robert Breckenridge, John Watt, Henry Logan, James Montgomery, A. Campbell; Carpenter David Linman; Blacksmith, Robert Orr. In the fall of 1858, six craftsmen from Paris, France and brought material for the dome above the stone work and put it on and installed the light. With its final completion in 1859 there was much rejoicing; the light was visible for 15 miles. The original lighthouse was built on a foundation of heavy timber buried beneath the sand.
The first lighthouse keepers, were John Young and Thos. Kilty. Thos. Kilty only remained two or three years when it was deemed that only one lightkeeper was required. John Young maintained the lighhouse as the sole lightkeeper. John Young and his wife lived in the small, stone lightkeeper's cottage until 1878.For an annual salary of $435, Keeper Young was required to keep the tower’s lamp burning brightly during the night and to wind up the weights that powered the clockwork mechanism for turning the lens. The tower’s lamp initially burned spermaceti oil, but colza oil was introduced in 1860 as it was less expensive and remained limpid at lower temperatures.[1]
Keeper Young was placed on pension at the end of 1882, and David Small was appointed in his stead. The life of a keeper must not have been to Small’s liking as he soon resigned, and John Rae was appointed keeper on June 4, 1883. Charges of drunkenness were brought against Keeper Rae in 1891, and the collector of customs at Kincardine was appointed to investigate the matter. These charges were deemed false at the time, but perhaps there was some truth to them, as on November 27, 1896, Keeper Rae was dismissed after it was established that “owing to drinking habits” he had “not given proper attention to the care of the light.”
Point Clark Experiences Early Growth
In 1858, a store and several buildings were erected. Other businesses, such as butcher, smoke houses, gristmills and stores, sprung up around the lighthouse. In addition, there was a saw mill, flour mill, hotel, lime kiln and a Dr. Offices but Point Clark. The flour mill was located 200 feet from the Lighthouse where Gordon Fishers cottage was located in the 1920s. The flour mill burned down in the 1860s. The hotel was built where Cyril Brown's cottage was built in the 1920s. The hotel could not be seen from the beach because of trees, they used to hang a banner usually a Union Jack on a post at beach to tell people there was a hotel. In early 1860's and 1870s, there was a Dr. Greenham who lived at the Point and his home and office were located in the hotel. The lime kiln was located at the Barr's cottage is today. It was started to make lime for the building of Lighthouse but soon ceased operations as all the material had to be brought in from Inverhuron.[2]
The first school in Huron Township was built at the foot of the sixth concession in 1856 and was built of logs. When a French school was built at the bottom of 10th Concession on the Shore Road, it was decided to move the first school south of the Pine River. In 1869, a flood washed out the no 1 school and a new school was built on the foot of the fourth concession, which is a present-day cottage.
The building of the lighthouse gave rise to expectations that flourishing community would be developed. People’s hopes were dashed as the area did not develop into an important port as the landing was unsafe and the road along the lake was impassable. With the construction of the highway between Goderich and Kincardine inland Point Clark became a backwater early in its history and Point Clark did not experience any serious growth. Eventually, some of the buildings were moved to other lots of land to be used as farmhouses.
Mail was delivered by horseback and later a stage coach delivered the mail from Goderich and Kincardine in the 1880s - 1910. The first mailman who carried mail on horseback from Goderich to Kincardine three times a week via a bush trail along the lakeshore was Alex Ross. He left the mail at Lurgan with John Gamble, who was the first Post Master. The second Postmaster was James McCrindle, who lived at the end of corduroy road now present day Victoria Street. After Mr. Ross retired from delivering mail, the next mailman was found frozen to death sitting on his horse 1/4 of a mile from McCrindle's post office. In later years mail was carried by stage coach along the Saugeen Highway now Highway 21. Mr. Gamble who assumed the post office the second time used to meet at Ried's Corners (present day Pine River Church) to get the mail from the stage coach from Mr. Corbett who drove the stage coach. Mr. Corbett drove the stage coach for years and you could set your watch by him as he arrived at the 4th Concession at 11:20pm every day. In 1914, the small post offices were closed and mail was delivered to each resident’s box.
Great Storm of 1913
Over the years several ships and boats have been wrecked off the shoals off of Point Clark. It was during the Great Storm of Sunday, November 9, 1913 that bodies washed up on the following morning on the shore south of lighthouse and on present day Amberley Beach. During the storm the barometer dropped, eerie black clouds appeared on the horizon, the waves on the lake were very large and high winds were over 60 mph (100 km/h) gusting to 90 mph (140 km/h).
On Lake Huron, ships headed for shelter of the east shore, but the wind changed direction and blew them off course. Two and fifty three lives were lost and some forty ships were lost among them were:
James Carruthers – Sank near Kincardine was one of the newest and largest ships on the Great Lakes at time.
Argus – also sank near Kincardine. Mrs. Walker, stewardess, found with Captain’s life preserver and a heavy ship’s engineer’s coat. Captain Paul Hutch’s body had no preserver and the fate of the engineer is unknown.
The Regina – The Regina must have been near the Charles S. Price because some of the crew members from one ship were found in life preservers from the other.
The Wexford – was lost near Grand Brand.
The Hydrus –
The John A. McGean – crew member bodies were found near and north of Goderich.
The Isaac M. Scott – all crew members perished.
At Point Clark many bodies were washed ashore as they were all along the beach. James Blue was appointed receiver of the wreckage and George Jardine patrolled the Beach. On one day south of Point Clark and at Amberley Beach – five men and one woman, including the captain of the James Caruthers were found.[3]
First Cottages are Built
By the turn of century in 1900s, Point Clark had become a popular location for picnics and day outings. The first cottage was built in 1911 and completed in 1913 by Wm. Bradley just north of the lighthouse, and in the same year Wm. Murdie of Lucknow built one south of the Lighthouse. This was followed by several families from Lucknow and in 1922 by Alf Murton built North of Wm. Bradley. In the 1920s more cottages sprung up around the lighthouse built by people from Lis towel and Lucknow. These cottagers – people with means – were able to enjoy their summers in their seasonal residences. During the 1920s and early 1930s the lighthouse was a gathering place for cottagers. George Jardine ran a small store and was open for a few hours in the evening. Dave Campbell a farmer would bring down a few cans of milk for the cottagers. There were ball games played beside the Leonard Cottage at that time. Mail was delivered to cottagers at a mailbox situated at Given Road (Present Day Lake Range Road) about 100 yards south of the Second Concession and cottagers would walk out to pick up their mail. The arrival of the automobile helped develop Point Clark as a cottage community.
1920s- 1930s
During the 1920s, Kuntz breweries and later Carlings breweries were prohibited from selling beer in Canada. Land was bought by their employees and used to smuggle booze across Lake Huron to Michigan.
There was an attempt to automate the lighthouse in 1920s. Point Clark's Lighthouse was automated after the 1924 shipping season, eliminating the need for Keeper George Ray, who had been in charge of the light for a decade. However, mariners soon complained about the quality and reliability of the light, and John Ruttle was hired as keeper in July 1926. John Ruttle who kept the lighthouse from 1926-1929 used to pick up a little extra money on the side by charging people a dime to go to the top of the lighthouse where one received a beautiful view of the area.[4]
In July 1933, a canary flew into a home in South Buffalo, New York. Somehow, John E. Ruttle, the keeper at Point Clark Lighthouse at the time, learned of this and wrote to the police in South Buffalo claiming the bird was his. The newspaper account of the incident, entitled “Man 250 Miles Away Says Canary Is His,” did not say whether the bird was returned to the keeper.
1940s and 1950s
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Sheilds family sold land they acquired to cottagers around the present day Attawandron road and Huron road areas. At that time, there was a road that went in front of the cottages and today it is still a road right of way that many people use as a trail to walk to and from the lighthouse.
In 1945-1946 the Point Clark Beach association was formed as non profit corporation. Alfred George Murton, Carpenter, and Robert Oliver, Coal Merchant, both of the Town of Listowel, in the County of Perth and Province of Ontario; and Emma Hulen, of the City of Niagara Falls, in the State of New York, one of the United States of America, School Teacher founded the Point Clark Beach Association. The first directors of the Point Clark Beach Association were Alfred George Murton, Emma Hulen and Robert Oliver. The first president of the Point Clark Beach Association was E.W. Hart. Today the Beach Association is still active and will be celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2016.
1950s - 1960s
In the 1950s the southern part of Point Clark was sold to cottagers such as Leo Rosinke, the Beiyer, Dodsons, Cooper, Querengesser, Bayer, Kipfer, Rogers, Chenault, Hornung, Braun, McGlaughlan, Hummels, Reicks, Lattner, Heer, Carter, Pole, Coughlin, Vines and Tamowski families. These families were from the Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Stratford, Listowel, London and Preston (now Cambridge) Ontario areas as well as the greater Detroit areas. During this time, there was a private gravel road named Given Road the present day Huron Road ended at the present day Potawattmi Road. Point Clark at that time was a vast forest with few cottages and roads. The roads mostly gravel were maintained by the Elliot family at that time and in the winter time people had snow shoe and use toboggans to get into the cottage. Many of these cottages remain in the hands of their descendants and are no longer cottages but have been winterized for yearlong enjoyment or are now permanent residences. During this time, Roy Lattner had drilled an artesian well which served many of the cottages and provided a network of telephones between cottages using army surplus equipment. Roy Lattner was known as the toy man, he had early vintage speed boats, mini bikes, motor cycles, boats of all types and the first generation seadoos. Many neighbours built boat houses on the beach in the 1960s to house their boats. These neighbours had many Canada Day(Dominion Day), Labour day and Victoria Day celebrations which included roasting of pigs, wiener roasts, hips of beef and pot luck dinners for these celebrations along with music from rock and roll to polka music.
John C. Campell, the last official keeper of the light, served from 1947 until the light was finally automated in 1962. Marlene and Elmer MacKenzie were paid a small sum to live in the dwelling as caretakers from 1963 to 1964, and Elden Lowry served in this capacity from 1964 to 1967.
In the 1950s and 1960s there were several stores in the Point Clark area Joan’s Store located on the Point Clark Beach had Frozen Foods, Groceries, Meats, Soft Drinks and Ice Cream as well as Sunoco products. Tillie’s Store had Groceries, Meats, Soft Drinks, Ice Cream and Building Supplies and Hardware and they rented Cottages and sold them. Martins Store rented cottages, had Groceries ICE Cream and Light Lunches.
In the 1960s cottages were developed inland. The Amberley store at that time owned by Bob McNay, delivered milk, bread, eggs, newspapers and groceries to cottagers in the summer months via a panel truck. The Amberley Beach Bar owned by the Elliots and Lighthouse Variety were operating during this time serving lunches and dinners. The Lighthouse Variety operated a Shell gas station at that time. During the 1960s the first telephones were installed by HuronTel on the lake front and they were mostly party lines at that time.
In 1966, the lighthouse was declared a national historic site, a first for an Ontario lighthouse, and the following year it was acquired by Parks Canada as a monument to the vital role lighthouses played in the navigation of the Great Lakes. As part of the transfer agreement, the Canadian Coast Guard remained responsible for the light in the tower.
1980s - Present Day
In the 1980s Kincardine Cable TV installed the first Cable TV in Point Clark. Previously, there was only Television Aerials and only two or three channels could be received reliably. CKNX channel 8 a CBC station in Wingham, CKCO channel 2 a CTV repeater station at Gore Bay which carried Kitchener programming and CFPL another CBC station in London ON. If you had a large enough TV antenna, on a clear day one could receive American Network ABC, NBC, and CBS from Bay City, Saginaw Flint and Alpena Michigan. There were only a couple of radio stations that could be received CKNX 101.7 FM and CKNX 820 in those days as well as American radio stations such as WJR AM 760.
Parks Canada signed an agreement with Huron Township in 1987 that allowed the community to set up a museum in the keeper’s dwelling. Gwen Harrison was hired and given a budget of $50,000 to establish the museum, and the site was opened to the public on June 18, 1988. Deteriorated stone on the face of the tower was determined to be a safety hazard in 2010, forcing the closure of the lighthouse.
In 2011, a $622,000 contract was awarded for the restoration of Point Clark Lighthouse National Historic Site. On announcing the action, Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, said “Last year, Parks Canada developed a plan to restore the Point Clark Lighthouse and reopen it to visitors. Today I am pleased to announce that the Government of Canada is contributing to preservation of this regional icon of marine heritage.” The work, which was to include complete repair and refinishing of the tower’s stone exterior, repairs and repainting of the glazed lantern and metal roof, and some interior and below-ground repairs, was contracted to Heritage Restoration Inc. of Uxbridge, Ontario. Once restoration worked started and the exterior surface treatment was sandblasted away, it was discovered that the tower had four significant cracks, not just the one known vertical crack. In addition, after the joints of the tower were raked in preparation for rejointing, it was found that the original mortar behind a two-inch-thick modern layer had no supporting strength. Given these unexpected issues, work on the tower stopped, as moisture had penetrated the rubblestone core of the tower through the top eight courses of stones, prompting the contractor’s engineer to recommend the removal of the lantern room so more effective repairs could be made.
On September 10, 2013, the government announced that a contract of up to $1.7 million had been awarded to Toronto-based Limen Group Construction Limited to complete the restoration. Work on the tower was wrapped up during the fall/winter of 2014.
In June 2015, the Point Clark Lighthouse was open to the public again. Huron-Bruce M-P Ben Lobb, Mayor Mitchell Twolan of Huron-Kinloss Township and staff from Park Canada reopened the lighthouse after 6 years of repair work. Ben Lobb indicated that in 2009 the lighthouse was deemed structurally unsafe because some of the limestone rocks which were used to build the lighthouse had deteriorated over the years. As work progressed on the lighthouse, contractors discovered more problems and deterioration than the original scope of work in the initial engineering studies had predicted and the contracts for restoration had to be renegotiated for extra work that had been discovered. The total cost for the restoration was 3.7-million-dollars. Visitors can now climb up to the top of the Port Clark Lighthouse for a magnificent view of Lake Huron.
References
- ↑ Pioneer Days of Point Clark and Huron Township - Robert Courtney
- ↑ Point Clark - In Early Days 1980 Point Clark Beach Association, Robert Courtney
- ↑ History excerpts from Point Clark Beach Association Directories as compiled by Michael Bayer 2015-1958.
- ↑ A Short History of Point Clark 1975 - Point Clark Beach Association Maurice Olvier
External links
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Coordinates: 44°04′12″N 81°44′56″W / 44.070°N 81.749°W