A Visit to Gereaux Island Lighthouse

Sep 19

2 min read

Although we passed by the lighthouse hundreds of times, maybe thousands of times, for most of my life we didn't go to shore. I wonder if it made the lighthouse and its island more mysterious to me that way. By the time we did go, the lighthouse was no longer safe enough to go inside.

Woman in sunglasses takes a selfie by a white lighthouse with a red roof under a cloudy blue sky. — July 2020. Me and the lighthouse on Gereaux Island.

But what about standing on the island? My feet on the rock my ancestors stood upon for so many years. I dreamed to see Georgian Bay from their perspective. What did Grandpa notice here growing up as a child? How can I see through his eyes?

This visit to Gereaux Island helped me immerse myself into the world of the Shining Waters Series.

Rocky shoreline beside calm blue water under a sunny sky, with distant wind turbines on the horizon. — The view of Georgian Bay and the new wind farm. What would they think of this?

For over 60 years my ancestors lived on this island, fed from these waters. My Grandfather grew up living here. What was it like living and working in a lighthouse on Georgian Bay? And how did this history influence my life?

Rocky shoreline with calm blue water, sparse shrubs, and a lone red tree under a clear sky; distant wind turbine on horizon. — A view of Georgian Bay from Gereaux Island. Maybe they swam and fished in this spot?

The island felt bigger on shore than looking at it from the water. It was hot when I thought it would be cool. My feet ached to memorize each step, each crevice in the granite. My eyes squished to gaze through the walls of the house and tower to imagine life inside. How can a place hold so much?

Rocky, overgrown clearing with pine trees and shrubs under a bright sky, a quiet natural landscape with no people. — The remains of an old structure. What could it have been?

Whenever I looked at the lighthouse from water, I didn't think much about its details. For example, standing beside it I realized that I didn't notice its foundation before, that it wasn't made of brick. The foundation is made of pieces of rock, including granite, just like the island it is built upon.

Weathered stone wall with gray and pink rocks, mortar seams, and orange lichen in bright sunlight. — The foundation of the lighthouse.

I still remember the energy of the island from the visit.

Monarch butterfly resting on yellow wildflowers among sunlit gray rocks, with a dark crevice in the background. — We saw about 20 monarchs around these rocks.

Pastel sunset over calm water with the sun dipping near the horizon and a tranquil pink, orange, and blue sky. — Near the lighthouse on the same weekend. The sunset.

White-and-red range light on rocky pine-covered shoreline beside rippled water under a bright, cloud-filled blue sky — My great-grandfather would row to the range light each day to check on this light too.

Old photo of a lighthouse. — Old family photo of Gereaux Island Lighthouse my Aunt Estelle mailed to me many years ago.

Welcome sign for Britt, Hidden Pearl of Georgian Bay, beside trees and rocks under a bright blue sky. — The lighthouse has become a symbol for Britt, part of the community's legacy.