Located on Lake Ontario at the entrance to the St. Lawrence Seaway in the State of New York, the East Charity Shoal was once the Vermilion Lighthouse on Lake Erie in Ohio.
In 1929 the Vermilion Lighthouse was removed from its site and replaced by a lantern atop a skeleton pole. The lighthouse was then shipped to the Lighthouse Depot in Buffalo, New York, where it remained in storage. In 1935 it was shipped to a site nine miles out in Lake Ontario and placed upon a cement crib. It then became the East Charity Shoal Lighthouse.
For many years we have been searching for photographs of the lighthouse being moved from one location to the other. We have written to numerous historical societies in search of help. For 20 years our search has remained fruitless. However, we are positive that photographs do exist somewhere and from time to time we start the search all over again in hopes that one of our readers may be able to help. This is just one example of lost lighthouse history.
There are hundreds and even thousands of stories relating to lighthouses that have no photographs associated with them. While it's always great to have the story, photographs would make the circle complete, especially where there are memories, in preserving the history for future generations. There are even more lighthouses that seem to have no written memories of life at these stations.
If you can help in any way with memories and stories of any lighthouse, please write to us at Editor, Lighthouse Digest, P.O. Box 250, East Machias, ME 04630 or e-mail editor@LighthouseDigest.com.
This story appeared in the
November 2009 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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