Range Light Restorations

The Front Range Light at the mouth of the Saugeen River is one of the most photographed icons along the Lake Huron Coast.

This navigational beacon holds a revered status in Saugeen Shores, comparable to the famed Imperial Tower Lighthouse on Chantry Island.

Beyond serving as a functional guide for fishers and boaters navigating toward safe harbor, its steadfast presence since 1903 draws visitors and maritime history enthusiasts from afar.  It is a designated historic site under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act.

For over a century the front Range Light has been paired with another beacon further up the Saugeen River to provide mariners with two points of light to visually align their safe passage into Southampton Harbour — the oldest port along the Bruce coast. A third navigational beacon at McNabb Point was once paired with its counterpart on Chantry Island's pier until an incident in 1907 (see more below).

While today’s commercial fishers and boaters rely on GPS technology, the pair of harbour Range Lights and foghorn are kept operational to provide supplementary guidance for those on the water and to demonstrate the region’s marine history in action.

Front Range Damage and Restoration

Following decades of exposure to harsh lake conditions, the winter of 2019/20 brought particularly severe challenges with high water levels, storms, and heavy ice. The Front Range Light sustained significant damage and was made more vulnerable by water infiltration.

Responding swiftly, the Marine Heritage Society coordinated efforts across private and public groups in the region to research and repair the Range Light. The restoration aimed to preserve historical accuracy while integrating concealed improvements for long-lasting durability and safety.

MHS volunteers successfully raised $70,000 through community donations, engaging the public during pandemic lockdowns with events like an online jazz concert. Local firms Seaman and Sons Builders and Good Impressions Woodworking contributed their time and expertise. Building Knowledge Canada provided advice on waterproofing and ventilation techniques to enhance resilience for harsher weather to come.

The restoration site presented numerous logistical challenges. Work crews and volunteers initially had to transport tools and supplies by foot across an uneven pier until access was later improved for light trucks. Addressing interior rot and removing lead paint were critical tasks. Scaffolding had to withstand wind and waves, yet adjust up, down, and around the tapered sides of the beacon as the repairs progressed. The work itself was dependent on clear weather, not a rigid timeline.

Beneath the Surface – where 1903 meets today’s building science to keep water out, let humidity escape, and dry shingles quicker.

Despite these obstacles, the team successfully preserved the angled wooden soffit, exterior deck with railings, and tin roof. Water-damaged cedar shingles were replaced with 3,700 individual shakes, each hand-painted off-site by MHS volunteers. These were affixed over a special membrane and air gap, a new feature for the Range Light, ensuring optimal drying. Strengthened interior stairs, upgraded windows and door, plus a novel wave deflection system around the base of the beacon all contributed to the comprehensive restoration and preservation effort.

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Restoration Award

Architectural Conservancy Ontario (ACO) recognized the Marine Heritage Society (MHS) for leading the restoration of the Saugeen River Front Range Light.

ACO is the province's largest heritage advocacy organization, comprising professional architects, designers, heritage experts, craftspeople, and history enthusiasts.

At the ACO Heritage Awards on October 17, 2024, in Toronto, MHS received the Peter Stokes Restoration Award for small-scale projects. Peter Stokes (1926–2013) was a renowned Canadian restoration architect who left his mark on Upper Canada Village, the Ottawa Capital Region, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and other historic districts.

ACO Chair Deb Crawford stated, "ACO is privileged to recognize the passion, determination, and hard work dedicated to restoring the Saugeen River Front Range Light by the Marine Heritage Society. The Peter Stokes Restoration Award recognizes the exemplary restoration of a heritage structure in accordance with best practices and policies for conservation in Ontario. Thanks to the research and dedication of the members of the Marine Heritage Society, the Front Range Light will light the way for mariners for years to come."

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About the Lost Range Light

In the 1890s, the mainland and island were almost connected by a 'Long Dock.' The Chantry Range Light was situated at the tip of the Island Dock and aligned with another beacon at McNabb Point on the mainland. This provided mariners with two points of light to visually navigate through a 400-foot 'Gap' for anchoring their ships in the Harbour of Refuge. The Short Dock had a rail line for transferring ship cargo to land.

Tragically, the Chantry Range Light was thrust into the lake after being struck by a boat during a storm. The Erie Stewart sailing vessel ran into the pier on October 7, 1907. The ship and range light were then battered to pieces. On clear days, when riding on the MHS Tour you can see down through the water to the shipwreck's outline and the remnants of the former dock's cribs, offering a glimpse into this moment of history.

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 More Information

For the decades of silent service in guiding fishers and boaters to safe harbour, all three remaining Range Lights were designated historic sites in 2012 under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act.  You can learn more in the MHS-authored book, Southampton’s Watchful Beacons available at the Tour Base. Also see the Resources & Bibliography for other literature.

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Front Range Light Visits

Beyond the regularly scheduled Chantry Island Lighthouse & Keeper’s Home tours via boat, the MHS endeavours to make the land-based Front Range Light available on special occasions for the public and school groups.     

Recent open homes took place during the Canada’s Historic Places celebration on July 12 & 13, 2024 as well as on July 28, 2024 during the annual Marine Heritage Festival.

For info on future open houses at the Front Range Light, please contact the MHS Tour Base at 519-797-5862, or toll free at 886-707-5862, or by email at info@chantryisland.com.

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Fun Fact

In August of 2024, MHS volunteers were privileged to host the Honourable Edith Dumont, the 30th Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Ontario.

This Range Light visit was part of Her Honour’s official duties to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Saugeen Shores, an amalgamation of Southampton, Port Elgin, and Saugeen Township.

MHS restoration achievements align perfectly with Her Honour’s interests in collaborative efforts to strengthen communities.

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REAR RANGE LIGHTHOUSE RESTORATION

Following the successful restoration of the Front Range Light in 2022, the Marine Heritage Society (MHS) turned its attention to the Rear Range Light. The two structures operate as a paired navigational system, and preserving one without the other would diminish the heritage value of both.

While the Front Range Light had suffered storm damage, the 1903 Rear Range Light presented an even greater challenge. Decades of insect infiltration, rot, and poor ventilation had severely compromised its main structural supports. Restoring the rear beacon required extensive carpentry and careful rebuilding.

Form and Function

For MHS members who captain and crew the Peerless II tour boat, it was important that the range lights remain functional navigational aids – not simply static monuments.

Visitors can still observe the traditional practice of optical alignment navigation used by generations of boaters and fishers entering Southampton Harbour. Each of the front and rear beacons carries a light, and when mariners at a distance bring the two lights into alignment one  directly above the other – they know they are on a safe passage into the harbour.

Maintaining a working range light system – even in the age of GPS – helps preserve this living maritime tradition and reinforces the waterfront heritage of the oldest port on the Bruce County coast.

Getting Down to Work

In 2024, MHS volunteer Scott Good led the planning and execution of the restoration, working alongside fellow Society members. He directed all technical aspects of the project, identifying extensive wood-boring beetle damage, structural rot, and ventilation issues that had contributed to the beacon’s deterioration.

From this assessment, the full scope of work was defined, including materials, permits, and coordination of two volunteer teams.

Off-site team: Prepared and painted more than 3,500 cedar shingles at The Boathouse
On-site team: Safety-trained carpenters carried out the structural restoration.

Over seven weeks, the on-site team rebuilt sections of the foundation, replaced sill plates, upright posts, and structural framing, repaired studs and sheathing, reinforced the upper gallery, installed a new door and window, improved ventilation, and completed painting. In essence, the lower portion of the beacon was rebuilt while maintaining design elements consistent with the Front Range Light

By the Numbers

• 30+ volunteers contributed across both teams

• 8 volunteers completed Working-at-Heights certification, building capacity for 2025 repairs to the Boathouse

• 342 hours preparing shingles plus 860 hours of carpentry, for a total of 1,202 volunteer hours

Recognition and Legacy

• Parts of the project were featured in this CTV News report titled “Volunteers ensure lighthouses get new lease on life.”

• During a 2025 Spring inspection by a team from the Canadian Coast Guard – the technical owners of the Range Lights – the quality of the craftsmanship was highly commended.  

• MHS documented the work to ensure future caretakers understand what was done and why in 2024.

• In the summer of 2025, the Rear Range Light was opened to the public for the first time during the Marine Heritage Festival’s Range Lights Open Doors event.

Community Effort

The nonprofit MHS is grateful for the collaboration of the Town of Saugeen Shores and the Canadian Coast Guard, as well as consultation from Truly Nolen and the assistance of local suppliers including Murray McCarrel, Derek Seaman, and Malcolm McCarthur.

Today, the fully functioning Southampton Harbour Range Lights remain among the most recognizable and frequently photographed heritage landmarks in Saugeen Shores, contributing to the community’s identity and tourism appeal. May they stand, shine, and guide as enduring symbols of the Bruce County coastline for generations to come