The Islands: Lighthouses: Snake Island: Statistics


Snake Island Lighthouse Statistics

Copyright 2004 by Pat McAvoy-Costin. All rights reserved.






This Light is also known as the 4-Mile Light, Snake Island Light, Simcoe Island Light.

According to the topographical map of the area published by the Canadian government (Natural Resources Canada), Snake Island is a tiny island, or outcropping** located halfway between the west end of Kingston and Simcoe Island. The old light lists say the lighthouse was 5 miles west of Kingston (Fort Henry). That would put it right in the middle of the north channel linking Lake Ontario with the St Lawrence River.

The Snake Island station was first established in 1858. The first lighthouse was described as a 35-ft tall, square stone tower, with a fixed red light that had a visible range of 6 miles.

The light was replaced in 1900 by a white, octagonal wooden tower, 39 ft tall, with a seventh-order lens. This light was also fixed red, with a 6-mile range. Today, the island is marked by a buoy. I couldn�t find any picture of the tower.
--Information courtesy of Michel Forand

The tower was moved to the northwestern point of Simcoe Island in 1918 and the station's name was changed to Four Mile Point Light. The light remained fixed red; its focal height was 47 feet and its visible range was 9 nautical miles. A hand-activated foghorn was used to answer signals from boats. The light was discontinued in 1940 and the tower was destroyed by fire in 1958.

From Sam Orr--The light is referred to as the Simcoe Island Light but in fact it sat on a rock outcropping, [Snake Island], in the river channel between Simcoe Island & the city of Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

From Pat McAvoy-Costin�Many times the Snake Island Light, also called the 4-Mile Light, was confused with the Simcoe Island Light, also known as the 9-Mile Light. The two islands were very close together. Now I understand the reason�because the light was later moved to Simcoe Island at 4-Mile Point.

**From Michel Forand, �I'm guessing it is these outcroppings, not all of which are identified or even shown on marine maps and charts that made it necessary to have a light on the island at the time. I don't know why it was moved to Four Mile Point in 1918 - maybe there was a change in the channel requiring a different arrangement for navigational aids.


Snake Island Light Location
(Click on photo for larger version.)
4 Mile Point is clearly marked in the northern most point of the island.

It is not uncommon to move a lighthouse. Nearby East Charity Shoal lighthouse�which is visible from Tibbetts Point with a good set of binoculars�was also moved from a previous location. The light was supposedly moved from Vermillion, Ohio in the 1930s. I will attempt to get more information on the East Charity Shoal lighthouse for a future update.---Pat McAvoy-Costin





The Islands: Lighthouses: Snake Island: Statistics
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