I've returned to the Great Lakes for this Lighthouse of the Week; specifically, a lighthouse in the city of Toronto but not on the mainland part of the city. "How is that possible?" I'm sure you're asking. It's possible because right off the downtown waterfront, there's an island. The island is part park, part airport (and I've landed there twice). In the park part of the island, on the lakeshore, stands this stony lighthouse.
I'll provide the basics from the Lighthouse Directory, then some historical detail from a murder mystery that involves the lighthouse.
"1808. Active (inactive officially since 1958); focal plane 20 m (66 ft); continuous red light. 19 m (62 ft) hexagonal stone tower with lantern and gallery. The tower is unpainted gray stone; lantern and gallery painted red. ... The height of the tower was raised from 16 m (52 ft) in 1832. This is the oldest lighthouse in Ontario and second oldest in Canada, one of the oldest buildings in Toronto, and the oldest lighthouse on either side of the Great Lakes. It is famous as being haunted by the ghost of its first keeper, who died mysteriously in 1815."Now, about that mysterious disappearance (they're pretty sure he died, but hey, ghost story!)
"Despite ushering countless ships away from ruin, the lighthouse is perhaps best known for the mysterious disappearance of its first keeper, J. P. Rademuller (sometimes spelled Raden Muller.) Leaving behind only bloodstains and speculation, the accepted story of grisly murder leaves more questions than answers." (Read the blog article at the link for the rest of what's known and what's unknown.)
So, picture time!
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