CORRECTION: This article has been updated to clarify that the Foghorn House has remained in town ownership since 1982. The Niagara Foundation leased the building from the town; ownership is not changing.
The Niagara Foundation’s decades-long stewardship of a historic building in Niagara-on-the-Lake’s waterfront district is coming to an end.
The foundation’s lease on the Foghorn House from the town will expire this Saturday, with the town to take over paying for the maintenance and repair of the old lighthouse building in the future — what’s next for the 122-year-old property, however, will depend on the town finishing its masterplan for the historic dock area.
“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 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. At the time, it was in disrepair, Hall said.
The town acquired the property in 1982 — four years later, in 1986, the foundation took over.
During that time, it spent about $225,000 on repairs and paid $100,000 in rent and $180,000 in property taxes, Hall said. The town was responsible for all capital costs to maintain the building.
Hall said foundation records dating back 40 years indicate repairs included shoreline protection, a sewer connection, a new roof, furnace and ducting, electrical upgrades, landscaping and replacing flooring and the staircase, among other work.
“The foundation will not be removing anything when our lease ends on Jan. 31,” Hall said.
In a recommendation report to council from October, staff said the town will put off “major capital investment decisions” for the Foghorn House until the dock area masterplan is complete. It said that the town will “absorb costs associated with the assumption of maintenance and repair obligations” for the property.
In a written recommendation report to council from November 2024, parks and recreation manager Kevin Turcotte said that the lease arrangement with the Niagara Foundation doesn’t bring in enough revenue to offset other costs the municipality faces.
He cited the cost of the town, Niagara Region and school board taxes and said the town is looking at a shortfall of around $4,500.
A long-term tenant occupies the building and will remain there after the property reverts to the town. The town negotiated a year-long tenancy agreement with them back in October.
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.”
In 1991, the Foghorn House was designated a heritage property under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.
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.”
Hall said the foundation will now focus on other initiatives, including what he described as a years-long project to restore the Wilderness site.
