WHITBY FREE PRESS, "OUR HISTORICAL HERITAGE' WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 1980. PAGE 9 L ighthous e showed schooners the way imto Whitby harb or It is gone now, aiong with ail the other dock-side struc- tures that were part 0f Whit- by Harobur in the past. It was, however, in iLs own way, a thing of beauty and architectural -execellence because as you can see, forni did follow function in this lighthouse and iL cer- tainly dominated the har- bour scene as long as it was there. In 1843, and the foilowing year, the federai gover- nment carried out dredging and pier-construction work at Whitby Harboue. Almost as an after thought a lighthouse was buiit at the end of the west pier. It was only 12 feet high, with a fixed ligth facing south and iL was a matter of grievons and on- going concern for all those who used the port, until its replacement was built in 1857. This photograph was taken in 1915 and it is a good picture of the second lighthouse. In its final years, before being disman- Lied in 1950, the sides of the beagon, below the light, were shingied and painted white. Port Whitby owes much to the Watson Family over the years. It was the original John Watson who secured this 40 foot high masterwork for the harbour. It was an octagonal shaped building 15 feet in ciarneter at the base and seven feet across under the light platforni. The feautre of the 1857 Beacon was the dioptie lense in front of the light, that focussed the beani somewhat like a search light. Because the light was not diffused over a wide area. IL could be seen for miles out in Lake Ontario and an equal distance north to Brooklin and beyond. The lighthouse was designed by Harbour Master Christopher McDermott and a Hugh Chisholm was the geiieral contractor. The timbers used in its construc- tion were heavy not only to support the four closely structures but to carry the ever turning stairway that went from bottom to top. Kerosne was used to produce the light until late in the 1920's and its un- mistakable odour filled the structure at ail times. A trip out to the light with the keeper was an event. I made the trip once with Cap- tain Richard Goldring and what do I remember best about my row out to the light and back to the pier? He was wearing a derby hat, a vest with a gold watch and chain--but that is another story. ALTHOUGH ONLY IN OUR FIRST YEAR, WE HOPE TO SERVE AND PROTECT WHITBY TILL THE NEXT ANNIVERSARY CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 125th YEAR I - r k BEST WISHES TO THE TOWN AND RESIDENTS 0F WHITBY SALES - SERVICE - INSTALLATIONI LOCKSHOP LTD. 1010ODUNDAS S.En 666-1 421 WHITBY CONCERNED FOR YOUR SAFETY