In Years Gone By, the Vil Lage of Sturgeon Point Was

In years gone by, the Vil lage of Sturgeon Point was often in the news. Four- fifths of the area of the Point lies in Fenelon Township and the remaining fifty acres, most of which is in use as a Golf Course, is in Verulam. Sturgeon Point is one of the very oldest settlements in Ontario, especially as a sum mer resort. Its birth dates back to 1833 when John Langton, guided by Indians, landed at the well-known Cedar Spring just around the apex of Sturgeon Point. Proceeding up the shores he made a preliminary survey as far as Cameron Falls and chose a location to be known as Blythe Farm. It was so called after Blythe Hall, his birthplace in Lancashire. Af ter ten years of pioneer life he moved to Peterborough and married one of the Miss Dunsfords from the Beehive on the north shore of Stur geon Lake and the Beehive is today one of the recognized tourist spots in the Kawartha Lakes. It is of interest to note that the Dunsford family was for many years well known in Verulam Township and in Lindsay. The many resi dents of Lindsay will recall the name of the Misses Duns ford as well as a sister Mrs. J. G. Edwards. John Lang ton was a member of the Pro vincial Legislature and after wards Auditor of Public Ac counts. Later he was elected Vice-Chancellor of Toronto University in which city he died in 1894. Sturgeon Point was heav ily wooded but as time went on, woodsmen felled hundreds of trees which were made into spars or square timber and floated down the waters to Lake Ontario. A pioneer by the name of Robert Gra ham who owned the land on which Sturgeon Point stands, preserved many of the gigan tic trees now well over three hundred years old. These pines have always been a very notable landmark, visible from every point on the lake. The development of Sturg eon Point was somewhat rap id and in a few years many very fine summer homes were scattered along the banks of Sturgeon Point. These were the days when a number of pleasure steamers as well as saw-mill tugs and scows could be seen every day on Sturgeon Lake. The steamers carried passengers from Lindsay to Pleasant Point, Bobcaygeon, Sturgeon Point and Fenelon Falls and at times excursion boats pas sed through the locks at Fen elon Falls through to Camer on and Balsam Lake. Ano ther popular cruise was from Lindsay through the various looks through Bobcaygeon and on to Peterboro. Captain George Crandell was a noted navigator and boat builder. He once razed a block of buildings in Lind say and used the lumber for his scows. Palace scows with roofs and seats were towed behind the various steamers, two small to ac commodate the crowds that enjoyed the frequent excur sions to Sturgeon Point. One of the largest excurs ions and picnics was the an nual holiday given to the employees of Needier and Flavelle Grist Mill. In 1853 the fine steamer “ Ogemah” was launched and twenty years later the “Van derbilt” queen of the lakes, 130 feet long and carrying four hundred passengers was placed in commission. The late G. A. Lukas o f Lindsay once related the fact that other boats included the “Ida”, “Esturion”, “Alice- Ethel”, “Crandella”, “Man- it", “Wacouta”, and “Linton- ia” and the “Stony Lake”. He wrote: “The Government- owned “Bessie Butler” carried many celebrities including William Jennings Bryan and Lord Tweedsmuir through the canal and world-famous lift-locks at Peterboro.” Famous Hotel Pioneers of Lindsay and district told their children of the days when Captain Cran- dell built a hotel in 1876 at a cost of $25,000 located near the old lower wharf and sand bar. Believe it or not this hotel became famous for its bar, bowling alley with dance hall overhead. I t is under stood that in later years the hotel was at one time oper ated by the Simpson Bros, of Lindsay. It was destroyed by fire. Development of the Point as a tourist resort gained ground when Capt. George Crandell bought extensive shore property and had James Dickson, Public Land Surveyor of Fenelon Palls prepare a survey and plans which were sold to buyers from Lindsay, Toronto and elsewhere. The Crandell acreage was also divided into a number of streets. Among the early buyers and builders were Squire Mc Donnell, Messrs. Needier, Hamilton, Wm. Flavelle and Judge Dean. Mr. Flavelle sold part of his land to J. D. Flavelle and J. R. Dundas. Later on the Flavelle mansion was occupied for some years by Sir Elsworth Flavelle of Toronto. Other builders who follow ed included: Judge Hopkins, A. E. Gregory, C. D. Barr, R. S. Porter, O. Bigelow, S. Brit ton, D. Cinnamon, and Robert Kennedy all of Lindsay; Jos eph Brown, Messrs. A. McIn tyre, R. Sylvester, A. B. Terry, Thos. Stewart, G. H. Wilson, F. C. Taylor, Dr. Nee-lands , Wm. McLennan, G. A. Milne, W. Goodwin, E. E. W. McGaffey, Alex. Fisher, Jos eph Parkin, Easton, Matth ews, Dr. Gross, Dobson, And erson, J. L. Sutton, Nugent, W. Simpson, G. E. Broderick and Dr. Vrooman all of Lind say. Other residents includ ed Dr. Ryerson, W. Lloyd, J.G. Grace, and Charles Linstrum of Toronto. Annual Regatta Sturgeon Point became noted for its many expert canoe men and sailors and the annual regatta attracted hundreds of visitors. The early canoe experts included Thomas Stewart a young lawyer, and Rev. J. W. Mac Millan and it is reported that these two canoeists went on trips four hundred miles long, up through the northern com pletely wild districts, down the Ottawa valley, through the Rideau Lakes and home by way of the Trent waters. Sturgeon Point was incorp orated in 1899 and in recent years members of the Coun cil have chiefly been residents of Toronto. The village is entitled to representation on the County Council but very seldom has any representa tive attended Council meet ings. Events of interest at Stur geon Point as related by the late G. A. Lucas includes: “The first baby born at the point was Baby Stewart of New York and the Council voted three dollars for a christening cup suitably en graved dated August 5, 1900. .. A grant of $150 was made for a telephone line in 1900 .... A rain shelter was built on the upper wharf at a cost of $315.83 . $25.00 was voted for a well on Third Street in 1904 .... J. D. Fla velle was the first elected Reeve in 1906 and the Coun cillors were Bigelow, Ander son, Millar, and Brown. Ac clamation was accorded for twenty-five years . Fifteen oil street lamps were instal led in 1910, maintenance to cost 40 cents per light . P. J. Breen offered lots for a Pub lic Park . congratulations were tendered to Mrs. Eliza beth Hopkins on her hund redth birthday in 1916 . The Walkey’s store was de stroyed by fire ... Judge Hop kins resigned as village clerk after 17 years service and was followed by J. P. Ryley . In 1926 Pleasant Point ap plied for transmission of el ectric light lines by means of an underwater cable . in 1933 thirteen acres were se cured from the Wm. Graham Farm enlarging the village to 247 acres. ...”.

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