Point Abino Lighthouse

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Point Abino sketch

Point Abino lies halfway between Fort Erie and Port Colborne. The point is named for a French Jesuit, Claude Aveneau. Mispronunciations changed the name first to Abeneau, then Abino.

The lighthouse marks a dangerous rock shelf which juts from Point Abino. The point was first marked by fixed buoys in the late 1800's. US Lightship 82 marked the area from 1912-1913. During a tremendous storm of November, 1913, (referred to by some as a "freshwater hurricane" (Stonehouse, p. 59) the lightship was lost with all hands. In 1918 the Canadian government completed the current ornate lighthouse to mark the rockshelf from shore. The keeper's residence was completed in 1921. Since the lighthouse is nearly surrounded by water, and the land surrounded by private property, keepers had to wade through water to reach the lighthouse. The light was automated in 1989, and disestablished in 1995. In 1998, the lighthouse was declared a National Historic Site. The town of Fort Erie purchased the lighthouse in 2003, and offers tours to the lighthouse.

References (see links)

Great Lakes Lighthouses - Bonfires and Beacons, Wright, p. 35
A Traveler's Guide to 100 Eastern Great Lakes Lighthouses, Penrose, p. 94
Great Lakes Lighthouse Tales, Stonehouse, p. 59
Lighthouse Digest, April 2006

Directions: The lighthouse is accessible by road, but the road and the surrounding land is private. The light is best viewed by boat. (According to Penrose (p. 94) you can view the light from Crystal Beach Park, but the view is in fact very poor. Turn south from Ontario Highway 3 onto Gorham Road (Route 116), which turns into Ridgeway Road. Turn left onto Crystal Beach Drive, right on Lake Avenue, right to Terrace Lane, and left to Crystal Beach Park. The lighthouse is west and across the bay at the tip of Point Abino.)

Trolloey tours to the light are offered on selected Saturdays - call the Town of Fort Erie Parks and Leisure Services at 905-994-7825 ext. 0 for more information.

Note that the lighthouse is not directly accessible, as the only access road is private property. Please respect the privacy of the local residents. (September 2006)