Stribling Point, the northwest tip of St. Joseph Island, is located just south of Sugar Island and just east of Neebish Island. On October 10, 1900, the Department of Marine established range lights on Stribling Point to replace private lights that the Lake Carriers’ Association had previously maintained there for many years. The new lights consisted of catoptric lights shown from lanterns that were placed in front of the day beacons that existed on the point. The daymarks consisted of diamonds that were six feet square and painted white. The front day beacon had a vertical black stripe running through the middle of the diamond, and the two lights were separated by 1,446 feet.

On August 7, 1902, lights from permanent towers erected on the point were placed in operation. The following description of the new towers is from the Annual Report of the Department of Marine for 1902.

The front tower stands 190 feet inside the shore line, on low land, and is a wooden building, square in plan, with sloping sides, surmounted by a square wooden lantern, the whole painted white. The height of the tower from its base to the top of the ventilator on the lantern is 33 feet.

The light is elevated 30 feet above the water, and should be visible 3 miles from all points of approach by water. The illuminating apparatus is dioptric of the seventh order.

The back range tower stands on the hillside, 1,447 feet S. 65° 48' E. from the front tower. It is a square, wooden building, surmounted by an octagonal wooden lantern, the whole painted white. The height of the building from its base to the top of the ventilator on the lantern is 23 feet.

The light is elevated 53 feet above the water, and should be visible 4 miles in the line of range. The illuminating apparatus is catoptric.

The two lights in one lead through the middle of the dredged channel of the Middle Neebish from its intersection with the alignment of the lower Hay lake range lights to its intersection with the alignment of the Harwood point range lights.

A strip 50 feet wide on each side of the alignment has been cleared of trees up to the top of the hill behind the back tower. This cut in the woods shows very distinctly, and makes an excellent day mark when vessels are in the alignment.

The buildings were erected by Mr. H. W. Ross of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., whose contract price was $995.

David Humes was placed in charge of the range lights in 1900. He served until 1912, when J. Hicks took charge of the light. Keeper Hicks served at the lights until at least 1936.

In 2021, white, cylindrical towers with a white daymark having an orange, vertical stripe were displaying fixed white lights at Stribling Point.

Keepers: David Humes (1900 – 1912), Thomas (James) Hicks (1912 – 1943), William Rousseau (1943 – ).

References

1. Annual Report of the Department of Marine, various years.

The modern lights are best seen by boat.

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