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BURLINGTON, ONT. – The Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) recently announced a progress report on restoration work that’s being carried out for the Burlington Canal Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage in conjunction with Beach Canal Lighthouse Group.

According to a recent LinkedIn post from director of capital projects Jonathan Wetselaar, the work is being done to stabilize and preserve the exterior masonry, soffits and facia of the1857 vintage structure.

According to a backgrounder from HOPA, a wooden lighthouse was constructed on the canal in 1838 to guide ships to and from the harbour.

On its completion, a lighthouse keeper was hired to maintain the light and building. The keeper worked in conjunction with the ferryman and their homes were built in close proximity to the lighthouse.

In 1856 all of the dwellings and the lighthouse burned to the ground after the wooden piers were ignited by sparks from a passing steamer.

New brick structures were erected for the two dwellings in 1857.

A new stone tower was completed in 1858.

The new 55-foot tower and brick keeper’s dwelling served until 1961, when the light was deactivated, the backgrounder adds.

The main buildings of the Burlington Canal Light Station are the lighthouse and lightkeeper’s cottage are located respectively at 1159 and 1155 Beach Blvd.

Ownership of the buildings and structures was transferred to HOPA in 2022.

GBCA Architects was retained to assess the scope of work.

“This work builds on the repointing that we completed for the lighthouse, as well as the new foundation for the lighthouse,” Wetselaar writes. “Our intention is to work with community partners to fully restore these structures and open them to the public.”