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The lighthouse at Gibraltar Point on Toronto Island, the second such structure in Canada after Halifax’s Sambro Light, has guarded harbour since 1808. It is arguably Toronto’s earliest building on its site, outranking even the Scadding Cabin which was moved to the grounds in 1879, and other less well documented contenders. Authorized with two other lighthouses by an act of the legislature Upper Canada in 1803, it was preceded by a tower on Mississauga the mouth of the Niagara River built in 1804. The light on Gibraltar may have been designed by Capt. Henry Vigoreaux of the Royal Engineers, who was based in Niagara at Fort George. In early 1808 he was instructed Lieutenant-Governor Francis Gore to gather the men and materials for building. William Allan of York was appointed commissioner to accounts and act as paymaster. Limestone for the walls came from brought over on vessels like the Royal Navy’s Earl of Moira; lime came Niagara too; and work went ahead using artificers from the 41st Regiment and local builders like William Smith and his son-in-law, John Thomson, of York’s numerous Thomson clan. Ship’s Captain Joseph Kendrick also played a part by freighting lime from Niagara and supplying ropes, and services when they were needed to build the upper stages and At its full height the Gibraltar Point tower stood originally 65 feet the ground to the gallery level; another 15 feet was added to it in 1832. lit for the first time in August 1809 following the appointment of Radelmüller as its keeper on 24 June 1809. Mail: 260 Adelaide St. E., Box 183, Toronto, M5A 1N1 e-mail: info@fortyork.ca
by needed keep the Queenston, from one of York tackle, gallery. The Mississauga Light at Niagara, designed by Capt. Gustavus above Nicolls, R.E., in 1804, stood for only a decade before coming It was down to make way for Fort Mississauga. No similar plan John Paul survives for the Gibraltar Point tower. (Credit: Toronto Public Library, Baillie Room, JRR 202 Cab II)
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