08/13/2026
90 years ago this month, tragedy struck Thornbury’s waterfront, when its lighthouse was destroyed by fire.
Thornbury was equipped with harbour lighting as early as 1886, but this 27-foot-tall lighthouse was constructed in 1911 to replace the former mast light which was also destroyed by fire. A known lighthouse keeper in Thornbury was R.A. Lowe, who kept the light between 1887 and 1923. The lighthouse had been moved to different parts of the harbour throughout its life due to damage from storms.
At about 5’clock in the evening of August 9th, 1936, a devastating fire broke out at the base of the lighthouse. The start of the blaze was attributed to the match of a careless smoker. Thornbury’s volunteer fire brigade, led by George Eastland did their best to fight the flames with a bucket brigade, as their hydrants were too far away for use. The Town of Collingwood’s fire department sent a pump truck which saved the 200-foot-long dock, but the lighthouse, stored inside of which was 300 gallons of oil, was lost as its structure gave way and it crashed into the bay.
Pictured is an undated picture-postcard, showing Thornbury’s Lighthouse.
Collection of the Craigleith Heritage Depot 2022-025-002.
