A beloved Niagara-on-the-Lake historic building will return to town ownership Jan. 31.
The Niagara Foundation’s lease on the Foghorn House will expire that day, ending its decades-long stewardship of the former dock area lighthouse building.
“I don’t think we ever intended to keep it forever,” said foundation president Lyle Hall. “When we negotiated the lease the last time, which I guess would have been in ’22, the discussion with the town then was ‘we’ll do one more extension then it’s probably time to wrap it up.’”
The foundation has leased the building from the town since 1986. During that time, it spent about $225,000 on repairs and paid $100,000 in rent and $180,000 in property taxes, Hall said.
Hall said foundation records dating back 40 years said repairs included shoreline protection, a sewer connection, a new roof, furnace and ducting, electrical upgrades, landscaping, and replacement of flooring and the staircase, among other work.
“The foundation will not be removing anything when our lease ends on Jan. 31,” Hall said.
A long-term tenant occupies the building and will remain there after the property reverts to the town.
Hall said preserving the Foghorn House is important because it has retained its heritage appearance in the dock area, where many homes have been modernized and excluded from the heritage conservation district study.
“It’s one of those unique structures,” he said. “Its purpose is of historical value.”
Hall said he trusts the town will continue to maintain the building as the foundation has for the past 40 years, although he expressed disappointment over what he described as a lack of recognition from some council members.
“I’d be less than honest if I didn’t say I was disappointed at the lack of acknowledgment or gratitude shown by council — at least some members of council on this — which is disappointing. But that’s life,” he said. “I think we’ve ended up in a good place.”
The Foghorn House, at 99 River Beach Rd., was built in 1904 as a warning signal for incoming ships. As navigation technology improved, the building became obsolete and was decommissioned in 1978, Hall said.
The town acquired the property in 1982. By the time the foundation took over the lease four years later, the building was in disrepair, Hall said.
The Foghorn House was designated a heritage property under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act in 1991.
Hall said the foundation will now focus on other initiatives, including what he described as a years-long project to restore the Wilderness site.
