More than 130 years ago, a small, wooden lighthouse marked the mouth of Eighteen Mile Creek, the entrance to the harbour at Olcott, New York, on Lake Ontario. At that time, Olcott was a popular holiday destination and a port of entry with a customs house. Apparently many Canadians visited Olcott, arriving on steamers from Toronto.
The original lighthouse stood for many years on the western pier, extending about 800 feet into the lake, as shown on this old postcard.
(replica seen from the east side)
Today, Olcott is in the process of renewing itself and among its renovations is a replica lighthouse built in 2003 using old photos and postacards like the one above. Unfortunately, the original architectural plans are long gone.
(replica seen from the west side)
When the lighthouse was no longer needed in 1930, it was moved from the pier to a local yacht club. A little more than 30 years later in 1963, it had deteriorated and so was dismantled.
More than 130 years ago, a small, wooden lighthouse marked the mouth of Eighteen Mile Creek, the entrance to the harbour at Olcott, New York, on Lake Ontario. At that time, Olcott was a popular holiday destination and a port of entry with a customs house. Apparently many Canadians visited Olcott, arriving on steamers from Toronto.
The original lighthouse stood for many years on the western pier, extending about 800 feet into the lake, as shown on this old postcard.
(replica seen from the east side)
(replica seen from the west side)
13 comments:
I guess some things get beyond repair but it's sad that it's gone. Nice that they are building a replica tho.
Dot,
I agree with you. In 1930 the lighthouse was simply old so probably no one appreciated it.
But by 1963, it was 90 years old, almost an antique. Too bad somenone couldn't (or wouldn't) restore it. But the village was declining back then.
Now that the village is renewing itself, the population appears to care about the area's heritage.
Thanks for your visit to my blog Brookville Daily Photo this morning. I hope you enjoyed my post today showing the baby rabbit eating the hibiscus flower.
I am now taking a diminishing dose of steroids for my Rheumatoid Arthritis pain and it works. I am pain free. I believe the chemotherapy drug is spelled "Methotrexate" that is used to treat a lot of things from cancer to arthritis and it has side effects that are troubling. So I need to talk to my doctor about it before I take it. Just missing a dose can be a real nightmare.
Anyway, I wanted you to know I stopped-in to repay your visit and comment with mine.
I enjoyed reading your blog post for today about the eighteen mile lighthouse and I thought your photography was excellent.
I don't know if you like to read or not but if you do this place is amazing.
I just got my first shipment of used books from Strand's bookstore in New York City, yesterday. They have 18 miles of used books. Think about that. Anyway, they got here and I am totally happy with those I chose to read. I had to start out by just choosing a category, like photography, and go from there. I don't know how in the world they can keep track of so many books.
Look up Strand bookstore or copy and paste the URL here: http://www.strandbooks.com/app/www/p/home/
Oh, you say all the nicest things about my Whisper...thanks :-) I love old lighthouses, but what a shame it was beyond restoration.
Does the replica light up?
Kris,
I read somewhere that there were plans to install a light for decorative reasons only. Whether it's there now or not, I don't know since I was there in daylight.
Kris,
I read somewhere that there were plans to install a light for decorative reasons only. Whether it's there now or not, I don't know since I was there in daylight.
I think is is great this is being done and the 'past' remembered so well. It looks to be a simple design but would have helped shipping so much in the past. I enjoy reading this as well as the pictures.
It is fabulous that they are building the replica...but sad that the original was in such bad shape. I LOVE lighthouses!!
I like the idea of building a repica lighthouse and trying to bring Olcott back to it's former glory! In these days of jet travel and foreign holidays, it's nice to find a place to relax that's no too far from home.
And as for the pebbles in your previous post, Newfoundland beaches are FULL of the most gloriously coloured pebbles, every time I go there I come back with almost a suitcase full, and you are right, they look lovely when wet!
I love lighthouses and this one looks great - if they can't have the original it is nice they are trying to stay true to the design in reproducing it.
Darla
So sad when things just disappear but good for the town for re-vitilizing. replicas are better than nothing. MB
Fabulous shots!
:-Daryl
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