Transcript of the
Rock Island Lighthouse
— segment taken from —
"Lighthouses of the Seaway Trail"
video published by WPBS-TV

Presented here courtesy of WPBS-TV, Watertown, New York.
Text written by Tracy DuFlo, Production Manager
Transcript by Mark A. Wentling

        Rock Island Lighthouse was built to mark one of the narrowest and most dangerous points on the St. Lawrence River. Constructed in 1882, the lighthouse replaced an earlier lightohouse built on the island in 1847.

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        The first lighthouse had been placed in the middle of the island and was sometimes difficult to see. When a three-masted schooner and a large steamboat sank within a year of each other, after hitting a shoal off Rock Island, a new lighthouse was constructed—this time at the end of a pier stretching into the river. The iron lantern room of the old light was moved to the new one.

        In 1852 former "pirate" Bill Johnston was appointed keeper. Johnston was on the losing side during the 1838 Patriot War—an unsuccessful four-day attempt by a group of Canadians and Americans to take over Fort Wellington near Prescott, Ontario, from the British. Johnston led a raiding party that burned the ship Sir Robert Peel just off the shore of Rock Island. As a result, Johnston was convicted but later pardoned by President Harrison. The light is still sometimes referred to as "Johnston's Light."

        Bill Johnston was not the only strange character to be keeper of Rock Island Light. An undated diary entry of a local resident states:

"the keeper of Rock Island Light was Mr. Diepolder, who wore a helmet and sailed a small blue skiff, generally standing up."

        Frank Ward was the last keeper of Rock Island Light. He and his family were stationed here from 1939 to 1941. He was previously stationed at Crossover Island. His widow recounted numerous incidents which occurred during their tenure at Rock Island Light as well as Crossover Island. A frantic woman once came to their door wanting him to locate her husband, a local fisherman who had failed to return home after a day on the river. Mr. Ward was able to find him, stranded on an island after his boat had been capsized by the wake of a large ship passing by.

        Rock Island Light is the only light on the St. Lawrence Seaway that retains the tower and all of its auxillary structures. The fieldstone smokehouse is from the 1847 lighthouse period, the generator house was built in 1900, and the boathouse built in 1920. These buildings, along with the carpenter shop and the keeper's house built in 1882, are an accurate picture of maritime life on the river during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

        Today, Rock Island Light is still operational, guiding ships along the Seaway. The Thousand Islands Region Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation maintains Rock Island itself as a park. Volunteers maintain the lawn, plant flowers, and do repairs and painting when necessary. Visitors are free to picnic on the island during daytime hours. Minimal dockage is available.

© 2001, Rock Island Lighthouse Historical & Memorial Association
Note: The Rock Island Lighthouse Keepers Historical & Memorial Association is not
affiliated with WPBS-TV and does not receive any proceeds from sales.