Pigeon Island (Lake Ontario)

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The Pigeon Island lighthouse, in 1907, illustrating the 'schoolhouse style' lighthouse.
Map drawn in 1870 showing the location of the Pigeon Island lighthouse.png

Pigeon Island is a small island, in Lake Ontario, near Kingston Ontario.[1] The island had been a navigational hazard since the founding of Kingston, Ontario.[2] A lighthouse was first built on Pigeon Island in 1870.

Vessels wrecked on or near the island, prior to the construction of the lighthouse, include: the General Brock wrecked in 1846; the , in 1853; the in 1862; the in 1863; and the in 1866.[2]

The island covers about 5 hectares (12 acres).[3] Shallow soil and bird guano cover a limestone base.

The island supports a large population of birds.[3]

The original lighthouse was the first built in what came to be known as the "schoolhouse style", where the lighthouse tower was integrated into the lightkeeper's cottage.[2] The current lighthouse is a steel frame.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ "Duck Islands Claim Three More Lives". Syracuse Herald. Kingston, Ontario. 1931-01-18. Retrieved 2017-06-21. The Main Duck group rank first in tragedy, another group called the False Ducks and northeast of these islands, lonesome and buffeted by wind and wave is Pigeon Island, lying in wait for the unwary mariner.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b c Marc Seguin (2015). "For Want of a Lighthouse: Building the Lighthouses of Eastern Lake Ontario 1828–1914". Trafford Publishing. ISBN 9781490756714. Retrieved 2017-06-22.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ a b "Pigeon Island (ON041)". Retrieved 2017-06-22. Pigeon Island supports a mixed-species colony of about 6,200 pairs of five species.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ Daniel E. Dempster, Todd R. Berger (2002). Lighthouses of the Great Lakes. Voyageur Press. p. 152. ISBN 9781610604376. Retrieved 2017-06-22.

Coordinates: 44°03′59″N 76°32′59″W / 44.0664°N 76.5498°W / 44.0664; -76.5498

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