#2308 "Jonses Lighthouse Parry Sound Archipelago"

This is Jones Island Range Rear Lighthouse as seen in September 2019. In 1891 Staff Commander John G. Boulton of the Royal Navy conducted a detailed survey of the various channels leading to Parry Sound using two open boats for shallow water sounding and his large vessel for deep water sounding. Commander Boulton discovered the area of the Parry Sound Archipelago to be dominated by "upwards of 4,000 islands and dry rocks". There was an important need for lighthouses to guide the ships into Parry Sound along the four channels leading toward the port. I do not know if anyone has actually counted all of the rocks and islands but Georgian Bay is now renowned as sixth Great Lake featuring more than 30,000 islands and 2,000 kilometres of shoreline. Navigating this inland sea would require some lighthouses for sure.

Charles Mickler of Collingwood, who had built the Pointe au Baril Range Lights in 1889, was awarded a $3,165 contract to erect the five lights. He carried out the work during the 1893 season. The five lights were placed in operation on September 29, 1894. Thomas W. Huff served as the first keeper of Jones Island Range and was paid $400 annually. The Jones Island Light is located on the south-west point of Jones Island about 2,900 yards southeast from Gordon Rock light. The light is a fixed white light, elevated 63 feet above the level of the bay and should be visible 8 miles. The building is of wood, and consists of a square pyramidal tower rising from the roof of a rectangular dwelling house and surmounted by a wooden lantern. It is 50 feet in height from the ground to the vane on the lantern. The house is painted white with a red stripe 3 feet wide down the middle of the side, facing the channel.

Head Keepers: Thomas W. Huff (1894 – 1901), Edward Taylor (1901 – 1910), Ernst A. Greer (1916 – 1917), Joseph G. Dixon (1917 – 1919).

I drew the building with the brush allowing for artistic impression to creep in with any imperfections. The feeling of the place needs to enter the work and that can be stifled when one tries for photographic perfection. I especially enjoyed the soft red maples on the edge of the point. I would visit this lighthouse again in a painting #2329 "Jones Island Lighthouse Point".

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