Port Burwell - On the Cutting Edge
Taking care is a tradition in Port Burwell. First it was taking
care of lives. The wooden lighthouse, standing proudly at 14 metres
high, is one of the oldest in Canada. Built in 1840 and
decommissioned in 1962, a low wattage electric light bulb has
replaced the official beacon. Today, taking care of the environment
is on the agenda and windmills now challenge the lighthouse for
landmark status as the Municipality of Bayham
once again looks to Lake Erie and embraces green energy. Wind farms
are a growth industry along the coast. They replace the converted
car ferry that used to arrive daily from Ashtabula, Ohio (51 miles
and 10 hours return across the lake) bearing rail cars loaded with
coal to heat the homes and fuel the industries of southwestern
Ontario. On the return trip to Ohio, the ferry carried newsprint
and limestone.
The signature lighthouse and the windmills are visual reminders
of both the past and the future. However, this small Elgin County
municipality is not about to rest on its laurels. WiFi service is
now available on the
beaches one of which stretches for a glorious three kilometers
along the shore. So, if solitude is what you're seeking, there is
lots of room to avoid those who will appreciate that cell phone
service is also readily available.
However, that's not all - a new girl is coming to
town...
Click here for pictures of the Port Burwell Marine
Museum and here for some of our favourite views of the village and
here for some heritage shots.