In 1871, the Department of Marine constructed two lighthouses along the lower portion of Ottawa River. One of these was at L’Orignal on the Ontario shore of the river, and the other was at McTavish Point, just upstream from L’Orignal on the Quebec shore of the river.

The original McTavish Point Lighthouse consisted of a square, wooden tower, painted brown, topped by a square wooden lantern that had a width of six feet. Two mammoth, flat-wick lamps, set in fifteen-inch reflectors, were mounted on cast-iron stands in the lantern room to produce the light. The lighthouses at L’Orignal and McTavish Point were lit for the first time on October 10, 1871, and the cost for their construction and equipment was $1,055.85.

Joseph Geegan was appointed keeper of the lighthouse On June 3, 1872 at an annual salary of $100. Keeper Geegan was responsible for the light for twenty years.

In 1885, ice floes destroyed McTavish Point Lighthouse. A temporary light was displayed for the remainder of that navigation season, and then in 1886, a beacon light was established on the point atop a cribwork pier. The new light consisted of a tubular lantern that was hoisted atop a mast with a shed at its base. When no reasonable offer for building the light was received after tenders were invited, the Department of Marine built the structure itself for $438.27. In 1899, McTavish Point Light was improved by using an anchor lens lantern in place of the lantern with pressed glass previously used.

A Notice to Mariners published in 1911 announced the establishment of a new light at McTavish Point:

The light heretofore shown from a lantern on a pole on McTavish point, north shore of Ottawa River, has been replaced by a light shown from a lighthouse erected on the site of the pole light.

The lighthouse is an enclosed square wooden building, painted white, surmounted by a square wooden lantern, painted white with roof red. It is 23 feet high from its base to the top of the ventilator on the lantern. The lighthouse stands on a square pier 10 feet high.

The light is a fixed white light, elevated 30 feet above the summer level of the river, and should be visible 6 miles from all points of approach by water. The illuminating apparatus is dioptric of the seventh order.

A light was exhibited from McTavish Point for many years, but no navigational light is located on the point today.

Keepers: Joseph Geegan (1872 – 1892), Hilaire Boucher (1893 – 1896), J. Campbell (1896 – 1923), D. Campbell (1923 – ).

References

1. Annual Report of the Department of Marine, various years.

No light exists at this location today.

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