Date

Event

1855

• Work begins on Chantry Island Lighthouse.

• Steamer Oxford on Chantry charter wrecked off Fishing Islands.

• Robert Mills appointed temporary Keeper on Chantry Island 1855-57

• Steamer Mazeppa wrecked at Chantry Island.
• Breakwater pier built at Chantry Island.

• Duncan McGregor Lambert becomes the first permanent Lightkeeper on Chantry Island. (1858-1880) See Lighthouse Keepers of Chantry Island.

• Duncan McGregor Lambert was an experienced sailor from Goderich. He had fished with Capt. Alexander McGregor at the Fishing Islands in the 1840s and was also a constable in Goderich. In 1854, he was first mate on the steamer Bruce Mines, when it foundered and sank off of Stokes Bay. He helped guide the crew of the sinking ship, safely in two small boats, to Owen Sound, a trip of more than one hundred miles. He was about 47 when he was chosen Lightkeeper four years later.

• Light on Chantry Island becomes operational April 1

• Duncan Lambert rescues boy from raft.

• 100 feet of pier washes away, Chantry Island is cut off from breakwater
• Duncan Lambert rescues 4 from scow Grace Amelia. (No details)

• Duncan Lambert's son William McGregor Lambert (See Lighthouse Keepers of Chantry Island)  is shown as assistant Lightkeeper.

• Schooner Altair and scow American Eagle wreck on Chantry shoals.
• Duncan Lambert and family rescue crew of American Eagle

• Island Pier extended to 650 feet.
• Steamer Bruce rides out storm for several days behind Chantry Island.

• Steamer Silver Spray scuttled at Chantry to save her.
• Recovered sperm oil used for last time for light

• Steamer Bruno ashore at Chantry Island.

• Construction of island section of Long Dock begins.
• Work extends pier by 1,600 feet. Completed in fall of 1873.
• Schooner Goldhunter ashore on Chantry (recovered)
• Lafette towed into Chantry Harbor waterlogged.
• Four steamers use Chantry harbor for refuge in "Storm of "71".
• Lighthouse painted with whitewash for the first time

• Beacon (octagonal and 50 feet across) erected on south shoal. This huge beacon became the source of legends until recently discovered by Bob Stevenson a local diver.

• Schooner St. Joseph wrecked on south reef of Chantry.

• Railway line on the landing pier of the Long Dock promised

• Schooner E. Fie wrecked at Chantry Island.
• Range lights put in place to aid mariners through Gap
• Chantry Harbor of Refuge completed. at a cost of $300,000 a huge sum for the times and one of the largest public works projects done during the time.

• Schooner Mary and Lucy hits Chantry reef.
• Duncan’s son Ross drowns at age 23 in rescue attempt.

• Duncan Lambert retires.

• William McGregor Lambert appointed lighthouse keeper April 1, 1880.
• During Willliam McGregor Lambert’s tenure, he turned the island into a showcase. He built a boardwalk from the light to the Long Dock pier at the north, added benches and picnic tables, encouraging picnickers to come on excursions. He also opened a small marine museum, displaying objects recovered from ships wrecked on the nearby shoals of Chantry

1883

• Duncan McGregor Lambert dies May 3 1883.
• Steamer Quebec and Manitoba both ashore at Chantry Island.
• Nov. 14 Schooner Gladstone wrecked at East Long Dock.
• Lambert finds capsized sailboat on which four drowned

1884

• 1884—Council wants Keeper’s salary increased due to risks involved.

• Schooner Mary S. Gordon wrecked at Chantry(Recovered)
• Three exhausted fishermen rescued, brought to Chantry

•  Schooner Greyhound stranded. Lightkeeper rescues crew

• Schooner Nettie Woodward wrecked at Chantry harbor. Two of Woodward crew drown, remainder rescued by William Lambert.
• Steamer Monarch has narrow escape near Chantry

• Schooner Greyhound wrecked at Chantry. Lambert rescues crew

• Barrel buoy replaces beacon on South Reef of Chantry

•  Schooner Cavalier wrecked at Chantry.William Lambert rescues crew
• William Lambert goes to rescue of tug John Logie, caught in ice floes.

• Schooners Erie Stewart and Ontario wrecked within hours of each other. Erie Stewart hits island pier range light, puts it out of commission. Without light, Ontario runs aground near river.
• Lambert given Imperial Service Medal for rescues.

• Malcolm MacIver Lightkeeper 1907-1916 Malcolm McIver took over from William Lambert. McIver is said to have received a silver watch for one successful rescue, but few details of his life are known at this time. See Lighthouse Keepers of Chantry Island.

1908

• Steamer King Edward grounds at Chantry Island. Crew, passengers taken off
• Government life-saving station opens on mainland beach.

1915

• Capt. John Munro of the schooner Azov drowns near gas buoy.

• John Klippert Lightkeeper 1917-1937. See Lighthouse Keepers of Chantry Island for a picture.

1917

• John Klippert appointed Lighthouse Keeper.
• Tug Charlie Jones stuck in ice over winter 1917-18 at Chantry

1918

• Tug Charlie Jones stuck fast on the beach at Chantry Harbor
• Lake freighter Scranton stranded on North Reef. Freed by tug

1921

• Capt. Wm. McGregor Lambert dies.

1927

• Man loses life at Chantry in "deplorable accident" (No details)

1931

• Francis P. Richie wrecked on Chantry’s North Reef; crew rescued by fishing boat crew

1934

• Fish tug J. H. McDonald burns at Chantry Island.

1936

• Body of Michigan fisherman washes ashore at Chantry Island.

1937-1941

• Clayton Knechtel appointed Lightkeeper.
• Clayton Knechtel was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Knechtel. Peter Knechtel at one time owned the saw mill on the south bank of the river mouth. Clayton, who was born Oct. 2, 1893, was granted a leave of absence in 1941. Clayton built a shallow-draft boat when he took over as Lightkeeper. It was about 30 feet long, drawing about 12 inches. Art Knechtel former Mayor of Southampton recalls some of his father’s friends named it the Ruptured Duck, no doubt because of its flat-bottom shape.

1936

• Owners hire diver to find wreck of Francis P. Richie

1937

• Government life-saving station closed in June
• Mr. Knechtel helps rescue youths swimming off Chantry Island in August.

1938

• 245-ton steamer Islet Prince burns at Chantry Harbor.

1939

• Tug Mary A. swept off its Chantry moorings. It was salvaged.

1940

• Owners attempt salvage of Francis P. Ritchie wreck

1941

• Alfred Huber appointed Lightkeeper.

1942-1954

• Cameron Inkster Spencer Lightkeeper.

1945

• Three Grand Bend men shipwrecked at Chantry Island, rescued by Keeper.

1949

• Lightkeeper Spencer reports two Blue Heron nests.

1950

• Retried Lightkeeper Klippert dies at 88.

1951

• Government Storm Signal Station removed

1954

• Light is automated. The new light is automated by batteries and sailors complain of the "weak light".
• Keeper Spencer retires.

1957

• Chantry Island is designated as a Federal Migratory Bird Sanctuary to protect the many birds nesting there.

1974

• Retired Lightkeeper Clayton Knechtel dies at 80.