New Keeper at the Horse Island Light

S. Simmons, a farmer of the town of Henderson, has succeeded George Ward as keeper of the light on Horse Island. Mr. Ward has been transferred to the light in Oswego harbor at the mouth of the Oswego river. Mr. Ward has been the light keeper at Horse Island for many years and this has been Mrs. Ward's home for about 43 years, as her father was keeper of the light before her husband.

About a year ago an automatic light, was installed in the tower replacing the fixed light. The government has installed over 150 of these automatic lights in the past few years, materially reducing the expense of keeping up these beacons. Mr. Simmons' duties will not be those of the light keepers of other days. He will see that the light is not tampered with and report should it get out of order. He will draw a small salary, live in the light house and have the use of the 17 acres of tillable land which comprise Horse Island.

The Horse Island light rises 57 feet above sea level and can be seen 13 miles out upon the lake. Sailors say that the installation of the automatic light is not a disadvantage as the fixed light was hard to distinguish from the street lights of the village at a distance from the shore. Since the level of Ontario has been so considerably lowered the bar which connects Horse Island with the mainland is practically dry except when a west wind whips the lake in a gale.