Designation Statement for Portage Landing on the Moon River, Burgess Island, Bala, Muskoka, Ontario, Canada

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Draft - Designation Statement for Portage Landing on the Moon River, Burgess Island, Bala, Muskoka, Ontario, Canada Draft - Designation Statement for Portage Landing on the Moon River, Burgess Island, Bala, Muskoka, Ontario, Canada

Property Description

Portage Landing on the Moon River is less than one acre in size and is surrounded by the Moon River on three sides with the east side being an embankment leading to the north- south District Road 169. For more than 40 years, the property has always been a point of land for the community of Bala and for tourists, dating back more than 100 years. The only structure on this property was a micro hydro generating station that operated from 1929 to 1957 and subsequently demolished in 1972. The entrance to the Portage Landing is on the east side and off of the side walk adjacent to District Road 169. There is also water access to the natural shoreline, in particular on the north western portion of the Portage Landing.

The property is an elongated, rectangular shape that extends from north to south and the embankment toward the Moon River has a incline of about 45 degrees. The south side is more rugged with precamberian rock outcrops. In addition, the foliage of shrubs and pine and deciduous trees is more dense on the south side than on the northern portion of the property. The shoreline is natural and is open to walking and sitting on.

On the south side, the water current flows from the South Falls to the east. Looking toward the east, an individual has a magnificent visa of the Moon River. And on the north side, there is the water of Lake Muskoka cascading over the Bala Falls. There is the opportunity to stand in close proximity to the Bala Falls and this experience has attracted tourists and people from the Muskoka community beginning around the 1900’s. And looking across the white capped water, an individual views the natural rock formation rising up to the green lawn and tree Margaret Burgess Park with open access to all.

The specific property details are:

Information to be provided by Planning Department, Township of Muskoka Lakes.

Description of Heritage Attributes

y Open public access to all. y Unobtrusive, unrestrictive and close access to cascading waters over the Bala Falls, North Channel water from Lake Muskoka into the Moon River at the northern side of the Portage Landing on the Moon River property. y Uninhibited and predominate sounds from the cascading waters over the Bala Falls, North Channel water from Lake Muskoka into the Moon River. y Natural sounds of nature for the property.

Portage Landing on the Moon River. June 9, 2011 - Township of Muskoka Lakes, Heritage Committee Draft - Designation Statement for Portage Landing on the Moon River, Burgess Island, Bala, Muskoka, Ontario, Canada

y Natural rising water spray from the cascading waters over the Bala Falls, North Channel water from Lake Muskoka into the Moon River that is carried by the natural winds across the property. y Natural shoreline on the southern, western and northern sides of the property. y Natural Precambrian granite rock outcroppings. y Elevation from the shorelines rising at various degrees to the eastern boundary of the property. y Natural trees, vegetation and wild flowers. y Naturally created pathways. y No lighting, directly on or directed at the property. y Unobtrusive historical information and safety, and y Scenic views and expansive vistas.

Context

The earliest recorded existence of the Muskoka Lakes is on a map dated 1657. In 1783 serious exploration began and it was in 1829, Alexander Sheriff, an explorer mentioned the Musquash River, renamed the Moon River. Then in 1830, David Thompson, a Canadian cartographer, began seriously mapping the Muskoka Lakes.

During this time, the timber industry recognized the value of the white pines. Following the explorers and surveyors, the logging people came to the Bala area in the 1850’s.

In the 1850’s and 1860’s, the colonization road from Gravenhurst to Bala was surveyed. And then in 1860, the first tourists began to arrive in Muskoka Lakes. And in 1869, the story of Bala begins with the arrival of Thomas Burgess. Subsequently he obtained a Crown Grant of about 1,000 acres in the wilderness and named this place “Bala”.

The first cottagers settled in Bala for the summer months beginning during the 1890. Other Crown land grants were taken up by new settlers on the Musquash River. And during the late 1890’s, cottagers started to purchase land from the settlers.

The mode of cottagers to Bala has changed over the years: first by steamer, then by railways and subsequently by motor vehicles.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Portage Landing on the Moon River is the traditional portage used by our First Nations and the portage used later by tourists, YMCA campers and cottagers. This site has important and enduring cultural heritage landscape significance. With the new comers like tourists take became cottagers in the Bala beginning around the 1900’s, Franke Tooke’s boat livery was the starting point for all boat traffic on the Moon River. The tradition of portage from this property with canoes and kayaks lives on.

The visa looking westward from Portage Landing on the Moon River is breathtaking, then and now. There are many written accounts of the personal delight experienced by standing on the property, pre-camberian shield surrounding by pine and maple trees, while hearing the roaring sounds of cascading water over the falls of Bala. Experiences like this drew tourists initially from all over Canada, the USA, Great Britain and even Germany, and now, tourists from all corners of the world for the opportunity to soak in this specially unique cultural heritage landscape.

Then there is the iconic Bala Falls that continue to be view within an arm’s length by standing on the north portion of Portage Landing on the Moon River. The falls on the north channel are the waters of Lake Muskoka that cascade down over the pre-camberian shield into the Moon River. The Bala Falls attracted tourists and people from the Muskoka community beginning around the 1900’s and continue too. The experience of standing in close proximity to the Bala Falls is enthralling: the beauty, speed, force and thundering sounds as volumes of water spill over Bala Falls. It is a landmark.

The Portage Landing on the Moon River and adjoining Bala Falls associated landscape have significant contextual value because it is important in defining and supporting the character of Bala as a summer resort. This particular landmark is thought of as the spiritual jewel that has engendered associative cultural heritage value as recreational activities significant to the Bala community and has contributed to the development of the permanent community of Bala.

History of the Property

Portage Landing on the Moon River is located on the west side of Burgess Island. It is surrounded by lake water on three sides and on the east side by the District Road 169. The Musquosh Road of 1872– later Bala Road, today Highway 169 – in 1872 was likely the first structure built on the Burgess Island.

The counter part to the Portage Landing on the Moon River is the Portage Landing on Lake Muskoka adjacent to Purks Place. The landings are, in golf terminology, a dog leg from one another while crossing the Musquosh Road of 1872. The distance separating these landings is the width of the modern Highway 169.

On the north side is the iconic Bala Falls with the water flowing from the North Channel Standing on Portage Landing on the Moon River and looking across the water way, there is a historic view of Margaret Burgess Park and the Bala United Church. The Church is identified on the registry of the Township of Muskoka Lakes as building of historic value and interest.

On the south side are views of the running water of the falls of the South Channel mixing with the water in the Moon River and of the cottages and Muskoka like residences along the shoreline of the river.

Looking east and standing on the property that is just a few feet above the lake water level, visitors to Portage Landing on the Moon River have a magnificent view extending down the Moon River. The image is of sparkling water with tall white pine and others tree foliage that directs the eyes of beholder to a distant horizon as Moon River vanishes out of site. In addition, there are viewable recreational boating and other activities enjoyed by recreational people during the summer tourist season. And during the winter months, the view is just as spectacular but as pure as the drive snow that dominates the natural landscape.

A postcard from around the early 1900’s capture the sense being enthralled as crowds of people either standing or sitting along the gradual slope of land from the top of the Bala Falls along the edge of the rushing water, cascading downward with white caps spraying refreshing lake water to the very westerly edge of Burgess Island.

Another postcard from the same era capture the image of two individuals fishing from wooden dingy just off the shoreline of Portage Landing on the Moon River and at the base of the Bala Falls, North Channel. And now days, this recreational activity is being repeated as it has for generations. All this has been seen and is seen now from the being at the park land of Portage Landing on the Moon River, as if looking at a larger than panoramic theatre screen - 24/7.

With the new comers like tourists take became cottagers in the Bala, Franke Tooke’s boat livery was the starting point for all boat traffic on the Moon River. From property like Portage Landing on the Moon River, Captain Tooke provided the only transportation for early cottagers on the River. They relied on him for mail, freight, building material and other items that they required.

It is from sites like the Portage Landing on the Moon River that most canoe trippers started their voyages to the bay. Captain Frank Tooke was a legend in his own time on the Moon River. There is a plague/information signage to the east of the Bala Falls on the portage landing that recognizes Tooke’s boat livery.

Despite its proximity to the commercial centre of Bala, railway stations steamer dock, Burgess Island never contained many buildings. In 2008, Purks Place and the former Presbyterian Church are the only two buildings standing on Burgess Island. Purks Place is registered on the Township of Muskoka Lakes as a building of historical value and interest, and the Church is designated as heritage building in accordance with the (Ontario) Heritage Act.

The reason for the absence of buildings on Burgess Island may have been due to land ownership. With respect to Portage Landing on the Moon River, The Bala Light and Power Company constructed in 1924 a generating station adjacent to the Bala Falls, North Channel. The plant was fitted with one propeller-type, vertical shaft turbine, manufactured by William Hamilton and rated at 400 horsepower with a generating capacity of 245 kilowatts.

In 1929, the company and this power plant were purchased by Ontario Hydro. The station was removed from service in 1957 because of high production costs. Studies in 1960 showed that it was not economical to rehabilitate the plant or to redevelop the site. In 1972, the structure was demolished, creating an island park and Bala Falls overview. There is a plague/information signage to the east of the Bala Falls on the portage landing that recognizes the locally developed small hydro generation plant.

Ownership of this property site reverted to the Crown. There has been no structures on the Portage Landing on the Moon River for more than 40 years.

The Portage Landing on the Moon River near the Bala Falls, North Channel is a cultural heritage landscape for the Wahta Mohawks. When the Mohawks arrived by steamer at the tiny community known as Bala Falls in 1881, it was necessary for them to portage past the Bala Falls with all their worldly goods to a scow or raft that was taking them to their new life at the Gibson Reserve.

This first portage by the Mohawks will be honoured and remembered by a special drumming ceremony on June 25th, 2011 by the Wahta women drummers as part of Doors Open - Muskoka in partnership with Ontario Heritage Trust, the Province’s leading heritage agency. It is most appropriate that they will be singing and drumming the Water Song.

The Portage Landing on the Moon River is the traditional portage used by our First Nations and the portage used later by tourists, YMCA campers and cottagers. This site has important and enduring cultural heritage landscape significance

This park land is zoned Public Open Space with water access from the Moon River and on foot from the sidewalk along District Road 169. It is used as park by the community and visitors for: viewing the vistas including the Bala Falls, hearing the sound of the white capped, rushing water from the falls, capturing the images in a variety of medium, picnicking and taking memorial photographs like weddings, These activities plus the public access to thee water’s edge are an existing and exciting uses that help to define the cultural heritage of the Portage Landing on the Moon River.

The Township of Muskoka Lakes Bala Streetscape and Improvement Plan, dated September 2006, outlines a plan to preserve and enhance the unique charm with safe pedestrian walks, trees and gardens that are accessible to all. Such a cultural and historic parkland as a Portage Landing on the Moon River will be specifically address under the Plan. The public use is more adequately safeguard through cultural heritage landscape designation.

Dates of site visit in connection with heritage background research

The Township of Muskoka Lakes Heritage committee visited Portage Landing on the Moon River on May 15, 2010. In addition, Tom Millar committee member, took photographs of the property on June 6, 2011.

Photographs

Photographs of Portage Landing on the Moon River, date June 6, 2011 are attached.

Sources

Petry, Bob. Bala: An Early Settlement in Muskoka. Robert Petry, 1998.

Andreae, Christopher. Report: Cultural Heritage Landscape Assessment of the Bala Falls. Historica Research Limited, Delaware, Ontario. January 2009.

Postcards: Personal collection of a number of individuals and also available on the internet.

Jewitt, Bunty and Lorne. Bala: The Way It Was Done. Watts Printing, Gravenhurst, Ontario, 2005.

Correspondence: Linda Jackson-Hutton, Curator and Co-Owner Bala’s Museum with Memories of Lucy Maud Montgomery, to The Honourable John Wilkinson, Minister of the Environment. April 17, 2011

Correspondence: Gunta Towsley, President, Architectural Conservancy Organization - Muskoka Branch to Trion Clarke, Senior Environmental Scientist, Hatch, Niagara Falls, Ontario. November 12, 2009.

Report: The Township of Muskoka Lakes Bala Streetscape and Improvement Plan. September 2006.

Portage Landing on the Moon River. June 9, 2011 - Township of Muskoka Lakes, Heritage Committee