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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, August 13, 2015 | 6 OYS' Oakville Lighthouse a beacon for U.S. tourists by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff Spotlight "Connected to your Community" hile lighthouses are often described as lonely places, one of Oakville's rst lighthouses ---- now owned and housed by the Oakville Yacht Squadron (OYS) at Oakville Habour -- was anything but last Thursday. That's when the Oakville Yacht Squadron (OYS) Lighthouse played host to approximately 50 enthusiastic visitors from America, who were in town speci cally to see the lighthouse. Members of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association arrived at the Oakville Harbour and quickly surrounded the structure, photographing it from every angle. Others went inside and climbed to the top. Event Coordinator Fran Jehrio said the group is on a tour. "We're visiting 16 lighthouses on this trip," he said. "We did ve in Toronto. We'll see some more along Lake Ontario and then on to northern Lake Erie." Members of the Michigan-based group, which works to preserve lighthouses, were mostly from Michigan, however, some came from Florida, Washington D.C., Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and other parts of the U.S. Albion, Michigan resident Darlene Chisholm said she and her husband Tom have been visiting lighthouses since 1969. She estimates the couple has visited more than 3,100 lighthouses around the world. "They call me," said Chisholm. "They're unique. Even though many of them are built from the same plan there's always something a little different that shows the character of an area. They're special... "To think of some of these lights, out in the ocean and how the waves went over the top. Then there are the stories. The keepers. To think that a family lived there all by themselves to take care of the light and protect W people." Chisholm noted that while the stone lighthouses of Scotland are among her favourites, she also enjoyed seeing the OYS Lighthouse. "I think he's cute. These saved a lot of ships," she said. "They are important and they need to be preserved." Ray Veeder of Whitehall, Michigan was hoping to get an OYS Lighthouse patch to add to the dozens currently adorning his vest. Each patch features a lighthouse image and location. Veeder may have had to settle for photos as it's not clear if such a patch for the OYS structure exists. "This is a nice little lighthouse," said Veeder. "It's well-kept, nice and clean. We've seen some that are in far worse condition." When queried about why he visits lighthouses, Veeder said it has come to the point where he simply needs to. "I guess it is kind of an obsession for | Oakville Beaver le photo some of us," he said. "It's like anything else that you collect, you want to complete the collection. If you are going to start collecting lighthouses, you have to go to wherever they are. They don't come to you." Jim Newman of Swartz Creek, Michigan said every lighthouse has a story. His favourites are the lighthouses with a history of being haunted, such as Toronto's Gibraltar Point Lighthouse, which is believed by many to be haunted by the ghost of Lighthouse Keeper John Paul Radelmuller, who was murdered there in 1815. While the OYS Lighthouse has no ghosts, it does have a history of its own -- which the OYS has now printed on cards it gives to tourists and others. The rst lighthouse for Oakville Above left, Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association members Tom and Darlene Chisholm stand with Oakville Yacht Squadron (OYS) Com- Harbour was built in 1836 at a cost modore Don Fitzsimons, right, in front of the OYS Lighthouse. Fifty U.S. tourists were in town last week to visit the lighthouse. of $852, under the direction of town founder William Chisholm. | photos by David Lea ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) see OYS on p.21 Volume 53 | Number 64 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington (905) 845-3824 Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone (416) 340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. NEIL OLIVER Vice ­President and Group Publisher DAVID HARVEY Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Halton Region Editor in Chief Editorial Department (905) 845-3824 Advertising Department (905) 845-3824 Classi ed Advertising (905) 632-4444 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 DANIEL BAIRD Director of Advertising ANGELA BLACKBURN Managing Editor