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May 20, 2025
In the era before the GPS, the lighthouses scattered along the shores of the Great Lakes were the one reliable way of determining where a ship was at night. While the American lights were built and managed by the federal government, on the Canadian side these were the responsibility of the government of Upper Canada and later the Bureau of Public Works of the united Province of Canada. In an era dominated by massive government spending on canals, the lighthouses are often overlooked as a critical part of the safe transport of local products to distant markets. A remarkable number of these pre-Confederation structures still survive.
Walter Lewis is an award-winning maritime historian and frequent speaker, specializing in the history of Great Lakes region. A graduate of Queen's University and the University of Toronto, he has served on the editorial boards of both _FreshWater_ and is the executive editor of _The Northern Mariner_. In 1990 he took up scuba diving as part of the research for _The River Palace_, co-authored with Rick Neilson of Kingston. His website, MaritimeHistoryOfTheGreatLakes.ca is recognized as one of the richest resources for those doing research in the history of the Lakes. He has presented to a wide range of audiences, including the Peterborough Historical Society back in 2015.
PHS Speaker Series to be held May 20, 7:30 p.m. at the Peterborough Lions’ Centre on Burnham Street. Admission is free and so are the light refreshments.