Description of Historic Place

The Tower rises from its forested site on Île Parisienne in Lake Superior. The focus of a well-developed light station, the Tower is a slim hexagonal structure with tapered buttresses that is capped by a lantern and walkway. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Tower is a Recognized Federal Heritage building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical Value:
The Tower is very closely associated with the upgrading of navigational aids on the Great Lakes in the early 20th century to improve maritime safety. It is also associated with the significant growth in marine traffic following the opening of the Sault Ste. Marie Canal.

Architectural Value:
The Tower is a very good example of early modernism expressed through simple, spare elegance of form and concrete construction. The character of the Tower is derived from cast-in-place concrete detailing, such as the tapered engaged buttresses that flare out at the lantern platform. Good functional design and craftsmanship is evident throughout.

Environmental Value:
The Tower, as part of the Île Parisienne Light Station, is compatible with the present character of the picturesque, maritime setting. The structure is familiar to the shipping community and to recreational boaters in the vicinity.

Sources: Martha Phemister, Ile Parisienne Lightstation, Lake Superior, Ontario, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Report 90-194; Lighttower, Ile Parisienne, Ontario, Heritage Character Statement 90-194.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Tower should be respected.

Its early modern, functional design and good quality materials and craftsmanship, for example: the simple, austere massing of the medium-height, hexagonal structure; the prominent lantern set above coving and bracketing, and the surrounding walkway with steel guardrails; the exterior walls with six tapered engaged buttresses of reinforced concrete; the small windows, gable-roofed entrance, and flared ribs at the platform; the exterior paint, white for the tower and red for the lantern and walkway.

The manner in which the Tower is compatible with the character of its picturesque, maritime setting and is a familiar landmark, as evidenced by: its design and form which complement the natural environment; its visibility and familiarity to lake traffic and pleasure craft for which it is an important landmark.

Heritage Character Statement

Disclaimer - The heritage character statement was developed by FHBRO to explain the reasons for the designation of a federal heritage building and what it is about the building that makes it significant (the heritage character). It is a key reference document for anyone involved in planning interventions to federal heritage buildings and is used by FHBRO in their review of interventions.

The Ile Parisienne lighttower was constructed in 1911. It was designed by the Department of Marine and Fisheries. The building continues to be used as working lighttower. The Canadian Coast Guard is the custodian. See FHBRO Building Report 90-194.

Reasons For Designation

The lighttower has been designated Recognized because of its architectural importance, its environmental significance and its historical associations.

The Ile Parisienne lighttower is an aesthetically pleasing hexagonal structure with six tapered engaged buttresses. The small windows, gable-roofed entrance, and flared ribs at the platform contribute to the clean uncluttered design of the tower. It also represents in its spare elegance of form an early expression of modernism in concrete construction.

The scale and silhouette of the lighttower is compatible with its surroundings and it functions as an important marker in a picturesque landscape. The scale and silhouette of the lighttower blends in with the surroundings.

The lighttower is associated with the upgrading of existing navigational aids in the early 20th century to improve the safety of Great Lakes maritime commerce. It is also associated with the significant growth in marine traffic following the opening of the Sault Ste. Marie canal.

Character Defining Elements

The heritage character of the Ile Parisienne lighttower resides in its overall form, profile, construction materials, architectural details, and site relationships.

The massing consists of a slim, medium-height structure with tapered buttresses capped by a lantern and walkway. The picturesque profile include the prominent lantern, coving and bracketing, the gallery guardrails, and the projecting windows and door. The lantern housing form is a prominent feature of the massing and the proportional relationship of tower shaft to lantern should be respected. The external massing, footprint and profile reflects internal functions, and the clarity of this expression should be maintained.

The character of the lighttower is derived from the simple treatment of cast-in-place
concrete detailing. The simple detailing of the tapered, engaged buttresses flaring out at the lantern platform expresses early modern functional design, which stressed a plain expression of structure and form. These features should be respected. The steel handrail detailing and the painted steel and glass detailing of the lantern is expressive of the industrial character of this component and contributes to the visual richness of the lighttower. The concrete and steel would benefit from an ongoing maintenance program employing conservation expertise.

The windows appear to be wood sashed but have larger-scaled single panes of glass which diminish heritage character. When replacing windows it would enhance the heritage character if windows selected would follow historic precedent.

The surviving original materials and finishes of the lighttower should be documented and maintained.

Ile Parisienne site character is determined by the cleared and roughly grassed ground plane, at the edge of a forested island, which should be maintained. The relationship of the lighttower to its associated buildings, walkways and its retaining wall should be maintained.