Platon Point is located on the southern shore of St. Lawrence River, a few kilometres downstream from Île Richelieu. Among the first lights to be established along the St. Lawrence River between Montreal and Quebec were one on L’Islet Richelieu (Île Richelieu) in 1816 and one on nearby Platon Point that same year. In 1824, a second light was established at Platon Point to serve as a front light and form a set of range lights with the existing light at Platon Point.

In 1870, the towers at Platon Point were described as wooden structures that were painted white and separated by 169 yards. The front tower was seven feet tall and displayed its light at a height of 130 feet above the river, while the rear tower was twenty-four feet tall and displayed its light at a height of 152 feet above the river. Together, these lights led up the Richelieu Channel.

In 1877, the small tower, which was on the south side of the public highway, was moved 116 feet to the north so vehicles or cattle on the road would not obstruct its light.

To increase the strength of the lights, a circular-wick lamp replaced the flat-wick lamp used in each of the towers in 1874, and then in 1877, two mammoth flat-wick lamps were placed in each of the towers.

Two day beacons were established near the range lights at Platon Point as described in the Annual Report of the Department of Marine of 1891:

Two day beacons were erected last year to mark the line of the middle of the ship channel recently surveyed, at the Barre a Boulard, in the Richelieu Rapids, ahove Quebec.

The front beacon stands 2470 feet N 41° 45' E. from the Platon back range light tower on and near the edge of the cliff.

It shows a rectangular face up stream consisting of slatwork 18 feet high by 13 feet wide, supported on two posts 50 feet high. It is painted white with a black vertical stripe 3 1/2 feet wide down the middle. The top is elevated 170 feet above high water.

The back beacon is located 2770 feet E. N. 1/4 E. from the front one, on high land, and shows against the sky. It is of the same type and size as, and painted similarly to the front one, but stands on posts 37 feet high. Its top is elevated 234 feet above high water.

This work was done by Mr. James Howden, Superintendent of Public Works, in charge of the dredging, at an expense to the Department of $377.

In 1899, Barre à Boulard Range was established with a front light on Richeleu Islet Reef, 1,140 feet north of Île Richelieu Lighthouse and a rear light 10,400 feet away on the hillside at Platon Point. The front day beacon was placed over the new small building used for the rear light of Barre à Boulard Range, and the rear day beacon was taken down.

After a new improved tower was put in place to provide the rear light at Barre à Boulard Range in 1903, the range lights at Platon Point and the light on L’Islet Richelieu were discontinued on July 3, 1903, since the section of the shipping channel covered by them was better marked by the improved Barre à Boulard Range. At the solicitation of river pilots, these three lights were relit on October 22, 1903, though mariners were warned to not be guided by them as they did not correctly mark the improved shipping channel.

Île Richelieu Lighthouse and Planton Range were discontinued in 1916, leaving Barre à Boulard Range to mark the channel downstream from Richelieu Rapids.

Keepers: P. Beaudet (at least 1873 – 1894), Charles Beaudet (1894 – 1916).

References

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

No lights are found at this location today.

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