The Ruth Martin Papers

BOOK II

Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation Suite 2800 130 Adelaide Street West Toronto, Ontario M5H 3P5

The Ruth Martin Papers

In the summer of 1995 the Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation was, by great good fortune, entrusted with four precious loose-leaf notebooks. On their pages were recorded interviews with descendants of many of the first settlers in Lake of Bays Township--interviews that contained fascinating, priceless social history. Had cottager Ruth Martin not had the foresight to pursue her interest in our pioneers, their stories would have been lost forever. We owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude.

Settlement around Lake of Bays began after the Free Land GrantAct (1868) made land available. Little of it was arable, however, and the new arrivals faced daunting challenges. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries the lumber industry offered employment for some, and the arrival of the first summer cottagers at the turn of the century added another dimension to life by the lake. The people interviewed from the early 1950s to mid-1970 by Ruth Martin were, in most cases, children or grandchildren of the first settlers in the township.

Ruth Martin (neé Campbell) summered for many years at a cottage near Norway Point. Born in Toronto in 1908, she taught at Eastern High School of Commerce, and for three years served as a social hostess at Bigwin Inn. When illness prevented her from continuing this labour of love, the Ruth Martin Papers were put in safekeeping with a step-daughter, Annette Benson and her family. About five years ago Jane Tate, whose mother had been a friend of Ruth Martin, took possession of the papers. She and her nephew, Lee Van Ormer, have kindly allowed the Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation to arrange for their publication. The originals have been deposited with the Fisher Rare Book Room at the Robarts Library, Toronto.

The Ruth Martin Papers have been photocopied unedited. Each set comprises four books of textual material and one book containing 186 photographs of some of our first residents (Chief Bigwin among them) and a few early buildings. They have been deposited in the Dorset, Dwight, and Baysville libraries.

Margaret McBurney Chair, Built Heritage May 1996

Publication of the Ruth Martin Papers has been made possible by donations (tax deductible) to the Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation. THE RUTH MARTIN PAPERS

Index BOOK #1: General Muskoka History

Part I--1879 Atlas/Northern Lakes--1886/Free Grant Lands 1868

1. Overview 1879 Atlas Ruth Martin 1--1 2. Muskoka & Parry Districts W.E. Hamilton (Atlas) 1--2 3. Muskoka and Northern Lakes (part) 1886 1--37 4. Free Grant Lands of Canada 1871 by Thomas McMurray 1--42

Part II--General History--published (extracts)

1. Muskoka Memories by Ann Hathaway (1849--) 1--51 2. Algonquin Story Audrey Saunders 1--52 3. English Bloods Roger Vardon 1-55 4. History of Muskoka Capt L.R. Fraser 1--59

Part III--Homestead Books & Township Papers

1. Selected List of First Owners Homestead Books 1--70 2. Township Papers at Ontario Archives 1--83

Part IV--Haliburton/Baysville/Local Government

1. Early Days in Haliburton (excerpts) by H.R. Cummings 1963 1--101 (Dorset Public Library) 2. Northern Exposure (excerpts) by Rev Richard Warder (Ang)1--103 (Baysville Library) 3. The Light of Other Years (excerpts_ Gravenhurst Library 1--108 4. Local Government Review--1968 a research report 1--116

BOOK #2

Part I--Lake of Bays--General History

1. Fifty Years of Muskoka History Harry Linney 2--1 2. G.T.R. Booklet 9th edition 1914 loaned by Mr. S. Booker 2--3 3. First Tourist--100 years ago Huntsville Forester 2-6 August 24, 1961 4. Bruce West Program 2--8 5. G.T.R. Booklet 1st edition 1908 loaned 2--9 By Doris Taplin 6. Early Lake of Bays Hotels Forester July 26, 1906 2-13 7. Beautiful Lake of Bays --1905 Mrs Asbury’s scrapbook 2--20 8. Campbell Family’s 1st trip by Mary G. Campbell 2--21 to Lake of Bays--1904 9. The Navigation Company Forester May 28, 1951 2--25 Part II--Tom Salmon

1. Interview with Harry Salmon August 1966 2--27 2. Visit with Mrs. David Langford Sept 6, 1966 2--29 3. Poem by Mr. Thomas Salmon 2--30 4. Tom Salmon Diary 1880 2--38 5. List of People mentioned in Diary 2--72 6. Interview with Mrs. Ann Emberson Oct. 2, 1967 2--73 7. Tom Salmon --observation Margaret Bowlby 2--81 8. Pioneer Tom Salmon Ashworth Tweedsmuir History 2--83 9. Tom Salmon Obituary 1943 2--85

Part III--Fox Point Road

1. Interview with Mrs. Joseph Tapley Sept 28, 1966 2--86 2. Interview with Mrs. William Keown August 30, 1970 2--90

Part IV--Birkendale & Ten Mile Bay

1. Interview with Mrs. Langford July 28, 1967 2--94 2. Interview with Dorothea Robson Sept 25, 1967 2--97 3. Interview with Rev. John Robson Aug 23, 1968 2--101 4. Visit with Mr. Alfred Chevalier Sept 15, 1968 2--103 5. Naming of Birkendale Ashworth Tweedsmuir History 2--109 6. Interview with Charles Dillon August 29, 1971 2--110

Part V--Port Cunnington Road

1. Naming of Fox Point 2--119 2. Drive with Mrs. David Langford August 9, 1967 2--120 3. Boyce Henry Cunnington Mrs. Asbury’s scrapbook 2--122 4. Visit with Mr. & Mrs Bert Boothby Oct 15, 1970 2--123 Ross & Helen at Point Ideal 5. Interview with Alex Thompson Sept 27, 1970 2--127 6. Visit with Mr. & Mrs. Bert Boothby Oct 20, 1970 2--132 Mrs. Boothby’s sister Mrs. Will Munro (nee Emily Cunnington) 7. Interview with Dr. & Mrs. Bradford Young Sept 15, 1970 2--135 8. Diary Boyce Cunnington loaned by Mary Elder 2--144 9. Family Tree--Cunnington 2--146 10. Interview with Mr. & Mrs. Wm. H. Boothby Sept 9, 1971 2--147 11. Visit with Mr. & Mrs. Elwood Campbell Oct 12, 1971 2--153 12. School Register Information loaned by Elwood Campbell 2--154

Part IV--Haystack Bay Tweedsmuir History 2--157 BOOK #3: Dwight--Portage--Newholm--Portage

Part I--Dwight

1. A Village--Heart of Gold Toronto Telegram Nov. 8, 1958 3--1 2. First White Settler (Tom Salmon) Forester Sep 27, 1962 3--4 By May Salmon 3. Mrs. Langford--Dwight July 28, 1967 3--7 4. Drive with Mrs. Langford, Port Cunnington Aug 9, 1967 3--10 Road & Jessie Hood & Esther Keown 5. Old Residents Gather (Dorset) July 28, 1967 3--18 6. Pioneer Days at Dwight Forester 1925 3--20 Mrs. Asbury’s scrapbook 7. Interview--Mrs. Norman Boothby Sept 16, 1968 3--22 August 19, 1969 8. Gouldie’s Store Ledger loaned by Mrs. N. Boothby 3--27 9. Rev. James McCrea diary notes loaned by Mrs. N. Boothby 3--34 (1895) 10. Frank Blackwell Recollections Feb 27, 1952 3--41 Loaned by Doris Taplin 11. Visit--Mr. & Mrs. Charles Corbett Sept 9, 1968 3--44 12. Notes re Booklet “Vacation Trips” 1908 3--48 13. Interview--Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Blackwell June 7, 1970 3--49 14. Dwight Tweedsmuir History Sept 16, 1969 3--53 Mrs. V. Asbury 15. Notes--Mrs. Asbury’s Scrapbook 3--55 16. Interview re Bert McKeown Mrs. Sadie Woodcock 3--57 17. Interview--Mr. & Mrs. N. Boothby Sept 29, 1970 3--61

Part II--Stewarts of Dwight 1. The Stewarts of Dwight by Harold Stanely Stewart 3--64

Part III--Dwight-Wiman Club

1. The Tourists (1871) Northern Advocate June 30, 1871 3--118 2. Visit with Mrs. Langford Oct 13, 1967 3--120 3. Poem by Mrs. Thomas Salmon c 1873? 3--122 4. Interview with A. Dwight Ross Aug 29, 1967 3--124 5. Interview with Mrs. Langford Sept 12, 1967 3-127 6. Long Lake Hunt Club Log loaned by Ralph Blackwell 3-128 (1882---1929) 7. Dwight-Wiman Club & Cole Bracebridge Gazette 3-137 Family (Dorset) Nov 22, 1923, loaned by Mrs. Stewart of Huntsville

Part IV--South Portage--Cain’s Corner--Millar Hill 1. Visit with Aylmer Campbell Sept 3, 1968 3-177 2. Interview--Martha Burns & Robert Burns October 1968 3-184 3. Story of Millar Hill (excerpt) Forester June 20, 1963 3-191 Loaned by Marg Bowlby 4. Story of Millar Hill by A.W. Hiscoke 3-193 Asbury Scrapbook Forester June 20, 1963 5. The Portage Railway loaned by Mrs. E. Kelly 3-196 6. History Portage Railway Ashworth Tweedsmuir History 3-197 7. Interview--Mrs. Vivian Murray July 26, 1970 3-198 8. Interview--Mrs. Jack Boothby Sept 19, 1971 3-202 9. Continuation--Portage School Minute Book 3-208

Part V--Road from Newholm to South Portage

1. Interview--Miss Effie Alldred July 11, 1968 3-211 2. Drive with Miss Effie Alldred Sept 19, 1968 3-214 3. Interview--Mr. Alfred Jennings Sept 26, 1968 3-220

BOOK #4 Bigwin--Baysville--Gordon’s Corners-Brown’s Brae

Part I--Bigwin

1. Copy--Abstract 4-1 2. Interview—Sam Forsyth…………………July 27, 1964 ………………………… 4-4 3. Bigwin Auction Sale Ends Era…………...Nov 22, 1966 Telegram ……………… 4-7 4. Various articles on Mr. Shaw…………….Source—Pioneer Village …………… 4-11 Tannery & Band 5. Bigwin Inn—1943………………………..Ashworth Tweedsmuir History ………… 4-20 6. Poem—Bigwin…………………………...by Mrs. J.B. Shrigley Dorset …………… 4-22

PART II—Chief Bigwin

1. Notes from articles…………………………………………………………………… 4-23.

PART III—Baysville and Environs

1. The Pulford House—booklet…………….loaned by Mrs. L. C. Brown ……………4-26 2. Baysville & McLean Township………….Langford papers ………………………….4-29 3. When Muskoka was New………………..Mark Langford ………………………… 4-34 4. Interview—Mr. & Mrs. L.C. Brown…….Aug 28, 1967 …………………………… 4-39 5. Interview—Mrs. St. Clair Ferguson……..Oct 15, 1968 …………………………… 4-56 6. Interview—Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd Green……Oct 17, 1967 ……………………………. 4-62 7. Drive with Mrs. Langford……………….July 31, 1967 …………………………… 4-67 8. Visit with Mrs. J.J. Robinson……………Oct 4, 1967 ……………………………… 4-73 9. Interview—Mr. Karl Campbell………….Aug 8, 1968 ……………………………… 4-76 10. Interview—Mrs. P.C. Stewart…………..June 20, 1969 …………………………… 4-79 11. Interview—Mrs. Fred VanClieaf………..Sept 16, 1974 …………………………… 4-82

PART IV—Back Road—Gordon’s Corners & Brown’s Brae

1. Interview—Miss Eva Booker……………Oct 18, 1967 ……………………..………4-83 2. Brown’s Brae Road……………………...Aug 6, 1968 …………………………… 4-88 with Dorothy & Jessie Campbell 3. Interview—Jack Rowe & Joe Morrow…..Sept 30, 1969 ………………………… 4-90. 4. Interview—Gordon Robinson……………Oct 14, 1969 …………………………… 4-91. 5. Interview—Mrs. Effie Tyrrell……………Sept. 25, 1970 …………………………… 4-98 6. Interview—Mrs. James Watson………….Sept 1973 ……………………………… 4-106.

PART V—Dorset

1. Chronological History—Dorset……………Charles E. Burk ……………………… 4-111 2. Interview—Mr. & Mrs. Alexander McKay...Aug 9, 1966 ……………………………4-113 3. E.A Remey’s Book…………………………Sept 25, 1967 ………………………… 4-117 4. Dorset—Dreamland The Telegram…………Aug 11, 1956 ……………………… 4-120 5. Mr. Arvine Barry Scrapbook Notes………………………………………………… 4-123 6. Charming Paint Lake by Harry Linney……Ethel’s scrapbook …………………… 4-137 7. Off Beaten Trails in Muskoka……………..by Harry Linney ……………………… 4-141 8. Interview—Margaret Dayment……………April 4, 1968 …………………………… 4-144 9. Visit with Stanley Booker…………………Aug 12, 1968 ……………………………4-146 10. Visit—Mrs. P.C. Stewart………………….July 23, 1968 …………………………… 4-154 11. Visit—Mrs. William Cassidy……………..Aug 17, 1968 …………………………… 4-159 12. Visit—Mrs. Cassidy & M & M Kelly…….Aug 24, 1968 ……………...…………… 4-163 13. Visit—Mrs. Cassidy & M & M Kelly…….Sept 1, 1968 …………………………… 4-172 14. Visit—Mrs. Cassidy & M & M Kelly…….Aug 11, 1969 …………………………… 4-177 15. Dorset Information………………………...loaned by Mrs. L. Barry ……………… 4-181 16. Visit—Mr. & Mrs. Lesley Barry…………..Sept 11, 1968 ………………………… 4-185 17. The Outfitter of Dorset (Wes Clayton)…….loaned by Marg Bowlby …………… 4-199 18. Visit Mrs. G. Dawkins……………………...March 28, 1969 ……………………… 4-201 “Robertsons of OxTongue Lake” 19. Visit—Mr. & Mrs. Hudson…………………March 30, 1969 ……………………… 4-208 20. Fisher Family of Dorset…………………….W.R. Fisher ………………………… 4-213 Diary of sailing 1870 21. Visit—Mr. & Mrs. Norman Fisher…………July 1, 1969 ………………………… 4-225 22. Visit—Mr. & Mrs. Norman Fisher…………August 10, 1969 ……………………… 4-227 23. Interview—Mr. Leonard Avery…………….July 28, 1969 ………………………… 4-229 24. Interview--Mr. Leonard Avery……………..August 10, 1969 ……………………… 4-240 25. Interview—Len, Sidney, Orrie Avery……...Aug 31, 1969 ………………………… 4-246 26. Article—c 1915—no heading………………Lloyd Green? ………………………… 4-254 27. Treasurer’s Accounts—SS#1………………………………………………………… 4-257 Sherbourne/Ridout/McClintock/Franklin 1881-1899 28. Hugh McEachern…………………………..July 14, 1970 ………………………… 4-288 29. Interview—Mrs. Orrie Avery……………...Sept 24, 1972 ………………………… 4-290 & sister Miss Kate McKay Fifty Years of Muskoka History by Harry Linney

No history of Muskoka can be written without including the Indian occupation. Proofs are abundant. From the stream now known as the Severn River, north through the Muskokas, came the Iroquois, Huron, Mohawks and Nipissings. Gradually they were exterminated, and the year 1848 saw white men, military attaches from Penetanguishene, using the water course to reach the Ottawa Valley.

When, in the early fifties trappers and hunters found their way here, these white men saw only traces of the big Indian bands, remnants of the aboriginals. Indians of peace came in to the district it 1859-60. Among these families were Samson, Elijah, and Peter Yellowhead; nine families of the Joes, including Joseph, Stinson and Cousin; three Blackbird families, John, Peter and Elijah; two Norsnake groups, Noan and George; John and Robert Bigwin, with eight or ten adherents each, most interesting in their training and outlook, big men, and important in their day. There were also the Georges, Menominees, Quinbushes, and numerous other bands, crafty, alert, and mighty as hunters, such as Mesquaukee and Begamagobaway, two important chiefs, after the first of whom Muskoka receives its name. Sections of Muskoka, Draper, Oakley, Macaulay, Franklin, Medora and Ridout Townships furnish proofs of Indian habitation in large numbers.

As early as 1858 it was decided by the legislators that the Muskokas should be opened for settlement. Roads were projected from Bytown. The Peterson and Bobcaygeon roads were among the earliest, traces of which exist to this day.

Little was actually known of the resources, excepting as a big hunting ground, abounding with fur, until a year or two before the passing of the Free Grant Act in 1868. Then it was that the rush started. Men from all over the Empire started for Muskoka, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, some seeking homes, others seeking adventure. A study of our first people reveals deeply interesting and romantic types. What contrasts exist between the Mary's Lake and the Hekkla peoples, even to this day, but more outstanding in the original. Upper Draper was settled by English Protestants; lower Monck by Irish Catholics. We have similar contrasts between Morrison and Stisted Townships, one agriculturally inclined, the other militarily.

The family of David Hanna was one of the first, located in the south part of the district, from which family the late William Henna sprung, and which figures in the district's history quite prominently. A.P.Cockburn early engaged himself with the transportation problems and established boats on the three lower principal lakes. Then, in the same enterprise we have the Marsh family on the Trading Waters.

The coming of the Burgess family to Bala is typical of many others.Thomas Burgess was a man of adventure and ambition. Hearing of the great timber wealth of Muskoka, and seeing his family grow up, who needed great fields of opportunity, he resolved to locate here. In 1868, he canoed around the shores of Muskoka Lake, the shores of which water were then practically an unentered wilderness. Wherever he looked, forests of stately pine reared their giant forms. Here the deer roamed plentifully. Fish were abundant. When he came to the place where the Musquah River begins to empty the waters of the lake into Georgian Bay, he selected a mill-site on the third branch of its three forked head. He secured squatter's rights to the property, and, by the summer of 1870, had a mill erected, and a house built. Here he converted logs into lumber, and wheat into flour. The same might be said of Alexander Bailey at North Falls (Bracebridge). With the assistance of his wife, a woman of tact and industry and kindly heart, and his son George, and two young fellows who assisted, William Spencer and Aubrey White, he supplied the incoming settlers with supplies and bought from the Indians their Furs.

The district filled up rapidly, and, by 1870 every location worth while was taken. To quote one family as a type; Take the Bogarts who settled in Watt. Jacob Bogart and his wife arrived with their four children, the eldest ten years old, in 1861. The steamer Wabamick conveyed them from Belle Ewart to Orillia, a sail boat, from Orillia to Washago, and they walked from there to Bracebridge, Mrs. Bogart carrying her baby in her arms. Their first cook stove was carried from the trunk stage road at Falkenburg to Ufford by Peter Pickering, John Shea, Bill Shea and John Giles.

Such were the experiences of the first settlers seeking farms, and while there were many hardships, no people were happier. Those were the days when the community spirit reigned. Those with food, divided with those who had none. Settlers walked for miles to assist the latest arrival to build his house. William and John Kirk of Macaulay took their oxen to Port Carling to help the Johnsons clear their land. Nathaniel Kirby walked to Orillia from Falkenburg for flour, which he carried back on his shoulders, together with a side of pork. Mrs. Matthias Moore walked from Falkenburg to Toronto and return without making much ado or thinking it a feet of skill. Francis Forbes of Windermere one spring day broke a ploughshare, and journeyed on foot to Clipshams at Sparrow Lake for a new one, or to have the broken one repaired. To walk from Baysville to Bracebridge to post a letter was not more seriously considered than walking across one's dining room to-day.

The pathetic feature of the first days was the destruction of so much first quality timber to make clearings, so that the soil might be tilled. None but the best was accepted. Pine was the only timber looked at. About the taking out of square timber for shipment to the Old Land, and for the building of the first Welland Canal, much of romance clings, and data gathered for a future story of Muskoka, of the days of the big lumber operations, when the Dodges, the Dollars, the Cockburns, the Gilmours, were kings, is rich in folklore, and depicts a people worthy and courageous, who could love and work, and fight, if necessary, and who have given to the world men and women who are winning for themselves honour and success and making the world brighter for having been a part of its activities. [handwritten: From Mr Stanley Booker]

There is another booklet entitled - Lake Of Bays- Highlands of Ontario- a concise description of one of the most attractive summer resort districts in Ontario, Canada. Seventh Edition, 1914 issued by General Passenger Department, Grand Trunk Railway System, Montreal

Perhaps nowhere in the Highlands of Ontario, or anywhere in Canada, is there an outing place which has been such a signal success from the start, as the Lake of Bays district. While it is true that a number of small hotels and cottages have existed here for some time, the real start was made in 1908, when the spacious Wawa Hotel was opened at Norway Point. This magnificent hotel, a detailed description of which will be found elsewhere in this book, was filled to capacity the first month it was opened. The following season, 1909, notwithstanding considerable extension, and the addition of a tent city, at the foot of the rugged bluff near the hotel proper, 500 applicants were turned away.

There is a. poem here entitled "WAWA" ( Wawa means wild goose) In the days of yore, the Wild Goose came From sunny, southern days. To spend the pleasant Summer months Within the Lake of Bays.

Long years have passed, the sons of men Follow his northern flight And here within the Lake of Bays Find seasons of delight. And here they've built a monument To the pioneer who came, To show the way of pleasure, But cannot use his name.

The Wild Goose House, would shock the sense Cf those who have equipped it. And so the Wawa is the name With which they have 'yclipt it.

A particularly charming spot is Dwight Bay, with its green shore curving caressingly around it, and sloping gently and gradually back, sheltering groves with open evenness, running down to the water's edge, through which we get glimpses of open fields beyond, long reaches of slanting, sandy beaches where babes can bathe with absolute safety. Cunning little cottages, picturesque summer houses, the white church, the school house, the hotel, and the Iroquois in the offing. That is but a faint hint of the picture of this beautiful bay. Dwight is its own best advertisement. The fact that the first visitor to this comparatively new resort, 20 years ago, from a certain city in the State of New York, went home happy, came again and again, bringing each year others from the same section of that interesting state, speaks well for the Lake of Bays generally, and for Dwight Bay in particular. The bay, walled in on three sides is as safe for the canoeist, as the shallow beach is for the bathers.

On the west shore, the dark, wooded mainland rises abruptly, while the river comes singing in from the east. Always, there will remain with you the memory of Norway Point, Point Ideal, Bona Vista, Britannia, and more distinctly still, Dwight Bay, the beautiful.

Britannia Hotel. This hotel was built in 1908, to accommodate 100 guests. The annex was added in 1909 with room for 50 more. Each year, extensive improvements have been made on the grounds, tennis courts and bowling greens. There is an excellent bathing beach, and nine new bath houses. - In 1912, Britannia Hall was built nearby the hotel with accommodation for 100 additional guests. For the 1914 season, there will be an excellent golf links - 9 hotels

The Wawa hotel was named the Wawa, which is the Indian word for wild goose. It contains 153 rooms, arranged so that they may be occupied singly or en suite. The structure is built after the cottage style of architecture, and rises to a height of two stories only. - Dining room has seating capacity for 300 people. The proprietors of the Wawa were the Canada Railway News Company Limited.

Speaking of the Huntsville and Lake of Bays Navigation Company- steamers are operated from about May 1st to Nov. 20 in each season. Five boats, the Algonquin, Iroquois, Ramona, Mohawk Belle and Minota have been added to their fleet. The first two named have a speed of 16 miles an hour, and are unquestionably as fine as any steamers on inland waters. They are equipped for carrying 500 passengers each, lighted with electricity, and each equipped with a powerful searchlight, which adds greatly to the pleasure and interest of moonlight trips, about the lakes. The Ramona and Mohawk Belle, also lighted throughout by electricity, and carrying powerful searchlights are of lighter draft for the river and coast service. An attentive stewardess is employed, and a first class lunch service is operated on the larger boats, by the Canada Railway News Co. These boats also have large cold storage refrigerators, for carrying meats, fruits, vegetables etc., to the cottagers about the lake. A close connection is made with the through trains of the Grand Trunk Railway System at Huntsville, by the Algonquin and the Ramona which connects with the Iroquois and Mohawk Belle for Lake of Bays service.

Ronville Summer resort is advertised. Their post office address is Fox Point, Ont. Can accommodate 125 guests- -C.J.C.Crump.

Port Cunnington is also advertised.

In Dorset, it says the Iroquois Hotel - a large new brick hotel - with accommodation for 75 guests - open the year round

The Ganoseyo- also located at Dorset, is a splendid quiet retret. —Miss G.L. Persch of Buffalo.

The establishment of a motor wagon service between Dorset and Hollow Lake by Mr. Hiram Barry of Dorset, in connection with his livery service is an innovation that will be greatly appreciated this season by patrons of resort in this section. The vehicle is commodious, and will be operated on regular schedule in connection with the summer boat service of the Navigation Company.

Dwight The Gouldie House, The Dwight House A.G.Gouldie Peter F.Newton Nor Loch lodge - 35 guests Pine Grove Inn - Harry A.Corbett

Point Ideal - Mr. Egbert Boothby Bona Vista - a new colony of summer visitors have located at this point. During the seasons 1911 and 12, several beautiful summer cottages were erected, and more will be built during 1913. Cottages and sites for sale. Write - Rev. J.A. Brown. - Fergus

Garry Owen Lodge- located about 4 miles from Dorset, and has accommodation for 20 guests. It is one of the most popular private places on the lake, and is directly on the steamer line.

Fox Point - Park Place, and The Hemlocks are also on the steamer route. The Maples, about 2 1/2 miles from Dorset - 15 guests - Gid Burke.

Sea Breeze Cottage - Ten Mile Bay - 25 guests- Mrs. W.G. Burke, Birkendal

Clovelly - several picturesque cottages, and a fine new pier, have been built at this attractive resort in the past few months. The cottages are among the finest on the lake - supplied by a gravity system, with pure spring water from the hills nearby. J.W. Tyrrell, Hamilton

Cottage sites -Besides those already enumerated, might be mentioned the following - Bigwin Island, comprising about 550 acres, beautifully wooded with both hard and soft woods, and located in the most picturesque part of Lake of Bays, in close proximity to Norway Point, Port Cunnington, Grove Avenue, and other resorts. Building sites are for sale on this island, in lots of any size. For further particulars, address the Bigwin Island Land Company, Limited, Huntsville, Ontario

First Tourist Here - 100 years ago

Lake of Bays, Favourite Recreation Area Huntsville Forester - Aug. 24, 1961 lent to me by Margaret Bowlby

Lake of Bays was earlier named forked Lake, and, the mainland across from Bigwin Island, was long a trading centre for the earliest Indians and fur traders. The lake is very popular for scenic beauty like this.

(The above is caption underneath picture.)

The Lake of Bays is one of the historic parts of this region, and, was an important location along the trade route which crosses the province between the Georgian Bay, and the Ottawa River.

By canoe, Indians and fur traders came up one of the branches of the Muskoka River, actually, the South Branch, crossed the Lake of Bays, and proceeded up what we to-day call the Oxtongue River.

From this point, they paddled to the head waters, and then, portaged across the Petawawa River. By this stream, they made their way to Ottawa and perhaps, as far as Montreal.

Lake of Bays first came into the official records soon after the war of 1812-14, when military authorities sought alternative travel routes across the province, far from the United States border. The Duke of Wellington was one man who took a great interest in this matter. Eight such exploration trips have been recorded, and five of these were made by military men.

In commemoration of these explorers, a historic site marker was unveiled in Baysville, on the West bank of the Muskoka River, in August of 1958.

Dr. S. Wallace, noted historian, and former librarian of the University of Toronto, points out in some of his reports, that the Lake of Bays had been a principal station for traders for some time, and mentions a civilian by the name of Charles Sherriff interested in agriculture and lumbering. Sherriff apparently travelled from the Ottawa Valley across to Georgian Bay and back again, in 1829. On his maps, he had marked "posts" on the mainland across from Bigwin Island. (Bigwin Inn).

The name, Muskoka River, was in use during the early 1820's, and Sherriff states in his reports, the name, came from an old Indian Chief, who fought with the British in the War of 1812-14, and was awarded a medal from the King.

Lake Muskoka was then known as Lake Chomle. Army officers Carthew and Bradley, explored the area in 1835, mentioned among other things that Lake Rosseau was named Rosseau's Lake, named after a fur trader.

Explorer David Thompson, who is famous for the British Columbia River he mapped and named after him, gave names to several lakes in Muskoka. He called Lake of Bays, Forked Lake.

Alexander Murray, a provincial geologist, later named it Lake of Bays in 1853, and his report shows he named Mary Lake, Fairy Lake, Peninsula Lake, Oxtongue Lake and several others.

Colonization Roads from Washago and Bobcaygeon, were started in 1858, and the settlement of Muskoka began within two or three years. Tourist business began as early as 1860. It is said that Summer people came to the Lake of Bays, before they did to the Muskoka Lakes, by way of colonization roads.

The early settlers in McLean twp., included Brown's, Bastedo's, Dickie’s and Langford's. Other early names around the Baysville area were Van Clieaf's , Kelly's, Henderson's, Robinson’s, Shewfelt's and others. McLean was settled earlier than angy other twp around the Lake- though the Thompson's were very early settlers around South Portage.

Lake of Bays seems to have been a favourite place for Indians during their time of occupation here. Indian flint arrowheads could be dug out of the sands of the area, in large numbers, 30-40 years age. Indians led by Chief Bigwin, used to do their trading on Bigwin Island. Old books tell that one Indian Chief's daughter, and several others are buried on that Island.

To-day, Lake of Bays is the favourite Sumner playground for thousands of Summer people, and, cottages, resorts and cabins dot the shores of this popular Muskoka vacation centre. Excerpts from a T.V. programme - Sat. Jan. 4, 1969 featuring Bruce West, guide, Wrenshaw Tooke, and John Mitchell, a small boy from the city.

The Muskoka River in November. Tomahawk Point, on Sandy Gray Lake.

Old Sandy Gray, went down to the point to a log jam, saying, “I'll break the jam, or have breakfast in Hades.". Well, Sandy broke the jam, but, he was lost.

A paragraph from a little English magazine, called “Country".

Why do so, many come? Although most of us do not know it, and relatively few admit it, and, even fewer can explain it, there is a deep mental and spiritual human need for the countryside. The more of our life we use in the getting and the spending, the more we hem ourselves in with brick and concrete, the greater the need to turn to the countryside. All that is man-made is unsure, unsafe, transient. The God-made is eternal, re-assuring and faith restoring.

In the bleak, grey dawn, a season dying, The wilderness calls, the geese are flying, To seek, to stalk, to be a man without fear, An urge that is primitive, passed through the years, Thoughts unwind, senses clear, in the Northern air, And, more than that, is just being there. Lake of Bays - Highlands of Ontario lent to me by Doris Taplin Published by the Grand Trunk Railway System

Apparently these were published each year. This one was the first, published in 1908. The one lent to me last Summer by Mr. Stalny Booker was Published in 1914, and was the seventh.

In side the cover of this is a Paragraph devoted to "the new hotel”, the Wawa, which has beer erected at Norway Point, Lake of Bays, with accommodation for 150 guests, And, there is an article further on about the Wawa,

It describes the trip in from Huntsville to the Lake of Bays, over Fairy and Peninsular Lake. Beyond Peninsular Lake, we come to a portage made over a toy like railroad- - one of the shortest on the American continent- 14miles in length. Here, the traveller, bag and baggage, is entrained and carried up over a hill 110 feet above the lake, and dropped gently down to the Lake of Bays. Here, the water journey is taken up again on the Iroquois, a sister ship, and the exact duplicate of the Algonquin,- or the Mohawk. These are probably the neatest, and, best appointed of the scores of boats that ply on the Highland waters. In fact, it would be difficult to find fault with them, or to suggest a single comfort or convenience that has not already been provided.

The Lake of Bays is far the largest lake in the Huntsville district. From the deck of the Mohawk or the Iroquois, can be seen some inland scenery unsurpassed. The woodland hills billow away in every direction, not a rough and inhospitable shore always, for, here and there, are open reaches running down to the lake, and sometimes away high on the hills, are fine farms, from which the lakeside hotels draw new garden truck, fresh milk, butter, buttermilk, and sweet cream for the Summer tourists. There is a ten mile sail across the Lake of Bays. Dwight Bay, with its green shore curving caressingly around it, and sloping gently and gradually back, sheltering groves with open evenness running down to the water's edge, through which we get glimpses of open fields beyond. Long reaches of sloping sandy beaches where babes can bathe in absolute safety; cunning little cottages, picturesque Summer houses, the white church, the school house, the hotel, and, the Iroquois in the offing- that is but a faint hint of the picture of this beautiful bay. Dwight, is its own best advertisement. The fact that the first visitor to this comparatively new resort, came 20 years ago from a certain city in the State of New York, went home happy, came again and again bringing others each year from that same section of that interesting State, speaks well for the Lake of Bays generally, and Dwight, in particular. The Bay, walled in on three sides; is as safe for the canoeist, as the beach is for bathers.

The opening paragraph in this description, describes the scene to the North at the head of the Bay. On the West shore, the dark, wooded mainland rises abruptly, while the river comes singing in from the East. Sail around the entire shoreline, leave, and sail around all the other lakes in the Highland of Ontario, and there will remain with you, the memory of Norway Point, Point Ideal, Britannia, and, more distinctly still, Dwight Bay, the beautiful.

------Wahawin, a delightful resort consisting of 140 acres, has a frontage on the Lake of Bays, beginning at a fine shelving beach, it rises in natural terrace, 70 to 80 feet to a plateau above, and is wooded on the slope with the choicest of hardwood trees. The location commands one of the finest views on the lake. Cottages are available here, also fine locations for cottage sites. Not the least of the charms of Wahawin, lies in the many woodland walks radiating in every direction from the cottages. There is a daily hail service by steamer.

Another popular resort, is Britannia. Britannia is the first calling point of steamer after leaving South Portage. Located in a fine bay, on a sloping hillside, with fine beach, this resort includes some 300 acres of land, part wooded, and part cultivated. Extensive additions and improvements have been made here this past year, and this resort has room capacity for 100 guests. Beautifully cleared walks through the woods, along the lake shore, tennis courts, and croquet grounds, and a fine baseball ground situated on the brow of the hill back of the house, overlooking the lake; a large covered pavilion, 100 ft by 42 ft for dancing and musicales, etc., electric lighted, and weekly excursions are run to this point by the Iroquois, for social hops, or, other amusements. The hotel, at this point, has been furnished with modern conveniences, baths, etc. It is also electric lighted. Lots are for sale here for cottage sites, in any size. This is destined to became one of the chief resorts of the Lake of Bays. Milk, cream, garden produce, supplied in abundance from own farm in connection. For further particulars as to cottege sites et., address C.R. Rumball, Hotel Britannia, Huntsville, Lake of Bays.

Wawa

One of the most charming parts of the Lake of Bays district, is Norway Point, a popular haven for a colony of Summer residents who have erected a number of picturesque cottages. This 'point has been chosen for the site for a new hotel, which has been constructed this year, for the accommodation of those who do not wish to be bothered with the cares of house-keeping, and desire the rest that is found in a life of ease at a resort where the comforts of home are found without the worry and cares of city life. This new hotel has been named the Wawa, which is the Indian word for the Wild Goose. It contains 100 rooms, arranged so they may be occupied singly, or en suite, besides the public baths that are found on each floor there have been provided 22 private baths in connection with bedrooms en suite, a feature which will be very much appreciated by the patrons of the district this year. Hot and cold running water in each bedroom.

The hotel is electric lighted, and a powerful search light has been placed on top of the dome of the hotel, which will cast its rays over lake, wood and island scenery, during the evenings. This is a novel feature, new to Canada, and one which is very popular in leading resorts in Switzerland. The dining room extends from the rotunda to the rear of the building, and, is a large bright room, lighted from both sides, and with a seating capacity for 150 people. The cuisine will be under the supervision of an experienced chef, and it will be the object of the management to see that the table service is satisfactory to the most fastidious. Arrangements have been made for heating the dining room in cold weather. A small dining room is connected with the main dining room, for the use of children and nurses, or or small evening gatherings, or, private parties.

The Huntsville and L. of B. Nay. Co., are building at this point a new and commodious wharf, on which will be erected a covered pavilion which will be used for dancing, and other forms of amusement. An orchestra will be in attendance during the Summer season. This auxiliary to the hotel will be a great boon to the guests, and is placed sufficiently far from the hotel so as not to interfere with the quiet and rest of those who wish it.

The hotel is supplied with fresh milk, cream, poultry and vegetables from its own 200 acre farm.

The rates at Wawa are most reasonable for the service offered, and run from $2 to $3 per day, and $12 to $18 per week according to location of rooms.

Improved Boat Service

During the past couple of years, the H. and L.of B. N. Co., have greatly improved their equipment on these lakes, and are better prepared than ever to take care of the ever increasing number of tourists who visit this ideal territory.

Four boats, the Algonquin, Iroquois, Ramona, and Mohawk have been added to their fleet. The first two, have a speed of 16 miles an hour, and, unquestionably are as fine as any steamers on inland waters. They are equipped for carrying 500 passengers, and are lighted with electricity, and are each equipped with a powerful searchlight which adds greatly to the pleasure and interest of trips by moonlight. about the lakes. The Ramona and Mohawk, also lighted throughout, with electricity, and carrying powerful searchlights are of lighter draught for the river and coast served. An attentive service is employed, and a first class meal or luncheon and refreshment service is operated on the larger boats. These boats also have large cold storage refrigerators for carrying meats, fruit, vegetables etc for cottagers about the lakes.

Close Through connection is made with the through trains of the Grand Trunk Rwy. System at Huntsville by the Algonquin, and connects with the Iroquois and the Mohawk for Lake of Bays service, and the Ramona for Grunwald, and Mary Lake points and Port Sydney. The addition of these fine steamers to the fleet, enables passengers to reach their destination on the Lake of Bays much earlier than heretofore.

The weekly moonlight excursions on the big boats have become so popular, that the management have determined to run them nightly on the lesser lake and weekly through to the Lake of Bays. The excursion boats carry a band, and serve light refreshments.

Tourists wishing to make a trip between Lake of Bays and Algonquin Park via Hollow Lake will find competent and reliable guides for the trip available. Hollow Lake is noted for its most, excellent trout fishing.

(There are ether paragraphs on the fishing of the area, and, for the hunting and so on.)

Principal Points

I am only including the ones on the Lake of Bays.

Ronville Summer Resort- post office address - Fox Point, Ont.. Ten Mile Creek, and Ten Mile Bay- about one mile from this Point, have excellent salmon and trout fishing. The trolling in Ten Mile Bay, in the shadow of the high and rocky bluff that lines the shore, is unexcelled.This is one of the best fishing grounds of the district, First class hotel at this Point, where tourists and pleasure seekers, are made comfortable and happy- very fine beach. Telegraph connection with Huntsville. Port Cunnington - An ideal spot for rest. An exceptionally fine bathing beach, and one of the oldest established, and most popular resorts. Address H.B. Cunnington, Fox Point, Ont.. Baysville- a first class fishing point- speckled trout. Has two hotels and boarding houses with good accommodations Dorset - capital place, with good accommodations, also starting point for the sportsman's paradise of Hollow Lake and vicinity. It is one of the finest speckled trout fishing grounds north of Toronto. The large new hotel, Iroquois, erected lest year- accommodation for 75 guests the year round, gas, bath, modern lavatories, and all conveniences. Well conducted, and most accommodating management. Rigs supplied for trip to Hollow Lake. Dwight - also situated on the Lake of Bays, has become the favourite pleasure ground for a number of Rochester, N.Y. families, who each year take up their abode in this delightful retreat. Private cottages are in evidence here, also good boarding houses for the accommodation of tourist travel. Point Ideal - Mr. Egbert Boothby, proprietor, is also one of the meet favorably located resorts on the Lake of Bays, located directly on the line of the steamers- daily mail service- table bountifully supplied with —etc, from our own farm. This resort was opened in 190, is destined to become very popular with all those who desire rest end quiet. Surroundings exceptionally fine as to scenery- bathing beach- splendid fishing. Address - Point Ideal, Fox Point, Lake of Bays, Ont..

Fox Point, Grove Avenue, Edgewood, Garryowen, Park Place, Bayview Farm and Hemlocks are also on the steamer route

Cottage Sites. There are innumerable choice sites available in the Lake of Bays region for those who desire to erect Summer homes, camps or cottages. Besides those already enumerated might be mentioned the following; Bigwin Island- comprising about 550 acres- beautifully wooded with timber-both hard and soft woods, and located in the most picturesque part of theLake of Bays, in close proximity to Port Cunnington, Norway Point, Edgewood Grove Avenue, and other resorts. Building sites are for sale on this island, in lots of any size. For further particulars address the Huntsville and L of B. Nav. Co.,Ltd., Huntsville, Ontario. Hotels and Boarding, Houses- Baysville

White House— prop. J Alldred - acc 40 Pulford house - A.J. Henderson - 70 Idylwild - Mrs. R.Green -25 Rosebank Farm - H Deakin - 15

Birkendale

The Hemlocks - W.E.Irwin - 30 Bt rkendale Summer Resort - W.C. Robson- 20

Brown's Brae, Ont..

Fairview Farm-John E. Brown, 18

Dorset

The Iroquois D McIlroy- 75 Alvira E.A. Langford - 25 Fairview J.W.Roberts - 50 Garryowen S.B.Ball - 15 Mountain Trout House - Hollow Lake - Miss Russell - 20

Bayview Farm - W.O.vSparkes Sr. - 30

Dwight, Ont

Gouldie House A.G. Gouldie - 50 Norloch Lodge - Miss Pauline Morton - 35

Fox Point

Edgewood A.F. Bailey - 30 Park Place - P.B. Walmsley -15 Island View Cottage - Thomas Salmon - 10 Grove Avenue - T.B.Robertson - 30 Port Cunnington Resort - B.H. Cunnington 30 Point Ideal - E. Boothby - 30 Lumina - Charles H.Cook- 10 Ronville - C.J.C.Crump- 100

Huntsville

Britannia - C.R. Rumball - 100

Norway Point - via Huntsville The Wawa Canadian Rwy News Co - 150

Rates - $1-$3 per day, and $7 to $18 per week The Huntsville Museum- Aug 8, 1969

The Huntsville Forester, July 26, 1906

The Fairview Hotel The Fairview Hotel is in the charming little village of Dorset, on the Lake of Bays. The writer reached the village by the water route from Huntsville and this is the most desirable way to reach Dorset, though it can be visited by land from either Huntsville or Bracebridge.

The Fairview has accommodation for 50 guests, and the diing room will seat 32 persons at one time. The present proprietor of this hotel is Mr. J. W. Roberts, who acquired the property some four years ago. Guests come to Dorset from all over the continent, and find I this vicinity, the very essence of enjoyment. The letterhead of the Fairview Hotel says that this is the home of the tourist, sportsmen’s paradise, having the finest trout fishing on the continent. This too, is the rendezvous in the Autumn for hunters of the gentle deer, and here have met many ardent sportsmen, and many are the hunting stories these walls have listened to, as the warm fire made rosy the Autumn evening.

The patronage of Fairview is always good, for, if it is not the tourists who seek health and pleasure, it is the hardy lumberman who makes this his stopping place, in the pursuit of his strenuous vocation.

The rates at Fairview are from 8 to 10 dollars a week, and the house could be filled, if it were twice as large as it is.

The Alvira House—Dorset E. A. Langford, proprietor

If you have visited Dorset, and have failed to call at the Alvira House, you have missed the opportunity of seeing one of the most promising Summer resorts, in the whole Lake of Bys region. Like many other p[laces, these lakes, and, like the proverbial Topsy—the Alvira House has just “growed up.” It is situated in the very heart of this promising little village, within a stone’s throuw of the boat landing. From its bedrooms and windows, one is permitted to enjoy a beautiful view over the lake, and witness the incoming boats. Alvira House is now two hyears old as a Summer resort, and, from the very commencement, it gave promise of a huge success. It furnishes accommodation for 75 people, at very moderate rates of $1.25 a day—$6 to $8 per week. The proprietor is one of the best known residents in Dorset, having been in the mercantile business there for some years, prior to this new venture. He was also post master at Dorset for some time. Some very marked improvements are contemplated before next season, in the accommodation and entertainment of guests. An addition, which will enlarge the accommodation by one third, will be erected. Modern improvements will be made to the interior, and two launches will be purchased, and placed at the disposal of the guests. These, added to the present attractions of boating, canoeing, private bathing, tennis, fishing etc., will add still more to the popularity of this pretty resort. You can get to Alvira House, either by ticket to Huntsville, and thence purchase passage over the Nav. Co.’s boats to Dorset, or, you can purchase tickets from the Railway Co., direct to Dorset, and have your baggage checked right through. (1906 picture of A.H. — appears to be much smaller place than In other pictures I have seen.)

Huntsville Museum McKee and Co. - General Store, Dorset, Messrs. J. And M.F. McKee are members of the above firm, who conduct a general store in the village of Dorset. The stock carried, is valued at about $7000, and consists of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, hardware, crockery, paint oils, etc. Practically everything that is required for wear or to keep the house, is to be had at this sotre, and the firm is doing a good business. Raw furs are also among the wares handled by this store, and these are accepted in exchange for goods. Tan bark and wood are also practically as good as cash, for they can be easily converted into money.

The firm has been in business here for two years, but, previous to starting this business, had been engaged in lumbering. The store they occupy is 24 by 50 feet in size. This location makes possible large orders from tourists and lumbermen, besides the general trade of the village and country people. Huntsville Museum

Sardis Chevalier

Farm Valley is the name of the spot where stands the cottage of Mr. Chevalier. The cottage stands upon a rise of ground overlooking the bay, and, immediately behind the house, the mountain rises to a height of 200’ in rocky majesty. From the house, a pretty view meets the eye, and the ripping waters and smiling landscape invite to a sojourn in such pleasant surroundings. One longs to climb the mountains, to explore the fields and woods for berries, or to bathe and fish in the waters, or sail over the surface. The spot is three miles only from Dorset, and is in view of the daily passing boats. The house has now, accommodation for 12 visitors, and additions are to be made to it.

Mr. Chevalier owns 300 acres of land, 45 of which are cleared—some of this is in meadow, some in pasture, and some is cultivated. The little farm supplies fresh vegetables and dairy products to the table, and guests are treated to the best the place affords for 6 and 7 dollars a week. The Huntsville Museum

The Gouldie House

One of the largest houses in the Lake of Bays district is named above, and located at Dwight, 8 miles from the Portage by water, 7 miles by land. This house has room for 75 guests, and, several times that number pass through it each season, enjoying its facilities for rest or pleasure as the fancy dictates.

Mr. Arch J. Gouldie, the proprietor of this popular Summer home, is an Englishman by birth, and, with his father’s family, came to Canada half a century ago. He came to Dwight, before that name on the map existed, and has there some 150 acres of land, cultivating some of it, as he does, and keeping a dairy, he is able to supply the table with vegetables fresh from the garden, lots of milk and butter made on the premises, berries of various kinds, gathered nearby. The house is splendidly equipped for the comfort of guests—water from the lake is pumped into a reservoir and, by gravitation, is supplied to all parts of the house. Sparkling spring water is available for drinking. The bathing, boating, fishing, and all other delights are available in a most desirable degree to guests at Gouldie House. Mrs. Gouldie is the genius who presides over the interior arrangements of the house, and her care for her guests, and her charming and amiable manner win for her the highest encomiums and attract visitors to the house season after season. The rates here are from $8 to $12 per week.

An engraving of the Gouldie House will be found on this page. Huntsville Museum

Captain W.G. Robson

It was in the steam yacht of Captain Robson, that the writer had the pleasure of touring the Lake of Bays. Captain Robson lives with his sister who resides at Birkendale, and keeps the post office of that name. The situation is in Ten Mile Bay, Lake of Bays. Here, the Captain owns 100 acres of land, the Misses Robson, 200-40 acres being under cultivation. Six cows are kept, and plenty of milk and butter are always available. The Misses Robson have accommodation for 30 guests, and their home is a charming place to sojourn for health or pleasure. The house occupies an elevation a few hundred yards from the water’s edge, and faces the South. A grand view for many miles is available from this hill, and there are endless possibilities for pleasure in the prospect of a stay of a few weeks here. The fields and woods and rocky slopes offer fascinating attractions for the lover of Nature and the splendid bathing beach is safe for children or ladies who cannot swim. Captain Robson has lived in Muskoka for 30 years, and at Birkendale for a quarter of a century. He is the oldest steamboat man on the Lake of Bays. This is his 24th year on these waters. He knows this region like a book, and is safe and competent guide. mr. Robson owns the steamboat Equal Rights which is chartered to carry 20 passengers, and can make 10 miles an hour. He uses this boat, either for towing purposes or passenger traffic, and it is nearly always available for picnic parties on short notice. The Captain is genial and obliging, and will give a party an enjoyable outing on these lovely waters. Huntsville Museum Ronville Summer Resort

Of all the Summer resorts in the wonderful lake of Bays district, there is none larger, more perfect in its equipment, more charming in location than Ronville. At a bend in Ten Mile Bay, the first glimpse of Ronville is obtained—a large frame house—by far, the most roomy house on the lake, nestling in a grassy valley, at the foot of a towering mountain. In front—a long line of sandy beach is visible long before one nears the shore, and the whole presents rare possibilities of comfort and pleasure to those favoured to be guests here.

The Equal Rights, Captain and passengers, were impatient to be on their way, when the scribe was landed for a brief visit to the house, and a few words with mine host, Crump, on that smiling June afternoon. Mr. Crump had just emerged from a refreshing bath in the cool waters, as the boat drew up but, he hurriedly led the way to the house, and through several of its handsome rooms, rapidly answering questions that were fired at him. The picture here printed will give some idea of the location and the appearance of Ronville. The building, of course, is a frame one, and there are some 50 bedrooms, besides other rooms too numerous to mention, and devoted to every useful purpose in the way of entertainment of guests. There is a smoking room, a Manhattan room—where a game very like bagatelle is played, a reception room, where heads of the mighty moose look down with glassy stare, a visiting room—where you may peruse correspondence, write letters, dispatch telegrams, a music room, a large dining room, seating nearly a hundred people—and other rooms.

The house is kept spotlessly clean, is tastefully furnished, is lighted by acetylene gas, and sparkling water is conveyed from mountain springs through pipes to various parts of the house, and is always available. A sandy beach 200 yards long promises much opportunity for enjoyment when bathing. Fishing in the neighbourhood is accounted good. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries are in abundance in eh neighbourhood. The woods and fields and hills promise many a delightful stroll or ramble, and a sheltered bay holds out tempting prospects of canoeing.

Mr. C.J.C. Crump is the owner of Ronville. He is a son of Merrie England, and came to Canada 19 years ago. For some years he followed the occupation of farmer in Chaffey Twp., till the idea of Ronville came to him 8 years ago—the year 1898 was Ronville’s first season, and every year since has been better than the year before, and some 200 guests spend a vacation here each season. Mr. Crump owns 198 acres of land here, and grows all the vegetables consumed at Ronville. Home made bread and butter, and lots of cream and fresh milk are supplied the guests, also berries fresh from the bushes.

The nearest post office to Ronville is known as Fox Point, and a daily mail is made possible by the operation of the Nav. C.’s boats which connect daily with the Muskoka Empress. The business man stopping at Ronville may have telephone or telegraph connection with the business world, or may even flash a message direct across the ocean by cable. The rates at Ronville are from $8-$12 per week. Mrs. Crump presides over interior affairs, and everything is done to make guest comfortable and happy. An excellent portrait of Mr. Crump, and an engraving of his house will be found on this page. Beautiful Lake of Bays — Sept 1908 Mrs. Asbury’s scrapbook - 1969

How a casual visitor is impressed with the marked improvement seen everywhere throughout the great lake district.

The situation at the Portage is vastly different from that which prevailed a short three years ago. The old wharf, with its dilapidated planking, and its unsteady foundation, is now replaced by a splendid structure, lengthened to accommodate the larger steamers, and providing greatly improved facilities for passengers. Also, the rolling stock of the famous little railway has undergone a change. The combination cars and the locomotives have been re-pained, the former now bearing the dignified titles of Victoria and Alexandria, and the latter, Bigwin and Menominee. Three boats now await the visitors as they reach South Portage Wharf—the Joe, plying on the Baysville route, the Iroquois, calling at Dwight, Brittania, Wawa and Dorset, and the Mohawk, taking the North Shore route via Ronville and reaching Dorset about noon.

Brittania, formerly known as Patmore House, is now one of the commanding resorts on the lake. The view from the boat is magnificent, the elevated location, landing, and majestic appearance —to its exceptionally fine design. To the immediate right, is located the large pavilion, which was formally opened on Aug. 21, and, just beyond that, are the bath houses.

Wawa—magnificent building—painted a quiet, restful green, harmonizing so perfectly with the majestic bluff at the rear, and the smooth, capacious lawn in front.

Among the guests, freely mingled Mr. C. O. Shaw, Pres. of the Nav. Co..

The beauty of the wharf, like many another seen on the Lake of Bays trip, is destroyed by ungainly piles of lumber, nases[?], etc., piled thereon.

The boat passes on to Dorset, calling en route at Grove Avenue, and Edgewood.

Dorset has grown. The place would scarcely be recognized by those who remember it of old. Wharfage facilities have increased.

The accommodation for tourists, and the travelling public has been enlarged by the erection of the new brick hotel Iroquois—by Mr. Dan McIlroy. The three public houses of Dorset, one, the Fairview Hotel, owned and managed by Mr. Joseph Cassidy, formerly of the Kent ? House, Huntsville, the Iroquois, by Mr. Dan McIlroy, and the Alvira Resort, an unlicensed house, run by Mr. N. Langford. Mr. Langford and Mr. McIlroy both pay special attention to the tourist trade.

We met the popular young warden of Haliburton County—Mr. E. B. Speers, who is a merchant at Dorset.

The following is an account of the first trip to the Lake of Bays made, by the A.M. Campbell family. It was written by Mary Campbell, although she was not born at the time of the trip, and lent to me by Bessie in April 1970.

This is the story of our first trip to Lake of Bays. My brother Alick had had pneumonia in Feb. 1904, and was not picking up his strength, and our doctor, Dr. R. Shaw Tyrrell, told Mother of a wonderful place to go- in fact, he called it God's Country- and, we often refer to it as such, as indeed it is.

We had the most, wonderful minister- Dr. D. McTavish, and, on one of his pastoral visits to our home, Mother mentioned this place Norway Point, and said that, our doctor thought that it would be an ideal place for Alick to recuperate, and also it was the nearest in scenery to the braes and lochs of Scotland. As Father was away at the time, Mother made the big decision on her own. We were to have a well equipped cottage- 4 bedrooms- 2 storeys high cottage, 2 verandahs, and a gorgeous sandy beach. The name of the cottage was Blink Bonnie. Dr McTavish couldn't speak highly enough of the Lake of Bays, and also told us he had a friend the Rev. John Brown, who had a cottage for rent, and he would speak to him, and make arrangements for renting, etc. This little community had 5 ministers - Rev. Dr. McTavish, Rev. John Neil, Rev. John Brown, Rev. James Murray, Rev. Dr. Hamilton, also 2 lawyers- R. V. McPherson and Mr. Higgins.

On the 19th of June, we started off- Mother, Alick, Ewen, Margaret, Jessie, Dorothy and John, who was a baby of 4 months, and our maid, May, who was as deaf as a door nail- the dog Tiny, and our cat, Blackie- a 24 lb crock of butter, 9 loaves of bread, plus 4 trunks filled with clothes, 5 dunnage bags filled with blankets, a 100 lb bag of flour, a 50 lb bag of sugar. These last three were a must, as the nearest place to shop was Dorset- which could only be reached by going by boat, and was a day's trip.

All arrangements were made for 6.45 a.m., as all baggage had to go down at the same time. Fisher Cartage looked after this for Mother, as her hands were full with the children. At 6.30, the carriage called from T.A. Crow Carriage Shop on Yonge St. at Wellesley, and this just gave Mother time to get us all up by 4, get dressed, have the maid make lunches for breakfast, noon, and when we would arrive, about 4.30 p.m.. What a scene—couldn't locate the cat- then, we got it put in an old egg crate-- if you remember, with open sides- then, catch the dog- put him on a leash, which he had never been used to- close “93” for we would not be back until Aug. 30th. All went well. Mother must have been just out of her mind by now, when as we were almost at Queen and University, May, the maid remembered the crock of butter was not accounted for- so, back we had to return to. “93” and get the crock.

Then the fun started. The ages were from 12 down to 4 months- 6 children, cranky from having gone to bed too early, and worse, for having had to get up at 4. The train left at 7.50, but Mother, who had never had such a big responsibility thrust on her all at one time, had to go to see that the baggage was all checked, and on the train. One thing people do not realize now, when they go on the Northland, is- what fun they miss. The old 7.50 a.m. North, was a milk train (that is what we cared it)- for, after we left Parkdale Station, we would stop, pick up milk, or leave milk cans.My how we remember- Downsview, Concord, Maple, King, etc., etc., as we years later, realized we were on our way to the cottage. Then, there was a snag. The conductor would not let us have the dog and cat with us. They had to go back to the baggage car, and all went well— only some farmer was late in getting his milk down, and there would be a slight delay- so, every one got off the train, to smell the new mown hay, and nobody thought to count noses, and, when we had gone about 2 miles, it was discovered that Terrence Higgins was missing. What to do. But, it all ended well. The farmer realized the little boy would be missed at the next milk stop so he drove him there. What great judgment on the part of the engineer to think that one out, and wait. Away we start again, - getting near to lunch time. By this time, Mother had got acquainted with M. Higgins, who, also like Mother, had a large, young family, plus 2 guests, had never been to where she was going before. But, they were delighted to find that they were both going to Norway Point, and that Dr. McTavish had recommended it. They were to be next door neighbours.

As this was one of the hotter days in June, everyone began to get thirsty—by 10.30 all the water in the big bottle at the end of the car gone, and could not be renewed until we get to Barrie. Now, first Dorothy was train sick, then, two of the Higgins, and Mother said she never smelled an orange or banana again, but it didn't bring back memories of that hot train trip.

The misery went on - everyone tired, and noisy and quarrelsome- and, the train was 1 1/2 hours late in getting to Huntsville. Which meant, instead of arriving in Huntsville at 2.15, it would be nearer to 4. But, all the grown ups could do, was grin and bear it.

Finally, Huntsville was called as the next station, and Mother and Mrs. Higgins agreed there never was a longer stretch of 23 miles, than what they put in, after they left Bracebridge. Getting everything together again, checking lunch baskets- for there was still one more lunch to go. This was a hot day - no air-conditioned coaches- soot all over- faces, hands and clothes covered with grime, and, to cap it all, the crock of butter had been well covered on the shady side when we left Toronto- but, what do you know - the sun came over to that side, and it started to melt. Coats, etc., were a slimy mess, but, like the slogan- you've got to carry on- and just carry a slimy 21 lb crock of butter, and, with a baby in her arms, the 2 year old, train sick, and, Mrs. Higgins wanting to return by next train to Toronto - Mother was really in agreement with her.

Then, the train slowed down- pandemonium broke loose- just to get a sniff of the elixir in the air, the gorgeous blue sky, and all so green and clean. All children, dogs, cats, rabbits, 5 hens, were accounted for, and We proceeded down the wharf, where the boat was waiting to take us to the cottage— or so we, thought.

Can you imagine-- Mother trying to keep track of her brood- count the trunk dunnage bags, etc.,- and then, settle back to count her blessings that all hurdles were over? Not so. A beautiful trip through the canal, where the boat had go almost dead slow, to watch the water lilies standing up straight, one minute, and then gradually bowing their heads, and being sucked under. This fascinated all for a time- but this new attraction soon' palled. Then, we stopped at a place called Deerhurst, and everyone proceeded to get off, only to find that they were to stay on board to South Portage. The sky was beginning to cloud over, and it looked as if a storm was brewing. Oh no , said the captain, and all was serene again. Arrived at South Portage- sky still dull- and there was a mile from North Portage to South Portage- As there was such a crowd of women, children, babies, dogs, cats etc., and baggage- the captain said - only women with babies in arms, and only children under four, could go on the Hay Rick- as this was the only way they could get them over to the South Portage- as the cart had to take the trunks, baggage, etc, etc., and there would be no room for anyone. So Mother saw the maid, Alick, Ewen, Margaret and Jessie setting off to dear knows where, and it looked as if it were going to pour any minute. All arrived at South Portage in safety- and the walkers had had a struggle - the dogs went wild, our cat's cage was too heavy, and the kids put it down. (It was picked up by the man in the baggage cart.) Then, the hens started to cackle. But it was fun - for they all did not mind the walk. Incidentally, the baggage was taken off the train- then put on the boat, at North Portage, taken off the boat, and put on the wagon- then one mile over land- then, at South Portage, put on to the next boat- to stay until its destination.

Then, all were on board, and away we went to Norway Point Wharf. The gang plank was just up, when great big blobs of rain started to fall, and a really true Summer storm broke loose. They had gone about two miles, when the mast of the boat was struck by lightning- and Mrs. Higgins was almost ready to throw in her gloves. By this time, it was nearly 9.30 pm. You wouldn't believe that the unloading off train, loading, unloading, loading - because it took about an hour each time- as there seemed to be so much baggage.

At last, the storm blew over- the lake was beautiful and calm, and, in the late twilight, they could make out the majesty of the rocks, pine trees, and shoreline- and they were all beginning to relent. The boat was silent. All the children were exhausted- but, when the purser said - next stop, Norway Point, you would have thought the Iroquois Indians had returned again. They just hurtled down the gang plank, whooping and screaming, as our teenagers do now. As Alick was still not too well, he was slower in moving, and, just as he was in the middle of the gang plank, a mattress was tossed off, and hurled him in the water. Grannie Robertson was there, saw what had happened, and threw out her shawl for Alick to catch onto, and she took him to shore, and, when she found out whose child he was, Mother and Grannie Robertson were great friends from that day. This was even before Mother knew she had rescued Alick from the water. It was the wonderful Scottish accent, that mother had, that endeared her to Grannie Robertson- who had been over 30 years in this North country. Alick was the only lucky one, that night. He was in a good warm bed, and had a glass of real cow's milk.

The well-equipped cottage was far from the standards of to-day- straw mattresses, heavy crockery, candles (2), and by 10.45 it was dark- and, going into a strange cottage- and, in the kitchen, two bright eyes, inquisitively watching all that was going on. Just a racoon.

Mother told the man who brought over the luggage, not to take it off the cart, as she was going home in the morning. All were so exhausted, that they never minded beds, mosquitoes, our first initiation to blank flies. Then, mother was awakened with a start in the morning, with the maid in a loud voice saying- All right, Mrs. Campbell, I am coming as fast as I can, but I don't know where the steps are. Then again- All right, I am coming. Then Mother heard the knocking, assured her she hadn't called her, and then, they went to investigate. No one at the door, yet this tap tap tap. After exploring around, they went up to her bedroom, and there, in an old dead oak, which they could see from the window, was a woodpecker busily searching for her breakfast.

Soon the household was awake - a glorious morning in June, and Mother could hardly get the children to come to breakfast. She had told the man to be there at 8, as she would be going home. With all the goings on, time had slipped away, and Mother's thoughts of leaving, were dashed to the ground, as the boat was whistling, ready to come in to the wharf. So Mother and Mrs. Higgins were left for another day. By noon, some unpacking was done, and Mother saw what a wonderful time we would have on the beach- lovely, white, clean sand, and shallow water. She was really in ecstasies over the blue sky and warmth. Needless to say, by afternoon tea time, Mrs. Higgins decided they would give it a try, and, do you know, sixty years, for it is now April 19, 1964, we have been going to Lake of Bays- and love it more dearly each year.

In 1965, the cottage Rocklea, will be 60 years old, and I hope that we are spared to have a celebration.

The only reason that we moved from Norway Point, farther West- to nearer Terryberry's Wharf, was because of the beautiful pine trees, which shaded the cottage so well. Mother was never able to get the washing dry- especially the diapers- so, on a Sunday afternoon, or a stroll with Father and others, they used to walk along the shore line- and then, when Mother saw the view from the top of the hill, she said she cried, as it reminded her so much of the hills around Dunoon, her birthplace, and, when the cottage was built, it was called Rocklea, after her own home, and also for the rocks that were cleared off the property. The love we all have for Rocklea, will, I hope, never fade. It always seems to be an anchor- something just extra special to look forward to. When things seem dark to me I close my eyes, and in minutes, I feel calm and peaceful. This is the magic of the North. We are sentimental about Rocklea - but, every cottager feels the same. This is God’s Country, and there is no more wonderful place to go for regaining health and strength.

I have jumped from June 1901 to August 1964- how time quickly passes. I am going to write little short, I hope, amusing stories of things I myself do remember.

Mary G. Campbell - Aug. 17, 1964 An Editorial article from the Huntsville Forester, May 28, 1951

Navigation Business in Huntsville Changes

Huntsville's early development was not marked by the introduction of good highways service. It was built up in the pioneer period by the courage and foresight of two men whose vision of the future encouraged them to invest heavily in equipment which was destined to build the foundations upon which we have reared our whole tourist structure.

The late Captain Denton built the first passenger boat service to operate between Port Sydney and Huntsville, back in the days when road transportation to this northern outpost was over a mere trail through the dense forest. The new navigation route carried passengers from Port Sydney to Huntsville, many of the seeking settlement on the Gov't surveys following the decision to open Muskoka for Free Grant settlers.

It was the old steamer Northern which inaugurated this first service. She later was burned, and the old hull still rests in the waters of Fairy Lake at the foot of the Memorial Park mountain.

Captain G.F. Marsh, who had started a similar service on the Lake of Bays with headquarters at Baysville, bought out the Denton interests- and now- a new craft to carry out the local service. These early boats were known as the Florence and Empress. Their activity was largely with the lumber trade. Large quantities of freight and bush supplies were transported around the lakes, and, with a bus and cadge service over the portage, the old Iroquois filled in the gap on the Lake of Bays. Much of the lumbering activity on that lake was made possible by the service, rendered by water.

In the early years of the present century, the first Algonquin was built at South Portage, intended for operation on the Lake of Bays run. Before completion however, it was decided transport the new boat to Huntsville, and the Herculean task of transporting the constructed hull across the portage to Peninsula Lake is still a memory of many of our older citizens.

For many years, the Algonquin did an active trade between Huntsville and North Portage, carrying huge quantities of material and equipment to operating lumber interests. When this trade diminished, Captain Marsh began to realize his former vision of supplementing industrial trade with tourist passenger service. It took six years to develop the new achievement, but the veteran mariner was never discouraged. Ultimately, with much of the lumbering service performed by tug boats, the business of the Navigation Co. centered around the transportation of building supplies for the many tourist resorts being constructed about the lakes, and the transportation of the growing volume of passenger service.

It was due to the insight and courage of Captain Marsh, that the Portage railway was finally built to facilitate the transfer of passengers and freight from North to South Portage. He lived to see the railway opened for traffic but succumbed shortly after to a fatal malady which had lessered his ceaseless energy some months previous.

The first Algonquin was finally replaced by a new boat of the same name, and the navigation business was purchased by the late C.O.Shaw. Its service was extended, and some auxiliary boats became a part of the local fleet. During the construction of Bigwin Inn, and prior to the First World War, huge quantities of material and supplies were transported by boat from Huntsville.

Shortly after the change in ownership, Mr. W.J. Moore, then associated with a lumbering firm, as accountant, at Gravenhurst, was brought to Huntsville and made secretary and General Manager of the newly formed Navigation Co. Mr. Moore has served the Co. ever since, covering a period of over forty years.

As road building became active to meet the demands of motor transportation, passenger and freight navigation traffic here as in many of the inland lakes here in Ontario, diminished, and, with advancing costs, the operating costs correspondingly increased. This has created much difficulty in maintaining service of the standard formerly given. As in many parts of the province, curtailment has been necessary. In many localities in the province, service by local boat companies has been entirely discontinued.

The change here in Huntsville means a curtailment of our navigation service. For this year, at least, there will be no service by the Algonquin, and, the result is that the Portage Railway will cease operation, and service on the Lake of Bays, by the local navigation company, will be discontinued. The plan to transport the cruiser Iroquois, from the Lake of Bays, to Huntsville waters will permit what will possibly be an unscheduled service out of Huntsville. Such service will, of necessity, be restricted to passenger traffic. Interview with Mr. Harry Salmon - re Mr. Tom Salmon

Called on Mr. Harry Salmon- Aug.1966- at Clear Lake- at what was formerly Brown's Brae Post Office, before rural delivery went into effect.

Mr. Harry Salmon [handwritten: son of Dick Salmon] is Mr. Tom Salmon's nephew, and Tom Salmon's father was Harry Salmon's grandfather.

He told me that it was his understanding too that Tom Salmon had lived for a while on the South Shore- with a man named Green- but he was not sure of the exact location,

Said that Tom Salmon was quite a man. He would paddle over from Fox Point — leave his bark canoe on shore, and walk to the home of Harry Salmon's parents, between Dwight and Dorset- he would stay all day Friday, that night, all day Saturday, that night, and all day Sunday. Then, Sunday afternoon, around four o'clock, he said casually. “I'll tell you why I came over. I came over to see if I could get a begging of flour. Lizzie didn't have a pick of flour in the house, when I left.” He would receive the flour, and, just as casually, start back home.

Another time, he and Lizzie came over, walked to our house, and, when it was time to return home, Harry Salmon's parents got out their team, and, along with Harry Salmon, drove them back to the shore of the Lake of Bays, where their canoe had been left. When they reached the shore, they found that a storm had come up, and a strong wind was blowing. High waves were roaring in on the shore. Lizzie got into the canoe, and got out her knitting. Mrs. Salmon asked, "Lizzie, aren't you nervous going out on the lake in a storm like this?" Lizzie replied, "With Tom at the paddle?" And off they paddled, the canoe making its steady and untroubled course towards home, with the man in whom Lizzie had such complete confidence quite in command of the situation.

Mr. Salmon told me about his grandfather being shipwrecked in the Red Sea when he was on his way home to England, from India. His trunks were in the hold of the ship, and were completely under water. They were later rescued. They were camel trunks, with slanting tops, and two sturdy iron bars or straps around them. They were so called, because they were designed to be transported by camels- one trunk hanging on each side of the camel- the strap hanging over the camel's back to hold them in place.

Mr. Salmon showed me an Indian Club. It resembled an extra long baseball bat. Mr. Salmon's had been cut in half- he having the end away from the handle. It was very heavy, and the colour of very dark mahogany. The handle end had a fringe around the top, and, at the very end was an ivory star inset (did not see this.) These were really lethal weapons, for, if anyone were ever hit hard with one of these, he would have little chance of survival.

Mr. Salmon advised me to see Mrs. Daisy Langford- one of Tom Salmon's three daughters- who has taken pride in collecting all kinds of material and information connected with her family. Mr. Salmon's daughter, Mrs. Percy Row. I then planned to visit Mrs. Langford. Mrs. Langford lives on the Airport Road in Huntsville. Another story that Mr. Salmon told me, was about one time when Tom Salmon, and Mr. Dwight were hunting partridge- Mr. Dwight was pres. of the Great N.W. Telegraph Co.. Mr. Dwight had a high powered gun,Uncle Tom had just a small one. They saw a partridge sitting on the road. Uncle Tom said, "You'll blow it all to pieces with that gun.” Mr. Dwight said, " If you shoot at it, you wouldn't hit it. " So, they argued about it, and the partridge went off the road, of course.

Uncle Tom said, "All right - you go up where that partridge was, and bend over, and I'll show you whether I could have hit it, or not. "So, Mr. Dwight went up to the spot- bent over - and jumped about fifteen feet. Visit with Mrs. David Langford- (Daisy Salmon) - Airport Road Sept. 7,1966

Went to Huntsville with Mr. Harry Salmon - Mrs. Hemmings was . Langford - lunched at Rainbow Motel

Thomas Salmon came to Lake of Bays on Oct.8th - his birthday. He landed at Huckleberry Point. He liked the looks of the place. He went back to Port Sydney, and collected his belongings, and came back to Lot 10, Concession 4, Brunel Township, which is right behind the Anglican church at Newholm. He settled there, and lived for several months with the David Ferguson's who were English Emigrants here. Then, he went over to Huckleberry Point and met Jonah Nanabushkong, from whom he got a canoe, and he stayed for days, in fact weeks, I think with the Indians at Huckleberry Point and Bigwin Island - finally moving to what had been the beginning of a Hudson Bay Trading Post on what was later known as the Boothby property that came straight down to the lake just south west of Grove Park, and there was a cabin on it, but not being occupied, and he just lived there. Finally he moved from there for three or four years, or he may have just lived with the friends that he made, like the two families of Phillips, and the Remey's, and at Mr.Hoover's on Otter Lake, for over a year.

To make a living, he hunted and trapped, and made snowshoes, which he learned to make from the Indians - and he made moccasins. He also learned that from the Indians.

Then, so far as I know, he came back to Lake of Bays, and stayed mostly on Lake of Bays, but possibly with the different people he knew at Dorset, which was Colebridge at that time- Mr. Cole having come to Dorset in March of 1872. [handwritten: (?)]

Mrs. Langford has her father's diary. Mrs. Salmon did not know that her husband had ever kept a diary. He had given it to his daughter Daisy. The mother finally prevailed upon Daisy to let her see it. It had a hardcover on it at one time. Mrs. Salmon tore several pages out of it, because it contained such remarks as - Met Miss Elizabeth - Met Miss Robson- Went down to see Miss Robson - Took Miss Elizabeth for a canoe ride - then, it gradually got to where it was Lib. So, mother tore all those pages out. But, it was started in 1878, - Oct. 15 being the date of the first record.

He wrote something in it each night - but the pages are all mixed up. I haven't done anything with it since mother passed away.

I am sure he met mother shortly after they (the Robson's) came here -probably in 1877. I don't imagine he met her before that. In 1877, the Robson's sold the place in Baysville, and moved to Edgewood. Poem by Mr. Thomas Salmon

Galoshes

She looked to be just past fifty, She was, perhaps more, than less, A camouflaged, youngish, old lady A young looking, old looking mess. Her grey hair was streaked with powder, And it hung right down 'round her face, Togged like a kid of 'steen Summers, A humbug in ruffles and lace. She wore a Hudson Seal mantle The kind the 'chickens' all sport. Her skirts, by gosh, if who wore one, Appeared to be several feet short. I looked at her legs, forgive me, I should not do this on the street, It wasn't her shanks that caught me, But the galoshes, north of her feet. Good night, aren't those gaiters awful, 'Round a leg that looks like a shank. She, who wore those contraptions, Was due well, perhaps, for a spank. At first, I thought that her bloomers Had slipped from their usual place. Dropping to earth in confusion, Encircling her skirt* in disgrace But no, 't was simply those gaiters For which they say women now thirst Of fashion's awful contraptions, Those galoshes, I think are the worst.

*[ ‘skirt’ crossed out and handwritten beside the line: x feet] Mrs. Longford's grandmother and grandfather were married; in England, and went out to India the year before the Indian Mutiny. Grandfather’s regiment was the first regiment to mutiny. They lived at Muawmeer [handwriting: ‘Muawmeer’ crossed out then written: Mecranmar?] in India. After their house was burned, and after he recovered from sunstroke, he didn't know that grandmother was still alive, for eight months - or anything about his children. She had gone into a hospital to nurse - in India. When she found out that grandfather was still alive, and he found out about her, he sent her home - to England. She came to the Crimea, and stopped - I have the letter that she sent back to grandfather - saying that she would stay there, and help her cousin, Florence Nightengale with her hospital work. Florence Nightengale was a first cousin of grandmother Salmon's- their mothers were Barton's. She stayed there and nursed for nearly two years, in the Crimea. Then she came to England, and grandfather stayed in India.

Then, he came on a three year leave, and came home from India, so his letters say. They established their home then in England, and the other two children were born - Uncle Alex and Harry's father. Grandfather never returned to India after that.

He was wrecked in 1847, returning from India - in the Red Sea, on the "Alma". Nothing was salvaged on board the "Alma" for three years. Then the East India Company raised it, and they got back all their stuff that had been saved during the mutiny, and that grandfather was bringing back from India. There were pieces of things that had been returned to him from the house that had been burned in India, and they were all in an oak chest. The oak chest is over at my sister- in-law's cottage at Foxwood. Mrs. Langford has the brass lock from that chest - also three cups from her grandmother's wedding china, which had been white with a gold band. These are now a brownish colour, from the fore. She also showed me an intricately hand carved ivory puzzle, a deck of playing cards which had been given to an officer in the Indian Army during the reign of George the third, also a small tea cloth which she had made from the banquet cloth which had been specially woven for the grandmother's and grandfather's wedding. The cloth was to cover a table which would seat thirty people.

Everything was destroyed - all the clothes - the only clothes grandfather had was the lower part of his pyjamas, and a thing that looked like a coolie coat, and he wore them for three weeks- never had any change - while they were on the rock - the Reef in the Red Sea and the boat was standing point up - everything was in the hold, flooded with water, and it stayed that way for three years. Finally, they got back to England.

When Mr. and Mrs. Salmon were first married, they settled at Fox Point, where Foxwood Inn is now. Mr.Salmon had built their home shortly before they were married. This home was burned Feb. 16, 1908. They built a second home there, on the site of what is now Foxwood Inn. It has been improved and added to since, Never at any time did they ever live anywhere else.

Raynor Island, across from Gary Owen, named for Mr.Raynor of the Dwight and Wiman Hunt Club - later became Mingus Island - was occupied once by a French couple. They came to see father. He went down to the lake-shore to meet them- he put his hands on each side of Madame's cheeks, and he kissed her, first on one cheek, and then on the other- spoke to them in perfect French. She just gasped. She said, in French," Mr. Salmon, you are the first person I have met, since I left Paris, with whom I can converse in French." I went up to the house, and told Mother. She said, "Well, I knew he could speak French, but nobody else did, so I never heard him."

Why he came to Canada, and settled in a backwoods place like this - a man with an education like he had - but, after all, after they had been back in England, the Bank of India failed, and they lost everything, and he may have come out to Canada, I presume, as the oldest son, to see what he could do in another country. A lot of people did that.

He landed in Canada, on Oct. 8, on his 20th birthday. He had been educated at Oxford. When he first came from India, he was 13, and he went to the Barnet House School - Mrs. Langford has, in one of her boxes of letters her father's application for admission into the Barnet House School. He was taught singing by some great English teacher, and he taught some of the Indians out ere to sing.

The chaps that came with him to Canada were Clarke's. They had been in India, and all came out together.

He came north, as far as the railroad came- Orillia.

Did your father have any contacts with Chief Bigwin?

Well, I guess he just knew him, like all the rest of us did. He used to come up from Rama, and stay at my mother-in-law's at Baysville, in Maclean Township. She made a shirt for him one time- Grandma Langford. I remember them coming to Fox Point once when I was about five years old, and my sister would be 61/2, and they took us for a canoe ride. Father was away, and mother was scared stiff that they were taking us kids away. Chief Yellowhead was with him, and he looked exactly like mother’s brother, Uncle George Robson. We hadn't seen Uncle George for about two years. He had gone to Munro County in New York State, and so, our recollection of him was rather vague. Anyway, we wanted to go for a canoe ride, when we saw the canoe- and Chief Yellowhead said he would take us. Chief Bigwin stood on the sand, and waited, while he took us up to the point, and back. Mother was just fuming, in case someone was running off with her little kids. And, he said, "Mrs. Salmon, we are not savages. We would not hurt your papooses.

Mrs. Langford said that she did not believe Chief Bigwin lived on Bigwin Island, at any time.

Father told me that there were three graves on Bigwin Island, and that the people (Indians), came and went, but not to establish a permanent residence. He said there were camps, and you would find somebody like Jonah Nanabushkong coming, Polly York, the little girl that is buried on Bigwin, or was buried on Bigwin, and her father and mother. He said they just tented or camped in the camp through hunting period, not Winter time. Very seldom, did he ever see Indians on the island in the Winter, nor were they ever there for any length of time. But, they would come and go, the same as they did on the lakeshore- anywhere - they just camped where they liked. Indians came to Bigwin Island just to hunt. Mr. Salmon never saw anything to indicate that there were ever any Indian homes around here- just little camps.

Did you ever hear your father say that there had ever been a trading post on Bigwin Island?

There wasn't!

Bigwin Island was called that before Mr. Shaw had the Navigation Company—was known by that name when Mr. Millichamp owned it - Mr. Millichamp of Millichamp and Coyle- The Canadian Tweed Company.

Mrs. Langford is 80, and it was called Bigwin before her day. She supposes it was called that, because Chief Bigwin was there, and came there- he may have come in the original survey.

“Muskoka and Haliburton” mentions Bigwin Island, in the survey's before Mrs. Langford's day.

Buried on Breezy Bluff Point- going from Foxwood Inn towards the end of the point going south, up on the first raise of the hill- in my time, I have known four different lots of Indians that came to look for the deeds of Bigwin Island. The Indians buried things in iron boxes, and they would site, maybe from a tree on Bigwin Island, to a tree on Pancake Island, we'll say - then, on to Breezy Bluff Point. But, father cleared Breezy Bluff Point, so there wasn't anything to mark it, and they would came with a shovel and a pick, and they would dig all over -but they never found it. But, father dug up three brass kettles from up on the raise where the second lot of Indians said that the deeds were buried. Father dug up these three kettles (pots) - sap kettles. I have been wanting to corral somebody with a Geiger counter, and go over the field, and look for an iron box. Mrs. Langford's grandmother Robson, had the smallest of these three kettles, and used it to boil pigs feet in.

Before Birkendale was called that, it was called the McLellan place. He was the man who located it originally. He wanted to give it up, and grandfather took over his location (W.G.Robson). It became Birkendale, when the Birkendale Post Office was there.

The Post office in the Salmon home at Fox Point- had it for 50 years and 8 months. It was the first Post Office on the lake. Port Cunnington was ust a Summer Post Office for many years— not too many.

Last of the Gouldie men was buried last Monday - Goldsby —second generation. Gouldie’s came to Dwight in 1878. Mrs. Jim (Jessie) Hood is a daughter - second youngest daughter Nina (Ed Gouldie's daughter) is only Gouldie - Mrs. Lorne Hawke is in a church home in Orillia. They are the last of the Edward Gouldie’s. Esther Keown (Archie's daughter) is still living

Corbett's - Harry Corbett came to Dwight later than the Gouldie’s Hugh Corbett is son of Andrew Corbett. Andrew owned Pine Grove Inn. Hugh owns it now. Andrew's sons are Hugh and Charlie. There is 15 years between them. Charlie is manager of the Hydro in Huntsville. Harry Corbett lived with his father, Andrew Corbett up on the hill, above Dwight, on Angle Lake.

Gouldie's were the first settlers at Dwight. Then, there were Keown’s, Quinn’s, Corbett's, Blackwell's

Mrs. Asbury of Dwight works at Pine Grove Inn. She is a daughter of John Robertson.They lived at OxTongue Lake, but they never lived in Dwight until about 20 years ago. He married in late years. They had a family of five daughters and a son, and they lived in Dwight. There are just four of the Robertson children living now.

Are there any of the Blackwell's still alive?

Not the original ones- There is a grandson owns a mill up on the OxTongue Road at Angle Lake- Ralph, and his wife drives the bus for Chaffey Township Mrs. Scarrot? Garrett? -in Huntsville is a Blackwell daughter/

Frank, Dick, Alice, Annie, Billie - these were the original five Blackwell's.

Annie - died out west - m. Keown Alice- m. Bob Cunningham - died here Dick - died at Allensville Frank - died at his home in Dwight - on the road, just before you come to the Glenmount?? by- pass.

Ralph is the only Blackwell boy that Mrs. Langford knows of.

Families that should be included in the Dwight and Haystack bay area.

Roy Burk - now 83- one of the original Burk's of 10 Mile Bay - lives in Welland. He is the last member of the original Burk family. He is a son of William Burk- the old original Burk that settled at Sea Breeze.

There is Mrs. Charles Burk - wife of Charles Burk. Charlie is carousing around the country raising cain- doesn't support his wife and five daughters. She works at Ronville, as does one of the daughters. The rest go to school. There are younger Burk's - the same age as this Roy, that were Charlie Burk's children. They were original settlers at Birkendale Bay - 10 Mile Bay.

There are no Dale's in 10 Mile bay- they were original settlers. There is none of their family at all. Mrs. Christilaw, a daughter, comes sometimes when she is able, from Toronto, to the Summer cottage- which isn't this Summer.

There are no McCutcheon's at all. (check other notes) They were the original owners of Ronville- they built it. Then, it was bought by the Crump brothers. Then, after that, Brander and Cole There are no Crumps living. Mr. Cole is dead - m. Sadie Whiteside of Huntsville Mr. Brander was never married.

Mrs. P.C. Stewart never lived in Dorset. Her mother and father, Annie and Dick Cole, moved out shere, her mother was a Langmaid of Baysville. Dick Cole was a lumberman, and a cook in a lumber camp.

Portage- Arthur Osborne lived about 2/3 of way across from Lake of Bays to Penn Lake. The house is still there. There are no Osborne's - haven’t been for 55- 60 years/.

Later, was it called Thompson Portage?

No. It was called Osborne's Portage - then, North Portage and South Portage. People by name of Thompson lived there.

Thompson's Portage is at the end of Haystack Bay, where Alex Thompson lives. Alex Thompson is a distant relative of the Portage Thompson's.

It became the North and South Portage, when the Navigation Company put the railroad in.

Mr. Osborne used to run the stage coach there - a democrat.

Mr. Wack? Thompson ran the railroad - Mrs. Langford didn't seem to think that he had ever driven the stage coach.

Robert Thompson, killed in Orillia, Sept. 66- was his grandson-was married to a Huntsville girl.

Thompson's Portage is Portage between Haystack Bay and North Bay. Dwight Bay is North Bay.

Are Thompson's old timers in Portage area?

There are none of them there. Wack Thompson's son Alex is there. Willard Thompson's son Gordon, is living in Huntsville- third house this way from the Pine Glen School, on the by-pass. Steve Thompson's son that is living, is living in Oshawa.

Mrs. Quinn, who was a pioneer of Cain's Corner's - l 1/2 miles this side of Dwight- is in the Pines- memory is too bad to remember anything -lived at Cain's Corners - house on right. She was Mrs. Tangate, then, m. Andy Salter, then, m. Jack Quinn, who was one of the Quinn brothers of Dwight. She is the oldest survivor of the Quinn family.

Was there ever anybody at Dwight by the name of Cain?

[hard to read handwriting in the margin] Yes. Mr. and Mrs. Geroux lived there. After Mr. Geroux died, Mrs. Geroux m. Mr. Cain. Mr. Geroux is buried at Cain's Corners. Mrs. Alec Cain is here in Huntsville, and her sister, Mrs. Ben Haycock is here in town. They were Wider's from Ten Mile Bay. They were Edward Wilder’s girls. Mrs. Cain is the mother of Edgar and Arthur Cain, and Mrs. Mel Stone and Mrs. Grieg?.

Mrs. Cain in Huntsville, is a daughter-in-law of the Mrs Cain who lived at Cain's Corners. There are no Cain's left that originally lived at Cain’s Corners.

George and Alex were the only children, and they are both dead.

Mrs. Cain is Alex's wife.

Mrs. Mel Stone- her husband was a son of Godlip Stone - Solomon, Melville Percival, Nelson, Godlip Stone - second son of Matilda Wood and Solomon Stone. Godlip?/.

Mrs. Mel Stone lives in Huntsville- works at Eaton's, in hospital right now, having an operation.

Godlip Stone lived on the North Bay side of Thompson's Portage, up, on the hill, near Poverty Point - Mel Stone died a year ago.

Godlip lives at the end of Haystack Bay.

[‘Jessie’ crossed out, ‘Jim’ handwritten] Wood -Matilda’s first son, lives at the end of Haystack Bay too -works for the Hydro.

Wives of Ed Wilder and Godlip Stone were sisters.

Mrs. Smith was a Wilder, Mrs. Godlip Stone was a Wilder, Mrs. Stone was a Wilder.

Speaking of the Stewart's of Dwight- five sons and only son-in-law, were ministers.

The day that Mrs. Langford's grandmother Robson died- the first Dr. Stewart came over to see her that morning- walked four miles there and back.

Dwight's first school teacher was Miss Hill from Hillside the 2nd was Mrs. Stewart - now lives in Huntsville, was Lily Hall.

Jessie Hood was at auction sale- saw Mrs. Langford there- was a Gouldie, sister of Nina Gouldie. They are the daughters of the original Ed Gouldie.

Bruce Keown, a descendant of the Keown's of Dwight- is collecting material for the OxTongue Museum. Bruce was going to build a cement block building for it. Mrs. Langford suggested that he might be able to secure the stone school cheaply - it has been closed - he is biding his time.

He lives at Bill's Cabins, at OxTongue Lake. They own the building where the Post Office was. Mrs. Langford thinks that that is their home, but then, they have the cabins as well.

Information re Navigation. Waramik [handwritten]

First original boats on the Lake of Bays

Steamer Dean - brought to the Lake of Bays by Captain Huckins, and widened, and re-named the Helena, in 1878.

Steamer Excelsior- built at Baysville by Captain Huckins and William Brown in 1885.

Steamship Mary Louise- built by Captain Marsh at Marsh's Falls in 1885

Steamer Florence-, brought from Huntsville by Captain Marsh in 1890/

Lady of the Lake - also brought from Huntsville, and was at one time owned by Captain Marsh, but she belonged to the Mickle Dyment Lumber Company in 1892.

The Equal Rights - brought to Huntsville from the Georgian Bay, by Frank Dusault?, and a few years later she was bought by the Secords, who owned a mill at Dwight, and later was sold to the Gouldie's, and afterwards to Newton Langford of Dorset.

The Maple Leaf was brought from Huntsville waters in 1902, and in 1906, she was burned at the Baysville wharf.

The Algonquin was built at South Portage, and moved to Penninsula Lake in 1906.

The Florence Main brought from Huntsville in 1906

The Steamer Jo brought from Huntsville in 1906.

The Iroquois was built at South Portage, in 1907, making her first passenger trip on Penninsula Lake. Diary of Mr. Thomas Salmon

Jan. 1, 1880/ Started the year by dancing it in at McCaw’s. Went down the lake to Grieves Robson's to party, and spent the evening. Stopped the night, and came as far as Hamilton's, and stopped all night- too sleepy to go any further. (The Hamilton place is now owned by Ball's) (McCaw was a ship's carpenter)

3 - Hamilton came home with me, and got a pair of moccasins for himself and Richard. Turned soft, and commenced to rain in the evening.

Sunday, 4, -To Robinson's. Clear and cold.

5. Went up river to draw out a deer. Very crusty afternoon. Started to thaw.

7. Still soft. Made moccasins. Night clear, and started to freeze.

8. Still cold - started around to the traps. Went as far as Fletcher Lake. Got nothing. Started to thaw.

9. Raining all day. Walked to Upper Trout Lake, Came back as far as Hoover's, and stopped all night.

10. Raining - helped Frank Hoover with his stable. In afternoon, came home. Sophie Phillips (Father's current girl) came along. Raining hard at dark. Wrote a letter to Emma (Father's sister in Australia)

11 . Took Sophie Phillips to the Robson's. Wrote a letter to Emma.Threshed oats. Drew out a deer. Freezing a little all day.

[handwritten notes in the margin beside 12, 13, 14 which appear to try to give more modern names to places]

12. Letter from Mother. Came over from Frank Hoover's, where I had stopped the night. Turning softer. Started to go down the lake. Commenced to rain, so came back. Charlie Shrigley came in it the evening. Had been down the lake all night. Went over to Harvey's Lake. I am to look at some traps. Got nothing

13. Freezing hard all day. Drew in a deer for the dogs. Allen Phillips killed two.

14. Freezing. Went to Baysville with Frank Hoover. Came back. Called in at Duncan Brown's. (Duncan Brown's lived where Nithgrove is - the farm close to there.) Got some moccasins- two pair, and one pair of mitts. Stopped all night at Grieves Robson's. Some change in Lizzie’s cold. Helped Mary Robson make some moccasins. Did not leave until afternoon. Bought four pounds of raisins, and a half a pound of pepper.

15. Chopped wood. Doing chores around home. Cloudy, snowed a little. Bob Robinson stayed all night. Robson boys went back to Fletcher Cleaning oats and corn. Went down to Colebridge with Charlie Shrigley. Afternoon, went over to Harvey's Lake with horse, and took Mrs. Phillips over. Brought back two deer. Turned quite mild. Looks like rain.

Went to watch on a runway.

17. Shot at a doe. Hurt pretty bad, but got away. Started to rain. Lasted all day. Received 15 dollars from Allen Phillips for hay.

18. Still soft - snow and rain. Charlie Shrigley came here, and both skated down the lake to Grieves Robson's. Rather soft for skating. Lizzie and I went for a stroll in the evening. Then, she seemed more herself. Hope's returning. Believe by her talk that she thought I was thinking something of Sophie - but think that illusion is dispelled. Charlie Shrigley and I came home, and called in at Charlie Brown’s -saw Mrs. Brown and the new baby. Both seemed to be doing well. Turned a little cooler.

19. Another warm change before morning. Went with Allen Phillips to draw out a deer from near Deer Lake. Left it at Frank Hoover's. Turning colder. Archie Brown invited me to a dance.

20. Froze last night. Chopped wood, getting very cold all the afternoon. Snowing slightly after dark. Went over to Raven Lake Portage. (It’s the next lake above Dorset), and got a rat. Drew wood in afternoon -cloudy, inclined to snow.

22. Very strong wind - S.E.- blowing hard. Went to Fletcher Lake, and got a mink. Stopped with Robson boys.

23. Raining a little in the morning (This would be on the Ryerson place) Still snowing. Went up to the head of Trout Lake- got nothing, came back and stopped at Robson's camp. Cleared up during the night.

24. Fine bright morning, very cold. Started home. Met Charlie Drake on Hardwood Lake. Came home with him. Got my cash receipt from I or J. Johnston.

25. Rather warmer. Snow thawing. Went over to Frank Hoover's, and came back, and went over to Grieves Robson's, and stopped all night. Went for a walk with Elizabeth in the evening. Beautiful moonlight night-air nice. I much enjoyed it. L, I believe, has some liking for me.

26. Came home. brought up some ferrets for Charlie Sparkes. Lizzie Robson lent me some books. Afternoon, cut wood. More like a May day. Paid Mrs, Phillips for making mitts and moccasins, 6.75. Gave her in all ten dollars. Spent 52cents for cards. Allen Phillips went to Bracebridge. I sent three fisher, one mink, one marten with him.

27. Went to still hunt. Shot one deer, and came home by Burnt Lake. Beautiful moonlight night. Wanted to go down the lake, but could not leave the house. Freeing slightly.

28. Turned colder. Went for a hunt in the forenoon. Got nothing. Made hand sleigh. Went down to Colebridge. Very windy and cold. Allen Phillips came back from Bracebridge. One pound of soda. 29. Still cold. Drew in two deer from Bigwin Island. Went up to R. Robinson’s.

30. Went for a hunt with Charlie Drake, and Sam Ferren (Feren)(They lived where Harry Salmon's do), along Hollow Lake Road, got nothing. Started to rain, and continued till night. Went to a quadrille party at Frank Hoover's. Wind very high from west. Blew hard all night.Turned colder towards morning.

31. Wind was from N.E.. Went to draw in a deer from Harvey Lake. Every appearance of snow. Wind veered round from north in the afternoon, snowing slightly. Letters from home- father, on Jan 14, one from Charles Burk

Feb. 1 - Very cold — one of the coldest days this winter. Intended to go down the lake, but so cold, did not go. Went over to Harvey's Lake. Met Robson boys. They took Tory away.

2. Still very cold. Chopped wood all afternoon. Got milder during the afternoon. Commenced to snow in the evening. Went down to Thomas Ball’s. Thomas Bateman made me agent of his place.

3. Still snowing. Drawing wood. Made a seat for the sleigh. Went up to Henry Robinson's. Brought Miss Robinson down. Got some flour- 25 pounds, some apples, four pounds of raisins at Ball's. Went up to Big Marsh, drew in three deer with Allen Phillips.

4. Still very cold. Chopping wood in the afternoon. Commenced to snow. Delivered up my agency of Bateman's farm and things.

5. Chopped wood. Went over to Piper's. Got 2 pounds of butter, 10 cents, Cream of tartar. Saw Lizzie. Came over to Shrigley's in the evening. Snowing awfully hard. Wrote C. Ball.

6. Drawing wood in forenoon. Snowing all noon time. Went over to McCaw’s to get rivets. Weather moderate. Went to a surprise party at Mose Hewitt.

7. Went for a little hunt. Choring around home. Weather quite moderate. Got a letter containing visiting cards from London. Went over to Shrigley's and saw Lizzie with Mrs. Robinson. Weather got colder.

8. Went to Bracebridge with Thomas Ball. (These Ball's were no relation whatsoever with the Gary Owen people) with the McKinley's team. Very cold. Stopped at John Higgins. ( That would be in Baysville.) [That bracketed phrase is crossed out by hand, margin notes ‘Bracebridge’] Saw Allan Shea, Peter--Valentine. [‘Peter Valentine’ has been struck through in typewriter font] Posted a valentine to Lizzie/

10. Started for Baysville with George Howard. Snowing pretty hard. cleared up about noon. Came on from Baysville with Mr. Boothby, and stopped at Robson's for the night. Turning colder. ( That as when Boothby’s settled up on the hill) 11 . Left the Robson's, borrowed Mary's snow shoes and came home. called in and had dinner at Hamilton's. Very warm. Change in the weather. Strong wind from south east. Looks like rain.

12. Rained heavily during the night. Snow going very fast. Went to Piper's, and got 10 pounds of butter, two pounds of raisins, one cake of soap. Went to a surprise party at McCaw's. Enjoyed it immensely, the best one of the season. Saw Lizzie home, and found out something.

13. Went over to Piper's. Got one pound of Sulphur. Came back, and went over to Hoover's, with Sam Feren, and brought home some traps. Froze a little during the night.

14. The day seems more like one in April, then Feb. Drawing up wood in the afternoon. Allen Phillips went over to Raven Lake. Caught four fish, coming home. Went over to Colebridge with the mail. Saw Lizzie Robson.

15. Quite frosty last night. Fooled around home, and went down to Ball’s, Came back. Found George Robson enquiring about me. Met Lizzie, and went to Robinson's, also to Sparks with Lizzie. Back, and wrote a letter to Mother - then, back home to Shrigley’s.

16. Quite mild. Sent Tom moccasins. Chopped wood all day.

18. Working around home in forenoon. Went over to Frank Hoover’s with Charlie Drake. Allen came back with me, and went up to Robinson’s. (Mrs. Phillips was a Robinson, and they lived near Hollow Lake. He was a school teacher- a very well educated man.) Quite frosty. Roads too icy to drive.

19. Chopping at Alvin's forenoon. Started for Dunc Brown's dance. Walked there. Very cold. Good crowd. Enjoyed the dancing. Went home.

20. Came back from Duncan Brown's with Frank Hoover and Charlie Drake. Very cold. Slept till noon. Went over to Shrigley's, and then, went over to McCaw's with them. It turned milder. Not good skating, but had a skate anyway.

21. Chopped for Phillip's all day. Snowed all forenoon. Took Shrigley’s mail home.

23. George came back with me. Went up to Fletcher. Got an otter, a beaver, at Knee Deep Lake.

24. Snowing. Went up to Upper Tout in forenoon. Got one fisher and mink. Started for home in the afternoon. Got home about 7.30.p.m.. Started to sleet and rain. Spree at Drake’s.

25. Skinning and stretching fur. Raining hard all day. Stopped in the house.

26. Still warm, but quit raining. George started for home. Chopping for Allen Phillips in the afternoon. Turned colder towards evening, clear moonlight, and freezing.

27. Turned soft, hailing and rain all day. 28. Started to snow. Went over to Harvey's Lake to chop. Turned to rain. Came back at noon, and chopped wood at home. Quit raining in afternoon. Turned cold.

29. Blowing hard, and drifting snow. from the S.W.. Went down to Robson’s. Cleared up in the afternoon. Turned milder.

March 1. Went down to Patterson's Camp in the big Narrows, fixed it up for stopping in while cutting saw logs. (Mrs. L. is under the impression that Patterson's Camp was the Hudson Bay starting of a Post and it was right on the shore, just a little way above the road, before you come to Grove Park. But that was the man - Patterson - that started to build that.)

Where was your Father living at this time? - Mostly up at Dorset - and at Shrigley's He stayed with them.

So, this is the beginning, of when he starts to move down to this other location.

Continuing the diary -Commenced in the afternoon. Went down with George Robson after supper, and stopped all night. Grave Grieves Robson Sr. order on W. Beynan? for 5 dollars . (They were an English family. I knew Mamie and her Mother, but not him.) payable April 1. Got some provisions at Piper's. (That would be the grandfather of Blanche Piper) $1.69. Sent 5 dollars by George Robson to J. Pratt. Helped kill a deer at Robson's. Came back to cacp and cut logs. Beautiful weather, very warm. Went over to Brown's. Very mild. Cutting logs. Sent up by Richard Hamilton for some things from home. Had a visit from a travelling poet. Invested 5 cents in his production. Went to Drakes.

Weather still continuing warm Rained pretty heavily in forenoon. Went to cut logs. Cleared up in afternoon. Cut some logs. Looked like snow. Turned colder.

Snowed heavily during the night. Cold. Cutting logs. Went down to Robson's and stopped all night.

Came back and cut logs. Came home. Got a registered letter with ring. from Pratt. (Now this was the Pratt Bros.. They were wholesale retail jewellers in London England, and in Bracebridge.) Expense - 5 dollars for making.

Cold wind in the morning Turned milder in afternoon, and no wind.

7. Went down to Robson's. Left Mrs. Phillips at Hamilton’s. Commenced to snow about 3 o' clock p.m.. Snowed till dark. Stopped there over night. Went up to camp with George -(that would be at Hollow Lake). Had a visit from Zack Cole and Charlie Brown.

Turned very cold. Sawed logs

9. Sawed logs in the forenoon. Mr. R. came up and commenced putting in - ?

10. Putting in logs. Very cold - felt it more than any day this winter. After supper, went home with George. 11 . Went over to Fox Point. (Now, this is when he decided to take in the land at Fox Point- where he and Mother made their home) - to cut logs. Nice and warm in the forenoon. Afternoon, wind colder - snowing slightly.

12. Blow very hard last night. Went over to Fox Point, and cut 65 logs. Finished cutting for ourselves.

13. Very cold in forenoon. Turned milder in the afternoon. Bright clear night. Went for a walk.

14. Went over to Fox Point, and cut 64 more logs

16. Went over to Burnt Lake to see some beaver traps, but got nothing. Went over to Stevenson's for horse for Alvin. Sold $19.50. Gave Alvin Phillips $8.50. Sent to Bracebridge by Alvin, $5.50 Sophie Phillips went home. Snowing all day.

17. Chopped wood all day, clear and cold, snowing slightly in the afternoon.

21. Blowing a stiff gale with snow until near midnight. Received four letters from home - Mother, Nell, Em and Alex.

22. Very mild. Went down to Robson's. Sent a letter to Pratt by Mr. Robson. Snowing hard. George came part way home with me. Went over with Allen Phillips to Frank Hoover's and paid him two day’s chopping for Hamilton.

Cloudy, but mild. Cleared up in the afternoon, and froze a little.

23. Very cold. Snowing. I made 41 sap troughs. (They did not have buckets Made from wood- hollowed out in the middle.)

24. Very cold. Rigged up new boiling place. Went up to R. Robinson’s. Borrowed some books from R. Buckman ? Beautiful moonlight night, cold.

25. Cutting wood. Clear and cold. Thawing a little during noon. Lovely night out to have been down to the lake. Wrote to Alex and George Stanhope

26. Went over to Harvey's Lake to chop. Mild. Sap commenced to run. Chopped in the forenoon. Tapped 50 trees in the afternoon. Down to Robson with Charlie Shrigley. Mild east wind.

28. At Robson's, cool north wind. Afternoon Lizzie Robson went to Baysville. Charlie Drake, George and I came up to Charlie Brown's and had some music. Wind from the N.E. Quite cold.

29 Moderated towards noon. Sap running a little. Working in the sugar bush

[handwritten note: Pages missing until April 16] April 16 - Wind blowing again from the N.E., turned to rain

17. Snowing. Made some paddles. Went down to Colebridge. Cleared up in afternoon. No letters. Newspapers and books. Book from Lizzie. Gathered sap, boiled down some. In sugar bush all day, wIth Charlie Shrigley. Mild and warm. Saw Neil Brown. Rained some during the night, and thundered. Very warm, with heavy gale from the south.

Ice came nearest to moving. Sugared off about 30 pounds of sugar. Rained and a smart shower just before dark. Wind changed to the N.W..

Wind W.S.W. - blowing a fresh breeze. Ice going very fast. Allen sugaring off about 60 pounds of sugar. Went down to Colebrldge. Bought one pair of boots - $4.00. Chopping with Allen Phillips in the afternoon. Warm and clear.

Helped Allen finish chopping in afternoon. Gathered sap, cool, started snow slightly.

22. Warm, and in the sugar bush in forenoon. Went to chop at Harvey’s Lake. Turned very cold. Freezing hard. Wrote to Emma.

23. Chopping at Harvey's Lake. Went to sugar bush, and got 40 pails. Went up to the mill. Freezing. Wrote Dick.

24. Warm and clear. Boiling sap. No letters from home. Received receipt from Pratt for $6.00.

25. Fine in the morning. Awfully lonesome. Went over to Scugog? Saw Mos Hewitt. Went to Lumber camp at Paint Lake. Got some books from Bob Buchanan. Raining pretty heavily in the afternoon. Continued till after dark,

26. Gathered sap and boiled it down. Commenced to rain in the afternoon Went down to Colebridge.

27. Sugared off this forenoon. Chopping in the afternoon at Harvey's Lake. Turning colder. Went up to the mill. (This would be Shrigley's mill at Shrigley's Dam on the Hollow Lake River)

28, Froze a little during the night. Sap running freely. Went over to Harvey's Lake. Chopped all day. Ice. Went. Lake quite clear. Went down Colebridge. Snowing a little during the day.

29. Cloudy. Looks like rain. Gathering last of the sap. Had to quit boiling. Went up to Shrigley's. Got Charlie's canoe to go to Baysville. Very cold wind from N.

30. Snowed during the night. Slight shower and snow. all day. Finished up sugar making. Piled up troughs. Went down to Colebridge with Mrs. Phillips. Wind fell - a little milder.

May 1 Wind from N.W. Turning very cold. Started to go to Baysville. Only got as far as Avery’s. Got 63 pounds of shorts. Calmed down in the afternoon. Rained slightly. 2. Rained hard during the night.

3. Very warm. Fixing up fences in forenoon. Chopping logs in fallow, preparatory to logging in the morning. Mosquitoes fast appearing. Found them rather troublesome.

4. Very warm. Logging for Allen Phillips.

5. Very warm and sultry. Logging for Allen Phillips in afternoon. Called at Ball's store, and some went down to camp. Grant not at home. Raining nearly all evening

6. Finished logging for Allen Phillips. Very cold all day. Turned warmer towards night. Allen went back to Fletcher Lake.

9/Dry and warm. Wind E. in the morning. Changed to W.N.W. in the afternoon. Mrs. Feren died. Thunder in the evening. Letter from Gabbie Millbrook. Went up to B. Robinson's in the evening.

10. Went down to Norway Point. Left Frank Hoover there. Wind W.S.W.- blowing hard. Came back. Got ready to take Mrs. Phillips to Mrs. Feren’s funeral. Rained so hard, could not go. Afternoon- spreading manure. Working in the garden - blowing hard from the N. Went down to J. Duggan’s.

11. Got 2 quarts of peas. Slept there- wind W. Came home - working in garden - putting in peas and some parsnips. Wind N. - pretty cold. Went over to help Frank Hoover bend up and pull cherries. Wind N. - light shower of snow about 9 a.m..

12. In the evening went down and took Mary Hamilton down to Robson’s. Came back up. Stopped at Hamilton's, saw Mr. Findlay and Hamilton there. Freezing quite sharp. Lizzie and Jim Robson came along, and came up with them as far as the foot of Narrows. Came on home and went dragging in oats for Alvin Phillips. After supper, went up to Shrigley’s. Planted four apple trees over at Harvey's Lake. Expect a sharp frost. Very cold.

15. Warm. Dragging in oats. Burned fallow. Got letter from Father and Alex, and a fly book and letter from G. Crane.

16. Warm. Took Mrs. Phillips down to Dale's and went on to Robson’s. Found Lizzie very sick. Stopped overnight. Lizzie better. Went over with Jim and fixed up logs in forenoon (Dale's had the mill at 10 Mile Creek) Came home and dragged oats. Heavy rain in the night. Dragging in oats. Some slight showers in forenoon. Evening, went down to Colebridge. Wind E. Quite cool.

Planting corn at Harvey's Lake. Warm and showery. Went to see Lizzie, and found her better.

Planting corn. Went over to Shrigley's in the evening. Caught one speckled trout with fly.

Rained during the night. Planting corn. Cloudy, and raining. In the evening, caught one more trout 22. Raining hard all day. Dragging in oats in afternoon. Had to quit on account of rain. No letters. One newspaper. Order on Ball to F. Hooper for 53¢

23. Cloudy. Went down to Robson's with Charlie Shrigley. Heavy thunder storm. Went in to Hamilton's till over. Went on down after dinner and took Dick Hamilton down, heavy sea ? Spent a delightful time with Lizzie. Came home about 12. p.m. Fine and very warm. Planting corn. Finished. Wrote to Father. Planting potatoes. Very warm. Hottest day this spring. Went over to Shrigley's in the evening. Got Charlie’s canoe. Very warm. Planting potatoes - finished at noon. Went down to Colebridge. Expected party of fishermen from New York. Did not come. Mosquitoes very bad.

27. Warm. Blowing hard and thundering. Went over to Shrigley's to fish- poor luck. Met Harvey. Came home with me. Allen and Harry Phillips went up the river to fish. Few drops of rain. Still blowing from the N. Rather cold. Went down to Colebridge. Made some paddles. Went to Baysville. Beautiful day- wind E. in the forenoon. Changed round to S.W. in afternoon. Brought home cat from Robson s. Letter from Dick with photos.

30. Raining hard. Cleared up in the afternoon. Went down to Robson’s stayed all night.

31 Rained hard - still cold and rainy. Spent day with Lizzie, very happily. Came home in the evening.

June 1. Digging in the garden. Cool, with wind from N.- blowing hard. Went to Colebridge, and saw two sports from England., County of Norfolk. and Betts and H. Lee. Very cold.

2. Very foggy. Prevented a frost. Went up the river towards Hollow Lake and fished with Betts and Lee. Came back at noon. Afternoon made new top joint. (for his fishing rod) Very warm. Night very cool. Slight shower in the evening.

3. Went over to Harvey's Lake. Cora looking well. Crows pulled some up. Choring around home. Night very clear, and cold- some frost last night. Attended school meeting to choose trustees. Commenced to rain about noon. Went up the river, fished. Caught 13. Cleared off towards night.

5. Went down to Hamilton's and set night line. Rained in afternoon. Got letter from Mother, enclosing one to Lizzie (Now, I've still got that letter to Mother) (in the papers under the desk) Thunderstorm during the night.

6. Rained hard. Cleared up about daylight. Went to Robson's. Commenced to rain just as I got there, and continued all the night.

7. Raining still. Came home in afternoon. Got supper. Started for North Bay (Dwight Bay). Wind too strong, and very cold on the lake. Stopped at Hamilton's. N.N.W. wind.

8. Wind changed to S. Got to Gouldie's in time for breakfast. Met Dwight party. Started up river. Got as far as OxTongue Lake. Caught a bear's cub at the foot of Long Portage. Flies very bad at night - no sleep. 9. 8a.m. Left Camp on island on OxTongue Lake. Bright warm morning. High falls. Upset canoe at foot of rapids. Got dinner at forks. Left at 2 p.m. Came up within eight miles of Tea Lake, and camped. Flies horrible. Caught some fish.

10. Left camp 7.30 a. m. fishing at every rapids. Arrived at Tea Lake 2 p.m. A lot of fine trout caught. Pitched main camp on island. Flies there very bad - no breeze.

11. Took Mr. Townsend up to the Falls at the head of Canoe Lake in the morning. Lunched there, and then came down and fished at Smoke Lake Creek. Made a good haul of fish. Very warm.- no wind. Slight shower.

12. Went down to foot of Tea Lake, and caught some nice trout. Showery all day. Plenty of deer seen by party and one moose. Flies were moderate. Heavy thunder shower during the night.

13. Cleared up for an hour or two during the forenoon, but rained all the afternoon. S.W. wind. Smoked fish, and read, and thought. G Atkins and Snider brought up some flour. Turned fine. Clear and warm. Started down home.? Got to the forks. Camped at Hunter's Bridge. Night cold- no flies. Got the first night's sleep for a week. Some of the party fished the long rapids, and others went down the portage. Had dinner at Gouldie's, and then came on to Baysville. Paid off - received $14.00

16. Started for home. Towed up by a steam boat as far as Robson's . Stopped there and spent the day. ( That steam boat would be the Huckins and Brown from Baysville- probably the Wabamik.) Came home from the Robson's. Very warm. Went for canoe bark. Very warm. Went down to Colebridge after a school meeting. Went over to Harvey’s Lake, and stopped with Alvin Phillips. Coming home, upset out of canoe. Lost hat and paddle. Went over to Raven Lake. Set night line. Afternoon, went to raising at Dale's Mill. Very warm. ( that was when Dale's Mill was put up - June 21, 1880)

22. Pulling weeds over at Harvey's Lake. Evening, went to Raven Lake. Camped over night. Showery at night. Very poor luck. Very warm

23. Chored around home, and did odd jobs.

24. Came down to gather saw logs. Went up and chopped for church in afternoon. Very warn. Stayed at Robson's. Gathered logs. Had to quit on account of rain. Very heavy showers all afternoon. Cleared up towards night. Win W.S.W.. Beautiful sunset. (The church might have been the one at Brown’s Brae - because it was built shortly after Mother came here) (Mother also taught school at Brown's Brae. She was their second teacher.)

26 Gathered logs - beautiful day - very warm. Letter from Duncan Stewart (now that was Duncan's first visit up here. He was Mother’s cousin from Glencoe. He was an army officer in the South African army.)

27.West wind, moderate - went over to Parker’s (Parker's lived where Port Cunnington House is now. - he was a homeopathic doctor) Came back at noon. Sunday school - rather meagre attendance. Light sprinkling of rain in the afternoon accompanied by thunder. Cloudy looked like rain

28. Gathering logs. Wind S.S.E. - rained hard.

29. Wind w. - gathering logs in Haystack Bay ( These were the logs that were taken off the Fox Point Property- to be taken to Dale's Mill to build

30. Wind W. Thunder and rain in the forenoon. Gathering logs. Boomed the most of them

Sept.14, 1880. Sharp frost last night. F Jones left. Went up to Round Lake. Stopped. Supper at Lockman’s.

15. Another frost last night. Had a bilious attack during the night. West up to Kimball’s Lake. Afternoon, went down to Jean's Creek. Lawyer J.J. Clancy, J. Austin, Emerson Austin, J. Boyce camped near us. Going north.

16. Stopped at camp. Mr. Martin finished up some sketches, and took some of the camp.

17. Started for Trading Lake. Came over the Long Portage, and camped at the foot of the rapids. Thundering a little.

18. Packed up and came town to Colebridge. Thunderstorm during the night. Came down the lake on the steamer as far as Robson's. Mr. Martin went on to Baysville. Letter from Nell, Aug.25. Letter from R.J. Kimball.

19. Very showery. Wrote letters to R.J.Kimball, Nell and Em.

Oct. 11. Took canoe over to Green's, to send to North Bay. Came back, and worked around home. Beautiful day.

12. Rain during the night. Blowing hard. Afternoon clear. Drake came along, and we went for a hunt. Got nothing.

13. Very hard frost last night. Took the dogs. Went for a hunt up at Ten Mile Creek. Lost dogs. Afternoon, ran the south shore. No luck.

14. Another hard frost. Wind. S.E. Looks like rain. Grained some deer skins, and fixed hunting canoe. In afternoon, tried to set fire to my fallow, but too wet to burn. Coming back, met steam boat, with Sam Robson on it. Commenced to rain about dark.

There are pages missing here - some out of order - this is the best I can do.

Sept. 1880 - --but hopes for a better day to-morrow. All fond hopes of last night utterly destroyed by the steady patter on tent at daylight, and, it has kept up ever since (10.a.m.). Mr. M. painting up some sketches in the tent, and I, writing this, and looking out by turns, and wondering how much longer it will rain. It is enough to put one in a horrid humour, not having anything to read. After dinner went down the river in spite of the rain, which took pity on us and quit about 3 p.m.. Left Mr. M. at the mouth of the river to make a sketch, and went on down to J.Clarkd ? for Mr. M’s mail.

28. On the way down, killed a deer for W. Stevens, and got a piece-welcome addition to our larder. Got home about 6 p.m. Turning colder . Promise of cold day to-morrow.

29. Woke up by the rain beating on the tent, and intended to have gone few miles further up the river, but rained too hard. Mr. M. went up to the Falls, and I stayed at Camp, and had a visit from a black bear. Mr. M came back disgusted- rained too hard to do anything, and disgusted with life and Muskoka in particular, for being such a wet place. I think I never was so sick of any day in camp as to-day. It has- - - -

Adjoining page - When the subject treated of is Love or Good, and the celestial church, the Lord is called Jehovah. When the subject treated of is Faith and the Spiritual Church, the Lord is called God, and this in all cases in the Hebrew word.

Oct. -- will stop. I have been illustrating the art of cooking under difficulty. I hoisted Mr. M. by umbrella, and, seated on his artist’s stool, frying pan in hand, have been passing the afternoon trying to bake at a fire which, if not sheltered by the umbrella, the rain would put out. If this is not enough to make anyone write poetry, and , wish he was anywhere, even with his ancestors. Still raining. Good night, and pray for fine weather to-morrow.

4. Vain delusion. Did not rain first thing in the morning, so packed up and started, but when we had fairly got underway, I came on as usual to rain, and it rained steadily until we got to Tee Lake, and rather late. Wet through, and very hungry, for we did not stop to get dinner on the way up. We camped in Patterson's Camp. After we had got nicely fixed for the night, it cleared off.

5. Nice sunrise. But soon clouded over - very raw morning, but felt quite renovated after a good night's sleep, and everything dry. After breakfast, started for the Falls at the head of Canoe Lake. On the way up the River above Canoe Lake, met the two Rednor brothers who are camped on Sineck Lake, trapping. Saw some moose tracks on the sand beach in front of our camp. Very few signs of small deer. Rednor’s said they had only killed one. River very low above Canoe Lake. Slight shower about eleven. After dinner, started down Canoe Lake, And took a sketch of the outlet. Just as Mr. Martin finished it, it began to rain. It had been thundering for some time, but, before we got home, it poured down, and soaked us through. But, that is nothing, when one is used to it, as we are. When we got to camp, after changing, and a warm supper, we felt all right. Another heavy thunderstorm during the evening, after which it cleared off.

6 Rain about daylight. Cleared off and sun came out. Very cold. N.W. wind. Came down to Falls at the foot of Tea Lake. While Mr. Martin paint I caught a mess of trout. After dinner, we were visited with our usual amount of rain. Went up to the Lake, and took a sketch of the mouth of the river, and Indian Camping Ground. Saw more sun to-day than we have done before on any day during the last two weeks. Beautiful sunset, and I must mention a rainbow, It has come out bright starlight.

Oct.7. At last we have had one day pretty nearly all sunshine. No rain at all, although it looked somewhat doubtful in the morning. Started for home. Left Tea Lake.

The following I think are in 1881, but I am not sure of the month.

6. Milder, snowing forenoon. Fixing snowshoes. Afternoon, chopping on Hall's Place. Snowing slightly all day. W. McCutcheon got the moccasin's for his son. Wrote to Father- date, Jan. 2.

Wind raised last night about 12 o'clock, and commeneced to snow in the morning. Tanning mink skins. Afternoon, went to chop on Hall’s place. Turned rather cold. Wind from N.W.

Quit snowing, went chopping on Hall's place. At noon, sun came out very warm for this time of year.

11. Very cold. Started over to N.J. Curry's very early, and from there went to D. Brown's to meet the Culler's who did sot come till noon. Afternoon, went over to Brown's and measured timber.

12. White frost. Started over on 25? to measure, turned out very warm. Looked like rain.

13 Soft warm wind from the S,. About 10 commenced to snow, and kept it up till dark. Finished measuring on 20 and 21 (Booker’s - - - - - afternoon) Measuring on J. Curry's lot- snow very deep- got wet through so came home to see Lib.

14, Very cold. Went back to J. Curry's, and helped finish measuring his timber. Came home about 2 o'clock, and made up the bill of timber. Very cold and frosty.

15. Still very cold and clear, but turned milder towards noon, filling snow shoes. Book from Mr. Martin (Putnam's Magazine) no letters.

16. Sunday. George and I went up to N.? C. Brown's, found them all well. Rather heavy snowshoeing down the lake.

17. Chopping on Hall's. Quit early, to make a seat for the sleigh.

18. Heavy white frost. Took Lizzie up to Shrigley's. Turned out very pleasant day. Left Shrigley's 4 o’clock p.m., and came to Phillips, when we put up for the night.

19. Left Phillips this morning. Another white frost, but not as cold as yesterday. Quite mild all day. Got home about 2 p.m.. 18 pr. mocassins. Colder. Wind from E. Chopping on Hall's Place. Turned milder- looked like rain. Wind changed to S.E.- blew very hard during the night causing drifts. 20/ Went up to the Bobcageon Rd. and set some beaver traps. Very heavy snow shoeing

22. Wind N.E, . Blowing fresh snow during the night. Took ? Robson to A.Grey's, and then, went to Baysville, Got grist, and some ? for McKenna. Got mail- a letter from Mother. Paid A. Phillips $5 for moccasins.

23. Milder. Went over to Boothby's with Lizzie. Very warn. Went for a walk after dinner. Wrote a letter to Dick. Sent up 9 pr. of moccasins to Hamilton by Sam Robson, for him to take to McCormick's Camp

9. Sunday- No letter last night. Went nowhere. Spent the day reading - snowing all day.

10. Still snowing, but little milder - making axe handle - John Curry came over, wanting me to go with Culler to measure his timber,

Jan. 24, 1881, Monday, Still mild. Bending some more bows for W. Wilkinson, and working around home. Lizzie wrote to Mother.

25 Snowing. Intended going to the woods, but stopped on account of snow. Fixing Snow shoes. Turned quite cold in the afternoon, and then towards evening, wind changed to the south. Still snowing slightly.

26. George and Sam went over with me to my own place and commenced chopping. Came home, George and I. Sam stopped overnight. Wind blowing from the S.W.. Very cold.

27. Over again this morning to chop. Found Sam all right, having spent a rather disturbed night on account of having to get up and make a fire so often during the night, which was very cold. Did a good day's work, and all hands came. Letter from Dick, enclosing one to Lizzie with card. - back at night, weather moderated. Wind still S.W..

28. Cold. Wind changed round to the N.W.. Very cold. Went over to chop. Came back that night. Softer.

29. Very cold again. Sudden changes. Chopping wood, Sam and I. Jim? went to Baysville - took a letter to Dick from Lizzie and I. Snowing in the evening very heavily, with high wind. John Curry over p.m.. Paid me for work. 33 days at 70¢ per diem.

30. Warmer. Snowing last night about 4 inches. Snowing more or less all day - turned quite mild.

31. Colder, but sun came out bright about 10 a.m.. Bill and I went up 10 Mile Creek, but no luck in traps.

Feb. 1881 - traps, and so returned and went to work fishing. Caught 22. Started to snow.

17. Snowing hard. Started for home. Got nothing out of the traps coming home; had dinner at Burk's, foot of Hardwood Lake - blowing and snowing hard. Received $2.25 for moccasins from A. Phillips. Got home after dark - very tired. Letters from Father and S. Phillips. 18. Colder, laid around home doing nothing except grain a deer skin. Turned warmer, thawing in the sun.

19. Beautiful and warm for winter weather. Making ax helve, doing chores and grained another deer skin. Wrote to S. Phillips.

20. M Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Brown over to say farewell. Leaving Muskoka. Took a walk with Sam round by Booker's, and home by the Timber Rd. Wrote to Father. Very mild, looking like a thaw, but cleared up and froze.

21. Sharp wind blowing with snow. Went over to chop logs with Bill. Snowing some about noon, but sun came out warm in afternoon, and thawed some out of the wind. Came home early, and Bill went up to French's to borrow saw. Finished making axe handle. Turning quite cold. Mr. Robson- $1.00.

22. Fine in the morning, but commenced to snow heavily just before noon. Went over to Parkin's - got head of horse to poison foxes with. Rode home with Eg. Boothby. Afternoon, cleared up and turned colder.

23. Very cold wind from N.E. blowing stiff. Bending pair of snow skies.

24. Very cold last night. No wind. Thermometer lowest on record this Winter. Drove over to French's and Parkins and Sam Green's. Afternoon finishing snow shoes. Turned warmer. Bill, Jim and McClellan cutting logs over on my place.

25 Still pretty cold. Jim, Bill and McClellan went over to cut logs. Cut some wood, and finished snow shoes for A. Phillips.

26. Milder. Making ax helve and doing chores, Letter from Nell.

27. Raining. Commenced before daylight, and rained steadily all day. Held up a little while after dinner. Went for a short stroll with Lib Had to come back on account of rain. Started letter to Nell.

28. Still raining. Snow decreased very much. Commenced to freeze about 3p.m.. Chopping wood. Too wet to go across the lake. Finished letter to Nell.

March 1,1881

March came in with usual strong, cold, raw wind — little snow falling. Lake quite glare. Went across to cut logs. Could hardly travel against the wind. Cut 42 logs.

2. A little milder. Wind not so strong. Finished sawing logs. Thawing out of the wind which died away, turning very cold.

3. Jim brought the horse to draw logs. Put in 113. Wind S.E. Beautiful day — thawing. 4. Started to snow last night. Wind raised and blew heavily from S.E. and snowed all day. Went over to put in logs. Jim, Bill and McClellan put in 40 in forenoon, and then quit on account of storm which was very violent from 11 a.m. till 3 p.m. Snowed about 4 inches, but very soft and wet.

5. Snowing. Commenced to blow from S.E., and by noon veered around to the north and snowed harder. Chopping over on my own place in the fallow. Mailed letter to Nell. Received letter from Mother enclosing one to Lizzie. Cleared up and froze slightly. Sap running.

6. Beautiful warm weather. Snow very soft. Lib and I went for a stroll after dinner. Bill Duncan and Mrs. Dollar drove over. After supper, being very mild tempted us again to take another stroll as far as Hall's clearing and back. Slight shower of rain.

7. Froze slightly during the night. Sun came up bright and warm, with a mild breeze from the N.W.. McClellan went over to help me chop. Sap running freely all day.

8. Jim and McClellan over. Skidding? logs. Weather still fine. Sap running.

9, Over again skidding logs. Weather colder. Got very warm in afternoon. Sap running.

10. George over in McClellan's place, who went to the shanty. Finished up skidding logs. Cut some boom sticks and sills.

11. George and I chopping fallow. Very warm. Sap running freely. Wind N.E.

12. George and I chopping. Cold wind from NE., but wind veered around to SE. about night, and blew hard.

13. Snowed during the night some 1 1/2 inches. Very soft. Continued snowing all day until about 5 p.m., when it ceased, but sky looked full of snow, promising another downfall. Hitched up the horses, and went for a drive to Mr. Dale Sen.?, having turned out a beautiful evening.

14. Froze hard during the night. Started for Fletcher's Lake. Had dinner at Mr. Burk's, Hardwood Lake- got to Fletcher about 2 p.m.. Very warm, ice very soft.

15. Started very early, and picked up all the traps, reached camp about 11 a.m.. Fixed up, things, and, after dinner started for home. Go to A. Phillips about 3 p.m., very tired and foot sore. Accepted the invitation of stopping all night. Very warm and soft all day.

16. Rode down the lake home with Alvin Pillips. Another warm, soft day, ice thawing fast. Afternoon, skinned fur and stretched it, and made axe helve.

17. very little frost last light. George went over with me to chop. Mary and Mr. Robson went to Bracebridge. Ice very soft coming home. 18. George and I chopping very warm forenoon, but not so warm afternoon. Turned colder. Sun went down very red. Commenced to freeze hard after night. Mr. Robson came back.

19. Cold wind from S.E. and cloudy. Chopping. Commenced to rain and snow mixed, about 2 p.m., which turned to heavy snow storm with high wind after dark.

20. Still warm. Rain and snow intermixed, changed to heavy snow about 2 a.m., snowing more or less all the time until 3 p.m.. Afternoon, Sam and I went up to Duncan Brown's. Stayed to supper. Came home part of the way with John Curry. Left him at his own place. When got back, found that Lib had just returned from her visit to McCutchen’s. Freezing slightly.

21 Sharp frost last night, making it far better travelling on the ice. George and Sm over chopping. I stopped at home to make axe handles for us all. Sun came out and made it quite mild.

22. Hard frost last might with little snow, and sharp N.E. wind. Went up 10 Mile Creek to see some beaver traps, got nothing. Saw some bear tracks. Got home about 3 p.m., and found Mrs. McCutcheon here.

23. Another hard frost. Wind veered round from N. to N .W.. Very cold- causing what little snow there was to drift. George, Sam and I chopping. Aleck Hall and Mr. Hill came here, but went away after supper.

24. Frosty last night , Sharp N.E. wind. Chopping, George and I. Quite warm towards night, which was very bright and clear.

25. Very cold N.W. wind. Went over to chop, Finished Father's birthday letter. Wrote to Van Vleck about ( it looks like - farming, but I doubt if it is - may be Family - am not sure)

26. Still blowing hard from N.N.W.. George, Sam and I chopping. Received three letters from Mother, Em and Aunt Carrie.

27. High wind from north. Grieves came up from Baysville with a horse. Borrowed it from him to take Lib for a ride. Got as far as Dick Marsh’s clearance. Found the road blocked with saw logs, so had to turn back without going to Marsh's. Came back to McCutcheon's, and stayed till tea time, and then made a start for home, having Grieves with us (when we found with Sam at McCutcheon's), and Mrs. McCutcheon. We dropped Sam and Mrs. M. at John Dale's, and got home safely, just before dark.

28. Blowing still from the N.. Sam, George and I chopping. Still very cold.

29. Wind still high. Blew hard during the forenoon - also very keen and cold, but in the afternoon, wind died away, and the weather moderated, and became quite mild. Sam, George and I chopping.

30. Very cold wind from N.E.. The cold wind we have had, we did not feel, being sheltered where George and I were chopping. The wind changed about 3 p.m. to little more south - looked like rain - Ice heaving a great deal. Had a visit from Lizzie, Mary and Aunt Harriet, who had a look at the chopping. Came home with them. George having gone to Greene’s.

31. Very cold. Went over to chop. George stopped the night at Greene’s and came over to the chopping in the morning.

April 1, 1881.

Very cold. Lib's birthday. Went over to chop. Broke our axes, so quit early. Went over to French's, and brought home his horse. Made axe handle. Wind E..

2. Little milder. Wind more southerly. Finished my chopping, George and I. By noon, coming home, tapped some trees for pitch on the Island (Pancake).

3. Still very cold wind W.N.W.. Sam and I went up to Harvey's Lake on the road. Met C Shrigley at Hamilton's. He went up with us, and we had dinner with him. After dinner, the three of us went over to Hoover's and Ramy's. Met C. and Mrs. Burk, and Phil Frazee. Coning back called in at T. Ball's. Got home (from Hamilton's, at whose house we called on our way home) at 10 p.m.. Very Tired.

4. Very cold wind from N.W.. George and I chopping on Hall's place. Could hardly keep from freezing.

5. The wind the same. Felt too unwell, having got a heavy cold, to chop stopped at home. The girls making preparations for a "Party" to be held here this evening. Looks rather dull, the prospect of people coming, as it is snowing and blowing. But Sam and Jim started with a sleigh apiece to bring some of the visitors. About 7 p.m., they commenced to arrive.

6. Wind calmed down, and it turned milder. Felt too sleepy and tired, so went and lay down, and had a sleep till 2 p.m.. Got up feeling all right and split wood. Turned very cold again towards night.

7. Froze hard again last night, but turned out a beautiful warm day. Helped Mr. Robson with his Sugar Bush. Neal Brown over, and invited us to a party at their place the next evening.

8. Another fine, warm day. Tapping in the Sugar Bush. Sap running freely. Wind W. slight. Went to D. Brown's party about 7 p.m.. Intend going from there to Baysville.

9. Lib and I started from D. Brown's to Baysville about 8 a.m.. Went down on the ice. No mail.

10. Sunday. Warm, beautiful day. Hardly any wind. What little there was came from the N.W.. Went for a stroll with Lib, which consisted in going to the lake shore, and sitting on a log. Wrote some letters.

11 . Snowed a little last night, but turned out very warm and nice. Tapped trees in the sugar bush. Wrote some letters. 12. Warm and clear. Choring around the house. Working at shaving horse. Bill and McKenna over.

13. Tapping in the Sugar Bush. Very warm.

14. Very warm, and snow and ice going fast. Chopping for Ryerson. Felt rather queer.

15. Warm and clear. Feeling too sick to chop. Stopped in the house. Letter with Nell's photo and card for Lib.

16. Warm. Still too unwell to chop. George went to Baysville.

17. Cold raw wind from N.. Went for a walk to Boothby's in the morning. Afternoon, went for a stroll with Lib, down the road.

18. Still raw and cold. Chopping on Ryerson's, feeling rather queer. Wrote to Nell and A. Cope.

19. Went to Baysville. Posted letters. Letter from Pete R.

20. No wind. Very warm Chopping for Ryerson. Had a peculiar feeling of deafness this afternoon.

21. Had a bad earache last night. Thanks to Lib's doctoring, better this morning, but still very deaf. Very warm. Stopped in the house. Made a paddle.

22. Very warm. Chopping in the morning. Afternoon, commenced logging. Turned colder, with wind from N.E..

23. Warm and bright. Commenced logging the upper fallow of Ryerson’s. Wind from S.W. Ice commenced to move.

24.Beautiful warm day. Ice going fast, with wind from the S.W.. Canoe riding in the morning. Afternoon, Lib and I went for a stroll down the road, Neal Brown and Jim went to Barkley's ? Camp.

25. Logging. More like April weather. Bright and cloudy by turns in the afternoon. Had some slight showers. Ice nearly all gone. Rigged up spear, and tried to fish, but too much wind, and very few fish on the shoals. Wind S. all day - Mr. and Mrs. Shrigley down.

26. Rained hard during the night, and very warm. Wind N.E. blowing fresh. All the ice gone. George and I went over to McClellan' s. Very showery, to get boat.. Found it so open with sun that it would not float. Came back and went to work. George went over for potatoes.

27. Logging, very warm - slight shower in forenoon. Threatening rain all day. Lib and I went over to see the logs - caught in the rain before we got back. 28. Calm and warm. Took Lib and Mr. Robson to Baysville. Came home alone and brought up fruit trees of Mr. Ryerson's- turned very cold. In the evening, Sam and I went over to Bigwin Island to get canoe. Had a hard time getting back. Wind S.W. blowing hard. Posted letters to R.J. Kimball and Father. Received Letter from Mother.

29. Wind N.W. very cold.- snowing slightly. Logging. Set fire to log heaps. Had the girls helping.

30. Very cold. Logging in the morning. Afternoon, went to Baysville for Lizzie. Started late, and had it calm coming up.

May, 1881

Cold. S. wind. Blowing fresh. Lib and I went for a walk; did not get back till 3 p.m..

2. Wind changed to N. very cold. Logging. Wrote to Mother.

3. Very calm. Wind started up about ——— in the morning the east side. Afternoon logged. Potatoe and melon patch Went for a stroll with Lib after supper.

11. Light wind from N.W. - veered round to W. by noon. Logging. Lizzie and I went for canoe ride to Island. During our absence, Grieves came home off the Drive (Menomenie Creek) and brought letter from Father.

12. Very warm. Logging. Wind S.E.E.

13. Still warm. Wind steady from S.E. Lib and I went for a stroll in the evening.

14. Logging. Wind S.S.E.. Took Lib in the evening down to Baysville. Got there a few minutes too soon for the storm which had been threatening all the way down. It cleared up after supper, and I went over to Beynon's, and got some groceries - 95¢, and got a bed at W.Brown’s.

15. Sunday. Raining still. Arose about 8 a.m. (people not given to early rising here). After breakfast, Mr. and Mrs. Brown went to Garrison's to a funeral, and the rest went to Sunday School, leaving Lib and I to ourselves, and for which I was very thankful. Spent a happy hour with Lib. 3 p.m., hunted up Bill Wilkinson, and started for home. Called in to D. VanClieaf's . Left there after supper. Stiff wind from the N.N.E., commenced to rain pretty heavily. Got home all right about 9 p.m.- rather moist.

16. Rained during the night. Wind due E. Very cold, blowing hard. Logging all day. Bell helping us. Cleared off in the evening, and looked like a frost. Seems very lonely. Miss Lib so much.

17. Wind N., very cold. Logging. Evening, George went to Baysville, found Lib had left for Allen's. Got post card from Aleck about fishing tackle. 18. Wind E. - cool, but a little warmer than yesterday. Logging in the forenoon. After dinner went up to Hoover's and got a bushel of corn. Supper at A. Phillips. Got home about 8 p.m., and found Lib at home - a glad surprise.

19. Wind S.E. Started to rain early, and kept it up at intervals all day. Doing odd jobs: evening, went for a canoe ride with Lib.

20. Wind N. Logging. Frost last night. Beautiful evening. Wrote to Aleck, and Lib sent some fern roots.

21. Wind S. , light. Commenced to rain. Showery all forenoon. Planting corn and beans. Evening took Lib in canoe over to my own place, and had a look around.

22. Very light wind from W., changed to N.N.W.. Lizzie and I went about 11 a.m. to Fowler's. Stopped on Wolf Point. Left Lib at Fowler's, and went with W. Fowler to Jmes Fowler's for some butter. Came home in the evening, after spending a very pleasant day. Very warm all day.

23. Very warm, no wind. Planting corn and beans.

24. Slight breeze from S.W., planting corn. After supper, Grieves and I went to Baysville - 3 letters, 2 from Mother, and 1 from Aleck. Thunder and lightening; Very warm and close. A. Andrews came.

25. Very warm. Wind N.E.E, Finished planting corn and beans.

26. Logging. Very warm. Wind S.. Afternoon Grieves and A. Andrews went to Baysville. Got no mail for me.

27. Thunder storm with rain early in the morning. Sam and I splitting rails; rained so hard, had to quit till afternoon.

28. Fencing. Very warm. Slight breeze from S.E.. Rained in forenoon, had to quit work. Afternoon, George and I went to Baysville, showery all the way. No mail. Heavy thunder coming home, but storm passed us by.

29. Rained during the night and early morning. Cleared up about 9 o'clock.a.m.. Took Lizzie, Kate, Jess, and Aunt Harriet to meeting at Robertson's. Afternoon, Lib and I went for a canoe ride. It was very close and warm, threatened a storm, which came up from the N. and W., and caught us when coming home, but the greater part passed to the N. of us.

30. Frost, slight wind, S.E.. Logging, turned out very warm, wind died away.

31. Wind S.W. Warm, logging in the forenoon. Afternoon, took Jess down to Baysville. No mail. Took in some water going down, blowing hard. Called in at VanClieaf's and got new canoe for George. Sam went out. June 1881

1. Wind N.E.. Cool. George and I took Thos. Ball up to Colebridge, and brought back the "Undine" from Phillips. Had a great sail coming home.

2. Wind N.E. Very cool, logging all day.

3. Wind N.E. with showers. Finished logging. Cleared up in the evening. George and I went over to Peninsula for potatoes - 13 bags. Mosquitoes the worst I felt this year.

4. Warm, with N.N.E. wind. Took Lib to Baysville. No letters, but three papers. Started back about 2 p.m. Stopped to rest on Auntie's Point. Heavy sea running. Got up as far as Matthew's when a heavy squall came up from the N. with rain. Had a hard job to land, but got in safe, and went up to C. Drake's. Had supper and stopped till the wind fell, and came on home, but got wet with rain.

5. Sunday - Rain with wind from N.E.. Slackened up about 10 o’clock. Went for a sail in the "Undine" after dinner. Lib and I went for our usual stroll till supper time, turned very cold, blowing hard from N.E.

6. Wind N., hard frost last night, killing corn and beans and potatoes. No wheat or oats injured. Fencing all day. Wind changed in afternoon, and blew from W.

7. Froze again last night. Not so severe as night before. Fencing, very warm, wind S.S.W.. Evening, Lib and I went over to Parkin' s. Letter from Mother, May 25.

8. Warmer. Wind N.E. Fencing in forenoon. Afternoon, wind fell. Quite calm, - planting potatoes. George and C. Shrigley came down for chain. Wrote to Mother.

9. Slight breeze from S. Saw some sportsmen with W. Higgins in the "swift water". Spoke to them about Hollow Lake, and trout fishing there. No mail.

10. Very warm. No wind in forenoon, finished planting potatoes. After dinner, went down to Norway Point to cut some paddle timber. In the evening, took Lib in canoe around the Big Island to see if the Picnickers were there, but saw nothing of them. Came back and found C. Shrigley and Mrs. Burk. Stopped till pretty late and went home.

11. Still very warm, wind from S.. Making paddles.

12. Steady wind from S.W.. Took Lib and Kate to meeting at Robertson’s. Afternoon, wind veered around to S.. Went for a sail in “Undine", took Mrs. Robson, Kate, and Lizzie.

13. Cloudy, wind S.E. Making paddles, wind changed, and blew a hurricane from the W. doing awful damage to trees and building; heavy rain, and thunder and lightning. 14. Heavy wind from W. Took Lib and Kate to school, and walked with Them as far as Gordon’s Corners. Called in to D. Brown’s on the way. Met Joe Tyrell, and walked with him to Baysville.

When I got there, met Jeff Avery who wanted me to go with him to take a party of sports ( I met before with W. Higgins) to Hollow Lake. After dinner started on the steamboat for Colebridge. Called in at home on the way up. Had a heavy rain and wind from the N.N.W.. Got up to Colebridge about 4 p.m.. Went up the river to Shrigley's. Caught a few fish, and came back to Cole's. Evening, went over to Phillips with J. Avery, and came back, and found Cole's shut up, so went back to Phillip's and slept there.

15. Bright and cool. Got an early start, and went up to the foot of Hollow Lake, and caught 52 fish on the trip, fishing on the way back. Got back to Cole's and found all shut up, but roused up Mrs. Cole, who got us some supper.

16. Hard frost last night. Went up river again. Had pretty fair sport. Cool and bright all day. Took the steam boat and came back to Baysville, getting there at 9 p.m.. Letter from Van Vleck. He comes 21st or 22nd.

17. Went down to Slater's Falls. No fish there, but caught 40 nice ones on Gravelly Rapids in the evening. Rained most all afternoon.

18. Wind N.W. . Left sports (7 1/2 dollars). Came up on steam boat. No mail. Met Mr. Rumball on steamboat.

19. Rain during the night, and blowing from the W.. Lib and I went for a stroll before and after dinner, warm and clear all day.

20. Wind N. cool. Making Paddles and fixing up things to go with some sportsmen all day.

21. Slight breeze from N.W. George and I went to Baysville to meet Van Vleck's party. No mail. Board at W.H. Brown's. Very cold all day. Caught two trout on the way down. Van V's party not in.

22. Wind N.W. Mr Brainer came in late last night. No signs of Mr V’s party. Went up the "Narrows" with Mr. Brainer to fish in forenoon. Afternoon, went down to Gravelly Rapids. Caught some trout. Had a shot at a fine buck. Did not get him.

23. Wind N. blowing fresh. No sign of Mr. V. so went down to Gravelly Rapids. Found a party fishing there. Not much sport.

24. Wind S.W. Warmer. Saw Mr. B. off by steamer to Colebridge, and directed him to Allen Phillips. Tried fishing at Falls at Baysville. No luck. Helped Mr. Brown make barn timber.

25. Wind N.W. No signs of Mr. V. so came home. No mail. 26. Sunday. Warm wind, S.W,W.. 10a.m. Mr.V. and party came along, and after lunch packed up and went up as far as Long Portage, and camped at Lumber Shanty, N. River (Muskoka). Flies and mosquitoes very bad.

27. Wind S.W. . After an early breakfast Massrs. V, Gray and Gifford went to fish the Rapids. George and I packed up and followed. On the way met Mr. Braimer and A. Phillips, who said river very low, and fishing bad - so, turned, and came back. Had dinner at camping place. Commenced to rain. Started down stream. Got as far as E. Gouldie’s. Wet through. Stopped the night. Mr. V. packed up his boat, and engaged A Phillips to act as guide.

28. Wind N.N.W., Started from E Gouldie's, on the road to Baysville. Got down by noon. Commenced to rain coming down the river. Had dinner at Smith’s. Quit railing. Went on down river - fishing as we went. Caught a few, and camped at the foot of Gravelly Rapids.

29. Warm wind, S.W.. Packed up, and fished down to Island Portage and camped. Lots of fish, but could not catch many.

30. Wind same - early breakfast, and packed up and started for South Falls. Got there about 11 a.m. . Left them to go to Gravenhurst by wagon. Hard job to get pay from Gray. Left South Falls and got back to our camp about 2 p.m. Stopped over night. Very tired. $18 pay.

July 1881

1. Wind N.E. Came up to Baysville. Letter from Mr. Bryant. Got home. Killed a deer in the river.

2. Warm. Blowing hard from the N.W.. Helped Lizzie pack up McClellan’s things. Wrote to Mr. Bryant.

3. Sunday. Very warm wind, blowing fresh from west. C. Shrigley and Burk girls down. Stayed till 2 p.m. " Miserable Sunday" - seems to be getting worse. Nothing like what they used to be. The B. girls awfully uninteresting. Nothing in common to talk about.

4. Very warm. Wind W. Working on road.

5. Went down with Lib and Kate to Robertson's to borrow cant ? hook - blowing fresh from W.. Cut some pike poles.

6. Hoeing corn. Wind N.E.. George went to Baysville.

7. Booming logs. Wind S.E,.

8. Wind changeable - N.W. to W., Very hot. Booming logs. Burning fallow - good burn.

9. Light wind from S.W. Booming logs- got all done by noon. Saw Mrs. Da? on Fox Point. Afternoon, cleaning out landing and well. Rained. Mr. Ryerson and Meldrum came. The latter went away after supper. Very warm- 2 letters from home (Mother's and Aleck's enclosing photo) and Em's. Letter from Mr. Bryant - July 2nd. 10. Cloudy and close - wind light from S.W. Mrs. Gray came, and Mrs. Robson, Mrs. Gray. and Kate went to Meeting at Robertson's. Lib and I reading letters. Rained slight shower, but promising more about 3p.m. Went for canoe ride in the evening, Went over to see my fallow.

11. Very warm. Wind changeable, S.W. turning to N.E. Evening, went over to Duncan Brown's, commenced cutting hay.

12. Very warm and sultry. No wind in the forenoon. Looked like rain. Cutting hay. Heavy thunderstorm about 5 p.m.. Heavy rain, but only lasted a few minutes, from N.E..

13. Blowing hard from the W.. Mowing till 4 p.m.. Went up to Frank Hoover's. Made arrangements with him about land. Stopped there all night.

14. Wind N.E.. Came home and took Mary down to Baysville. Found box from home, and brought it home, and had the pleasure of opening it with Lib.

15. Very warm - wind W. Mowing. Wrote to Mr. Kimball.

16. Very warm. Wind W. blowing hard. Looked like rain. Mowing. Sent some letters to post by Allen Phillips. Heavy showers in the afternoon, with thunder. Evening, George and I went up to Reynold’s clearing. Saw a deer - shot at it, but did not get it. Mrs. Ryerson came. No mail.

17. Heavy wind all night from the N., turning cold.

18. Very warm. Wind from W.N.W. blowing very hard. Spent the day with Lib very pleasantly.

19. Calmed down towards morning. Wind rose, and blew frsh from the W.. Lib and Grieves went to Baysville. Letter from Mother, enclosing one to Lib. Finished mowing.

20. Very warm wind, N.W. slight. Hoeing potatoes.

21.Wind rose during the night, blowing fresh from the N.N.E.. Took Mary, Aunt H., and Jess over to Peninsula, Berry Picking. Berries not very plentiful.

22. Calm, clear morning. Very slight breeze from the N.E. Fixing logs.

23. Slight breeze from the N.N.E. Went up to McClellan's. Fixing boom of logs.

24. Rainy. Wind S. Wrote some letters to Mother, Mr. Kimball and Mr. Bryant.. Arthur and Grieves went to Baysville. Joe Brown came up.

25. Wind from N.W. Mr. G. Robson and George went to Baysville. Work at school house. Making paddles. 26. Wind S.W. Got up early, and went up to John Dale's to hunt. Rained all day, got nothing.

27. Slight breeze from N.W.. Mr. Mickle and another man from Gravenhurst over to look at 'Caldwell's limits. Lib and I went over to Sam Green's and Parkin’s.

28. Wind light from N.W. Mr. Mickle went up to Ten Mile Creek. Thunder shower in afternoon. Working around home painting boat. Sam Green over.

29. Very calm. Sam Green and I went up to Dale's. Met them at Fox Point and put out the dogs. No luck. Afternoon, wind rose, and blew from N. Tried McClellan's Bay, but no luck.

30. Light W. wind. Went to Baysville and Jeff Avery's. No mail. Came home with Mary in the steam boat.

31. Very warm, light breeze from the N.W. Spent a pleasant day with Lib.

August 1881

1. Very warm wind, N.W.. Lib and I went to "Dwight"- had dinner at Gouldie's. Left for home about 3 p.m.. On the way back, encountered a thunderstorm.

2. Wind W.. Went to Baysville for jars and sugar. Sent up by steamboat to Colebridge for sugar. Letters from Mother and Nell. Called in at Dan VanClieaf’s. Came home with R? or K? Hamilton.

3. Started for Fletcher's Lake. Called for Alvin. Had dinner there, and then went on to "Skin" Lake. Could not get a start, so went out and camped in Joe Allen's camp. Fleas and sand flies very bad.

4. Very warm wind, N.W.. Deer very scarce. Could not get a start. Killed a fine buck. Afternoon, saw the Boys (George, Grieves and Arthur) who had come up on Monday. Left them some venison, and packed up the rest for a start on the morrow. Heavy shower in the forenoon.

5. Wind W.N.W. Started for home. Met Mrs. Whittaker on Hardwood Lake. She came across to Trading Lake with us. Had dinner at Alvin Phillips, supper at Allen's as wind too high for a small canoe. Got home about 8.30p.m.

6. Rain all day. Wind N.E, blowing fresh. Thunder and lightning. Tanning deerskins- cleared up towards night- fine sunset. Sent for mail by Allen P. but he forgot it.

7. Fresh breeze from N.N.E.. C Shrigley and H. Gilmour here. Lib and I went for a walk.

8. Wind W. Rainy - working around home.

9. Wind W.S.W. went to Baysville. Rained. Took Mary. 10. Wind S.W., with rain. Grained deerskins.

11. Wind N. Logging up the shore in forenoon. Afternoon, wind S,W.. Started boom of logs to mill. Left them by Miniss’ Island. Rained, came home by steam boat.

12. Wind S.W. Went to look after logs. Wind changed during the night, and blew from E.. Found logs at E. Hamilton’s. Tied them, and left. Logging afternoon.

13. Wind N.N.W.. George and Arthur and A. took logs to mill. Finished work on the boat, and helped get McClellan's things packed and directed.

14. Wind N.E. Very cold. Lib and I went for a walk in forenoon. Afternoon had a sail. Evening, enjoyed another stroll.

15. Wind N.N.E. Logging forenoon. Went up to Shrigley's and brought down scow - Grieves and I.

16. Wind S.E. Fixing fence, afternoon, George, Mary and I went up to McClellan’s.

17. Wind S.E.. Went to Dwight for a hunt. No luck, got home late.

18. Wind variable. Went to Baysville, letter from Mother, and paper. Very warm, called in at VanClieaf’s.

19. Wind variable, mostly S.E., changing to N.N.W. towards night, and looking like rain. Went to 10 Mile Creek Bay, had a race, no luck. Tried Big Narrows S. side. Killed a fawn.

20. Wind N.E.N. Looks like rain. Heavy clouds. W. Wilkinson came last night.

21. Went to North Bay. Wind N.W.. Very warm. Rained some during day.

22. Went to Baysville. Very warm. Wind W..

23. Went up to Fletcher's Lake with Alvin Phillips and H. Heinson. Very warm. Caught some trout in Skin Lake.

24. Very warm. Had a race. I killed a fine buck. Rained in afternoon. Saw George. The Boys came over in the evening.

25. Started for home. Got home very late all right.

26. Rain all day. Tanning deer skins.

27. Showery. Working around home. Wind N.W. 28. Still rain. Wind changed to N.E.. Home all day.

29. Wind N.. Tried to get a deer, but no luck. Very warm for N. wind.

30. Went to Baysville. No mail. Came home by steam boat.

31. Fine, warm. Wrote some letters, and spent the rest of the day with Lib.

This is as far as the Diary goes. Also in the Diary are some pencil sketches, I presume by Mr. Salmon--very good indeed.

One of Mrs. Smith's cow.

One of Mr. Martin sketching at the foot of Tea Lake Falls

Two of sailing craft.

There are also some records of expenditures and receipts.

Oct. 5, 1878

100 lbs flour 5 lbs B.Tea @ 50 2.50 50 lbs salt 1lb pepper 25 1lb soda 10 ½ lb. C. of Tartar 20 1 box matches 15 2 lb. tobacco 1.40 54 lb shorts 1.08 Paid 9.33

Jan, 26, 1880 -$21

Jan. 26 6.75 Mitts and moccasins 6.75 " “ 3.25 in cash 3.25 “ “ spirits .25 25 notions .15 15

21 4 lbs sugar of W.Piper 50 27 2 lbs butter @ 25 50 27 cards and postage 57 Guilt print @ 10 ct 1.40 Print " @10ct 1.40 10 cotton batting @ .3 30 Notepaper, envelopes 25 Com. Tin. Benzoin 10 28 Received $ 8.00 for fur 8.00 sole leather .60 1Pkt Steadman's powder .50 (Hamilton’s) 1 lb soda .10 29. Notions- .35, .25, .10 .70 coal oil .25

February 3. 25 lbs flour 4 lbs D. apples 2 lbs raisins 1.58

6. 2 lbs butter (Piper) 50 C. Tartar 10 notions 20

9. lock 30 valentines 1.00 3 cards @ .15 45 notions 75 Fiddle string 25 Comb & brush 60 2 mettoos, wool set 23 gloves $1, candies .60 1.60 board 1.20 stamps 41 notions 25

12 1 lb butter, 2 lb raisins 54 1 cake toilet soap 5

13 1 lb sulphur Piper's 15

15 ½ lb candy 15

16 Goods 88 Postage moccasins 24

22 Rig C.Drake . 50 pd. .40 90

March

1. provisions at Piper's 1.62

6. 25 lbs flour -- Ball 6. Order on W.Beyaea to G.Robson 5.00

6. Ring J.Pratt 5.00

15 Sold fisher skin 7.00

16 Bottle August Flower 75

16 Sold otter, beaver, mink 9.50

16 Candies .15, soap .5 20

17. To Mrs. Phillips .20

20. Fur money from A.P. 6.50

21. Candies .30 30

24. Candies .15 Ball 15

30. Stamps 15

April

3. Pork .29

5. Rec'd from F. Hoover 2.00

7. Pepper, ink, sand paper 46

8. Pratt for ring 6.00 Stamps 5

12. Coleman's mustard 12

17. Soda, 1 lb soap 15

19. Cash from Neil Brown 1.25

20. 1 pr boots 4.00 sundries 10

26 Repairing boots 5 stamps 10 blacking 5

May 1 63 lbs shorts (E. Avery)

6. 1 pkg tacks 5

8, Straw hat (Piper's) 15 1 lb candy 30

8. Rec'd mink ®--T. Ball 75

12. ½ oz parsnip seed 6 Rec'd beaver skin - T.Ball 75

13. Toilet soap 5. lamp glass 10 tob. to F. Hoover 53

23 candy 30

24 3 yds duck, 3½ yd shr, butter 1.39 C. Shrigley 7

May, 1880

29. Fishing tackle .54 Dinner 25.

June

3. Silk .10, hooks .5 .15

7. Boot blacking 10

14. Rec'd 16$ Dwight party 16.00

16. Pr. Boots $2.75, socks .50 2.75

16. Langmaid heel on boot 25

17. Hungarian nail 5 board 35

20. Candies 25

21. Pd Ball $5. on acct 5.00

22. Pkg. tacks 5 22. Chain 25

July

1. 5 lbs pork @.12, 1 lb candy 90

5. 1 box .15 1 razor .75 90

5. Bible 1.50

20. 2 files .20, dinner 25 45

27. Mending scythe, G.R. 25.

Monday, Oct. 2, 1967, Alan Miller brought Mrs. Ann Emberson to our cottage, and this is a record of my interview with her.

I have asked Mrs. Emberson if she has any idea when the Dwight-Wiman group first came to the Lake of Bays - and we are also discussing the ball which was held at Point Elizabeth.

I cannot give you a date - but a know it was before Dad and Mother were married, and I know it was during their courtship, and , it wasn't such an awfully long one, it may have covered a year or two years. Mrs E. feels that this was a party given in honour of her Mother - a sort of Birthday party, but it couldn't have been at her birthday time.

I was under the impression that it was more fishing that they did here, and hunting that they did at Long Lake. They may have hunted here- but Mrs. E. was never under that impression. Mrs. E. was under the impression that they fished, when they had their camp at Point Elizabeth. Mrs. E. doubts that they could have had a dance at Point Elizabeth In Hunting season. She has known a time when it was just as warm as this evening (65') on the 19th of Dec. , but that is very unusual. - .I know they used Japanese lanterns, and Mother wrote a poem, and they presented her with something - I can't think what it was - it may have been a scroll or something like that, you know - but, anyway, it was quite a nice affair. Mrs. E. believes that it was at this time that the point was named Point Elizabeth - and it was in her honour. I don't know whether Dad had bought that property at that time - that was all part of Fox Point. That point was Fox Point - I don't know what the Indian name is now for it - but, Fox Point was the interpretation of it. It was connected - very definitely connected with the main land. Now it isn't, there are two feet of water, or more, running over it. It is now Turner's Island? The water was raised even before the new dam was put in at Baysville. Mrs. E. thinks the water in the lake has been raised 8 feet.

Huckleberry Point is the point just to the south of Point Ideal - it would have been a short distance across the ice when Tom Salmon first came over to Lake of Bays. He spent a Winter with the Indians - probably '71. Then, after that he came across to this shore - up to where Mr. Boothby later settled. It had been an Indian Trading Post - no, I guess it was a Hudson Bay Post maybe, because it was a big building built there® - and, they never opened it as a trading post. They were going to, but they didn't for some reason. I think he lived there for a while, and then, I think he went to Dorset. When he was there, he lived with the Allen Phillips. The Allen Phillips were married, and they had a small baby, and they came to Dad when he was living at this Trading Post, and then, they went up to Dorset, and established a home up, there. It is still in existence. T.S. actually lived with them - for several years I think. Alvin Phillips lived near there, just to the left of Allen Phillips house, I believe. He lived near the creek. I guess it was Hollow River, really. It empties into what they used to call Johnny cake Bay.

Allen Phillips and Dad, separated before Dad was married, but I don't know where he went. He may have cme down this way from Dorset, but, I don’t know where he would come to

The Allen Phillips lived with T.S. in his trading post home, before they moved to the Dorset area.

Where the Robson’s settled when they came here. That was at the Ryerson place up here - that was at Edgewood Lodge. I believe Egerton Ryerson sent my mother's father up here to build him a house. My grandmother was sick - she had T.B., I believe- and the doctor wanted her to come to Muskoka - so, they sold everything, and came to Muskoka- little knowing what they were coming to. They had a great big farm - they did things in a big way, and they were very comfortable- and then to come up her to an absolutely new country where there wasn't anything.

Dad and Mother were married from the Ryerson place, where the Bailey farm later was. Mrs. E. thinks that they were actually married in the church at Gordon's Corner's. The Brown's Brae school was near there, and Mother taught in that school. Mrs. E. thinks that the reference made to the Ryerson place being at Black Point, really meant that it was in the Black Point area.

Mrs. E. doesn't know how Dorset got its name - understood it had been named after some place in England - Dorsetshire. Mr. S. came from London.

They surveyed the A line, which runs through above Dorset - runs through Oxtongue and down Minden way - I believe that there were some German people, they came up there and lived I think two or three years- then they just went out of the country and left. everything, and went out. I think that is what they found up around Hollow Lake - nothing but rock under what they had hoped would be good farming country. They were quite energetic people, but they didn't stay very long. Nobody seems to know what happened to them.

All the Cole's were characters, and as unique as you could imagine. And Mrs. Weston? or Western ? was married to Lord somebody or other. He was the second son of the family, and of course, when the father died the oldest son succeeded to the title - and when he died, then, the second son should have succeeded to it. They had sent the second son out here - as a remittance man, and he just wasn't any good. His wife was Miss Cole - and she married him. She was a very beautiful girl, I believe, all the Cole girls were beautiful - but she was the best looking one of the bunch. She was really quite a character. She could swear all day, and never say the same word twice, and she could mimic anybody, When she was working for us, I would often come into the kitchen, and find her mimicking me. She just couldn't talk without swearing. One time her brother, Jack Cole and his family who lived in Orillia at that time, they owned a piece of property near us up at Ronville, and built a cottage there. So, he used to live with them more or less, and he came up with them. I said to her "You know your brother is going to be here to-morrow." And, she replied, "That old so and so and so and so etc.. For about ten minutes the air was blue. She apparently had no use for him whatsoever. She didn't want to see him at all. However, the next morning, which was Sunday, she got all dressed up, and Jack Cole came along, they were less than a 1/4 mile from us. Well, you should have seen those two silly things, she just fell into his arms, and just couldn't let him go.

She was really quite a remarkable woman. She could be a perfect lady just the finest lady imaginable, and yet, most of the time she was a veritable Irish Washerwoman.

Two of her sisters married Cabinet ministers.. They were very beautiful too, extremely so.

She was at Fox Point one Summer. She had kept house for me all Winter and we kept her on during the Summer. We had a Chinese cook. The cook was the most polite thing you ever came across. Mrs. Weston coveted his job - they just did not get along. She didn't approve of him. She would swear at him. He didn't approve of people swearing/ 'She was very saving she used to save fat for making soap , even though we dId not want her to. And she used to dry some of the skin and bones of the pork, in the oven, and Joe did not like her doing this in his oven. She was doing the laundry that Summer, and she used to bring in wet paper, and put it in the stove, for some unknown reason. When I came out to the kitchen one morning, he and Mrs. Weston were having a talk, and he was saying to her "No, I did not call you two damn fools", I told you, " The stove was too damn full."

Allen Phillips and his wife and baby stayed with Dad - then, they all went up to Dorset.

The place where Tom Salmon was born in India, was pronounced Meer a Meer, but it is not spelled that way.

There never was a Chief Bigwin, you know - that is all very erroneous

We are talking about Mr. Salmon appearing in full dress at a "bee" - and Mrs. E. tells me that this is true.

This was at a logging bee, not a barn raising- He had never heard of one, so he asked what he should wear. Somebody, in an impish moment, said - oh the best you have - everybody dresses for these. So, Dad wore his morning clothes - suit - and, when he got there, everybody was in their old clothes. And, he told us about dancing with the belle of the ball, who weighed three hundred pounds. She was eighteen years old - but, he said, she was a most beautiful dancer. - However, he worked with all the rest of them, and he was given the job of carrying liquor to the rest of the men who were sawing wood, and he had to tramp through the brush and the mud, and all that sort of thing. It was quite a day for him. Then, at night they had a dinner and a dance. His partner was this huge buxom lady.

We are, now speaking of Mrs. E's grandparents. Col Salmon went to India to take charge of a native regiment, but British officers. He was the commanding Colonel, or whatever you call it, I do not understand. I believe that he was the commander in chief of this regiment. Apparently the man who had that position before him, and had been recalled to England, had not been popular. But, he told grandfather a lot of things that he should do when he went out there, if he wanted to be popular, and get along with the men and the government, and do a job. And one of them was to pay much attention to the superstitions of India. Grand-mother 's life was saved during the mutiny, due to her doing just that. She had a 5 day old baby, when the mutiny broke out

It started when at church parade, on Sunday morning, when the salute was fired - and ordinarily, blank cartridges were used for this, but this time, they used real cartridges, and shot down the British officers. The native soldiers did this.

Grandfather was home with sun stroke at the time, and, during the night, before this happened, the servants knew that it was going to happen, so they, early, before daylight, they took grandmother out the back door of her home, and the baby and Dad, and one of Dad's sisters - and drove them to this Meer a Meer - where there was a hospital that the gov't was establishing. They knew it was going to happen. I think it was about 80 miles from where they lived. Grandmother saw grandfather for the last time, she thought, when she left. That was due to the fact that when Dad was born there, she had him taken, his nurse took him to the three wise men ( an Indian superstition) to have his horoscope caste between sunset and sunrise. They gave him what they called a jarmin? putry?. It was a square of silver, inside of which was his horoscope, written, and folded up and put inside and hammered together. It was beautifully chaste on the outside, and so on. It was on a long chain that doubled around his neck, and came down in front. Then they gave him two bangles, one was a snake's head, the other just a round thing. One was to keep the witches away, and the other, the snakes. Any was, that was one of the things she did. There were many other things that she did that were very pleasing to the servants, and so on.

Sir Colin Campbell's wife was coming to visit Grandmother, and, because she had a new baby, she stayed with a friend a couple of doors up the street from Grandmother.. Sir Colin was coming home.. He hadn't seen his last baby. It was now two years old at that time. When he came, after he knew the mutiny had started, he hurried to her house to try to get her to safety, and he found her body on one side of the road, and her head on the other side, and the youngsters stuck up on spears. And that is what happened to all the British wives and children, but Grandmother was saved. The servants adored her. She was just allowed to walk out. She was not permitted to take anything with her. And yet, those things, things that had been in their home, came back to them in England, years and years afterwards. They started coming back not too long after the mutiny, while they were still in India, but even after they were in England things would appear. She never asked any questions. For instance, one night Grandfather was having a party, with some people he had met in India and, when the drinks were brought in, they were brought in in a tankard that we still have in the family- and there were silver mugs that went with it. These were just some of the things that just appeared. He made no comment. Apparently it was the thing not to do.

Grandfather went out in his pyjamas - the house was being burned - but, we have the pyjamas that he lived in for 6 weeks. He gathered up some of his men, and they were in a very bad state. They were very fond of Grandfather, but they were very much against the British. About a year later he was sent back to England to take the plate? of the annihilated regiment, end the ship was wrecked on the (what sounds like) the Morshetigra Reefs in the Red Sea. They were on the rocks, I think it was for more than days, I think it was for weeks, and then they had to go home through Russia, finally. It took them 8 or 10 weeks.

When Grandmother was at the Gov't hospital, she had had a little bit of training as a nurse, so she helped out in that capacity. I believe that there was just one doctor there, and that was all.

About 6 weeks after she arrived there, they sent Grandfather to this place, - and Grandmother was sitting on the verandah rocking the baby at dusk, and she heard a horse approaching, and she thought to herself how it sounded just like Grandfather's horse. And, it was he, and his horse. She thought he was dead, and he thought she was dead. And, they even sent his horse back to England with him - or after him, I guess.

Florence Nightingale and Grandmother were cousins. Their mothers’ name was Barton.

Tom Salmon's father was a director of the East India Company. It went to the wall. He lost all his money because of this. It wasn't a limited company, so that father's fortune, and his brother's fortune were confiscated too. So that was why Dad left University and came out here, and any way, it was the thing to do if you met with reverses., that you came to the land of milk and honey.

It was at Huckleberry Point that he set up housekeeping in this Indian cabin.

Mr. Robson did own property in Toronto. Some in East Toronto, and some of the property that the Eaton's store is on. It was owned by Grandfather Robson- or the family. They sold it for a ridiculous price.

Re the making of snow shoes - Dad had a long square tank that was attached to a stove, which boiled the water, and that was more potent apparently, and when they cut the frames for the snowshoes, they bent them on a pattern, and, of course, the Indians just soaked them for weeks in cold water. Whereas this system of doing it in the hot water was just a matter of doing it over night, I think.

It is Mrs. E.'s impression that there was just one alligator on this lake, and that it didn't have any family - she thinks it was the John Bull, and that it is up at Whitney now.

Now we are talking about the Boothby's. Old man Boothby, Henry - he was really terrible - he was awful to his wife, and awful to his children. Her people were of the landed gentry in Scotland, her father was a wealthy farmer, I suppose, in other words, and, she went astray, and her father handed her over to one of the farm Labourers who brought her out to Canada. He didn't have any money, or anything else, except a pregnant bride, and they settled up here in that house that Dad came to first. The Robson's were already here. My Aunt Mary used to tell me that Mrs. Boothby was a very, very attractive little tiny person. All the clothing she had when she got here in the middle of the winter to this forsaken house without anything in it, were ball gowns and so on. She had never done anything in her life. And I can remember Aunt Mary telling me how she had gone up to her when the baby arrived, and she made clothing for the baby out of ball gowns. In those days, everybody was a neighbour, even though they were 20 miles away. Egbert Boothby was that child.

Mary Robson officiated at the birth of every Boothby child - none of them had been born when they came out here. I imagine that Egbert Boothby's family have been a bit reticent about this - they were entirely different to the rest of the Boothby's.. They don't bear any family resemblance.. They are much more refined people than the other Boothby's are. No matter what the other members of the family did, this branch was composed of very honest people.

Mrs. Dollar was a Lockman.

Mrs. Lillo and her mother really do not belong to Dorset. They are new, oh, I should say in about the last 20 years.The Dale's and McCutcheon's and Wager's were there a long time ago - not Dorset/ Then there was Harvey Clark. Mrs. Dale, Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Burk were sisters. There are none of the Clark's living up here now -I believe they live in Barrie.

The John Thompson's - now that is a colourful story too. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson just lived together, and produced a family. Then he was going to die, and he decided that he should get married No, that is not quite right - he and she lived together, it was a long time ago, and it was very hard to get a minister - so they just dispensed with his services. After they had had two or three children, he went to town for a bag of flour or something, and he never came back. So, after a long time, she lived with somebody else. Anyway, he got sick, and he was going to die, and they got married at that time.

Allan seems to feel that I might get something by going to see Alec Thompson. Mrs. E. said he had only gone to school for about a year, his wife was a Univ. graduate with several degrees. The portage was named after his father. Continuing interview with Mrs. Emberson Monday, Set. 2, 1967

We are discussing settlers by the name of Parmenter.

I think they settled somewhere around Wattle's Creek when they came into this country, and I don't know where they came from. I think they stayed there until they found a place over on Long Lake. ( the Long Lake that is near here) Mrs. Langford may know something about them. They used to visit our people back and forth quite a bit. Jim married - I think he was about 60 and she was about 20 - no it was Jerry - he married Lily Trimmings. I think the children live in Toronto. I think there was a daughter. I don’t know what happened to her. She worked at Bigwin Island for some time- as a book keeper, or something. They came before I was born or around that time - perhaps they were not here long enough to be included in this type of record.

Mrs. McLennan- who was a McIlwain, lives over the Mayhew's, on Centre Street, opposite the tannery - I should see her. Mrs. Emberson thinks that she is a daughter of the original McIlwain’s.

The Munroe family - Hattie is still living - Mrs. Billy Keown - up at Oxtongue - at Bill's Cabins. Mrs. Lawson? took her when she was just a few days old and brought her up. Lottie married Fred Quinn. She is dead but has a successor - a charming lady - Fred is dead.

The Wilder family - ( Allan - those are titled folk) Edward married Martha Ward - one of their daughters married Alec Cain Mrs. Alec Cain helps out at Foxwood occasionally.

Seems that Jonas Wilder sold his property to the McIlwain’s. Mrs. E. said that Jonas Wilder had also owned property at Marsh's Falls which they ( the Emberson's) own now.

Mrs. E. first met her husband at Dr. Stewart's church - he was 3 weeks old and she was 1 week old. Both the babies were crying, and their mothers had to take them out. That is how we met.

My father was on the boat coming from England some years after he had first come here - he met Mr. Hungerford. Mr. H. did not know just where he was going to come to, and Dad suggested that he come to this part of the country.

Mrs. Emberson has many good pictures, all taken before 1900, which she fell heir to, -:when she and her husband bought Ronville. There are two excellent pictures of the Osborne Stage . Also a good picture of the "Equal Rights". It did not belong to the Navigation Company. He and a Mr. Howard from Baysville owned it together. That is why they called it "Equal Rights". My uncle ( Dorrie's father) bought out the Howard part of the partnership, and it belonged to him alone, then. - there is also a picture of one of the Mickle and Dyment camps in the Winter.

Pete Braund gave all his pictures to the museum. They are in the Museum now all being framed.

The wilder's were supposed to be titled people. There is a picture of the Lady of the Lake - that had a habit of sinking.- every once in a while it would just sink. Also one of the Mary Louise - Captain Marsh's boat. Also - Ronville, in the early stages of it. How did it happen to be called Ronvills- was named by Mr. Crump - it had some significance for him in England. Also a picture of the Excelsior - the old Huckins and Brown boat. A picture of Mr. Crump who owned Ronville, and Mrs. Crump. She was the daughter of an Archbishop in England, and a very famous pianist ( Mrs. C was) - studied all over under the best teachers - she was a riot. The other people in the pictures were Ronville guests. Picture of Marsh's Falls, and Captain Marsh.

Mr. Crump was one of the shareholders in the Baysville Bracebridge Railway- one of the original members of the company.

According to Allan, the reason the railway did not come into existence had nothing to do with Mr. Shaw or Bigwin, - there were supposed to be rich iron deposits - and it didn't work out - apparently those interested found out that the deposits were not sufficient to make it worth their while to build the railway.

Mrs.. E. thinks the Red Onion was the Dorset Hotel. There were just the two hotels in Dorset - the Elvira House - which was the resort type, and it has been gone, long long ago.

Picture on the Oxtongue River - old Mrs. Burns house

Old Picture of Huntsville and bridge.

Good picture of the Port Cunnington school.

Picture of Rosebank on the Baysville River.

A. Osborne - Transfer Line Miss M Demaine called at cottage on Sept 22, 1967, with Florence and Virginia Grosse.

Obtained the following information from her.

Magaret Bowlby has several letters, written to her when she was a child, by Mrs. Ball of Gary Owen - telling her a great deal about the early history of this area.

Re Thomas Salmon.

Went hunting even after he was 90. One time he got lost. When found, his "finder" enquired, “Are you lost, Mr. Salmon?" “No", replied Mr. Salmon, “are you?''

He once received a letter addressed to Snowshoe Maker, Canada.

Miss Demaine once cooked at Foxwood. Mr. Salmon's birthday was in Oct.. He had a very sweet tooth, and always complained that there was never enough icing on the cakes. For this particular birthday, Miss Demaine made him a tiny cake of his own, on which she put icing one inch thick. There were no complaints. The following statement was made to me in our cottage, by Miss Margaret Bowlby, on Sat. Oct. 14th, 1967. She brought me over a copy of the history of her own cottage, Four Way Lodge, when it was 25 years old and which contains a considerable amount of information about the Lake of Bays, where Margaret's Muskoka experiences began.

Margaret knew the Salmon's, and, she made one interesting remark about Mr. Thomas Salmon which I think is a bit enlightening as to the character of the man. Apparently one day, Mr. Salmon was paddling Margaret’s father, Mr. Bowlby and Mr. Shirley Ball of Garry Owen up the Oxtongue River. In the course of their trip, Mr. Bowlby and Mr, Ball were laughing and talking. Mr. Salmon made the following statement, "Gentlemen, I would just as soon hear you laugh and talk in church as I would when I am paddling you up this beautiful river." Interesting History of a Lake of Bays Pioneer From Miss De Maine’s Tweedsmuir History

Mr. Thomas Salmon, whose death was briefly recorded in the Gazette recently, and who was a brother of Mr. Alex C. Salmon of Bracebridge, is the subject of the following article by Harold Stanley Stewart in the Huntsville Forester.

With the passing of Thomas Salmon on Aug. 4th at Fox Point, the Lake of Bays district has lost one of its oldest, best known characters. When he first came to the lake, 72 years ago, the Indians hereabout, were still trading with the Hudson Bay Company, and for 60 years, his home has been at Fox Point. The changes of the years, made Fox Point successively a home, a post office, a store, a Summer Resort, and latterly, the home of Mr. Salmon's old age. To his house, in this time, have come settlers, coopers, Summer visitors by the hundreds. The hospitality of the home was unbounded. No one was turned away. A crew coming for a surprise party might stay all night. A group happening in late and unexpectedly for dinner would find ample provisions. The memories of Fox Point will always have a peculiar charm about them for hosts of people. The magnificent prospect down the lake from the house will symbolize the man whose eyes were always searching for distant scenes, great waters and stately forests.

Mr. Salmon's life was like a romance. He came to the lake as an adventurer -come all the way from India. He was born Oct 8th, 1851, at Maeanmeer, Lahore India. His father, Col. Clare Salmon, was an officer of the British East India Company. When the Company charter ran out, the Government took over they private army, and made it the Nucleus of the Indian Army. Col. Salmon then became an officer in the 57th Bengal Native Infantry. When the Sepoy Mutiny broke out, this was the first regiment to make trouble, and Col Salmon was the only one saved. Through the loyalty of his servants, his wife and three children were spirited away- the youngest, a baby, three days old. This was the thrilling beginning of Mr. Salmon's travels.

Col. Salmon belonged to the Sikh Indians by adoption, and his son, Thomas, was a Blood Brother of the Sikh Tribe - Toomai Sahib. A little hole in Mr Salmon's arm marked the spot where blood was transferred from him to the Chief of the tribe, and from the Chief to him. A brief exchange of heirs further bound the Sikh Chief and Col Salmon together, and this is a matter of much pride on both sides.

When the Salmon family returned from India to England, Tom was a little boy. He could not speak English, and he found the country cold, and was very lonely, He thought the people wore far too much clothing. In England, he received the formal part of his education chiefly at Brighton, the Brunswick house, Bernet. He was about to enter Cambridge, when failure of an Indian bank brought such financial reverses to the family, that he decided to “go to the colonies.” He landed in Quebec on his birthday, 1870. After brief experiences in Levis, where he bought his first snowshoes, Toronto and Ingersoll, he set out North with another Englishman, Arthur Clarke.

In those days, Orillia was the end of the railroad. The two young Englishmen came up Lake Couchiching to Washago, on a primitive ferry boat that carried a barrel of sand, which was rolled back and forth, to maintain balance.The journey was continued by stage to Bracebridge to The British Lion, then conducted by Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald. Salmon and Clarke, and Clarke's brother made a camp on Lot 10, Cons. 4, Brunel. The Clarke’s soon left, however, one going to Australia, the other to Woodville. Tom’s curiosity was stirred by a surveyor's Township line he found, and, on Sunday, March 30, 1871, he followed it out, until it came to Huckleberry Point on the Lake of Bays. Liking the Lake, he moved all his goods up and camped with Indians in a bark shelter, until the ice broke up on the lake. Then, he canoed around, until he came on “Soyer's House”, a large building which had been intended for an Indian Trading Post, but had been abandoned because the Indians all traded with the Hudson's Bay Company. Salmon settled in the house, and went hunting with the Indians, having acquired a bark canoe from an Indian named Jonah Maniguishcony. Jonah had a great singing voice, and had received instruction in singing hymns and songs, from a missionary. Mr. Salmon, who had had some singing lessons from SimsReeves, a noted English tenor , appreciated the Indian's singing voice, and taught him parts from Pinafore, the Mikado, etc., from scores sent out by his father.

Alan Phillips came along one day, in a bark canoe, with his wife and baby looking far a place to camp far the night. Salmon, who had gone to the shore to get a tea pail of water, saw him, and he came in, and they settled down together, and they became life long friends. This partnership continued until Mr. Salmon married Elizabeth Robson, Feb. 14, 1883. Then, after more than 10 years with the Phillips family, Mr. Salmon, and his bride, moved in the Spring to Fox Point, which has been the Salmon residence ever since. Mrs. Salmon was already well acquainted with the country, for the couple met 6 or 7 years before they were married and so, no doubt she was prepared to face the 5 or 6 feet of snow that lay on the ground on their wedding day.

Mr. Salmon worked at surveys and at guiding. He went by canoe as far as Hudson's Bay. He built canoes, skiffs and punts. He made paddles, oars and shingles, and handles for axes, cant- hooks, peevy bars. He tanned deer and moose hides for mitts, moccasins and jackets. He built up a snow shoe business to profitable proportions. He was appointed post master for Fox Point in 1889. His daughter has just sent his last tanning of hides to the I.O.D.E. for minesweepers’ jackets.

And now, he is at rest. The service was held at the beautiful Anglican Church at the little inlet at the east end of Haystack Bay. Members of the family, and hosts of friends attended. Another pioneer has gone from the Lake of Bays. One wonders whether the Indian legend may not blend with Christian faith, and such a one may yet find Happy Hunting Grounds. Another small article - New post master at Fox Point

After over fifty years as postmaster at Fox Point, Mr. Thomas Salmon, now well into his eighties, has retired. The office will henceforth be in charge of Mr. Mel Munro. - dated 1938.

Another short obituary - dated 1943 - Thomas Salmon

Thomas Salmon of Fox Point, who was one of the very earliest pioneers of the Lake of Bays neighbourhood, was found dead in his bed on the morning of Wednesday of last week, having died peacefully in his home. He was 93 years of age.

He had attended a picnic at the beach, the previous evening, and seemed well and cheerful.

The funeral, at which the Rev. Father Surson officiated, took place last Friday afternoon, August 6th. The service was in Fox Point Anglican Church after which interment took place in Seabreeze Cemetery, Franklin Twp.

The deceased gentleman was a noted sportsman, both as a hunter and fisherman, and was held in affectionate esteem by a wide circle of friends and hundreds of Summer visitors. His father had been a Colonel in the British Army in India, who served with distinction during the Indian Mutiny. Mr. Alex C. Salmon, of Bracebridge long Town Clerk of this town, is brother of the late Thomas Salmon.

To mourn his loss, the deceased gentleman leaves two sons, Eric at home, and Graeme of Buffalo, and three daughters, Daisy, Mrs. David Langford, of Dwight, Mrs. J.B. Emberson, of Ronville, and May at home. His wife predeceased him several months ago. Interview with Mrs. Joseph Tapley - Bondi - Wed. Sept.28/66.

Mr. and Mrs. Tapley came to Canada, and to the Lake of Bays, because Mr. Tapley's nerves had given way, and the doctor said he should have a voyage. They came to Lake of Bays because of Mr. J.K. Webb, who was a great friend of Mr. Cunnington, and also a great friend of Mr. Tapley’s uncle. He had shown us pictures of the Lake of Bays area, so we thought we would come here. He never told us about the mosquitoes! He said that Edward Boothby wanted to sell his farm. However, when we came and saw it, he wanted twice the price that had been quoted to us over in England- so, we didn't bother with it.

We stayed at Cunnington’s for a holiday for a month. When Mr. Tapley went to Huntsville on the boat, he would have to wait for the day after to-morrow for the boat to run back again. One day, he said to me “I want you to come and look at a farm over here." Mr. Cunnington had met Mr. Mcllwain, and said, "If you want to sell your farm, I've got the man for you."

We looked at it on May 24, 1905. I had a nightmare, what with passing cows and sheep, and everything else. I was terrified of them. Then, when we saw it, it looked lovely. It was all like this, and divided off -one field all clover, and it looked lovely. So I said, " Oh, if you want it, have it.", for, if we didn't like it, we could always sell it again. But, it wasn't so easy to sell then.

So, we had it - then, we started in with farming. I didn't know a cow from a horse. But Mr. Mcllwain stayed until Fall, to help with the farming, and Mrs. Mcllwain showed me how to milk, and make bread and butter. You had to make everything yourself - even kill chickens. That was the most distasteful job of all. Three days I caught one - and let it go again.

We had sheep. It was silly, you know. Mr. Tapley had never even seen a cow - he didn't know a horse. There were six cows to milk. I said to Mrs Mcllwain, "Don't they milk themselves?" She said, "No, you have to milk them. I said, "What about Sunday?". She said,"Sunday too." But, it doesn't take you long to learn, when you put your mind to it. The only thing I didn't like, were the hens. You would put your hand under one to get an egg, and they would pick you.

I have done everything on the farm. I've cut we wood, cut the trees down, helped fork hay. One thing I didn't do - I couldn't split wood.

The farm was just as it is now - all grass - all the clearing had been done. The Tapley's did clear one little field.

We came from New York to Toronto - then, by train to Huntsville, and took a room at the Kent House. That was where Dr. Rogers is now, and was a big hotel. We had to get the boat down by Boyd's- the boat stopped at every little bay all the way up to the Portage. Then, you came across on the tiny railway- sat on a thing like a box sleigh- and we had to hang on to each other. It was frightened coming around the corner.

When they went to see the farm, Mrs. Tapley stayed in the house with Mr. McIlwain, while Mr. Tapley, and Mr. McIlwain went through the bush. She was making butter, but I didn't know what she was doing. She seemed to be rocking something, and I said,"Mrs. McIlwain, you'll suffocate that poor baby." She said, "That's butter." And I thought it was a baby she was rocking. Then, she made some buttermilk cakes. (We have the cradle in the barn, now.)

Then, when the men came back, Mr.Tapley said, "Well, I've bought the farm” "Well," I said, "You want it, now you've got it." I didn't say yes or no, as I thought it would be better.

How long had the Mcllwain's been here? Old Mr. McIlwain sold the Hungerford's place to them. Then they bought the farm over here, Kelly ? Farm, they called it. And then, they bought this place from Alfred Wilder. They must have been on this farm 6-8 years, think. Then, they bought a farm at the Locks. He was sick all the time, he had a bad back. But, he worked for us all the time, and he was never so well in all his life. I think it was the food. When I wanted a lamb killed, he'd have a fit. We'd have an argument. He'd say, “You have to sell it.” Not at all. I do the work, and I'm going to have the lamb, chickens, eggs, butter, cream - we paid for it, and we are going to have the best of everything.

McIlwain’s sons - one in Toronto - John - one still on the farm at the Locks, I think. The daughter is in Huntsville- Mrs Sandy McLennan ? Henry Mcllwain- son - in Huntsville.

This was all a tremendous change for the Tapley's. Mrs. Tapley had lived in London all her life 25 years. But this is what Mr. Tapley had always wanted - a farm- land - lots of land. He got it. He got 600acres. I wonder how many acres he's got now.

Mr. Tapley loved it. Not Mrs. Tapley, though. No, I never loved it - just took it as a matter of course- even now - I don't bother - just keep it on. It's the thing you've got to do. Why worry.

I asked Mrs. Tapley about the hardships of the early settlers - my impression being that perhaps the women worked a lot harder even, than the men.

She didn't seem to think that the men had it so very hard. They used to go to the lumber camps. True, they didn't get very much money, 15-20 dollars a month. What did they do when they came out? They would go off and drink it all in the pubs in Huntsville. When Mrs. McIlwain had her children, they didn't have doctors. Mrs. Egbert Boothby and the girls worked hard while he was building Point Ideal. They would bring up logs, cut up the logs, and split the wood. They paid off for it afterwards -they had it nice after- though she didn't live too long- she was only forty or so. She had a baby, and the baby died, and then she died.

The food situation wasn't too bad. Every one had beef, pigs. Everyone would kill off a couple of pigs around the first of December- freeze it-they'd have a cow, 600 pounds or more - they'd have sheep. They'd kill the sheep, and have them hanging- the meat would stay frozen solid until towards March, and they would put blocks of ice on them, and bury some. They also could have deer when they wanted them- more than now, and there were plenty of partridges and fish. They could get all the fish they wanted - nice trout. You could get fish, any time you wanted them. I think when the tourists came in, they took too many. One day, some came up from Pine Grove Inn - one went back with forty. I said, "That's wasteful.” Mrs. Tapley used to take the row boat, put a line around her leg, and row - she'd feel a tug, and there was a fish. Mrs. Tapley's son ran Logging Chain Lodge. His son is running it now. He has changed it all now. He has turned it into a city house. It used to belong to Pete Newton- one of the old settlers. He ran it as a resort too. First, he had it for a store and post office- before he got burned out. Pete Newton had a farm at Cain's Corners, and then he came down and bought this other place. The fire burned the store- then he had a nice house built. That is the one that Reilly is pulling down now. He has five housekeeping cottages- all fixed up - heated. There is no main lodge. Used to have a lodge. You could take a room, and cook your own meals. They did not serve meals. The cottages at Bondi are housekeeping cottages- are also rooms in the main building- 6 bedrooms with private baths - open all year.

Did you know any of the early settlers at Dwight, or the Cain's of Cain's Corners?

I knew old Mrs. Cain. She had two sons. Her daughter-in-law is down here working- Mrs. Edward Cain. She would be the wife of her son, or of one of her son's son. She was here working to-day. Corbett's of Dwight?One of the sons is still alive- Hughie- lives at Pine Grove Inn at Dwight. The Stewart's - I think that Harold is the only one left.

Mr. Tapley used to play for them every Sunday at church. I always got rid of them every Sunday at dinner- him and one of the boys- they always stayed at the Stewart’s for Sunday dinner. Mrs. Tapley knew the Gouldie’s and the Corbett's. Mrs.Gouldie was a sister to Corbett.

Mrs. Frank Keown is still alive. She was a daughter of Gouldie. Lives at Hope's Hairdressing at Dwight. She stays there with her daughter -right opposite the laundromat.

The Tapley's didn't mix too much with the people around. Different ones worked for them- and we would have done anything for any of them- but we didn't go around much- too far to go always. There was Mr. Munroe up here- he was a nice old chap. He lived right opposite the mill- there used to be the mill up there. He lived right next to where the Hungerfords are now.

When the Tapley's came, the only people at Port Cunnington were the Cunnington's, the Boothby's and the Walmsley's. There was no road there, as there is now- you had to cut across the fields to get to these people, and they all had cattle and sheep.. Whenever they wanted to go out, they had to go down to the narrows, and get the ice, when the ice was pretty solid- come across there with the horse and sleigh, and go to Dorset or Huntsville to do their Christmas shopping. They used to come over there, and pour water down, like a chute, to get it to freeze. You can't do that now, because the lake doesn't freeze up until after Christmas. It used to be frozen in November. Day after day, it used to be 25 - 40 degrees below zero- for a week at a time.

Mrs. Tapley has never been back to England

Hawke's- one house this way to Dwight.

We used to walk to Dwight for the mail. Formerly used to walk to Fox Point - reason we changed and went to Dwight, was that we could do a little shopping there. We thought nothing of walking to and from Dwight. Mrs. Keown should be able to tell me about Hawke's and Archie MacVicker’s whether they should be included in any history of this area.

The McCutcheon's were at Ronville, when the Tapley's came. I asked Mrs. Tapley if she knew them. She said that they had come to Bondi one day with Mrs. McIlwain- because the girl was working there, and she brought her home. Sara McCutcheon, I think her name was, Mrs. Tapley knew nothing more of the McCutcheon's. She knew the Crumps- they used to sell them lambs. He didn't love me very much, for I used to give him a calling down. He used to give the men drink- taking all their money - and then, turn them out on the road. He would say, "Well, what should I do?” Said Mrs. Tapley, "Put them in the barn, or give them a room- keep them until they sober up. You've taken all their money, now, you look after them."

She was a funny little woman. I never had much to do with her.

The Emberson's ran Ronville for a while - then they came back to Fox Point, where her parents had lived.

Tom Salmon was a bushman- he was a good old trapper - he made the best snow shoes in the world. They bought a pair of his snow shoes for six dollars, then, they increased in price. Mrs. Wm. Keown- Hattie Munro Oxtongue Lake, August 30, 1970

Mrs. Keown's mother was Charlotte Ann French. Her mother had located a free: land grant ( it is now the camping ground site on the Fox Lake Road). When Mr. Munro and Miss French were married- it was on this property that they settled- and, it became known as the Munro property.

The French's - parents of Charlotte Ann- had property between Fox Point, and the old homestead, there. The house that is there now, was my grand-father French's. The house is still there. Rankin's owned it, and somebody else owns it now. It is right near the Munro homestead - that old one up the lake.

Mrs. K. didn't know the date when the French's came to the Lake of Bays.. The grandmother and grandfather were still living here, when I moved West.

Mrs. K. didn't know whether her mother had been born up here, or had moved up with her parents. Were there others in the family? Yes - Wesley-there was just the boy and the girl. He did not remain here - moved down south- is dead now.

Mother got the free land grant- her parents lived on their own property. Mother and dad lived on theirs - the property mother had got. Actually, the Munro property had been the property that had been granted to Charlotte Ann French.

When the Munro's lived there, he did farming- he had cattle and horse and so on. He used to work on the road with his teams, and take out logs and so on. Whatever he could get to work at, he did.

Mother died when I was 7 days old. She was brought up on the peninsula - what they call the Park - right across from Bigwin Island - Park Way. It was this side of the big Island - not the far side. I lived with the Larsen's - they were early settlers too- had been here for some time, when they took me to live with them- at 7 days of age.

I was married and grown up, before my father died. He continued on in his homestead, until he got too sick to work. Then, he came to my place. At that time, we lived up on the hill there at Dwight.

Who else lived around your mother and dad's homestead, in those early years? McIlwain’s, Wilder’s, Robson's, Salmon's - Gief Robson used to run a supply boat in around our place.

The Wilder's did some farming, logging, working on the road - whatever they could get.

When you lived with the Larsen's behind Bigwin Island, who lived around there at that time? The Edward Boothby's and the Egbert Boothby's. Did the Egbert Boothby's get the- property at Point Ideal with a view to opening a hotel or did it just happen? It just happened.. People used to come there. And, at our place, we used to have people come there as tourists too. We had 9 or 10 tourists, before we went west. ( As nearly as we could make out, this would be around 1900. How did the tourists happen to come to your place? Were they the wives of fishermen or hunters, or was the place advertised?

Mrs. K. thought they were just people who came up through there. They liked it, and found a place to stay.. We had people from the States - people from all over. What kind of accommodation did they have? I mentioned what Mr. Charles Dillon had told me.

At Park Way, we had them all in rooms in the house- the dining room - the kitchen - then, they had a big back kitchen for the Summer. Then, the other kitchen, they ate in. Then, the other dining room, they had as a sitting room, and then, what we had for our parlour„ a big family stayed in it. And, the others had the bedrooms upstairs.

Did people by the name of Walmsley live around there, when you were there? The Walmsley's bought the place from us when we moved West. Mrs. K. didn’t know whether the Walmsley's had bought out the Bernardo Home boys to work for them, and train.. Fred Boothby bought the property from the Walmsley's. Lance Allinson is on it now, I think.. Harry Boothby lived down towards Point Ideal, and eventually moved West.

Egbert didn't live out on the point to begin with. He lived up on the farm. Then, they finally built the house down there, and moved down there.. His daughter is living in the old house up on the hill- what they had when I went West.- Helen Crosson.

For pleasure, they used to visit neighbours. There were quite a few dances- square dances.

Doctors - there were the two in Huntsville- Dr. Howland and Dr. Hart. Could you get them fairly easily? Well, you had to wait until the horse could get there.

Were there any women in that particular area, who used to pinch hit for doctors? No one in particular. Any of the women would go if called. Who would deliver the babies? Sometimes it would be one person, sometimes another.

What about churches? There weren't very many churches. When we were there, the Presbyterian minister used to walk to our place every other Sunday-- and we would have church service there. Where would he have come from? Birkendale, Huntsville or anywhere. Mr. Bain was his name. And, at Christmas time, he had sent on a great big box of toys for the children.I can remember that - skates and dolls, and all those things. Mrs. K. didn’t know who would have provided those. Would that have been a community Christmas, or would those gifts have been taken to the different homes? I think that gifts were selected to suit each child as nearly as possible and then, taken to the school.

The school was straight across the narrows from our old home. There are two big houses there now. The school was on the Port Cunnington property. It was a log school. Mrs. K. attended it. She used to walk through the bush but, I wasn't going to school very long before we moved west. It was about a mile and a half walk.

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything about Indians up around here, in your time? There weren’t any Indians around, but, down at the old Munro homestead, there was what had been an Indian cornfield. And, down at Fox Point, there was supposed to be a chest buried there, containing deeds for Bigwin island.. The water had risen since the chest was buried. There was no sign of Indian trappers or traders in Mrs. K.'s time.

Chief Bigwin used to come down to the place where my husband used to work. Mrs. Chapin used to invite them down there, on 0xtongue lake. They used to come down there each year for about three years. I used to laugh. They would have their beds all made up with sheets, and everything- and they would get into bed, moccasins and all.

Why did she invite them? She invited everyone like that. My husband built them a big boat, and on Sunday's they went around the lake, and picked up anyone who wanted to come. Sometimes, they would have 35 people go down there. They would have a service, and give them supper. Then, they would take them home.

This Mr. Tapley, he was to sing one night - and he kept sitting back and he didn't get up to sing.. Mrs. Chapin wondered why. Well - when her help went out of the front room he would sing. She said - well, you don't need to sing, and he was never invited back again.. That was the kind of people the Chapin's were. If Mr. Chapin went into a hotel where they had one dining room for guests, and another one for staff, eg. chauffeur- he wouldn't stay. If my husband couldn't go into a dining room with him- they went to a hotel where he could. The Chapin's were Summer people from Rochester.

We used to have to go and stay at their place a week when they were in, even though we used to stay on a place up here just a mile, and had cattle, etc..- we had to go down and stay there. The boys had to go home and milk the cows etc., then, go beck and stay there, which was funny.

Mrs. Tapley wasn't at all like that. She did the work on the place. I knew the man that worked on the place. And, they were in the hay field, and she was pitching hay. So, this man took the hay fork from her, and started to pitch the hay, and he, Mr. T., handed her his fork. She didn’t even have as good food as he did. He got the finest, always. If she came into your place, and you had some pie or cake baked, she'd ask you for a piece for Joseph's supper. I suppose she wouldn’t get time to bake anything herself, and she'd ask for a piece for his supper. He was the only one that mattered.

Mrs. K. knew the McCutcheon's who lived over near the Dale mill. Mrs. K. thinks they worked at Dale's Mill - but, she isn't sure.

Mr. and Mrs. K. lived in Dwight. Their home was burned out- and we moved up here. Willie was working up here all the time, and he was away all week so we decided we might as well live up here, as me in Dwight, and him up here. Willie was George Keown's son.

The Robertson's and Asbury's were among the, first families up here- but, there were a lot more families lived here- Asbury's- 2 families of Robertson’s -Ehler's, Baker's- Flaherty- Hawkes. The Ehler's were gone, before I came from the west, even. The Baker, who was here, left here, and went and built that big, brick house at Dwight - (Gain's Corner’s). After that, Mr. B. went away someplace- to the States, I think. A lot of people move away, and you never hear of them again, much.. It is about 25 or 30 years since Mrs. K. lived in Dwight.

What families in the Dwight area should be included in such a history?The Woodcock family - but there are none there now.- Gouldies, Ed and Archie- Pratt - Corbett-- Corbett's that owned the Inn, and Andrew Corbet that lived up on the hill - Paris's- 2 girls left- Dorothy Quinn, and Mrs. Van Clieaf at the Post Office.

Keown’s, Ferguson's used to live on the other side of Dwight, on the hill -up by Cain's Corner's. Bob Meredith lived up there.

Re Tom Salmon - he was easy going. I presume it was Mrs. Salmon who ran the hotel. I think it was May who ran the whole thing, and made the money for them.. She did all the hard work. She did all the cooking and the baking.

Mrs. K. seemed to feel that the whole family were a bit shiftless- but May was the steady one. She'd bake pies and bread, etc - and I've seen Graema come up to our place to get enough bread for the tourists breakfasts. They would sell the bread, right from under May's hands. They would never seem to think of themselves. Somebody would want a loaf of home made bread, and they would sell it. They had a little store there too.

When Willie's father came up here, he located the lot up there. Then, they went out for the Winter. When they came back in- the Robertson's had squatted on it, and he went up- and here, they had sowed it in oats or wheat, or something, and she was trailing a bough over it, covering the grain up. So, he let them be with it, and went and got another lot in Dwight. That was Sandy Robertson. They had the boys. The other Robertson's, when they came, settled right beside them.

Mr. Munro used to take his produce to alI the Fall Fairs.

BIRKENDALE

Information obtained from Mrs. Langford, July 28, 1967

Birkendale Inn - on highway

Birkendale House - built by W.Grieves Robson, Mrs. Langford’s grandfather. It is the first large house on the left after you turn down the Birkendale Road. It is now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Dillon. Mrs. Dillon is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Robson. Post office was here (It would be interesting to find out from them where the day book of the mill is.)

The George Robson mill was just beyond where the original Robson house is. You get at it from the Ronville Rd.

Birkendale is named for a Burk and a Dale. John Dale was one of the first settlers of area - before 1880, he had a mill (power) at the mouth of the creek, near the Bluffs, Dale's Bluffs can be seen as you drive along the Sea Breeze Rd., past cottages, over bridge, and a bit further along. Mr. Dale married a daughter of the McCutcheons. Mrs. George Christilaw of Toronto, is a daughter. Had a cottage on the Sea Breeze Rd. but it is now occupied by people by the name of Bristow, (Mrs. Dollar, of Dorset told me that Mrs. Harry Robinson of Dorset, was also a Dale)

Harvey Clark, lived near the Dale's. Was related to the Burk's through marriage.

George Burk's home, Sea Breeze House, is right at the end of the road leading down to the lake, on the right.

Charles Burk, married Ina Remey, settled in Dorset.

Gideon Burk, built large house just beyond where church and school are,- is occupied by the Pentelow's.

William, lived with parents

Milton, lived on highway on left as you turn down Sea Breeze Rd.

Roy [handwrittern: Welland] Mrs. Dayball Harry Roy is only one living Mrs. Reid Milton - James - St. Catharines Viola - Mrs. Hammond - Toronto Charles- His wife is cook at Ronville - 5 daughters

Birkendale -

Lakeside Methodist Church - later became Birkendale United Church -now is Sea Breeze Community Church. It is situated on the lakeshore, on the Sea Breeze Road, [handwritten: cemetery - just behind it.]

The old school is beside the church - now appears to be a cottage.

The Chevalier farm is right at the end on the Sea Breeze Road. Alfred, son of the original Sardi, lives there.

Ronville

The original McCutcheon house is the far end of the present lodge, as you drive in to Ronville.

Driving from Ronville, back to highway

Tunis Evans

Cockshutt - not related to the Cockshutt's at Port Cunnington. Their cottage is built on the site of the St. Paul's Presbyterian Church -the cemetery is still there

The old Sam Robson property starts with Clovelly Camp. This was all bought by Mr. Bedat - he sold the property to the camp. The Bedat home is a little further along- white house, red roof. [handwritten: After Mrs. Bedat’s death, Mr Bedat ultimately sold whole property to owners of Clovelly Camp.]

The place now occupied by Homan's, a brown place, was The Hemlock’s, formerly owned by Mrs. Langford's aunt and uncle - Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Irwin. Was operated as a resort - later burned.

Next white house is occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Tom Dillon. Mrs. Tom Dillon was also a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Robson

Marsh's Falls on main highway.

The mill was on the south west corner of the road, below the bridge. The Mary Louise was built there. Bill Marsh lived across the road. He was Captain Marsh's son. According to Mrs. Langford, it was he who ran the mill, not the father. The father may have financed it. Information given to me by Mrs. Langford concerning the church in Ten Mile Bay.

It was a Presbyterian Church. It was on what is now known as Ronville Point - It was the McCutcheon's Point. Father, and Aunt Jessie, and Uncle Grieves Robson paddled the raft of lumber from Dale's Mill, across to build that church. Aunt Jessie told me about that. Monday, Sept. 25, 1967, Dorothea Robson and Allan Miller had dinner with us at the cottage. Was anxious to check over with Miss Robson the material I have on the Robson family.

Miss R. told me an interesting fact about her aunt, Miss Mary Robson. She was 25 when the family came to the Lake of Bays, in 1876. She had nursed in Paris, and had been offered a certificate or diploma which would have given her the status of a registered nurse. She declined this because she felt that she would be freer to do what she wished, and what she felt was right, if she were not 'registered'.

She did a great deal of nursing up here - many typhoid patients. Of these, she only lost one - her little 3 year old brother. He was the first typhoid patient she had nursed.

My father, Captain Grieves Robson, had a pair of Thomas Salmon's snowshoes, and he took them with him up into Northern Ontario. While there, the Indians tried to steal the pattern, for they felt that they were better than the ones they were making.

Re the Marsh's.

Miss R. is under the impression that the Marsh Srs. never lived at Marsh's Falls. It was called that because he had a mill there. Miss R. is going to look up some information she has on the Marsh’s, and let me know. There is quite a story connected with that. There was some sort of a quarrel between Captain Marsh, and somebody else, about the mill there. Whether this is something that should go down in a history, I don’t know - but, I have a little information on it - just notes, you know. I would have to look it up to make sure I had it straight. It was a bit complicated, but there was a dispute. Miss R. didn't know that there had been a Bill Marsh. There was a Peter Marsh, a son, I know, and he lived in Huntsville. I am not sure - but I have always thought that Mrs. Marsh may have been a distant connection of our family. Anyway, whether that is so or not, they were people that the family knew very well, for they were here in the very early days. They had this steam boat, the Mary Louise - and my father worked on their steam boat, before he was a captain himself.

I asked if the Marsh's had lived in Baysville. She said she thought so, because, that is where the other people that were involved in this steamboat dispute, lived.

D.R. asked me if I had talked with Maude Wilkins.

The first Summer that my father was in Muskoka - he was 14 years old when they came, in 1876, and this was the next Summer, when he was 15, he worked as a cabin boy for Captain Huckins, on what I believe was the first steam boat on the Lake of Bays. My memory of it is not the same man that you have recorded there (Wabamik- but I am going to see if I can find a note that I have on that.

My grandfather and his family came from Paris to Baysville. Dad was the sixth in a family of ten. Aunt Lizzie didn't come with them first, and Uncle Sam didn't come at first either. But, the other eight children, and the parents, and Uncle Henry Cope came to Baysville in a covered wagon. They came to farm. Miss R. was under the impression that the first steam boat on the Lake of Bays was the Wenonah.

My brother in law was taping a conversation with Mrs. L. and we got into this little argument re the date when the Robson's came to Baysville. I thought that she said that it was 1878 when grandmother came up with her Mother. I knew that grandmother had come in 1876, with the rest of the family. This is one thing that my father dictated to me - his account of them coming up. And, it was mother and father and eight children, and an uncle - Uncle Henry Cope - and the two of the grown up children that didn't come, were Aunt Lizzie, Daisy Langford's mother, and Uncle Sam. Then Grandmother must have gone back, in fact I think I have a note to that effect - and then she came back with them, the following year.

When they first came, they spent that first Winter in Baysville - then the next Summer they went down to the Ryerson place.

In trying to confirm where the Ryerson place was. Miss R. felt it was where White's are now - because the name Bailey was often referred to -But then, I said that I had read that the Robson's came to Black Point, and that I was a bit confused.

Miss R. spoke of the Williams place- Uncle Harry Irwin built that cottage and they were living in it when he built it, and my sister and I stayed there overnight once when we were visiting them one Summer.

Miss R. wondered if there might have been two Ryerson places. Also-two or three miles did not seem a great distance up here in those days-so the location of the White place, may have been referred to as Black Point.

Point Elizabeth is perhaps a name for Longstone Point- but I think it really included the whole of that sort of peninsula. From Church Bay to Echo Bay is very narrow - it is really a little portage - this is sort of a peninsula, and I think that that is what was known as Point Elizabeth. But, the tip of it, which is where John's cottage, which was our family cottage, is Longstone Point - but, on the map, they call it Point Elizabeth. For many years it has been known as Longstone Point. John wanted to have it put on the map as Longstone Point, but apparently it couldn't be.

I think that the explanation for this problem may be this. When Grandfather came up first, didn't it say that he built a barn for Egerton Ryerson - down near Black Point? That would not necessarily mean that that was where they lived when they came up later. It probably was two places, Because am almost certain that where they lived after they had spent the Winter in Baysville, was where the old Bailey place was.

Aunt Jennie taught school in Sinclair Township. She also taught over at Port Cunnington, and I think that Daisy went to school there, when she was the teacher.

Captain Grieves Robson drew a map of the lake which was considered more accurate than the Government maps of that time, I think that the Peck’s have a copy of that map.

Who were the Peck's? Mrs. Peck was mother's sister. Edson Peck who has their Island now, is my cousin. I think that he has this map.

In the last few years of the parents life, they were not well, and they would have sold the island. Cameron, the older boy, he had to go to Arizona for his health, and he wasn’t going to be around any more, and they were going to sell the island„ but Edson decided to buy Cameron out. They were up for most of July and August this year - but they now live in Idaho. He lived all his life at Evanston Ill. and he was a professor at Northwestern. He went to the University of Idaho about three years ago, but they still come here for their holidays.

My mother came up as a tourist, first. I can't just remember whether it was in 1905 or 1906, and she came up, and her sister Janet, who was later Mrs. Peck. They went to Birkendale, this first Summer, because Aunt Janet was a very great friend of a cousin of my father's. This is how they happened to come, you see. They just came for a holiday. Well, the next year, they went to Fox Point, and David Peck came there as a tourist. He was Dr. Peck, and Edson is Dr. Peck. He is a physicist. Uncle David was a medical doctor, but he did not practise, because he went into the dairy business that was in his family, you see. That is where Foxwood is now, and that is where the Salmon's had their resort, and that is how he and Aunt Janet met. That probably would have been in 1907. And then, Mother and Auntie were both married in 1911.

When John was a year old, we moved to Barrie. John spent most of his H.S. years in Toronto (they had moved there). My sister was married in 1935. That was just about a year after we moved to Toronto. We lived there- until John was ordained, and Mother and I came to Huntsville with him. By this time, my father was dead. But, even though we lived elsewhere we spent an awful lot of time up here.

I have been told that my grandfather had an opportunity to buy Bigwin Island for $500.00 originally, and he decided that it wasn't a good place to lumber.

Daddy told me, that that first Winter they were in Baysville, the community had a, I'm not sure whether it was weekly or monthly,- what they called the Mutual Improvement Society. They had lots of fun. Maybe they didn't improve themselves, but they had a wonderful time. Everybody had to do something. They could either give a paper, a lecture, recite a poem, sing a song, play an instrument, or have a debate. The only taboo was that they couldn't discuss any controversial subject like religion or politics. It was nothing like that at all - but rather something for their interest and amusement.

Miss Alberta Langford was the telephone operator there for years and years and years. Now runs the telegraph office. She is about the same age as Daisy, but she is Daisy's niece by marriage. Miss Langford is Mark Langford's daughter. He was the oldest son - Dave Langford , Daisy’s husband was the youngest son of a large family.

Visit with. Rev. John Robson - Glen, Lindsay, Judy, Dale Friday, Aug. 23, 1968

John Robson is the son of Grieves Robson. He has never been a permanent resident of the area. Although he was born in Baysville, his family moved to Barrie when he was two. So, he has really only known this area as a tourist.

I asked him what he would consider important, in trying to make such a record as this. He mentioned getting, information re Francis Harvey trading post. Also, can I find out exactly where the trading post along here used to be. It would be quite a valuable historic thing, if any one could find any relics of that.

Background material, such as twp. papers, should be filed in the form of appendices to what is produced.

The lives of the people- the things they contended with- especially the women- the kind of hardships they put up with- the home brew remedies they used. How, and what did they cook- how did they get their staples. Who made the garden, the man or the woman, and who looked after it. The business of being born - the medical services, or lack of them, funerals etc.,

Transportation though was important- incredible story behind these little deserted places you find around - how people struggled.

Robert and Martha Burns - towards South Portage from Cain's Corners, The old stone house is the old Burns' homestead. They lived at Millar Hill first of all, which is back of Walker Emberson's place- not far from Hillside. I think the Burns would look more to Dwight and South Portage than they would to Hillside. Bob is an old trapper, and he knows the lumber game. He was involved in that, and he has got a good deal of information about the early days around here. Both he and Martha were born and brought up here. Their family homesteaded at Cain's Corners.

Indians - Cole's - any reference.

Should talk with Winnie Dillon- Mrs. Charles Dillon. Mrs. Dillon has a good memory - might have a good deal of material. Eileen Dillon -Mrs. Tom Dillon. Mrs. Charles Dillon and her sister have lived there all their lives- Winnie was postmistress for several years.

What did people contend with? What were their actual experiences, during a bitter Winter, back in a little lot in the middle of nowhere, with no money, no resources. I know the Robson's almost starved. It was a very rough time. They had an awful time surviving, the first little while. They had a very hard time indeed. And, they must have been pretty resourceful, and I think they got help from the neighbours, or they wouldn't have made it, maybe. I always understood the first Winter was particularly rough. And, I think that this is the kind of thing you should try to research. None of the homesteaders- there were those who were babies when the parents arrived, or, who were born here, but- the other generation, is gone. You don't have anybody who actually came here, and, can remember coming here at that period.

Anything you can get of the first experiences of these families-the trip up - how they came, where they stayed etc., would be fascinating.

The Robson story seems to be a bit hazy. Daisy Langford's account was different from dad's. Mary Robson was supposed to have come up first with her dad- then, they all came up together. In essence, the accounts are the same- but, the details differ. Dorie has a little bit about the trip up- not much- just 2 or 3 pages- that is all we have in writing.

Daisy may have quite a few letters, or other papers. Should get in touch with Ron and Alice Langford.

Another thing worth noting is the relationship between the settlers and the tourist industry, which followed soon.

Education - Some of these early settlers got a basic education, but, it came very, very hard for them, and, I know that they didn't get very good education. Dad had difficulty. He could write a decent letter-he could get by - he was intelligent - but, you couldn't say that his formal education was adequate. It was very lacking, in a lot of ways. And this, I think would be true of the great majority of the children of settlers. They got a minimum of formal education.

All the Burk's are away now, except the younger ones. They are perhaps in their 50's. The same is true of Charlie Irwin's family, that lived next to Birkendale, along there.

I am wondering if Winnie has any written records, or scapbooks. She did have a lot of the Robson stuff, including stuff from the Old Country. Whether she still has a lot of that, or not, I don't know. It would be very important to find out if she has letters of any kind, and the same would he true of Daisy. She might have letters tucked away that would be available. I think that Ron and Alice would know.

Winnie is a key one. Eileen too, might know.

Mrs. Jack Boothby is a great friend of Martha Burns. She too, would know quite a bit. You'll get leads from Marty. She lived with us for many years and is just like a member of the family - so, our children have a Grand Marty, which is quite unique.

John told me his father had spent a Winter at Fletcher Lake. He was going to start a town there- nothing came of it. He nearly died of lonesomeness -used to talk to himself. He heard a shot from a hunter's gun once -rushed out, and brought the hunter back to his cabin, and kept him up all night - just talking. Visit with Mr. Alfred Chevalier - Seabreeze Road - Sunday Sept. 15,'68

I told Mr. Chevalier, that according to the Tweedsmuir History, his father came here in 1902. According to Mr. Ernest Kelly, Sardis Chevalier, and his father, Michael, cleared pine off the Dwight area before the 1880's.

When he first came here, he was just a young lad. He came to Baysville first - then, he worked around in the camps for a few years, and, he mostly jobbed himself in the Winter, with a man or two - in lumbering. It was practically all pine at that time.

Father was 84 when he died, in 1948 - 20 years ago- so, he would be 104 if he were alive now. He couldn't have been more than 14 or 15 when he came up here. He probably came up in '78 or '79. He was there for maybe a year or two, then, he worked around in Dorset and Dwight.

He came from down near St.Catharines someplace. He was somewhere around 25 when he got married. That would give him about ten years that he would have been working around the camps here and there - but, it was always around the Lake of Bays area. After he was married, he was a year or two in Baysville, and a couple of years in Dorset, and he was a couple of years in Rabbit's Bay. Then he moved in the Bay here. It may have been 1902, when he settled here. He married a girl by the name of Steele. Her family had been down near Rama for years - then they moved up here. They were in Baysville for a while- but they also lived in the Bay here for some time. Then, they moved back to Baysville.

Mr. Sardis Chevalier cleared this property himself. The source of his income was farming. At that time, you did very well here, by farming. You could do better than by working in the camps, or anything like that. You could make a good, decent, independent living. You didn't clean up money, or anything, but, you could make a good independent living. The land was fertile and productive. The ground doesn’t seem to grow stuff now like it used to.

To whom did he sell his produce? I can't tell you exactly how they worked that out. They'd take their eggs and butter to Dorset, and they’d get groceries in return for them. It was more trading than selling, actually. At that time, there were a lot of camps around, and, they'd sell their meat, and a lot of their vegetables in the Fall, to the camps. Like cabbage, turnips, potatoes - all that stuff, - carrots, beets. They grew the stuff purposely to sell to the camps, and their hay too, for the horses. Away back, they only had beef cattle, not lamb. You couldn’t sell lamb until the tourists started coming in. There was no market for lamb. Until that time, it was beef cattle and pork. Lamb and chickens -there was no market for them until the tourists started coming in. My father kept lamb for years. The tourists started coming in around 1905--and the market for lamb developed. They just raised lamb and chickens for the tourists. If you had a bunch of chickens to sell, you had to get rid of them in July and August. For a while, after I grew up, I could make good money here - make a good living. Now, you couldn't get salt for your porridge.

The way they bring stuff in, you couldn't compete. Away back, there weren't any roads. People were forced to shop locally. Away back, the boats used to get in here around 11 or 12 o'clock at night. That's the only way you had to get to town, without walking, or driving a team of horses. It was Len Barry's impression that you and your brother, and Dad had the contract for cutting the wood for the Iroquois, Mohawk Belle, and also Bigwin. Yes, we did,- for years. We probably would cut 150-200 cords of wood for a season, and, there were others cut wood too. It seems to me that it took 10 cords a day for the boats- for the Iroquois and Mohawk Belle. Then, when Bigwin opened, they took about 10 cords a day, there, around the clock. I put the wood in at Bigwin for about 9 years- for the Navigation Co. in the Summer- loaded it on a scow, and towed it. Some of it went to Dorset. Most of it went to Bigwin. They had a dock at Bigwin, they used to call the East dock. All you can see now are the piers down under the water. We used to put quite a bit of wood there, and, some of it would go down to the Portage, so that if they were waiting for the little train to come across, they'd wood up. And, if they were waiting; for ten or fifteen minutes, or half an hour at Dorset, they'd throw some wood in. But, it was just Bigwin wood that went in on the East dock. They needed the wood for the machinery that was at the power house. You see, they had a big boiler in the kitchen too. Now, all this would be done by diesel, or electric. That would have been Mr. McKee that you would have dealt with, then - he was a nice gentleman. He was swell. You couldn't beat him. We would cut the wood in the Winter. Then, during the Summer, they would get the weoo as they wanted it. Would that wood have been cut near here? Yes, it was all cut handy - right on our own property. Whoever cut wood, cut it on their own property.

Were there any other year round residents lived along this shore, before the Sumer residents started to arrive?

John Dale - he used to have a mill up here - just the other side of that cement block cottage. On over a little farther, there used to be a man by the name of Harvey Clark. Then up where you leave #35, and come down by the lake this way, where you saw that big house by the edge of the bush. That used to be a man by the name of Wiggin. He was a son of a gun. If you were sick, he was the first one there to help you, but, if you were up -on your feet, he was the first one to try to slip it over you.

Burk's were here for nearly all of their life. They were here for a while - then, moved away- and came back again. Where you might get information on the Burk's and the Irwin's and that, is up in the little cemetery, and look at some of the stones. ( Ron and I did do that. We found very few stones. It was very difficult walking, because the place was so overgrown. However, we saw W.E. Irwin's stone - also C.Burk, also J.B. Shrigley's grave - d. 1911.

They fixed the little church all up a couple of years ago.

Mr. Chevalier didn't ever remember the location of Dale's Mill, being called Dale's Bluff's. Around there by Parmenter's - he used to have his-first house down there where Parmenter's are now. Then, they moved over to where that old log cabin is. (The log cabin was built in the early '20's, but it was never taken care of.)

The mill sat just in to one side- where the snow fence runs down to the lake. If you were to walk down to the lake, you'd see a bunch of old stone, and that's where the boiler stood. That mill got burned twice. It got burned when Jahn Dale had it. He and his father had it. Then, they went and hewed stuff by hand, to set another mill up. He had no money, and there was no mill around handy to cut for the settlers, and he had a chance of cutting for Rathburn's- building slides, and that, up on through, so, some of the settlers got together and made a bee. It only took two or three weeks to do it. But, they set the mill up again, so he'd get running. They just gave the time when they were slack, and set the mill up. (I believe the mill burned three times.)

John Dale sold the mill out to Lou Hill. And then, it was called Hill's Mill, and then, it got burned again. John Dale went to Blind River. He was a government scaler, and he went up there scaling logs, and Nellie Dale, his daughter, married George Christilaw, and they had a cottage on the shore here for years. She is still alive, and lives in Toronto someplace.

Harvey Clarke, he was connected with the Burk's. I don't know Mrs. Clark maiden name, but, she and Mrs, Bill Burk were sisters. Mr. Clarke, what did he do? When John Dale had the mill, he mostly worked there, because it was so handy. But, John hardly ever went into the bush to cut logs. He'd buy a few - he didn't have much money to work on. He’d probably buy a few - and figure on cutting for this one and that one. Lots of times, that mill ran with just two or three men. It would have taken about 10 or 12 to run it right. And Hill did the same thing. I’ve seen us work there, and only three of us. There wasn't money to pay help and he'd just work along with what he could do.

Mr. Wiggin was here quite early too- it was away back, he came here. He worked in the camps. He married a McCutcheon. McCutcheon's used to have Ronville- away, way back- they built the first part. Then, old Charlie Crump bought it, and built the big part that stands there now- the three storey. They built it in the Winter. Those logs would be standing in a tree in the morning, and they'd be nailed to that building, by night. They just cut it - brought it to the mill- and, as it went through the saw- it went over there.. Crump had bought it, and he wanted the place ready for the following Summer. He bought it late in the Fall. The timber was handy to the mill. They just cut it. The logs were standing in the bush in trees in the morning- not every day, but some days- the boards from those logs would have been used in the building.

Mr. Chevalier had never hear of a school having been held at Dale’s Mill.

Before the school was where it is now (beside the church, and it has since been sold, and has been converted into a Summer cottage-) it was back up near #35 hwy. There is a cottage on the right hand side of the road, just back this way a bit from that- that is where it was, and for some reason, they moved it from there to where it is, near the lake.

Now, it might have been on account of them rowing across the lake in the mornings, when the lake was open- and going home at night- they could go much easier by water. At that time, most of the people were living down by the lake, and, across the lake. And, they moved the school from where it was, up near that cottage. I think really, they tore it down, and re-built. I think that's what happened, but I am only guessing at that- but, I know it was up there for quite a while. It was a lot handier for the scholars in its new location.

Is this regarded as part of the Birkendale area? Some do. Really, Seabreeze ends at the lake. Burk's used to take in tourists - the first house- not the one that is there now - it was burned down- where that house is where you make the sharp turn at the lake- that used to be a tourist place- and a dock in front of it- and, it was called Seabreeze. Really, Seabreeze is only that road from the lake to the highway. This whole road is Seabreeze, as far as the tourists are concerned. But, that was really how it got its name- when Burk's were taking in tourists, they called it Seabreeze. And, Birkendale got its name from Burk and Dale. They were the first two- the first ones up here. So, they named it Birkendale, for the first two settlers.

Re doctors - away back in the early part, when the Cole's were at Dorset there wasn't a road fit to travel on-but later, when they got roads fit for teams, a doctor would come in. He would charge $25 to came in from Huntsville. They fed a team of horses all the time. Now this was expensive, and, if their horses were busy- they'd hire a taxi, for to come in, and that cost a lot. If I remember correctly, it took about 3 1/2 hours to come in. At that time, there weren't many reads. The road on the Seabreeze shore was there, but it was just what you would call a wagon trail- up till the last thirty years. Somewhere around 30 years ago, roughly, they organized the twp., or a little better than that. And so, then there was money to spend on the roads. And the roads kept getting better, And, they are mighty good roads for twp roads.

As for childbirth - take Mary Robson. God knows how many she brought into the world. My grandmother on my mother's side was another one-Steele-part of the time she was here, but the big end of the time she was in Baysville. Mary Robson was a nurse, away back, and God knows how many she looked after- because all the settlers around, looked to her. When they wanted her, they'd go and get her. If the settlers could afford to pay for that service, they'd pay - but, I'll bet she didn't get paid for half of what she did. She'd do well if she'd get five dollars, and then, she'd probably be there for two, three or four days, if she didn't have to go someplace else. But, if she had to go some place else, she went. That's where she get the name of Aunt Mary from everybody.

Johnnie Brown has had that place for years (Auntie's Bay and Auntie’s Point)- there's a bay, and a nice beach. It's all built up with cottages now. This side of the beach, there's a point, and that's where they had their house. Pretty nearly all the bays were named after someone who had been living there. The Green's settled in by Clovelly- some of them were a way back, some of them, right on the lake. Bill Green was right on the lake, Dick Green was right on the lake.

Were your people French, Mr.C.? Not at all on my mother's side. My grandfather on my father's side, was 1/2 French.

As far back as I can remember, none of the pioneer women had a tougher time than the men. But, if there was hay to get in, or grain, they would think nothing of going out and helping- or, to milk cows, or anything like that. But, if the women went out, and milked on their own, the men would be doing something else. They didn't have a tougher time, but, they had a lot of hard work.

It doesn't seem to me it was hard keeping places warm in these days. The places were smaller. But, it was nothing for them to go out and cut the wood at night, for the next day, if they were working any place. And, it was nothing for the women to go out and cut some wood. That wasn’t anything. They didn't think anything of it at the time. And, the toilet stuck away out, two or three hundred yards from the house. And, unless they had a well, the water would come out of the lake. If they were back from the lake, they'd maybe have a spring or a well. Mr. C. too commented on how many of the settlers built high on a hill, instead of closer to the lake, where they would have been closer to the supply of water. As far as things being handy, at that time, they thought everything was all right. As long as they had a pot and a frying pan, and a few vegetables, they figured they were all right. They didn't look for anything.

In the early days, did your family depend largely on hunting and trapping for meat? My father did a little bit of trapping, but not away back- but, he generally had his own meat. But, a lot of them didn’t have, and they would go out and shoot a venison at any time, and they were plentiful. It wasn't like going out now, and trying to get a deer. You were allowed 2 deer away back, and he'd generally get a couple in the Fall. Then, he had his own beef and pork. He'd buy a pair of pigs in the Spring- little ones. Sometimes he'd have four. Then, he'd kill a beef-maybe two beef for himself. Always had lots of beef and pork. A lot of the early settlers didn't have these animals, even when there were lots of them around, they didn't have them. What most of them did was to keep a couple of cows, and then, the calves, they'd kill for themselves. Sometimes, they'd sell them, but, usually, if they just had a cow or two, they'd kill the calves for themselves in the Fall. Then, there was lots of venison, and lots of fish. The fishing was good, up until about 10 years ago. Them buggars in Baysville dumped four tubs of fish in the river. Peck, he didn't do it himself, but his men did it. Peck was half keeping Baysville, and it was just hushed up. When Bill Ellington ? went down from Dorset, why he couldn't get a thing. They got the idea -some of them that was working for him, that they'd dump these fish in the river there, and they just could get minnows for fishing in the lake, whenever they wanted them- at any time. Well, they just scattered all over the lake. Now, you just get the odd big one.

Wes Sawyer of Dorset, he used to make the most of his money, guiding. There were certain lakes that he knew, and where to get them. When he’d have a young guide starting in, he'd warn them not to get them over two fish a day- two was enough, unless a person had a big family. He’d tell them to follow him. He'd take them to the spots where they were sure to get them- breaking the new guides in.. They'd have the shore marked- where the fish, for some reason, would bite.. They'd get them two, not more than three in a day. When they had their catch, they’d swing a little bit so they wouldn't notice it, and they wouldn't get anything. All the Sawyer's and the Russell's were guides and trappers-each one would have a section. They worked in the camps a little bit, but most of them depended on guiding. in the Summer, and working in the camps, or trapping in the Winter.

The boat I had here was built in Baysville. Lou Green had it for a long time- then, VanClieaf, Danny, and I got it from him. It wasn’t Brown's who built it. Can't remember the name of the maker. My boat was used as a tug, although I did take the odd bunch out in it. The naming of Birkendale [handwritten in top right of page: Miss Demaine’s Tweedsmuir History Oct 1970]

Last week, our eldest pioneer resident ( this would have been Miss Mary Robson, according to Mrs. Tom Dillon ) gave us some very interesting information regarding the origin of the name Birkendale.

When she first came here, 52 years age, Dwight was the nearest Post Office but not long after, they were asked by the Gov't. to send in names for the new settlement. She and some friends had noticed that there were a great many yellow birches, or Birchen, as they are often called in this locality. Of course, there are also many dales, or valleys.. So, they sent in the name - Birkendale. To their surprise, the name was chosen for the new Post Office. We were told that the bark of these trees tastes and smells like wintergreen, and that they are still plentiful In the district.

(When talking with Mrs. Dillon, she said that they were the Birchen that Robbie Burns used to write about. ) Mr. Charles Dillon - Birkendale - Sat. August 29. 1971

As nearly as I can understand, the Robson's came up here in 1876.

Sam was working in an axe factory - and he didn't come until some time later. And, the one. girl was trying for a school teacher's license- that was Elizebeth- so she didn't come until later. I am not sure how much later- perhaps five or six months - there wasn't a great deal of difference.

What brought them here- was it just the Free Grant Land, or was there a health reason. ? One thing that brought them here, was that Ryerson was having a place cleared up there ( it later became the Bailey place) - and he gave this man Robson the job of clearing it - so many acres of land, at $25 an acre - for putting in the first crop. Mr. Robson, the old gentleman, was a bridge builder by trade - and a barn builder, and he thought if he came up into a new country he'd get a fresh start building brides- which he did. He built a great many of the brides through here-the wooden bridges. In fact I have his wrench cut here in the shop. It was made by a blacksmith- and given to a blacksmith who used to make his bridge rods. When they first came up here they stayed in Baysville for the first Winter, or part of it - because they didn't have a house up on the Ryerson property. They also stayed with Grey's for part of the Winter, at Echo Lake. Then, they moved up to Edgewood.

According to Mr. D. the first house at Edgewood was a log house. Then, there was another close to it that was used as a bunk house. One of the bigger houses was burned down there. ?? Would they have rented that property from the Ryerson's?. No, they were working- the land - and getting so much an acre for getting it ready for a crop - getting the use of the land for a three year period, and getting paid so much an acre - so much for the first three crops.

At one time or another, all the children lived at Edgewood with the parents. The youngest one in the family, a small boy, Graeme, died there. That is where Mr. Salmon met Elizabeth. The little one who died was three. He was two when they came up. The rest of them were stepped on up -Miss Mary was the oldest. There were 11 in the family. Tim was the next oldest. Jennie and Jessie were young, either in their teens, or maybe not even in their teens yet. Kate would have been in her teens, and also Elizabeth.

How would they have made their living? There was a large family - was the only income they had, the $25 a month? The boys worked in lumber camps, and the old man - if there was a gov’t bridge to be put in - like the one at Goose Lake- or a road contract to be done - if he was on the right side of politics, he got it, but, if he wasn't, then the other fellow got it. He did some work on the Bracebridge - Baysville road. I know he built some of the little bridges on that road.

This is practically the site of the original Robson house at Birkendale, although this house is about 20 feet nearer the lake. When they came here there was a little log house down nearer the lake,- that had belonged to someone else who had been here ahead of them - the MacLennon's- right down next to the lake. There used to be quite a flat spot down near the lake that was washed away..There was quite a bit of flat land down there, that was washed away in my time. Then, there were footings, or some kind of a building of log construction. Right in that corner where you are sitting- - underground. But, none of the Robson's knew anything about it. When we built this house in 1935, my brother - I, was up in Camp Arrowhon - I was burned out then, so he started, along with the mill hand we had, to dig out a new basement for me, and build a new house. When they were digging, they ran into the remains of an old log house - right in that corner. It was completely under about 2 1/2 to 3 feet of gravel and nobody knew anything about it, not a soul. I asked Tom Salmon- he used to carry the mail, and stop and get his lunch here. I showed it to him and asked him what he knew about it - you could still see the axe marks at the ends of the logs. He knew nothing about it. I also asked Sardis Chevalier - but he knew nothing of it.

The original Robson house, which was built about 20 feet north of here, was quite a large house. Am I right in thinking that lumbermen used to stay in that house on their way into and out of the Camps? Oh yes, they did that as long as I can remember. They have done that in this house. During the depression, I have wakened up with 16 young people in the barn, sleeping- young men. These people didn't pay anything. - it was just a courtesy. Old Father Fleming and Mr. McIlroy used to stay here, when they were making their priestly rounds in the Spring, or in the Winter. Father Fleming was Roman Catholic - he'd stay here, and then, he'd go on to the lumber camps beyond Dorset. How frequently would that happen? About twice during the winter time.

There was an Orange Hall at Cain's Corners - which was afterwards moved to Dwight. The building that is still at Cain's Corners, is just the drive shed. The two graves are still up there - they were never moved. One of them is Mr. Geroux - I think the other one is Mr. Cain - there are no names there. The old Orange Hall sat right in the corner of the fence -and right alongside the Hall was the little graveyard. I only know of the two graves there. There used to be a picket fence around it - now there is nothing but lilac bushes.

Did the priest ever hold services for the Catholics around here who were not in the lumber camps? Yes, he sometimes held services in the McNamara’s in Dorset. Jack Mac was the boss fire ranger for years- and Tom Mac. I think Father Fleming was stationed in Bracebridge.

When the Robson's moved over here - what did they do for a living? Mr. Robson Sr. carried on with his road and bridge and barn building. He did a lot of barn building-- even as far away as Scotia Junction, and Emsdale -all over the place. So, he was well known for his barn building.

Mr. Robson Sr. did not ever have a mill - but his son George did. It was along the shore here - about an eighth of a mile or less from here. You are sitting on lot 8, and the mill was on the outside corner of Lot 8. It's just about the width of a lot away. We are on a broken front. These lots are running North and South lergthways. Well, Lot 8 - the bigger part of Lot 8, on the 5th concession- was out in the lake- so, they put what was left of the lot, that was land- they put it on the end of Lot 8 that was in the sixth concession. It made 118 acres in lot 8 in the sixth and they just called it a broken front. You are sitting on broken front now. Normally you would be in the 5th concession- but you are in the 6th concession.

Can you tell me about Miss Mary Robson? She was just one in a million, that is all. I can't tell you about her - for, she was just so big hearted I just can't explain it- just how bjg hearted she was. She'd just go day or night anywhere, for anybody. If it was typhoid fever, she was there, if they were going to have a baby - she'd say - Charlie - hitch up that horse- we've got to go Tryon's, or some other place. Mrs. Tryon's going to have a baby. The old man's gone on to get the doctor. We've got to go back up to Tryon's. Get me there, just as fast as you can. That was all there was to it. She was generally there ahead of the doctor, and generally ahead of the baby. And, the baby was generally there ahead of the doctor.

Oh, man, she was wonderful. It didn't matter whether a man had a broken leg- they would bring them down here to the house with broken legs, and she'd patch them up.

Had she ever had any formal nurse's training? None other than that she travelled with the doctors- that is, she travelled with Dr. Howland. It was just a case of common sense, and the fact that the doctor had shown her how to do these different jobs. And, she knew how to make do with what she had. If she didn't have exactly what she needed - she would use something else in its place. She did with what she had. And, it wasn’t much, some of the time. Somebody had stuck an axe in their leg when they were peeling tanbark - and they had blood poisoning - why, she stopped the blood poisoning, the best way she could. And, she generally did it too. There was a beaten trail to her door, day and night. I spoke of the tribute which Mrs. Hood had paid to the Robson's in general- and to Miss Mary in particular - and that she had travelled on every mode of conveyance. Re the stone boat - Mr. D. said they would put a chair on the stone boat and wire it on, so that it would not upset. We went in over the Fletcher road that way, because you couldn't get any other kind of a rig over it. That, was the old Gilmore road they called it in those days - up to Fletcher Lake. And, there was neither wheeling nor sleighing, nor anything else. We bored a hole through the chair, and wired it on fast to the stone boat so that it would not upset.

I understand that at one time there were Summer guests at Birkendale? Was that while Mr. and Mrs. Robson Sr. were alive? I think it probably started around that time. I didn't come here until 1907- so I don't know. But, it was under way when I came here as a young lad. They could accommodate 33 — 35 guests. That would not have all been in the house? No, but in those days, they didn't ask for the accommodation they ask for now-a-days. You would be amazed where people would sleep. They slept in tents, and they had what they called Kenyon take- downs. They were made of canvas on 2 by 2 frames. You bolted these sections altogether, and set them up on a floor. Oh, they were really quite an affair. They thought they really had something, when they had one of these. The canvas was always tight on then. You bolted the wall on, and the roof went on the same. And they had a fly on them - and, the only part that ever flapped was this fly. I think that there were about 10 rooms that they could rent in the main part of the house. That house burned in 1909. Also- there was a three storey building out in what was the barnyard- and all the top storey was accommodation for sleeping quarters for men. There were four great big bed rooms above the thing. There were stairs on the outside. You could drive into the second storey with the wagon, and then from there you would go up the steps to the third storey. It was a very treacherous affair. Nowadays you would get drunk and fall out of it.

Miss Mary - she was the main boss who looked after the tourists when she was home, and then Miss Kate, she looked after it. Then, Jessie was home a lot of the time. Jessie wasn't married until about 1908 - around there.

I know they had guest here in 1906,7,8- then it burned in 1909. And the guests who were booked for that year, all went down to the Hemlocks-Irwin's old place. It was burned years afterwards. When Birkendale was rebuilt, they no longer took guests. They tell me they got the Post Office here in 1902. Jennie had the Post Office to begin with. She would have been the Miss Robson who named the Post Office. I asked Kate about the naming of the place, and she said the name was composed because of the birches and the dales - and she too, mentioned Robbie Burns birchen. She said the name Burke and Dale had nothing to do with it.

The second house was struck by lightning on Aug.13, 1935. At least that is what they told me, I wasn't here. I had a boy I was raising, and he had an impediment in his speech always afterwards. He'd been out to a dance. We had a little sawmill- down at the bank of the creek. They were finishing up cutting, and I was up at Camp Arrowhon. It was running, but, it hadn’t really got going yet. I was under great stress the day the house was burned, because Ted Andrews, the man who owned the horses, had been drowned that night, and I had to get him out of the lake, or try to. We didn’t get him until the next Monday. It was Friday, he drowned. So, what with one thing and another, I was very busy.- Who all was left at the time it was burned in 1935? My wife had been my housekeeper for thirteen years at that time. Miss Mary and Miss Kate were still living here, and Jessie was living in Dwight. Old Gief was living in Baysville- no he was living, in Toronto then,

The busiest day I ever had in my life was the day John was born. Captain Robson, he owned the Nishka- a little steamboat that ran out of Baysville. Of course he wouldn't leave his wife, the day the baby was expected. He knew it was going to be a boy. Anyway- I had to go out in charge of the boat. And, of course that was the day we had to have a bad, bad wind, and a blooming load of passengers. I had to call at Fairview Island, which we only had to do about once a month. They had a little wee short dock, and, it wouldn't come up to the gangway. You had to go kind of cornerways into the dock. Oh, boy, and I was only a young fellow. I’ll never forge that day as long as I live. When we got back, John was born- and was I ever glad it was over with.

He owned the Equal Rights. Why was it called the Equal Rights. It was registered the Equal Rights when it came over as a tug from Georgian Bay. Howard, in Baysville later bought it as a supply boat.

Mr. D. remembered the name Erastus Wiman- but didn't know anything about the boat. He was under the impression that it had sunk somewhere- maybe in the Baysville River. I think it was a paddle wheel - stern wheeler. Told Mr. D.about the clipping Mr. Braund had told me about - 1903-saying that the Erastus Wiman took cruises from Dorset to Baysville for 25¢.

When you go down the Baysville River past the sand bar, there's a long flat looking spot, on the right hand shore, it used to be - it’s many years since I have seen it. Well, that was not land, it was a floating bridge- a anchored to the shore. It was all grown up with weeds and grass and bushes. Right over the end of that thing - you look over the edge of it, and you’ll see a boat on the bottom. It was a steam boat that went down during the night, and it was never raised. That was the old bridge that used to go across. They used to swing it across when they wanted to use the road, and when they wanted to use the river, they opened it.

Mrs. Hood told me they used to have a loom here, and that they used to weave. What did they weave, and who did it? Well, they wove carpets. They did course carpets - and they used heavy wool and did a lot of heavy wool bedspreads. Did they just weave carpets for their own use, or did they ever sell them? No, they wove them on order. They supplied the warp. It came in square bundles. I guess there would be 24 skeins to the bundle. They were about a foot long. There was all different colours of warp, and there were different kinds of warp. There was a hard textured string- and also soft. It was heavy to carry, because it was baled, in tight. Well then you cut your own rags, and you sewed them together, and you rolled them yourself, and you rolled then on bobbins, or shuttles, rather, and you slid these shuttles back and forth. I've watched them by the hour. Everybody took a crack at the weaving - it just depended on what they were doing. All you did was push the peddle - depending on how many colours you were weaving, and whether you had a pattern or didn't have pattern. If you had a pattern, the picture was up there on the rack, so that you knew what you were doing. Everybody took a crack at it, if they had nothing else to do. It was like the churning. It was a novelty to begin with, but, the novelty soon wore off.

Whet did they do for fun, in these early days. Well, my one uncle- John’s father - Gief - we used to play checkers, and , man., he was a sharp checker player. You could spend an hour or an hour and a half playing a game of checkers with him, quite handy. And, of course, reading The Globe was another passtime that had to be done. And there was a daily Bible reading. Of course the young people, they didn't think so much of it. It was a case of let's get at it, and get out of here.

There was always square dancing. There wouldn't be a week go by, that we weren't down at the Hill's or the Clark's- or at the George Robson's-or at Fox Point. It didn't matter where it was - as long as there was a dozen people got together- there was a square dance. Somebody could play the fiddle - somebody the piano. And, there was no time at all until a Munro, or somebody turned up who could play a fiddle. All of the Munro sons could play the fiddle- Mel, Ott and John- and the Wilder's could fiddle. Harry Irwin, was a very stiff Methodist, but boy he could dance, and he could play a mouth organ. It was Harry Irwin who married Aunt Jeesie. They went to the Hemlock's after the old man died. (His name was William) - the Sr., that is)

Jack Dawkins was with the Gilmore Co. when I knew him. He had a team of dogs. I’ll bet each dog weighed 150 pounds. They weren't hitched like normal dogs. They were hitched along side of one another- like horses - and, a little cutter. In the Sumner time, old Jack rode a bicycle. He made these dogs pull the bicycle, and a lot of times, let them run free. But, when he was In a hurry, he hitched leads to the heavy collars, and attached the lead lines to the handlebars of the bicycle. And, going through our yard here, one dog killed a sheep. I sat and waited for him to come back- about a week later. When I saw him coming, I was going to shoot him, if he didn't pay for the sheep. Mrs. Dawkins was a Baysville Irwin, but they weren't related to these Irwin's. She was connected with the Wally Irwin’s. These Irwin's came from Wiarton, where they had been in the hardware business. They didn't come up until around 1900. Old Captain Robson, he owned that place- Gief - and they wanted neighbours so bad, they just turned that place over to them.

When the Robson's moved over to Birkendale, they were completely alone over here. The McCutcheon's were at Ronville, The Dales were down in the cove this side of Dale's Bluff. A lot of people think that they lived in the first cove this side of Dale's Bluff - but, they didn't- they lived in the next little cove - because I have been there lots of times- and I have been in the house and the barn. People by the name of Harvey Clarke bought the barn, and moved it. One time there was a bush fire down there, when the old slide was there the- Rathbun people had a slide down the flats from Goose Lake- down Ten Mile Creek- and, the road to Chevalier's - oh, it wasn't a road, it was a trail - oh, it was an awful trail. Away up at Goose Lake - you had to take a raft to cross a ford, because there was no way of getting across this big brute of a slide. They had to wait until the Winter time to get this old barn down, because there was no way to get it out. There was a foot bridge up and over the slide. And we used to down there and swim at night, because it was a good place to go. When we were working at Hill's Mill, we used to go down the slide, and up and over the foot bridge, and over to Dale's old house to swim. Lou Hill took over the mill, when Dale pulled out.

Who came in around here after the Robson's? The Burk's - Bill Burk. There was Bill Burk, and a fellow by the name of Wager. Bill Burk settled at the foot of what is the Seabreeze road. There is a house there now, but the house he built it was burned. The Burk's settled on a homestead at Hardwood Lake, first. Bill Burk was Milt Burk's father, and he was Charlie Burk's brother. The parents came up too, but they were only at Hardwood Lake, and then, they went back to Fonthill, or some place. Then, Gid Burk -at the Narrows - he was another brother. They had a tourist house- The Maples.

Where did the Wager's settle? Just down by the Methodist Church, and the old school house- the next place down past that. There are none of them around - they moved out west. Their location is now owned by Pentalow's.

The Robson's nearest neighbour was old Davey Griffith - he was Sargeant Griffith- he’s buried over here, in the little churchyard. He used to live on an army pension. When it would run out, he used to move in with the Dales or the Robsons - anybody who had something to eat. He used to wear his medals. He lived alone up here. He had a wife somewhere- but, when they tried to settle the estate up, she wouldn't answer the ad..

Would the Robsons have had much contact with Dwight in the early years, or would that have been too far away? Well, at first, they used to walk over and get their mail at Dwight, and there was a darned good foot path, between here and Marsh's Falls, and there were always enough boats, so that they could cross the river. You see there used to he quite a little settlement at Marsh's Falls. There were people above the Falls, and people below the Falls. Bill Marsh lived above the Falls, but the mill was below the Falls on the far side.

Who else lived at Marsh’s Falls besides the Marsh's? Their name has just escaped me -but I can show you at least three cellars over there, above the Falls. You see, this road you travel now, is not the road we used to travel. We go across what we call Pete Marsh's clearings. Pete Marsh was raised at Marsh's Falls. Pete Marsh was Captain Marsh's son. According to Mr. Dillon, Captain Marsh lived at the Falls at one time - he had a very nice house on this side of the Falls - a very nicely finished house. Bill also had a house there. Who built the Mary L? I think it was the old man who financed it. I don't know who did the actual building. The fellow who came up to build the Mary L stayed here. He had a large family- there were eight girls, and two or three boys. The boys died but the girls lived. His second oldest girl - they left here when she was a young lady- she came back here when she was getting up in years. They rented my white cottage - and she came up here and asked me about this and that- and then I found out who she was and she told me she had been born over here at Marsh's Falls.

How did the mail get in here, when they had the Post Office. Well, as near as I can make out - Laurence Dale - John Dale’s son, was lame on one leg. One thing he could do was walk like a son of a gun - and he used to walk over to Dwight. It was an imperfect walk, but how he could cover the ground. And, he used to walk to Dwight and carry the mail for everybody. This was his first stop - he'd generally row this far in an old punt.

Re Thomas Salmon- acc to. Mr. D. he was a very conceited man- especially regarding his ability as a fisherman. He figured he could catch a fish out of a wash tub that had never had a fish in it in its life. They used to paddle down the river, and then, they would park the canoe --and they would walk this far, and they would stay all night- and it would save paddling away around home. It was quite a long paddle from Marsh's Falls to Fox Point. This night he came across, and he stayed,- he had been off guiding. Next morning, he said - oh, never mind your haying - come on- the fish are biting something wonderful. I've never seen the likes of the way they are biting. Come on, we’ll go fishing this morning. I said -Naw - you won't catch anything in that darned old creek (Ox Tongue River). However, he persuaded me that we would have a whole carload before we got to the mouth of the river- so away we went. And, before we got down to the mouth of the river, we really hooked one. And, he played it, and he fished and he pulled, and he only had a trout line out. He kept telling me how big this thing was- it weighed twenty pounds if it weighed an ounce. Wait until he got the thing in - hold it tight. I was in the bow end of course and I was trying to hold the canoe tight- and I'd paddle up, and I’d pull back, and I was going up, and I was going down, and I was paddling up, and the more I’d paddle, the madder he got, and finally he said - well, I am going to bring this thing in, if it breaks my pole, and, after he had played it for about an hour or an hour and a half, why he hauls the thing in, and he gets it up along side, and it's a mud turtle that weighed about 15 pounds. And, he said - if you ever say anything about this to anyone Charlie, I'll kill you, even if I have to come back from the dead to do it. He just cut the line, and let it go. He didn't put out another line, nor did he say a word. We paddled around to what is now Foxwood, I helped him unload his canoe, and I had to walk home.

Mrs. Salmon must have been a lovely lady? Yes, she was, but she wasn’t near the lady her sister Mary was. She wasn't as big-hearted, or anything else. Of course, she had raised a big family, you know- and she put up with an Englishman all those years - Tom Salmon swore at all the other remittence men in the country, but, what else was he than a remittance man. He never admitted it. You know they judged Englishmen by the young men who came out here. Well, if you are raising a head of cattle, you sell your poor ones, and keep the good ones. Well, that's what they did in the old country. They sent us the young men who were no good - and kept all the good ones. And yet, they judged the stock of the English people by what they were sending out here

To your knowledge, what lumbering took place on the North Shore. You were talking about the logs brought down from Goose Lake, and down that slide. in Ten Mile Creek. I was here the last year that slide wars ever run- that was 1907. Where would those logs have been cut? I imagine those logs were all cut up in Hardwood Lake- in and around that area. They would be brought down into Goose Lake, then down the slide at Ten Mile Creek, and towed in to Baysville. Mickle and Dyment lumbered in here, between here and Marsh's Falls - 1907 was the last year they were here. They came right down through here, and they had the whole bay full of logs. They brought their logs down to the bay here, with horses and sleighs. - Milton Burke and I were in a camboose camp about 80 miles above Blind River. There were 50 teamsters in a bunk house that wasn't any bigger then this house. I slept in the top bunk - the third bunk up. All we had were 30 inches of room to crawl in. You had to go up, and come down head first, so you could catch your balance, and feel your way down to the steps in the morning. There were only lanterns. The chore boy would come in and light them at a quarter to three in the morning. There was a central fireplace, but, there was a separate building for cooking. I was a teamster at that time - but, I have also been a sawyer - and I have been on the cant hook, but never was an axeman, a chopper.

The central fireplace was used only for heat. We went into camp on the 5th of Sept., we had about a week or a little better at Christmas, and then, we came out in March. Then, Bill Cope, an engineer, and I went in as his assistant- we went back in about the 20th of March, and stayed till the drive started out again- and we headed the drive down with the alligator. They travelled about three miles an hour on paddle wheels, about a mile an hour, when you are warping? Not all the lumber companies used alligators, because they couldn't afford them. It was a lot of money to tie up, for just two or three weeks use during the year. In my early logging days, the food in the camps was terrible --but, later on, you couldn't wish for better grub particularly after the depression - from about ’35 on. In the early years, it was mostly salt pork - rattle snake pork. It’s about 8 inches thick from front to back, and about 16 inches wide, and about the same for length, or maybe a little bit more.. It comes in crates done up in dry salt. That was about 90 % of the meat we got. We got potatoes, when they weren't frozen. We got three meals a day- and then we got a lunch before we went to bed at night. We used to try to get to bed about half past seven.

We are talking about Sam Green, who had a location on north shore, behind Bigwin Island - and Mr. Dillon is telling me a bit about him.

There used to be an old fellow who used to fish on a raft. You know Stephenson, the grocery man in Huntsville? He was raised by this fisherman. You know Fisherman's Point, over at Fox Point? Well, the old fellow used to anchor there on his raft, for years. If you ever go to the Acme Planing Mills in Huntsville, Frank Stephenson,- his father was raised by this fisherman. I think Frank S. would be able to tell you all kinds of funny stories. This is an interesting exerpt from a small incomplete article;

Mr. Cunnington is well versed in the historic records of his community, and, for the first time, we are able to learn from him, the origin of the name Fox Point, which is one of the well known post offices near his home.

It was during a visit to the locality of Jesuit missionaries, away back in 1650, that two foxes were observed crossing the point, where the community has since been established. They recorded this circumstanc and called the place - " Faux Pau ". This record finally found its way into the archives at Ottawa, where there is a full verification of the Jesuit records. Wed. August 9, 1967 - Mrs. David Langford.

Driving along Port Cunnington Road.

Lance Allenson - yellow house on left, at beginning of Port Cunnington Rd

Percy Cunnington (d) bought out by Don Brown

Thompson's Portage - Fire Island is just out from Portage, belongs to Lumina

Alec Thompson - only surviving son of John Thompson.

Point just beyond, on left, belongs to Henry Hungerford. Sold to him by Mary Robson. He is still alive -85 years old. Waltenbury's Portage is just beyond. It was the original portage from Haystack Bay to Dwight or North Bay.The long green point on Dwight Bay, called Poverty Point.

Between Waltenbury's Portage and Thompson’s Portage lived an elderly couple whose daughter married Wm. Mcllwain.

Cunnington's established first home near here. Emily and Boyce born in first home.

Eddie Adlam married Minnie Gibbs, daughter of Arthur Gibbs and May Boothby.

The Woods and Stones lived near here.

Jim Wood is ill son of Matilda Wood. Wes grown up, before she married Solomon Stone.

They had two children., Godlip m. to Dorothy Consentine, and Florence, m. to Raymond Consentine.

Matilda and her husband were separated, and she had two more children -Melville m. to Violet Cain, and Everett - their father being Goldsby Ketch of the Portage.

Looking out from Jim Woods house, to opening, is Cedar Narrows. On the left of the Narrows is the Munro Homestead- on the right, the first school in the Township of Franklin- and Boyce Cunnington's mill.

The next road to the left goes doWn the south side of Haystack Bay to Boyce Cunnington’s Mill. Around here the Cunnington's lived originally.

Next comes Cockshutt's Portage, or Carrying Place. It was an Indian Portage. The Indians take the shortest route.

Friday, Aug. 16, 1967 Took Mrs. Langford out to the Fox Point Road - Had lunch at Foxwood Met Clare Emberson - but Not Mrs. Emberson. Met John Robson who is very interested in this project. He took my name and addresses, and gave me his.

Rev. John Robson 63 Knighton Drive, Toronto, 16, 759-1939

Mrs. L. explained to me that Mr. Walmsley did as the 'Captain' in English Bloods - charged young Englishmen $500.00 to teach them the art of farming. She mentioned the names of a few, one of which was Goad.

Called in-to see Mr. Dwight Ross, and made an appointment to see him Tues . Aug. 29, at 2 p.m.

The original Munroe house stood on what is now the Camping Ground,- stood between the snack bar and the bay.

The first school in Franklin Township, was where the white building now stands across the bay from the camp grounds - belongs now to the Buckley’s. [handwritten: Boyce Cunnington’s mill nearby]

Cedar Narrows is at the camp - another was at Dorset.

The real Fox Point is just to the left of Foxwood. There is an island at the end of the point now, which came about when the water was raised 6 ft 6". Point Elizabeth was a part or a point of this point. Boyce Henry Cunnington - Mrs Asbury’s Scrapbook 1969

He came to the Twp of Franklin in 1878. In 1879 he located a property on the Lake of Bays, and, in 1886 bought the site which later became known as Port Cunington. Here he established his home, and although at that time, little idea was entertained that the Lake of Bays would become one of the famous tourist waters of Ontario, advantage was taken of the opportunity to open his house to a few Summer visitors, and, his first guests in 1890 were Mr. Sydie, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly and Mrs. Sydie, and the late P.W. Ellis, prominent Toronto business man, and his family. In 1901 the house was enlarged, and cottages built, and through the intervening years, Port Cunnington has become firmly established as one of the deservedly popular tourist houses at the Lake of Bays.

In 1914, a post office was opened on the settlement, and Mr. Cunnington became post master, a position which he held until his death. He was also mail carrier, and, when the office was first opened, he carried the mail to and from Dwight for 25¢ per trip, paying 40¢ for his dinner, only in order that the district might be further developed. Visit with Mr. and Mrs. Bert Boothby, and Ross and Helen, at Point Ideal - Thursday, Oct 15, 1970.

According to the notes that I have, Ebgert Boothby moved to the Port Cunnington area in 1889. Do you know if that is correct?

Mrs. I asked Bert about that, and he said he was not sure of the exact date.

Exactly where did they settle? You passed it, as you drove in here along the road. My daughter lives on the old farm. The children were all born there -and Bert will be 83 in Feb.. The first turn to the right, as you come off the Port Cunnington Road, along ours, is the old farm where Helen lives. There is a pine grove there.

Mrs. Boothby and Ross felt that the Point Ideal property had been bought by Mr. Boothby about 1905- because they started to build in the Fall of 1906 -and dad thought this building here was up around 1905, because they stored some of their materials in it. The hotel itself was ready to open in the Spring of 1907. It was bought - the property, in either 1904 or 1905. Ross said the property had been owned by Humme ( note different spelling) He also said that the property was bought by Egbert Boothby from the Humme - so they were actually here then. I asked about the man being a Polish exile , and the two daughters painting pictures. Russ said his dad had told him something about the daughters painting pictures. The property was known as Humme's Point, at one time. Then, when Mr. Boothby bought it, it was known for a while as Pleasant Point. I think they changed the name to Point Ideal, the first year or so after they were here.

Mrs. Boothby was Elsie Cunnington- the yountest daughter of Mr. Cunnington and the first Mrs. Cunnington. I asked her if she knew whether her dad had bought any property from a Sam Green, when he bought the lakeshore property- or whether it had all been bought from Mr. Parkin. Mrs. B. said it was her understanding that it had all been Mr. Parkin's property. She and Ross felt that Sam Green's property may have been down where the Walmsley's used to live. Someone by the name of Daniels had lived there before the Larsen's, and had had a log house there.

Harry Boothby settled down on what is now the Cockshutt property - Glen Cove - that was their property. Mrs. B. did not think that he had come over this shore very much ahead of the other two brothers. Edward's farm was right across from the Port Cunnington cemetery. The entire Harry Boothby family moved out west.

When Mr. and Mrs. Boothby built their farm, each one helped the other. In those days, things weren't done for the dollar - for there weren't any. In those days, thing were done willingly, and they weren't paid for it. They had bees - that is what they were - bees - putting up these homes.

And I can imagine Mrs. Egbert Boothby worked hard. Oh, she worked like a slave. And then, of course, they moved down here. And, there was no road of course, down here at that time - just a path through the bush. They would have to spend the Summer here - then move all their stuff back to the farm with the horse and wagon, in the fall - then, move it all back in the Spring. This place wasn't winterized then - It isn't even winterized now. Here's Dad.

B. F. Cunnington lived up there in the bush - first- about a mile from the Community Centre- below the old farm.

I asked Mr. Boothby if his dad had grown just enough on his farm for his own family, or if he had sold some of his crop. He sold some - to the lumber camps. He would get it up to the nearest point to the camps-Baysville or Dorset. Most of the camps were up West there. Did he raise cattle as well? Ok, yes, and sheep. And those would go to the camps too. Oh yes - I remember them taking a three year old steer. They came and bought it. It was delivered down to the lake, and was to be taken to Dorset on the boat - the steamboat - flies ? Your dad was haying up in the next field there drawing hay in - and the steer had never been led very much, and they had an awful time getting it down. So they get behind this load of hay, and took it down that way. I think it pulled as much as that team of oxen.

Mrs. They had hardships in those days - My dad - and I guess yours too -had to go to Baysville to get groceries. And they had an old log canoe-an old log dug out canoe Mr. My dad and his brothers made theirs - and I guess your dad made his. It was twelve miles to go to Baysville - not quite as far to Dorset. They used to trade same of the things they grew on the farm, in Dorset, and Baysville. Ross - potatoes and things - they would row to Dorset. Langford was the store keeper at that time.

Re information Miss Alldred gave me on West shore beyond Needler' s. There were Fowler's lived there - where Bergen's ? live now. They were there for years - I guess they were pioneers along there. This property is on the mainland right across from Point Ideal. Then, there were Pamenter's - he bought the Fowler place. He took it over when Fowler's moved west. Pamenter had it I think, until he died. Then, the place just went, until this Bergen bought it. Then, there were people a little further back from the shore - people by the name of Jennings - Lupton's lived in there.

Did you know many people who lived at the Portage? No, - we knew the Campbell's who lived at the Portage - and who had the Mill there - the lumber mill - we used to take our logs up there. Joe Santamour lived there too- he was captain, on one of the early boats. And the Murray's lived there - and the Willard Thompson's.

I asked Mrs. Boothby if Mrs. Wack Thomoson had done any nursing- around the Port Cunnington area. She said not - that it was really just around the Portage. Then who would have done nursing, and taken a doctor's place around here? I think my grandmother, Emily Cunnington, was the one who used to go around here to the women, and Bert's aunt - Mrs. Edward Boothby - she used to go around. Now, mind you, that's of later years, too. Also -Mrs. Harry Boothby from across the lake, used to come. Because I know, when they had their children, it was always Grandma Boothby, from across the lake who used to come. She was the nurse, and the doctor. That was Mrs. Harry Boothby, who lived in that log house up on the hill - across the lake- the original settler (Boothby) I can just see her coming over - with her big white apron on, and her hair snow white brushed back, as fresh as a daisy. Mr. - She was over ninety - 93 or 94. You have been at that little cemetery along your shore? Her headstone is in there. Mrs. We just got one put up two weeks ago, for Uncle willie, Uncle Tommie, and Uncle John- and we have got a road right in there. And the tombstones have been cleared off so that you can see the names. Nobody else knew anything about it, or was interested, so Bert and I took it in our own hands, and decided to do something in about it. And, there's another grave in there too - of Bert’s grandfather Morrow. He lived away back - off the back Baysville road. It’s quite a distance - back in the bush. They lived next to Booker's - up the road. Mr. I didn't know Mr. and Mrs. Duncan Brown - any more that just to hear my grandmother and grandfather talk about them. Mrs. We took the jeep over a few years ago - drove in that road by the old Brown's Brae School- right in to the old Morrow farm. We had taken our lunch - so had lots of time - and Bert could remember all these places in there were he used to play as a child. He used to go over and visit his grandparents during the holidays - and Lily. In those days, that was just like a trip to Toronto. It was a treat to get over to Grandma's. We had the grandest afternoon over there in that old back bush. Mr. Boothby's mother, and Uncle Joe (Mrs. Rowe's father) were brother and sister. Egbert Boothby’s brother Edward, was married to another Morrow - she was the daughter William Morrow - they lived up near Paint Lake. No - according to Mr. B. William was his grandfather - and he tried to think who the other family was. It is Wm. Morrow who is buried in the little Boothby cemetery. When his grandmother Morrow died., she was buried in Port Hope, and they were going to have Mr.'s body moved there - but they never did. When they were working in the cemetery just two weeks ago, they discovered his grave - and we are going to get a marker for it. - The other Morrow was Arthur Morrow. He lived in the old back road between Dorset and Baysville- nearer Paint Lake.

Although Mr. and Mrs. B. had heard of Auntie Williams, they really did not know anything definite about her.

We agreed that although there was much hardship- it wasn't all hardship. There was fun too.

Mrs. B. said that she remembers being told that when her family used to go to Baysville for supplies, they used to have to carry a bag of flour on their backs up through the bush to where they lived, to that old log house. I can remember my mother telling me that once she was coming back, and she met up with an old bear. Can you imagine that.

Sam Green used to have property down by the Walmsley’s. McDaniel used to have property there. Maroni's Point. People by the name of Maroni used to own that. Wasn’t the property owned by people by the name of Parkin, and Count and Countess Maroni, and she used to sing, and people used to gather around on the hillside to hear her.

Mr. Speaking about Mr. Parkin, he and my dad once sailed down to Florida. They just took an ordinary sail boat, and sailed down the Coast from New York to Florida. That would have been before he was married - before I was born , anyway. He said they used to stop along the coast at places where there were any oysters. They would stop, and pick them up, and go ashore, and cook them up, and have a feed of oysters. They went down by sail boat, and then came back by rail. When my grandmother and grandfather came up, the railroad only came up as far as Gravenhurst. My dad remembered that too.

He was 14 when they came up. They came by stage as far as Baysville, and then, I don't know how they got from there to their location.

I remember my dad saying when they first started in over there, they had to put their crops all in by hoe. They didn't even have a horse. They grew wheat and corn, etc.. and turnips, and stuff like that, till they got going. That property I think has been taken in now as a park. Norman Kelly bought it after Uncle Johnnie. The log gift shop was made out of Grandma Boothby's barn. Kelly brought that down, after he bought it, and built that out of the old timber.

People by the name of Beckitt lived near the Fowler's. Of course we only had Fowler's word for it, but he claimed these Beckitt's were always swiping stuff from them, and they would milk their cows, and stuff like that, you know.

There were no churches here is the early days, but the ministers used to come around, and go from place to place, and have services in the various homes. I asked if these were any particular denomination. Mr. Boothby thought they were Presbyterian. Anglicans didn't come in until a little later.

What did you folks used to do for fun. Square dancing - surprise parties-box socials.

Ross - one thing that I always thought was interesting - when you think of the way you get a doctor now. Do you remember the story you were telling me about the people who lived up there below the farm - the Press's ?, and an axe flew off, or something? - There were two boys, and they were cutting wood for the house - the axe head flew off the handle, and struck the one lad on the side of the head, there. It knocked him down, and of course cut him quite badly. There was no doctor around - so, my dad had to row Dorset, and get old Mr. Fisher - he was the druggist there, and was the only doctor around for a long time. He brought him down, and he sewed this fellow up. And, they were over a mile from where we were living at the time. We could hear the poor fellow yelling - no anaesthetic. But, he came around. Sunday, Sept. 27, 1970 - Interview with Mr. Alex Thompson, Thompson’s Portage - on the Port Cunnington Road.

Would you tell me a little about your family - who your mother and dad were- and when they came here?

My mother was Highland Scotch and my father was Lowland Scotch. My mother came here from Scotland - I don't know about my dad. She was a little girl when she came over. They settled somewhere around Camp Borden.

My dad worked on the railroad, when it was going through- when it was coming north. They were married before they came to the Lake of Bays. I was born over at Rat Bay- in 1889. Then I came here when I was a year old, and I have been here ever since - just across the lake here. Were you the oldest of the children? There were two younger than I, and quite a few older. Some of them were born at Rat Bay, and some of them were born down south. I am not sure of the exact date when they came to Rat Bay.

I showed Mr Thompson the material about his family, which was in the Tweedsmuir History. Some of it was incorrect. His father's name was John N. Thompson. The Information about the new home is not correct. He never built the new home.

Elsie and Herman are a niece and nephew - not, a brother and sister to Mr. Alex. I had a sister Vinie. She died in Barrie. Elsie and Herman are Percy Cunnington's children. Mrs. Cunnington was the baby of the family- Dora. Evelyn, Mrs. Allinson could tell you a lot, too. She lives down at Port Cunnington- right next the store.

There was also another child that was not mentioned - Jack. Archie was the oldest, and Margaret was next- then Vinie, and Jack. Jack just died in1960. He was working in Sudbury, all the time.

My dad never built the new home. I built that house up there - that shop. The log house was where that house is. I tore it down. My oldest brother came from the States, and he helped me build it in 1910/

What did your dad do when he was up here- how did he make a living?He told me that he worked in the camp for Ed Gouldie- cutting all that pinery down. He was a chopper The cutting down of the timber was all done by axes. The Pinery is between here and Dwight - that flat road, there. All he got was 50¢ a day. If he wanted a plate to eat from, he had to pay 5¢ for it. He and Dr. Stewart had gone to school together to be preachers - he was a very good scholar. He used to read the Bible here every night. ( This would have been the original Dr. Stewart's son.)

The lumbering was all there was. He had a small farm- but just raised enough for their own use. (Vinie was up here- I wondered if she had died in Barrie before they moved up here- but, that was not so.)

When you children were small, was there a school here at that time? I remember the first teacher- Miss Jennie Robson - a sister to Mrs. Salmon. The school was down where Boyce lives now - I mean -where Barnes live. It was a log school. I helped move it back - I don't know whether they tore it down or not.

That must have been quite a trek for you youngsters. The little schooling I got was at the school on the Fox Point Road- right across from Boyce’s mill. That would have been across water from here. There was no road there then- just an ox trail- by here.

Who all lived around here when you lived here as a young person? They are all gone now. Alfred Wilder, and Jonas Wilder. There is just one Wilder left up here - in Huntsville. Wm. McIlwain. He was the first owner of what is now the Lumina property. He sold to Mr. Hungerford - then, he moved down to where the Tapley's are now, just for a while- and then sold to the Tapley's. Alfred Wilder used to live where the Tapley's are - he built that house over there. It was mostly all torn down- but, it was the same place. The Wilder's owned all that property at one time.

Henry Cunnington was here a long time - and Tom Salmon. They say that Tom Salmon was the first man up here. I've heard that lots of times- but I don't know. And Charlie Irwin. I don't know whether his father's name was Charlie - but he came here first. He was the one who owned The Hemlocks, over on the Ronville Road. Then, there were all the Robson’s - and the McCutcheon’s. I think they moved out West. I don't know whether they ever took in tourists over there. He used to work at building houses around here- Bill McCutcheon. And, the Wager's- they moved out West, too. A lot came, and just couldn't make a go of it. My dad used to carry a 100 pounds of flour on his back, here from Dwight. That would be 5 miles- no road.

When your dad built the log house, did he hew the logs himself. No, he didn't hew them- he put them up the way they were. He just hewed the rafters, that's all. But, he cut down those trees. What would that log house have been like. - there were your mother and dad, and six children. No- Archhie didn't come for a while. He stayed in the town they had come from. That was the oldest boy. He had a job, and he had to stay with it.The log house was pretty big- it was about 24 by 30 - something like that. It was 1 storey. There was just one bedroom- just my mother and father's. The rest was all open. Then, after a while, he built a lean-to. Where did the children sleep, if there was only the one bedroom. They slept in different bunks. They were in the main room. Mother cooked with a wood stove. There was no pump - water was carried from the lake. They never had a sump here, until I put one in. That was about 1922. So, you were here about 40 years, and carried water from the lake - and that’s a long way. And, that was to wash, and everything. Without refrigeration how would your mother have kept her food, to keep it from spoiling? - I know the meat, we used to freeze in the Winter, pack it in the snow. That is all I can remember. We always had a cow. So, we had fresh milk every day- and dad had built a milk house. And, everybody had a root house. Mother made lovely butter. There wasn't much fresh meat used in the Summer time--you couldn't keep it. We used mostly salt bacon in the Summer- that would keep any time. Would this have been bacon that you made from your own pigs? No, we used to buy it by the side. They used to call it rattle snake pork. I don’t know how it got that name.

I mentioned what Mrs. Hood had told me, that the 12th of July was the only day in the year that a lot of women got out of their houses. Mr. T. Said that his mother didn't go out very much. There wasn't very much visiting back and forth. The people lived pretty far away from each other. The Tapley's were our closest neighbours then- the McIlwain's I mean. That's about three miles.

There was no church around here then. You were saying that your dad was quite a religious person. Yes, he was, in one way - he used to drink. You could buy a flask of whisky for a quarter. I have often seen them. That is why I never drink- never will, I guess- and I have never smoked a cigarette in my life - I smoke cigars. There wasn't much fun for the women in those days - just square dances. The square dances were held all over. You had to walk to them. The dances were held in the homes - there were no halls then. They used to come from Baysville in the steamboat, to square dances up here, lots of times. We used to have them in our log house - we'd move everything back. They used to hold dances in McIlwain’s and Wilder's- the two Wilder's. Did they do this very often. Oh yes, it was all there was to do.

They never had a Christmas tree here until Mrs.. Larsen - did you ever hear of her- the one that brought up? She is the one that got the Christmas tree going. We had one down at the school house then. That was where I went to - the Port Cunnington school - and the first Christmas tree around here, was there..

My dad was the only fiddler up here at that time - that is why he was called Fiddler John. This used to be called Fiddler John's Portage. Dad was the only fiddler for quite a while. His son Archie would call off- he was a good caller. Then, there were some of the other Thompson's over at the Portage- South Portege. They were not connected with you in any way, were they? Yes, they were. Seems to me that Wack Thompson was a home boy or something- but Willard and Wellington and Charlie and Jack, Leonard Steve- they are all my cousins. Alex Thompson in this house at the top of the hill here- he is a first cousin of mine. My Uncle Bill - my father brother - he was father to all these boys. At first, the only Thompson’s up here were William Thompson and John Thompson. It seems to me that the William Thompson's came up first, but I am not sure. All that branch of the family is gone - there are just their children. I asked who of that branch would be good for me to see to get information.

Wack Thompson is completely different. Mrs. Wack Thompson was a darkie -but she was good to everybody. Her name was Annie. She would go all over to help, at any hour of the day or night any kind of weather. Nellie Murray, at the portage would be the one to see about that family. She is the oldest one. She is in about the third house up from the portage. She would be able to tell you quite a bit. She is pretty near as old as I am.

Fifty cents a day was all my dad got for his first job with Ed Gouldie- five cents for a plate. He used take his own plate after that. Did they have a lCamp back in the Pinery? I think he walked home every night. You know, I don’t know where that Camp was. There used to be a saw mill at Marsh’s Falls, you know. The Mary L was built there - right up the river. As you children got older, what did you folks do? What was there here for you to do for a living? Well, the main thing was when the tourists started coming in. The tourists opened up a new way of life, and made employment possible. I had a boat that would hold about 25 people. I used to make my money then. It was a launch, not a steamboat. I used to take them on cruises around the lake. I know the Lake of Bays like a book- all the shoals and waters and everything. This Portage used to be all pine, at one time - the Gov't took them out. I did’t ever see them growing. The Gov't would only take the best pine the big ones. They wouldn’t bother with the little ones. I don't think there were ever any lumber camps around here - but there were a lot up behind Goose Lake. Mickle and Dyment were there, and Rathbun's. They would draw the logs by teams of horses, and get them into the Lake of Bays that way.They would be towed by the old John Bull alligator, down to Baysville. I have been on it, and heard the old wild cat whistle. And what was the wildcat whistle? It would just make your hair stand on end- a steam whistle. We used to call it a wildcat's whistle. George Tyrrell used to operate the alligator when I knew it. He used to be Captain on it.

My dad used to say that when he first name up here, all he had with him was an axe with which to make a living. But, they brought food with them. But, I presume they had no home, or furniture. They made benches -but had to buy other things. And, 50¢ a day - didn't give them much cash to work with. That was about 15 dollars a month. I don't know how they did it, but they got along some way. There were lots of hungry people in those days/ They sold butter - 8¢ a pound, eggs - 6¢ a dozen. We used to sell them for that on the supply boat. Langmaid used to have a supply boat in Baysville. We used to sell the eggs to the supply boat for 6¢ a dozen.

You would wonder how there would be any money for clothing. Well, my mother used to make clothing out of flour bags, with blue strips on it. She used to make clothing out of that. She used to bleach the bags to get all the colour out- and she made our clothing out of that. ( I think Daisy told me she was around 16 before she ever had a dress that was made out of anything but a flour sac.)

You couldn't afford to be sick in those days. There was just one doctor then - Dr. Howland in Huntsville. He was a lovely man. He used to go as far as he could by horse. Then, when the horse played out, he'd walk.

According to Mr. T. Charlie Crump preached in the Fox Point Church all one Summer. I think Bill McCutcheon was buried in the little cemetery near Ronville. I think she was going out West- but whether she ever went or not, I don't know- Sarah McCutcheon. Clare Salmon is buried there too.

We didn't see much of the Cunnington's, except on Sunday's when we used to go for a walk. They are about three miles down the road- and the Boothby’s. There were the three families of Boothby's came over here - Harry, Edward and Egbert. Then. on the South shore, there was Tom, and Alice and Johnnie Bill Boothby - a son of Edward, lives on this road in a yellow house -just before you get to the corner. He's hard of hearing too.

Were there ever any visiting ministers came through here? Yes, they used to come. Who would they be, and where would they come from, and how often would they come? Mr. King was one, and. Mr. Bain - he was an old man - a lovely old man. Emmie could tell you all about him - Emmie Munro. How often would these ministers come through? I think about every week, maybe, if they could. The services would be held in the homes, mostly. If they walked from Huntsville here, they'd borrow a horse, and go on further. They borrowed our horse lots of times. The time and place of the services would be spread by word of mouth. There were no telephones up here until around 1915. There were many services held in our home. You would get word to the neighbours.

When they put that dam in Baysville, the water came up five feet - and it is still up. Tom Salmon told me, that when he used to go to Dorset, he used to paddle between the weeds - down the big lake. I mentioned Miss Effie Aldred - and Mr. T. told me, that she used to be his girl friend.

Did you ever see any of handwork your Mother did? Oh yes. Did you ever keep any of it? No, she used to sell them. There is a big mat over in the Beeches Cottage, over at Lumina- a big mat- in front of the fireplace. It is about 6 or 8 feet long. - and about 4 feet wide. I’d like to have it.

Who were some of the other people who fiddled later on? My brother, and Charlie Ketch. Mel Munro was a very good fiddler too. I played the violin too - until I lost my finger. How did you do that? A buzz saw. Tuesday, October 20, 1970- visit with Mr. and Mrs. Bert Boothby and Mrs. Boothby’s sister Mrs. Will Munro (Emily Cunnington n).

Mrs. Munro - I can remember Auntie Williams when she used to come over and she used to go up to Bert's mother's, and she also used to go to the Edward Boothby's. And, always when she would come, we would find out that she had left a new baby. I can remember that as well as anything. She used to carry a rather long bag with a rather long string in it, and she used to wear a hat like you would see on a witch- a tall, black pointed hat. There was my brother and I, and we were really scared of her. We thought she was a witch, and we would always try to hide, whenever we would see her coming. I never got talking to her, or anything, because of course we were only children. But, I can remember several times she came, and always left a baby in the house. I always wished she would come to our house, but, she never came in to our house. But, I can remember the stick in her hand, and this bag, coming along and going up the hill. How would she have got over here? Would somebody have gone for her? No - she used to walk across the lake on the ice. I think sometimes she would stay overnight. I remember once she stayed over till the next night. Maybe she brought Bert. I don't know whether she brought Bert - but, I can remember when Lily was a baby - that's his sister., I can remember Bert’s mother telling my grandmother to show me the baby, and grandma picked the baby up - and, I can remember that just as well.

Mrs. B. - This Mrs. Wack Thompson, at the Portage, was the same, as clean as a new pin.

Mrs. B. - do you remember the other day, we were talking about Sam Green? Well. Sam Green was Mrs. Larsen's father.. Then, Bill Green, he lived at Grasmere, he was a brother of Mrs. Larsen's. I don't think there was ever a Mrs. Green up here. She must have died early - because there was a Mr. Green - Sam - and a Mr. McDaniel’s- he was an uncle, and they lived together down at Montgomery's, behind Bigwin- On this peninsula. The Larsen’s had the property after wards- then, the Walmsley's. I remember Mr. Green and Mr. McDaniel's- they had long hair - and, they used to come to our house whenever mother would churn - to get a pail of buttermilk.- and I can just see us running to tell mother that Mr. McDaniel’s was coming. I think his name was Sam too. This is just what I can remember as a child. Mr. Larson was a Swede, or Norwegian - but, she wasn't. Mr. Larsen was a man with a great temper. He was a strange man - you just didn't know whether you had him, or not. They had one son, but, whether he was their own son, or adopted, I don't know - he always went as Jimmie Larsen. They moved out West. Later, Mrs. Keown, Hattie, came back on her own. Her sister Lettie, was living then, and she came home to her. Mrs. Keown, had told me that her mother's parents had settled up here, and her mother, who was Charlotte Anne French, had located here too-, and when she and Mr. Munro were married, they settled on the property that she had located. The mother always had the say in everything. In the death of the parents, the land would always go to the oldest boy in the family, and that went to my husband- Will Munro. I've got that letter yet. And, for a long time, the other boys were rather provoked, for they couldn’t get the deed of the place there. It was in the mother's name, and there had never been anything done with it. But, t was left to my husband. Of course, we had our own place then - we didn't need that ( our place was across the water from the parents’ place, only up a little further. It had belonged to the Robson's. Their son Jim, used to live right where we live now-and he used to work there all week, and Saturday night, he'd get on the horse, and swim the horse across the lake, they’d go to the other shore, and the horse would get out of the water. Then, Jim would go on to where the old people lived, at Birkendale. The old French’s house, that they lived in, is still there. It is occupied. This winter, there is a family by the name of Magee in it. People by the name of Rankin had it before that - for a long time.

My husband didn’t want the family property - but, he did want a cottage lot off it. Of course, it was only word of mouth - nothing settled. Will told his brother, that if he would pay what there was against it, he could have the place, except one cottage lot. (It's still over there, nobody has ever built on it.). In later years, a fellow came there by the name of Hall, and he did them out of everything they owned - Ott Munro and his wife, Nettie. Neither Ott nor his wife were very well, and this man Hall just got him to sign everything, over to him. In fact, we went down to see about our cottage lot - we had paid our taxes and everything - but, had never said it registered. We went to the office in Bracebridge, and they showed us where Ott and his wife had given the entire property to this Hall- but, they were to live there as long as they lived. When we came home and told them, they said that that was an awful lie. He hadn't known what papers he had signed - nor had Nettie. When Ott was dying, he still thought that everything would be all right - but of course it wasn’t. We had a garage on the cottage lot - and moved it- Mr. Hall would do nothing about our lot, in spite of the fact we had been paying taxes on it for years. The people who own the property now - the camp site- are not in any way connected with the Hall's.

Mrs. Munro - I have no idea of when your mother and dad moved from the old house, down to the lake shore. Was that before or after you were born? No, that was after I was born. I was two years older than my brother. He was born in the bush - Boyce, in the old log place, but, I was born down at Port Cunnington - ?

Dad's mother came over here from England - I think it was the year mother and dad were married - but it may have been the year after. It was different to anything she had known, but she loved it. She used to tell us when we were kiddies, she used to tell us, that when they would have an apron on, and they would carry the wood from the bush- every day, they would carry so much wood in their apron- -put it in their apron, and pick it up, you know. And, she used to say about all the aprons she wore out, carrying wood. Oh, she loved it. Grandma was never back to England, you know —Mrs. B. — and Bert's mother too - believe me, those women worked like slaves.

I commented on the fact that Ron and I had often spoken of the fact that you might expect these early pioneers- and their descendants would be rough, and loud, but, on the contrary, they seemed to be softly spoken, and gentle. Had mentioned Daisy's remark that one reason for that might have been the fact that they all realized how very dependent they were, each on the other.

Mrs. B. And there were the Brown’s and the Fisher’s. Fred Fisher walked from his place, and played the banjo at our wedding, 54 years ago. And, Johnnie Brown, he came from Brown's Brae, and called off for the dance. Dr. and Mrs. Lorne Bradford Young - Savage Den, Port Cunnington Sept. 15, 1970.

Dr. Y. - I am wondering if you know some of the outstanding characteristics of some of these older people. This always seemed to me to be a place of people with remarkable pasts.

Old Tom Salmon was brought up in India, and, must have told this story. He carried Rudyard Kipling on his back when R. K. was in India. ??

Then, the mother of Boyce Henry Cunnington the 4th- which was the old man Cunnington, who founded Port Cunnington- his mother was the daughter of Charles Dicken's butcher, and they came over from Thread and Needle Street in London, and that's all I remember, but, it's an interesting little detail.

Then, there was Joseph Tapley- down at the head of Haystack Bay- who had had a career as an opera singer- and came over here to escape drink. But, he found drink over here too. And he, and old P.B. Walmsley occasionally used to open a bottle together.

Then, just the other day I happened to run into a story of more recent vintage. Cal Martin, of Kelmar Marine- proprietor - at Baysville- told me that he was in the orphanage founded by Prof. Wilfred Greenfell, at St. Anthony's, on the edge of Labrador, and, as a boy of 10, I think, he had carried the ashes of Wilfred T. Grenfell to their final resting place somewhere up there in Labrador. That's a small thing- - but, I used to see Dr. Grenfell, when he came to my father's house, on his begging tours, I suppose they were. My father was a Presbyterian minister. He came to talk on his work in the Labrador mission- and he wrote in my mother's autograph album. It was interesting to me to find the young person who had carried his ashes to their final resting place - down near Baysville.

Tom Salmon was supposed to have been the first white man in this part of the lake- if not on the whole lake- and, he used to go over to the Hudson Bay Trading Post, on what I think is now Fox Point Island- Fox Point, he called it. It is not where the resort is now- but, in what is now an island although it used to be connected with the mainland by a neck of land- and, when the water was raised, it became an island. People by the name of Russell owned the island, when I was a child. And, I understand Russell’s owned Pancake Island. Turner owned it at one time. Turner's Island it used to be called until fairly recent times. What it is called now, I do not know.

Anyway, Salmon used to go over there to trade with the Indians. The Indians never came up here, as I understand it, except for “Summer Holidays,” as the tourists do to-day. They came up to fish and hunt, but, there was no all year round settlement.

Salmon was very skeptical about "Bigwin", too. They had him up at the hotel there for a while, as an exhibit. Salmon said the Island was really Big Wind Island. This fellow was an Indian all right, and he took the name Bigwin, because that is what the island was called. But, it really was Big Wind.

The Indian who used to come around here quite a lot, was Oskeononton. But his name was William Deer, when he came around here, with Indian baskets made of sweet grass, and birch bark canoes etc, and he had a canoe, and used to paddle around the lake. He sometimes slept in our boat house, on his trips around the lake.

Father contributed his Indian name- because he was 'William Deer, and father asked what deer was in Chippewa, or whatever his tribe was. He said - Oskeononton. He took over the Indian name when he became a singer. He gave a concert in Albert Hall- something my wife never really believed but then we checked, and found out on good authority, that he had been the rage in London for two years. I just heard this the other day - that he deteriorated in later life- that this notoriety was too much for him, and went to his head. He became a drinker - and, of course, he can't be living now. ( The name of the woman who was responsible for his musical education -?- is on the pulpit in the Norway Point Church. Louise - [handwritten: Lenore?] a hyphenated name.) And, the head dress was certainly a fake thing, as far as Indians around here were concerned/ ( Picture on Young's wall).

Re Tom Salmon - he was always a guide and a hunter and trapper. Hunting and trapping were first things for him. Then he later became a guide. Did you ever hear the little story that Prof. Tate told about him in his last years? He and his wife had a house at the head of Church Bay - his son still has it, I think.

In his late years, Tom Salmon became a little senile, and he didn't quite orientate. He dropped in on the Tate's one evening, and said he had left a deer in the bush somewhere- he didn't know where his paddles were- and, he had left his canoe somewhere. He stood and looked at the lake, and said - This is a beautiful lake, I wonder what it is called. He had just lost his bearings - so Prof Tate took him home, and got him back to Fox Point.

Re Mrs. Tapley - I said I had felt sorry for her- for to me she was a mis-placed person. Dr. Y said he was too (Mr. T. ) but, he never felt misplaced.

We always used to go to see Mrs. Tapley to have a visit with her. She would be out working in the field- while he was basking in the glory of his former days in London. When I talked with her, she said the porch was where she wanted him- out of the way. He was no good as a farmer, at all.

It must have been hard on her, as on many others. They had come over from England,- had been used to city life - and the long winters here, and lack of communication must have been pretty awful, I think- especially to the women, who may not have taken to this out of door life quite as readily as their husbands.

Mrs. Y. - Did Mrs. Tapley tell you about going to see Mrs. Walmsley? She said she was her only friend. And, she would either row the whole way, to the dock below Walmsley's, and then walk up the hill - or, she'd row up to the portage, where I think she got some sort of a wood road, an ancestor to the present one, I guess, I do not know, and then, she'd walk the rest of the way. She said it depended on whether she had to carry much, or not. She must have come for the day, because it must have taken her two hours or more to row that far.

P. B . Walmsley came over as a bachelor. His father, I think, came over later. Walmsley had a beard, and a little narrow face - a little like King George- so much so, that when we asked Billie Boothby if he had seen the King, in the First World War, said yes- and we asked him what he was like. He said, - oh, - he's just a little shaver like P.B. Walmsley. They didn't have much respect for Walmsley around here, because Walmley was more of an intellectual. He was the correspondent for the Huntsville Forester for this area, and he used to write. Considered a bit high brow?Yes, that is right.

Mrs. Walmsley was a remarkable woman. She came over - was sent over - had never laid eyes on P. B. (Percival). Was one of those pioneer women who would marry sort of anybody who was in the marriage market. It had been arranged in England. According to Dr. Young's mother, she almost backed out, when she got here.

I can remember old man Cunnington's second wife. She had been Mrs. Taplin. Her husband had been killed by a tree, I think. Mother asked the second Mrs. C., why she had ever married an old coot like Mr. Cunnington, and she said,- well, I'll tell you, Mrs. Young - it was either a case of starvation, or Mr. Cunnington.

Fox Point was the Post Office in the early years, for here. Cunnington went over in a canoe to get the mail. He couldn't swim, but, he would paddle a canoe very well in the roughest sort of weather. And, we'd go over is our launch - Juanita, which is in our launch house right now. We'd go over to get our mail at Port Cunnington- and we'd ask for the mail - and, he would always say - do you want the mail, or the female. This was his standard joke, but, it rather embarrassed my sister.

He used to object to my walking down over the hay field- it was a shortcut to the lodge, and, even when the field was mowed, he'd look out of his post office window, and take serious objection to anyone walking over that field.

On the other hand, he was a staunch pillar of the church. Even before there was a church here, he gave property for the cemetery- to the church over there - St. John's.

Do you happen to know whether Mr. Walmsley was one of the ones in the area who used to bring out the Barnardo Home boys to work for - him?

Not as far as I know. He had a hired man working for him.

On one occasion, their son, Clifford was nearly drowned. On my sister’s birthday, which was the 23rd of June- at school - which originally was an old log school down in Haystack Bay- that my sister went to -and later on was a frame school which was moved to where the Community Centre is now, and later still it became the school at the Algonquin turn off. Well, every year, we used to have a birthday party, and we used the Juanita to take the children home, and, we took the Walmsley's back to their dock -It was quite a walk down to the lake. We left Clifford there with the hired man - who was Bob Good ? - We turned away, and mother looked back, and, said she, didn't see Clifford on the dock. We said well, he's likely gone into the boat house. But mother said - I see the hired man, but I don't see Clifford, and she wanted to go back. We tried to dissuade her, but, she really persisted. And we went back, and saw Mr. Good looking down into the water- which was fairly deep, and Clifford was down on the bottom. He had had a little favour filled with candies from the party, which had slipped out of his hand. He reached out to catch it, and had fallen into the water. So father got out this long pike pole that we had on the launch, that he used to spear the dock with, and he slid this pike pole under the belt of Clifford's suit, and pulled Clifford up. Then began to use the old method, the Schafer method of artificial respiration. Anyway, we put him over a barrel, pulled his tongue out. He must have been in the water for 10 minutes, and, after about 10 or 15 minutes, he began to breathe again. I was only about 9 years old at the time, and I felt that when father had done that, he had done that, he had performed some sort of miracle. Strangely enough, there had been 13 at the party- which could have been good fortune, because he was saved, or bad fortune, because he had the accident .

Most of the people around here remember that, and they remember the school holiday. We had these parties for about 10 years. We used to have candies hanging up in those balsam trees around here. We used to have a treasure hunt, and birthday cake, etc..

The reason Dr. Young’s sister attended the school up here, was because they came up so early in the season. We used to come up about the first ofJune, and stayed until the 1st of October- so we missed the last month of school at home, and the first. Father was very strict about our going to school the year round. - Mrs. Y. Said she had had 4 grand children up here. I think she said last years - and they had attended school here for a month, and loved it.

Re the Walmsley’s taking in Summer guests - well they may have taken in a few- but not very many. We were here when their house was struck by lightning, and burned down. I think that was around 1920 or 22. Then, they built the present house right afterwards.

We used to leave our Scotch collie. I think, with Mrs. Bell of Garryowen.

According to the Young's, the Walmsley’s was called Park Place. Acc to Mrs. Keown, Park Way.

Mrs. Crump used to play the organ at St. John's. Mr. Crump and Mr. Cunnington used to sit down front- pass the collection plate, etc..

Originally, Mr. Cunnington had settled about a mile back from the lake, in a log cabin. It is still there, but now, there are only a few logs. Mrs. Y - Had that been preserved, it would have been a very interesting tourist attraction. We try to find it every year, but every year, there is less of it. - Mr. - Mr. Cunnington took me out there once. He hadn't been there for years. It is about half a mile back from the Community Centre.There is a kind of clearing there. That was where he first settled. He was unmarried then. Mr. Green moved down by the lake front- bought the property from him. Then, they started to take in tourists.

Point Ideal I remember as being one of the nicer resorts, always. Erbert Boothby did a good job of running it. He was a brother of Edward Shore Boothby.

You should also try to see Bill Boothbv. He is rather deaf - but, I think you could get it across to him. He is one of the older Boothby's now. He was one of the ones involved in the Church tower business. I asked what had actually happened about the burial of the father. Did they disinter the mother? No, they took him to Huntsville and left the mother buried in St James. Around the bell, is inscribed - "Like bells at evening". Bishop Paddock gave Dr. Young some money. He was the retired bishop of Oregon- on whose biography I had worked. I didn't want to take it personally- so he said -well. give it to anything you like- so, I put it in this bell up here- sent the order to Taylor Bell in England, and it came in due time. This was in 1937 or 8. There had been this rumpus in the church. Stan Boothby’s father had been refused burial by Canon Banks, down in Baysville- or he thought he had- so he and all the Boothby's were up in arms. It was a real row, and nobody was going to do anything about it- building a tower for this bell. Finally Bill agreed to give three days of his time in the middle of the Summer- and Stan Boothby, the son, agreed also, and, Boyce Cunnington, who was the fifth Boyce Henry Cunnington- son of the old man Cunnington, and there is a sixth Boyce Henry Cunnington- I don't know whether you have ever seen him. But, he has no children. But he has a wife who has some difficulty, and they have no children at all. So, there is no B.H.C the seventh, much to my distress. Well, he ran the mill, and he said he would give the lumber, and help these fellows who were carpenter friends of his, and they built the tower. And then, my brother helped to paint it, in spite of his dislike of Anglicans who snooted ? his Presbyterian origins and ministry- and the heights- he didn't like heights.

And then, the people of St. John's built the dock which they hadn't been able to get around to. But, when they heard how the young men at Port Cunnington had been so generous to the church - so, the thing sort of built up. And then, I preached this dedicatory sermon, and mainly the point of it was this episode that I remembered- that Merlin asked King Arthur which he preferred- the scabbard in which Excalibur was sheathed, or the sword. And, the King said, that in spite of the fact that the scabbard was beautiful, and jewel encrusted, but, he would choose the sword with its sharp steel edge. And Merlin said - In that, Sire, you are much mistook- the scabbard has this miraculous quality- that whoever wears it, cannot be mortally wounded in battle. And, I said that in my opinion, the bell tower was worth more than the bell- due to this principle of overcoming evil with good, and, if you lived by this principle, you would not be mortally wounded in the battle of life.

Do you know about the jail down in Dorset? It was on the right hand side, coming around this way. I think that there is a kind of Community Hall there now. They used to use it to put in some of these lumber jacks, who had got too boisterous. But, it was a kind of sight seer's attraction. It was there in case they needed it, up until about 20 or 25 years ago. The jail was a sort of concrete affair, with real iron bars- sort of like a dungeon. That goes back to the lumber days.

And, I can remember, as a boy, great booms of logs, coming by here, pulled by an alligator. And, the water, I think, was a little darker in those days. In fact. I was told that Muskoka meant "dark Water". The theory of this was, that some of the logs sank, and discoloured the water. There used to be quite a big business of collecting hemlock bark for the tanner in Huntsville, run by C.O.Shaw.- whom we used to call the King of the Lake.

Was there any lumbering done anywhere around here, during your memory? No, but there still are, and there were then, much more obviously, the stumps of the old pine forests - the original forest, and when old Tom Salmon was here first, the virgin pine forest came right down to the lake. I did see some of it- up at Kimball Lake, which is off Round Lake, and, there was a stand of virgin pine trees, which were great huge things- with no underbrush at all. They were just like cathedral columns. You could see it as you came in on the lake- you could see this stand of timber, and we went bank to look at it. There was a forest ranger around there named Jake Stant ?- who had a place on Bear Lake, and he went up and showed us this virgin pine forest. I asked Tom Salmon about it, and he said there still was some at Lake Temagami. But, when we got to Lake Temagami, it had all been lumbered off. There wasn't any virgin pine around there. But, we did see some along the road north of Temagami- and they were just sawing it up then. But, that was real virgin pine. Apparently, the foresters say that the pine forest is not the climax forest at all- because, the needles that are dropped do not provide a very good basis for the young pines to come up. So, the pines don't seed themselves very well, whereas the maples do. There was a provision in our deed, that pines that were over two feet in diameter, were reserved for the King's navy, and, a lot of the old pine trees around here, were originally crown property.

There was no cleared land, grassland, here originally- it was terrible land for farming anyway, so the settlers had to clear the land, and there are still stumps back up here in the pasture. It may have been lumbered, but I think it was cleared. In fact, I helped to clear some land for Ed Boothby, who was the oldest son of Edward Shore Boothby, and I worked for $1.25 a day, helping him. It was when I was at college, and we came up early- and helped clear land for a friend. He had cut down the trees, and we were pulling up the stumps. And, stumping was one of the real jobs, because it was hard to get these stumps out- because they had roots around them. They had the stumper up here in the lumbering museum, I think, in Algonquin Park. There was a great big stumper up there, with which you could pull a stump out. But, we didn't use anything like that. We had a team of horses. Often, they would girdle the trees to kill them, and cut them down, and then, they would try to stump the field, and get out the rocks. The getting out of the rocks was a terrible job around here - for there was nothing but rock. Down here, of course, this is the Cambrian Shield- where they did have a field, there would be small areas of glacial rocks. And, the fences were rock fences- and it was a back-breaking business trying to get them out.

The tourist business was really a God send to a lot of these people.

Mrs. We were told the price they figured the Cockshutt's had got for all the land they sold around the bay. It was astronomical- $550,000-Something tremendous.

There are not many of the Cockshutt's left. Eric is left. They used to come around in a launch to Church Bay. They always had a launch a little faster than ours.

I expect to come to church in the Juanita next Summer, every Sunday, or every other Sunday. It's sort of like a ghost boat. You never see anything like this boat now. It was purchased in 1904. The first Sumner that we were here, my Uncle Ralph-my mother's brother- knew we were getting this place- and he decided to get a launch. It was either that first Summer, or the next - I have forgotten which. She was made in Cleveland, Ohio - cedar planking- oak keel and ribs, and all copper riveted. The planking is about an inch thick. One boat builder told me, he had never seen a small boat so sturdy. It's only 21 feet long. Then, she was bought by my father for an astronomical amount- from my mother’s brother, and the launch house was built when she was first brought up here and it was her first stall, so to speak. The launch house is still there. It was extended a bit, when Cameron Peck gave us a somewhat longer boat, in exchange for this one, and we gave him some photographs and things, so he could restore her, and she was restored very well. She went down to New York to the boat show, and on down to Miami to the Boat Show down there. She's the oldest boat in service. I think, that the Matthews Boat Company, which is still in business, was able to find of their early boats- and that was how they happened to put her in their exhibit. When she was put away three years ago, somebody didn't do a very good job, and the piston was rusted to the cylinder- so the head had to be taken off, and I had to make a new cylinder head gasket. I hadn't done that for 50 years- but, I still remembered how I used to make cylinder head gaskets for the boat. I was just dripping with sentimentality when I was making this gasket.

Dr. Young's family came from Pittsburgh, when they first came up here-father was minister of a church there.

They came by train, boat, and a hay wagon across the Portage- there was no little train then. And, this boat was brought over in a farmer's cart -then put in the water on this side- then, driven down to this launch house.

When they first came to Canada, they went up to Lake Rosseau- Windermere. My father had known the old Eaton family, because he had been up as a young man, speaking in Toronto - and Timothy, I think, had entertained him somehow. So, when they went up to Windermere, the Eaton's were the big people on the lake, and they had a boat called the Wanda, that I used to go on as a baby- with my father and mother, at the invitation of the Eaton's. And that boat, or a replica of it, was brought up here.- They went up there that one Summer, and father decided it was too fashionable for him- that he had to dress up the whole time, instead of roughing it as he liked to do. And so, he came back up, this was in 1903 - in the Fall. And he had heard about the Lake of Bays- and bought the land from Cunnington. Mr. Robson was the one who built the house for him. And Boyce Cunnington the fifth was sort of a helper. He used to make 75¢ a day, he said. So they got this house built by the next Summer. And then my uncle decided he was going to contribute a launch- and he asked mother whether it was a big lake or a little one. Well, mother had come around the long way, via Huntsville and the Portage- but, she looked out here, and thought it was just a little lake- so we should have a small sized launch.

The lake was really larger than she thought. But, I am glad that they didn't get a bigger boat. Ours is 3 1/2 horse power, and the makers did make a 12-15 horse power. Probably if we had got that, it would have broken down. We could keep a one cylinder boat going.

My Uncle Ralph, who bought the boat, came up to Lake of Bays on his wedding trip in Nov.. They had to break ice in the water pitcher in the morning - so, they never came back.

I became engineer of this boat, when I was about 10, and I have been the engineer ever since.

This has been a family centre for so long, and I am now, I hope, getting it into shape to continue that way for a long time. We are forming the Savage Den Society- which is to be a membership corporation. Anybody who is a direct descendent of my father and my mother, can be a member as a right, if he pays $50 a year dues. Then, we have assessments/ Well, anybody else can be a member, by unanimous vote. We haven't incorporated it yet, but, we have seven members, who are going to pay the dues, and three more who are going to sign the application. The object is to continue this place, without dividing it. The trouble is, every time a generation passes, are you going to divide it up, or, are you going to keep it together. If the former, then somebody is going to want to sell his land, and how such will he sell it for. And, you may leave it to one person, who is the most obvious person, now, but, they may get another position, and move to the West Coast. So that this is very flexible. They can come in or out as they please- and, as long as there are two members, at least one of whom is a direct descendant of my mother and father- the corporation goes on. But, if it has to dissolve- then the Diocese of Algoma is going to get two thirds of the value of it, and the other one third to the other then members. So, that as nearly as I have been able to figure it out- in the early hours of the morning- it is like the constitution of the U.S. - it has great possibilities for the future.

We think it will work out, for, we are just having a membership corporation- with no capital stock. It is a non profit membership corporation- like a college fraternity. Our model is the Huntsville Ski Club- and the Huntsville Curling Club. I seem to have the constitution of one, and the by- laws of the other. The Huntsville lawyer who directed the organization of both of these clubs, gave me these things, as models to go by.

Mrs. - We have 11 grandchildren- we are letting them have junior memberships, when they are 10 years old- or, if they pass the swimming test. We have two eight year old members.

We have a little fun too, for we have the same initials as the Students for a Democratic Society- which ls a radical group down in the U.S.A. They have divided up into R.Y.M. I, and R.Y.M.II- this is Revolutionary Youth Movement. So, we call this- Revolutionary Youth Movement III.

Re Bishop Paddock's biography- it took 15 years to do. Dr. - Mrs. Y. did most of the work on it. We did produce a manuscript of about 800 pages. It was a kind of documentary. He had a fascinating life/

Then, we couldn't get it published. They said that nobody but Bishop’s widows are interested in Bishops. But, we finally got a church publishing house ( the Sebring? Press) to publish it- if they could get somebody to shorten it, and liven it up a little. This woman, who was herself a clergyman's widow, did it - and, it was published- called "Portrait of a Rebel".

Mrs. But, he wasn't a rebel.

Dr. Weil, he was a kind of one. Anyway, the original material from which she wrote this, was our thing- and, there was an acknowledgement of that in the front.. We filed the original document with the Church Historical Society- in Austin, Texas.

Advice from both Dr. and Mrs.- footnote your material very carefully. Should the work ever be published, no publisher- particularly one accustomed to publishing historical writings- will look at it, otherwise.

My father was to preach the Sunday morning that the Wawa burned to the ground- at Norway Point. I remember poking around the ashes, and seeing two or three bodies. The service was cancelled. I now think of it as a terrible time to cancel any religious service- because the congregation would probably have crowded to the church, and said their prayers. The Wawa was a lovely hotel. It was friendly, and more intimate than Bigwin ever was. And then, it had a better location. It had a wonderful beach, and looked into those wonderful sunsets. Diary lent to me by Mary Elder - August 1970 On front page - John Boyce his pocket book Coningsby, Lincolnshire, June 30th, 1773 but now his son's by marriage, John Cunnington

John Cunnington to Boyce Henry Cunnington, to Boyce H, Cunnington, to Boyce H. Cunnington. Boyce H. Cunnington to Mary Cunnington Elder.

Directions how and where to find tradesmen and others, Nov. 3,1773.

Mr. M. Hanson, at Ye Sign of the Tea Canister, near Southampton building, Holborn, London.

Messrs. Bull and Moody, at their Tea Warehouse, in Leadenhall Street.

Mr. William Good, salesman, to be found at the Greyhound Inn in Smithfield.

Coningsby, Sept 23, 1774 I, John Boyce, was married to Elizabeth Ratcliffe, on Friday, the 23rd day of Sept.., 1774, being the day after King George the third’s Coronation, and two days before Tattersall Fair. I was married with a licence. My dear wife's father gave her away. Cousin Polly, and Cousin Beckey Butters, were the two bridesmaids. The wedding dinner was at my father Boyce's house, and, a pleasant, joyful day I had, and hope, that as the good Lord has once more given me a kind, loving, and a virtuous wife, that we shall live together in much love, and live to see many happy and joyful days, and be greatly useful, each to the other, both for body and soul. The Lord grant we may continue to love each other, until the day of death, and may we both live to the praise and glory of his great and holy name whilst here on earth, that, when we are parted by the stroke of death, we may be so happy as to meet in the glorious Kingdom of God above which, may God in his infinite mercy, grant may be our happy state and portion. Through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, to Whom we now do set our hands, and heartily give the word, Amen. John Boyce Elizabeth Boyce

Was brought to bed on Monday, Sept.11, 1775, about 4 o'clock- a daughter, but soon died.

There were 9 daughters - eight died.

John Boyce died, 1810

Sept. 28, 1812- about 9 O'clock in the morning, my daughter Rebecca Cunnington at Spalding, was put to bed of her first born- a son - His name is called Boyce Henry Cunnington. Boyce Henry Cunnington, departed Friday morning,10th Nov., 1815 - 20 minutes past 10 o’clock.

Jon William C. - born 1816 Elizabeth Ratcliffe C. - 1818 Boyce Henry C.- Born at Lincoln, July 22, 1821 (my father, B.H.C.) Charles Samuel C. - 1824.

Feb. 24th, 1951 This book was among the possessions of Boyce Henry Cunnington (son of Boyce Henry Cunnington and Emily Serkings) who was born June 16, 1854, and died Dec. 22, 1944, aged 90 years, 6 months.

His father, son of John and Rebecca Cunnington, was born July 22, 1821, married Emily Serkings in 1851, and died Dec. 25, 1854, leaving his wife, and two children, Emily Rebecca, and the above mentioned Henry.

Rebecca Cunnington, (wife of John Cunnington) was the daughter of John Boyce, and Elizabeth Ratcliffe, whose marriage is described on page 7. John Boyce was a son of Gilbert Boyce, Baptist minister at Coningsby for more than 50 years.

Boyce Henry Cunnington came to Canada in 1868, at the age of 14 years. He worked near Brampton Ontario for a few years, then moved to Muskoka. He married Prudence Gray, and they had 6 children- Boyce henry, William, Emily, Percy, Arthur and Elsie. Prudence died in 1910, and, in 1913, he married Mrs. Thomas Taplin, (formerly Edith Hawn)- a widow with three children- Joseph, Nellie and Ina. To this marriage were born three children- Charlie and Mary, twins, and Winnifred.

Emily Cunnington married Benjamin Harrison, a widower with three children - Sir Edward, Elizabeth and Agnes, and remained always in England.

The mother came to Canada to live with her son, and died in Sept. 1920, age 91 years,

Mary Cunnington Elder.

Tuesday, Sept 29, 1971 - Mr. & Mrs. Wm. H. Boothby - Pt. Cunnington Road.

Mr. Wm. Boothby is a son of Edward Boothby.

Did you know your grandfather and grandmother Boothby? Yes - and I remember their home across the lake. Grandma Boothby was mother’s nurse when nearly every one of the children were born. We could always tell when there was going to be another baby, when we'd see Grandma Boothby come over. She was very active - she was an awfully kind woman. And my grandfather too, I knew him quite well. I often think of what the sons -there was John, Tom and Bill - and when he’d tell you about the crop he had in - I've got it in - he'd say- how many hills of corn, he'd know exactly, and how many hills of turnips- in the acres of ground - it was unbelievable. The sons didn’t like the idea that he would take the claim for what they had done - But, that is what always happened.

It was always grandfather's property at first- for the boys were too young to take ownership. I don't know how they divided the money up. They never got to be millionaires out of it, or anything like that. But it was still just the one farm- there were about 600 acres in it I believe. The fields were all numbered. If they were speaking about any part of the fields, they would refer to it as #5, or #6- and they knew exactly where it was. It was all subdivided - each field, with stones - And the stoke walls were perfectly built. They would be over there yet, if you went over ,

Where, exactly is the farm? Well, it's a little bit more behind where Edgewood was. It's just a little bit south of Grove Park. Some of it would be behind Grove Park, but the bulk of it was the other way. They owned land right down to the water. Grove Park originally would have been part of their property. Then, the property went beck to Tom’s Lake and Long Lake- there are smaller inland lakes in there. I have hunted in there with dad, and some of the uncles- Uncle Johnnie, and Tom, and we used to come out in Ridout - up towards Dorset. It's quite a wild country in there. All grandfather ever did up here, was farm.

Mother and dad were not married when they were living over on the south shore. Dad had a cabin built on the same lot that Edgewood is on. They only stayed there a little while - then, they moved this cabin onto a raft, and then, rowed it across the lake, over to Port Cunnington. Just how they got it from the shore, up behind Port Cunnington, I don't know. That was in 1889. Their property was right opposite the store. The property was burned a couple of years ago. That log cabin was the main part of the building that we lived in all the time. We built over the top of it, and it was incorporated in the same building as the one that was burned. It had all just been reconditioned - lowered the ceiling of some of the rooms, and had it really comfortable- oil furnace, and electricity. Murt, my nephew did this- one of Fred's boys. He was married, and had lived there for about a year.

Mary sold the last place that Fred had on the shore down there. She was kind of drifting around, so Fred moved out, and let her in the old homestead.

Just the one child was born on the south shore, before my parents moved over here - my brother Ed. My dad married a Morrow - so did Egbert Boothby- but they were not sisters. There were two separate families- one was Wm. Morrow, and the other was Arthur Morrow. There wasn't so much difference in the Morrows, but, in their wives, there was. Mrs. Wm. Morrow, Bert's mother, had quite an accent to her voice. I was over there several times with Bert, then, I'd go on out to mother’s family. They didn't live close to each other, but, not too far away. I'd say about 2 or 2 1/2 miles. Mother would take a row boat from here at Port Cunnington, and we'd row over to Norway Point - park the boat then, we’d walk up to Brown's Brae - then, up the Dorset Road, to mother’s old home, It was burned eventually by lightning. They had a clothes line attached to a pine stump- and fastened to the corner of the house. It was a log building too, hewed timbers, and everything, - it was quite comfortable. Then dad and Uncle Tom built a new place for them, right on the same spot.

What market would there be for your grandfather's produce. Well, we used to sell hay as far down as Baysville. They'd cross on the ice, load it onto their sleighs, and take it back. We sold hay all over the place. Well, they did the same thing. There were thrashing machines in those days, that would come around. It would do the thrashing at one place, and then move on. I recall some of those things. They had a big stock of cattle- horses. He was a great horseman. In fact, that is what he was interested in, before he came over to Canada- race haorses. He could tell a horse in just a second. I remember one night I drove him home, He had walked over all that way himself- it was only a couple of years before he died - across the lake and we drove him back with one of dad's horses. He thought it was a wonderful horse. He said - Why, she'd make a track horse. That was the trouble with him, so they tell me - if he had a track horse, are it was beaten, he'd never put it back in his stable again. He'd sell it - and it would be like a fire sale - he wouldn't get the top price. Evidently, he pretty well wore their finances down that way. That was one of the reasons they moved over to Canada. As near as I can remember their home was in Dudley, in England.

There were the three boys who remained on the south shore, and the daughter, Alice. Bill was never as active as the others. He was active, alright, and strong, but, he never went out any other place, working. He always stayed home, and looked after the stock. He was a home bird. He had no idea of ever leaving home. I remember when we kids would go over there over night to visit them, I mind this one night in particular, I was to sleep with him, upstairs. So, I got undressed, and into bed, before he- and, when we came up, he just reached in and picked me up and set me on the floor — Did you say your prayers, before you got into bed? He was pretty religious. He never married, but he stayed on there in the old homestead, until he died. Very seldom would he ever come over to visit mother and father.

The other two boys, they were good mechanics, and carpenters. Then, Tom got the mill. He couldn't have been trained better as a machinist. The mill was back at Long Lake, on a block of land that Uncle Tom owned. It just went to pieces, after Uncle Tom died. He had given the different boys- Johnnie's boys-the property - divided between them, but what was to have happened to the mill machinery, I don't know. But young Johnnie, I guess he was married then, he was dealing the property the same day that Tom was buried. Bert over at Point Ideal was looking after things, and Johnnie was pestering about the right to sell the property. Bert said - Let's get him buried first. Bert was horrified to think that they would just throw the property away like they did. Tom never married - but John did, John and his wife lived in the old homestead- and Bill and Alice. Later, Alice went and lived with Uncle Tommie- in a little cabin in at Long Lake where he had the saw mill. You couldn't get her out of there. It was her home. She was accustomed to roughing it, you know. Uncle Bill and Tom are buried in the little Boothby cemetery, near Edgewood. I don’t know about Uncle John - I wasn't at his funeral, for some reason. I think it must have been when I was overseas. But, I'll never forget Tom's burial there. The water was right to the top of the grave. The coffin was let down into the water, and it was just the same as ice. Oh, I was horrified. It was in the Spring of the year.

From what I understand, it was the brother Harry, who came over to the north shore first. - I don't know. I know where Harry lived- that's the Cockshutt property. Mr. Boothby felt that the Boothby's may have spent more than a year in Bracebridge. I know he went to High School in Bracebridge - and I think he was only 13 when he started there. But, they had good education, those boys.

It the first place, Egbert's and Edward's farms adjoined. They butted in on one corner. Then, there was the Walmsley property, that butted in on the same property. There was just 100 acres in this first farm that Uncle Egbert was on. Well, then, the Point Ideal property- just who he bought that from, I don't know- but, there is quite a tract of land there - a lot of shore line- very valuable land, as far as selling it. It wasn't connected originally - but, it is now. Because Uncle Tommy, he had 100 acres in there- right in the bush. Tom got it just for the timber that was on it. He spent one or two winters there by himself, cutting core wood, I tried to buy it from Uncle Tom, but it actually was embedded right in the Point Ideal property. They owned both sides of it, and they wanted it to connect up - so Tom explained that to me, so I didn't bother with it. But it's all one block now.

By the time your dad came over here and farmed, there would be good market for the produce, for the lumbering camps were flourishing by then, weren’t they? Yes but mind you, the price of meet then was ridiculous. I can remember at home, dad killing beef for Mickle- the lumbering man up above Dorset. We would deliver it up to Dorset. There was no such thing as motor boats then. We had to row it up, and put it in our two row boats. We rowed it up to Dorset, and we were offered a cent and a half a pound for it, up there. We had to get in touch with dad back home, before we could take that. He was frantic about it - but he said - what are we going to do about it - there is no use bringing it back. We can’t use it, and we can't store it - we'll just have to accept that cent and a half pound. So, there was a market - but they were in the driver's seat. As far as old Charlie Mickle was concerned, you had to dance to his music, or else. A cow would weigh about 500 lbs.- so that would be about $7.50 that you would get for the cow. It would be about a ten or twelve mile row. - one way.

Money was a scarce commodity in those days. I can remember when haying came along in the middle of the Summer - Ed and I would help- but, we were not big enough to take a man’s place. Ed Gray- he was a floater- but he was a good worker, and dad tried to get him to help, and I can remember quite well that he wanted $1.75 a day. Dad says - Nothing doing - I might just as well give my hay away.

It has always amazed me that there was enough money to buy the things that had to be bought. Well, things weren't as expensive in those days-you could get a good pair of shoes for $1.25. As far as the children were concerned, we had to make them last- and the same with clothes. They were just handed down. Mother made a lot of the clothes - especially the Winter ones. They would get the material from Bird's in Bracebridge. She would cut it up, and make pants for the boys - and most of the clothing for the kids. Mother used to help wiht the outside work too - with the haying, and she would hoe and dig potatoes along- side of us. Then, just a half an hour or so ahead of us, she'd go down and get supper ready for the gang. They were all young and hungry, and were all ready for a good meal. No taps - we had a good well - but, we'd have to pump the water out of the well, and haul it into the house, and store it in a couple of big pails there in the kitchen. Come bath night, you just washed yourself by pieces.

For good times, they had square dances and surprise parties. You didn't know - maybe you had gone to bed, and somebody would start pounding on your door- and you'd come down and find the whole place full of people ready for a surprise party. They would bring the lunches in baskets, and dance away there until four o'clock in the morning. Would these be your parents' friends- or the children's friends, or both? Both. There was a real spread of ages. They would come from Dwight down to our place for a square dance. Sometimes if more people came than they had provisions for, mother would make up a bunch of sandwiches. The orchestra was gratis, of course - no one was paid. Who were some of the ones who played for the dances. Mel Munro was the best one of the whole works. He was very famous for his violin music. John Munro played-- and so did Ott Munro. The three boys played violin.. Then, different ones would have an auto harp too to accompany it. Then we had the organ at home, and there would be someone who could chord as an accompaniment - and it was really good. A good many people called off- I had a share of it. My cousin Stan was a good caller. He was one of the best, and Bill Munro was a good caller. Ott Munro called some - but he wasn't too good.

They used to have bees in those days, and I guess they would be sort of social gatherings. Yes they were, and there was always good competition in them- cutting wood. Some people wouldn't ask for a bee but often a group of people would get together and go over and cut their wood for them for the Winter - and that happened quite a good deal. I can remember the original Thompson's over here - we still call it Thompson’s Portage. Fiddler John - I don't think he ever did much but play the violin -he wasn’t very fond of work.

A man can carry or pull a load in a deer skin, more easily than in a hand sleigh- It just slides along so easily on the snow.

One of the Green’s a long time ago, started to build a house down past Wahawin- that would be down towards your place. They got the framework up - but that is all they did. They were going to build a resort or something.

The tourist business was a boon for the people up here, wasn't it? It made a bit easier living. Yes - but there were two ways of looking at this. There are tourists, and tourists - just the same as people, I guess. Now, one of our councillors decided that if he got in to be mayor, and got enough of the councillors to go along with him, he would like to have and air strip up here in The Pinery.

When it came time for your older brother to go to school, was Port Cunnington school built then? Later - there was a little school down here a little log school down on Haystack Bay here- right near where Boyce's Mill used to be. We had to walk about two miles from where we were established there- there was just a winding trail through the bush, Very seldom did we ever get a ride there in the Winter time, but, once in a while we did. That is where I started to school, but I don't know when it was built. It was referred to as the Port Cunnington School. My wife used to teach there- but that was a long time later - it was 1916 when she come. The school was also used as a church - it was the only place we had -Presbyterian, as a rule. They'd have to drive down there, and have church and then, they finally got St. John's church built- on the Fox Point Road. We used to drive over there on the ice - it was a poor place -you couldn't get the team off the ice,- there was no road in front of it for a long time.

Where would these ministers have come from, Mr. Boothby? They were mostly Presbyterian. Perhaps this Sunday, there would be a service down here at this school- and the next week, it would be at Dwight, or Hillside. The minister wouldn't be fixed to any particular church, you know. And then, there was the little Presbyterian church of Ten Mile Bay. It ceased to exist at the time of Church Union. It joined with the Seabreeze church and the services continued to be held there. I never got going over there very much. The odd funeral, I might go over there. Oh, it's quite a different layout now, to what it was. But, I am sure that if you want to look at the Franklin school board books, Mr. ? as far as I remember back, was sec. treas. I was trustee for quite a while. He'd have all those books - he'd never miss a thing. He was very careful how he would write. Everything would be recorded there. And I am sure that she would have those books.

Who were that people that you would consider the neighbours of the Edward Boothby's and the Egbert Boothby's? Well, they were all on the Peninsula there. There was the Walmsley family. They weren’t here when dad came over - the Lawson’s were there. Then, there was only the Cunnington’s, actually. The Cunnington’s were not then down on what is now known as the Port Cunnington property. They were up on the hill in the log house. It was Parkinson's who were in there before Cunnington. I can’t actually remember them being up in the log house.

Did you ever hear your father speak of Sam Green? Yes- I think they were the original owners of the Walmsley place. It used to be referred to as Sam's place.- It is now the Montgomery place. And, McDaniel? Yes- they were related somehow. And Mrs Larsen was a daughter of Sam Green. Then, there is Bill Green at Grassmere- on the way to Huntsville,- he's that same family. Mother used to speak quite a bit about Sam Green. He and McDaniels lived together. I don’t remember Sam Green- but, I do remember McDaniel's. He was an old bachelor. And Boyce Cunnington, his house was just deserted and left. They used to get good pine in those days- it was plentiful. And Boyce took the old window frames out of that place, and re--milled them, and that is what he has in that place down there, at the lodge. That is what the window sills were made out of -McDaniel’s wood. And the floor joists were maybe 2 by 8’s I guess- and he had them dressed up. and used them too- perfectly good lumber. All this was taken from the original McDaniel's place. Of course, nobody wanted the place, and it was good pine that Boyce didn't like to see wasted. Wanda Lodge- that is where the Mrs. Boyce Cunnington who died this year, lived and died. It is not now occupied by anybody, but, I guess it belongs to Boyce and Dorothy. There was no one else lived down there on the Peninsula. Cunnington’s owned so much land, that there were no near neighbours. The Larsen's owned the Walmsley place - they had quite a bit of land up there. That is the same property as the McDaniel's and Green's- then the Larsen's sold to the Walmsley’s. There was an artist down near Point Ideal - Maroni, or something like that. We had a painting that he had done. When you would have these square dances - where would they have come from? It was mostly winter time they had those square dances. They would come from Fox Point- and it was nothing for them to come down from Dorset -down the ice, in a horse and cutter. And, we'd go back up to Dorset to dances. There was always one up there on the 17th of March - the good old Irishmen. But, there was never much in the way of dancing over in the area of the old Boothby homestead, over in that area. They missed a lot of fun, because it was quite an event to have a square dance, you know. And they would last - well- by gosh, I've seen mother getting breakfast ready for some of them. One time we were having a dance over at the Salmon's, when the old people were alive, and we couldn't get back, it was so foggy- there was still ice on the lake, but there were a lot of air holes, and, it got so foggy, that they wouldn't let us come back over to Port Cunnington- so, we had breakfast over there, and then, went home, and went to bed. It would be a short sleep - we had to get out of our good clothes anyway- but we'd have a shut eye for a half an hour anyway.

Tom Salmon was quite a character. You could never tell what he was going to say to you - he was always sharp, and he would answer you back quick. I mind one time I went over - to take mail over, or get mail, and he was in his garden looking around. I walked up to him and said - What do you think you are doing up there? And, he said - None of your damned business just as fast as he could say it. He didn't mean it that way at all. He was a great old fellow - a great fisherman, and a guide.

Mary Robson was a nice old girl - she had the Post Office over there for a long time. George Robson, a brother, he had a saw mill over there. Tuesday, Oct. 12th -1971, at the home of Mr and Mrs Elwood Campbell, Port Cunnington

Mrs. Campbell has been sharing some of her knowledge of the early history of the Lake of Bays with me.

She has been reminiscing about her mother, who was the second Mrs. Boyce Cunnington. She had been in this area before she married Mr. Cunnington. The tape skipped a bit here - bit I think Mrs. C. Said her mother had taught in the log school here in 1901. Do you know when that school was built? I think it was in the 1890’s - but I could find out for you. Is that log building still in existence? No, it was torn down. There was one built in 1905 - that is the one I attended - it was moved, and turned into a cottage, and you’ll find out about that in that book I have given you. You’ll find where a Mr. Will Munro built it. I think it cost around $500. It was a frame school - not a log school. Mother was paid $15.00 a month salary, and paid $6.00 a month for her board, and she said she saved money. She lived with Mr. and Mrs. Cunnington. She boarded with them. Then, the first Mrs. Cunnington died in 1910, and my mother’s first husband died around 1906, or 1907, and, she came up in 1913 and married my dad. She had twins, Charlie and Mary, and 15 months later, I arrived. So, there were really the three families - and what a handful we must have been. The first Cunnington family was pretty well grown up. The youngest was Elsie - now Mrs. Bert Boothby - and she was 16, and she was married, three years later.

In the Tweedsmuir History, is a picture of the original Cunnington homestead. Can you tell me where it was located? Yes, it was off what is now the Green Point Road - just a short distance. There isn’t much of it left. It was back in the bush. Dad’s mother came out from London, England, and lived there with them. It was some time in the 1880’s when she came up. I often wonder what her reactions were when she came out here. She lived to be quite old - in her 91st year. She was coming t o her son’s, and this is what drew her. All English people were inclined to adore their sons - and she was quite happy, I think. The following information is from the Public School registers, lent to me by Mrs. Elwood Campbell.

Public School #6, in the Twp. of Franklin, for the year 1903.

This entry if for March 2, 1903 The teacher is Katie Campbell, the pupils are Willie Cunnington, Eddie Boothby, Lottie Munro, Bertie Boothby, Lily Boothby, Melville Munro, Percy Cunnington, Willie Boothby, May Boothby, Arthur Cunnington, Melicent Walker, Ethel Boothby, Hattie Munro, Willie Smith, Lura McIelwain, Lizzie McIelwain. In April, there was added to this Delia McIelwain. In May, there was added Elsie Cunnington, who was then 5 years old, Jane Wilder, 12 years old, Nancy Wilder, 11 years old, Mary Wilder, 7 years old, Lizzie Boothby, 8 years old, and Norman Boothby, 6 years old. (In the following entry Millicent Walker’s name, is thus spelled. Also the spelling of McIlewain, has been thus changed. In Sept., 1903, Percy Tyrrell’s anime was added, 11 years old.

At the end of the book, there is a summary of the attendance given - also ages of gthe variou pupils. - William Cunnington - 15, Eddie Boothby - 14, Lottie Munro - 16, Bertie Boothby - 14, Lily Boothby - 13, Melville Munro - 14, Percy Cunnington, 13, William Boothby - 10, May Boothby - 12, Arthur Cunnington - 11 Millicent Walker - 12, Ethel Boothby - 11, Hattie Munro - 9, willie Smith - 11, Lura McIlewain, -9, Lizzie McIlewain, 11, Elsie Cunnington -6, Delia McIlewain -5, June Wilder -13, Nancy Wilder -11, Mary Wilder - 7, Lizzie Boothby -8, Norman Boothby -7, Percy Tyrrell -11.

The next register is for S.S. #4 Franklin. Sept 1934. (I think that this is probably Birkendale)The teacher is Joseph Dantzer. The pupils are Clare Emberson, Nora Emberson, Charles Burk, Barbara Dillon, Frances Dillon, Edward Dillon, Harold Chevalier, Jack Chevalier. In the following month, Oct. there is added Vernon Chevalier and Phyllis Chevalier

In March of 1935, is added Ina Hammond, and Leonard Hammon, and Orville Hammond.

The enrollment in this school seems to have dwindled to such an extent, that in June, 1939, there are only 4 children registered - Frances Dillon, Edward Dillon, Harold Chevalier, and Jack Chevalier.

This register is for S.S. #6 in the Twp of Franklin - for the years 1930-35. The names of the students listed here are Winnie Cunnington, Mabel Goad, Isabel Brooks, Jean Brooks, Dorothy Gibbs, Ralph Boothby, Reg Goad, Gordon Cunningrton, Betty Brooks, Margaret Munro, Florence Stone, Bruce Boothby, Dalton Boothby, Doronthy Cunnington, Irene Munro, Ruth Munro, Edgar Marshall, Gordon Allinson, Junior Thompson, Robert Boothby, Donald Boothby. In Sept. of 1930, was added Mary Cunnington

The following is the register of S.S. #6, in the Twp of Franklin, 1930-1934 inclusive.

The teachers here are Lorna Carberry, Annie Bernice Waring, Margaret Anne Mawhinney of Bracebridge. The pupils listed here are Gordon Randolph Allinson, Elizabeth Reine, Hungerford, Irene Charlotte Munro, Margaret Evelyn Munro, Ruth Evaleen Munro, Paul Tapley, Junior Alexander Thompson, Elsie Maude Munro, Ida Evalyn Thompson Jeanette Kathleen Thompson, Rosalind Dawn Boothby, Thomas Stoddart Munro, Thomas Edward Hungerford, Donald Melville Munro. Later, were added to those names, Dorothy Cunnington, Gordon Cunnington.

The following is a register for S.S. #4 in the Twp of Franklin. At the back of this book, is a section entitled Log Book, and, it says, entries in this Log Book shall be confined to 1- a concise history of the origin of the school 2- events worthy of record for future reference, such as additions to the buildings, extensions of the school grounds, losses by fire, or other causes, introduction of new departures in organization, visits of officials or representatives of the Provincial or Federal Gov’t. - prominent citizens, or visitors from other lands, social, or educational function, in connection with the school, and other significant events. 3.- the names and addresses of the chairman and the secretary treasurer, office at the close of each years

This has been written in, in regarding the history of the school. The original school was a log structure. It was situated on what was known as “The Plains”. In 1897, preparations for a new school were made. In 189[?] the new school, which stands at present, was built at a cost of $135.00. In 1904, the school was moved from “The Plains” to the present site. The cost of moving was $40.00 A cement foundation was built under the school, at a cost of $160.00, in 1920. In 1925, the roof was shingled for $115.00. In 1929, the school was painted white, with green trimmings - the cost being $40.00. In 1936, the inside of the school was lined with wallboard, and a new hardwood floor was laid.

The following are the sec. Treasurers and chairmen of the Board 1894- R.H.Salmon - Grieves Robson 1914 - S.N.Robson - H. Clark 1896- C.H. Burk - Harvey Clark 1897- J.A.Dale -W.E. Irwin 1898- J.A.Dale - R.H.Salmon 1899- R.H.Salmon - J.Dale 1900- G.Robson -W. Irwin 1901- R.H.Salmon -J. Dale 1902- G.Robson -W.E.Irwin 1903- 04 - 05 same as above 1906 G. Robson -W.E.Irwin 1907 G.Robson -W.G.Burk 1908 G.Robson -W.G.Burk 1909 W.J.Clark -W.G.Burk 1910 W. H. Irwin -W.G.Robson 1911 W.H. Irwin -Grieves robson 1912 W.H. Irwin -W.G.Robson 1913 H.Clark - 1914 -S.N.Robson -H.Clark 1915-16-17-18 same as above 1919 -W.H.Irwin -H.Clark 1920 W.H. Irwin -H.Clark 1921 - same 1922 -Charles W. Irwin -H.Clark 1923 ditto 1924 - Charles W. Irwin -D.Cole 1925 ditto 1926 Charles W. Irwin -Ed Grey 1927, 28, 29, 30 - ditto 1931 -Thomas Dillon -Ed Grey 1932 -Thomas Dillon -J.W. Emberson 1933. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38 -ditto

Next follows a list of teachers from 1895

Miss Blanch Cuderkirk was the third. Mrs. Langford spoke to me about her --Mr.J.Dantzer, ‘34-39

The following is the register for S.S. #4, Franklin - Birkendale. Starting Sept. ‘39, and ending June ‘40, and at that time, there were just four children - Frances Dillon, Teddy Dillon, Harold Chevalier and Jack Chevalier

The following is a register for S.S. #6 Franklin, from Sept ‘34 - June ‘ [?] At the beginning, the students listed are Gordon Allinson, Dorothy Cunnington, Elizabeth Hungerford, Thomas Edward Hungerford, Donald Melville Munro, Elsie Maude Munro, Charlotte Irene Munro, Margaret Evelyn Munro, Ruth Evaleen Munro, Paul Pax Tapley, Ida Evelyn Thompson, Jeanette Kathleen Thompson, Junior Alexander Thompson, Henry Cunnington.

The following is the minute book of S.S. #6 Franklin, B.H.Cunnington, May 21, 1927. Trustees meeting, held in school house - trustees all present. Moved by T.H. Hungerford, seconded by W.H.Boothby, that the minutes be passed as read. Tender was asked for light wood for present use, after which it was moved and seconded that Percy Cunnington’s offer to supply 1 cord of cedar immediately, at $4.50 per cord be accepted The resignation from Miss McLaughlin was read and discussed, after which it was decided that B. Cunnington and W.H.Boothby, interview Miss McLaughlin with a view to securing her re- engagement, and, if an increase in wages were wanted, to offer$(00.00 per annum Etc..

In 1930, it was decided that two schools should be built instead of the one existing one. At present some children have too far to come to school. Some have to come part way by water- others by trespass roads. It was decided that it would be cheaper to have two schools, that to provide adequate transportation for the one present one--that one should be near Port Cunnington - and one near Lumina. A special ratepayers’ meeting was called to vote on the choice of sites. - meeting to be held at Port Cunnington, May 20, 1930 General ratepayers’ meeting held at school house, June 30, 1930. At that meeting, the site of the new school on the peninsula - near Port Cunnington was approved. I did not type to the end of the Minute Book, as it seemed to be a little too recent information for my purpose. This Tweedsmuir History Book has been compiled by Haystack Bay Woman’s Institute, which comprises the Districts of Port Cunnington, Fox Point and Birkendale in the Township of Franklin, Muskoka, Ontario 1950-1951

Committee in Charge

Mrs. Ellwood Campbell Convener Mrs. Leon Bedat Editor Mrs. Thos. Hungerford Scribe Mrs. Lance Allinson Advisor

Drawn and printed by Ted Hungerford

We are proud to report our Tweedsmuir History Book won first prize, a large Brown Betty Tea Pot, at the area convention in Mattawa - Sept. 1952, and in the Summer of 1953, it won honourable mention in competition from all over Canada, including some Tweedsmuir History Books which had won prizes in previous contests. I CAN NEVER DIE

Editor’s Note: The following lines were written by the late Mrs. Leon Bedat of Birdendale, just before her sudden death in July of this year.

All of you who see me still when I am dead, Look at my quiet face that laughed the while It lived; restrain your tears, and give instead A gentle word, an understanding smile. Oh, if you really loved me, do not cry To see me lying there, my laughter stilled; Surely you know that I can never die. I, for wom every day is strangely filled With some sweet happiness; gather me flowers, And pile them high for me to come and see; They will remind my spirit of the hours Of joy I spent on earth. Think of me free Of body pain, and you will find your grief Changed to an overwhelming, sweet relief. Table of Contents

Frontispiece

Organization of the Haystack Bay Women’s Institute

Mary Stewart Collect

Lord and Lady Tweedsmuir

Mrs. Adelaide Hoodless

Mrs. Alfred Watt

History of hte Haystack Bay Women’s Institute

The Salmon Family

The Robson Family

Sea Breeze Chevalier and Burk Families, also Pentelow’s

The Thompson Family

The Wood Family

The Munroe Family

The Wilder Family

The Boothby Family - Edbert and Edward

The Hungerford Family

Map of our District

The Tapley Family

Traffic on the Lake of Bays

Soldiers of the first and second Great Wars

Animal Pictures

War Pictures

The Churches The Cemeteries

Rev. Alexander Stewart

The Schools - School Fairs

Post Offices

Telephone and Telegraph Services

Franklin Township council

Bridges and Roads

The Story of the indians

Early Pioneer Crafts - Women

Industries in the Lake of Bays Region

Farming

Tourist Resorts

Tourist Housekeeping Cottages and Cabins

Lumbering in Muskoka

Sawmills, Building and Carpentering

Mink Ranching

Pioneer Crafts - Men - Thomas Salmon

Sports and Pastimes

Forest Creek Gold Course

Muskoka Pictures

Huntsville Facilities - High School, Medical services, dentistry and hospital, library

Pictures regarding death of our late King

Pictures of Princess Elizabeth and Duke of Edinburgh, on a visit to Canada, and our new Queen Elizabeth Report on Agriculture and Industry

Report on Annual Meeting at Dorset

Report on Community Activities

Report on Historical Research and Current Events

Report on Food and Mouth Disease

Babies Pages

Acknowledgements

Table of Contents The Story of the Haystack Bay Women’s Institute

The Haystack Bay W.I. got its name from one of the beautiful bays in the Lake of Bays, at Fox Point. There is a lovely island in this bay which resembles a haystack. This branch was organized at the Hungerford home, Lumina, with a membership of 16, on May 3, 1939, with Mrs. Tom Hungerford as the first president. Etc. etc. etc.

The first Women’s Institute in Canada was formed Feb. 25, 1897, as a result of Mrs. Adelaide Hoodless, 1858-1910.

Mrs. Alfred Watt O.B.E. 1868-1948

Mrs. Alfred Watt, honorary president of the Associated Country Women of the World, and founder of the Women’s Institutes in England, was born in Collingwood, Ontario, daughter of Henry Robertson, K.C., and was one of the first women to graduate from the University of Toronto. Etc., etc.. THE SALMON FAMILY

On Oct. 8,1870, Thomas E.J. Salmon landed from the Allan Liner, S.S. Alma, at Quebec City, on his 20th birthday.

Upon the advice of the Captain, who had given him a note to her, he went across to Levis to stay a few days and look around, with a Mrs. MacDonald, widow of an Allan Liner Captain, who kept a boarding house in that town. One of the things he saw was a pair of snow shoes, placed between the outer and inner sashes, in a house window, to keep them from being eaten by moths, during the warm weather. He bought a pair, upon finding out what they were for, (Raquettes) and, when he got to Ingersoll, Ont., where he went as an accountant to an Englishman, who had known his family in the Old Country. (This business eventually became the Maple Leaf Packing Co., I believe) But, having lived his life mostly out of doors, the accounting did not last long. After Xmas, found him, and two other young men, and the snowshoes, in a small shack on Lot 10, Concession 4, Brunel Township near Port Sydney, which was a settlement of English.

I must get back. He left Ingersoll, went to Toronto, decided to come North- Grand Trunk Railway only came to Orillia at that time, so he, with a lady loaded down with luggage and baggage, literally boarded a small steam boat, and set sail across Lake Couchiching to Washago. He also met some Indians on it- afterwards, they became his friends. Among this boat's crew was a functionary whose business it was to ballast the craft by rolling a barrel of sand back and forth across it as occasion demanded. They all stayed all night at Washago. It was a lumbering town. There he met the husband of the fellow traveller, who was another Mrs. MacDonald. He had come there to meet his wife, and take her on to Bracebridge, where they "proprieted "the British Lion”. They asked him where he was going-he did not know. They said,”Come along with us." A dog had picked him up in Toronto, but, as soon as it saw him safely into the hands of the MacDonald's, it left him and joined the Indians. The next time they saw him, they said that they agreed with the dog, and went about their business.

Mr. MacDonald had a long, four-wheeled wagon, and two teams, four oxen, hitched, one team ahead of the other on it, loaded, and set out. Got to Gravenhurst- stopped for the night, and played cribbage, he and Mr. MacDonald, and two other men. They did not go to bed. Beds were scarce anyway. The next day, they got to Bracebridge, where he stayed until after Xmas. Meat was scarce, but there were hundreds of grouse, and lots of deer. Tom Salmon had, a couple of years before, been the Champion Civilian Shot of England, and, had his 44 Winchester right with him. He soon had the hotel meat house filled up. He was 'personna grata’ with Mrs. Mac. whose twelve pound Bible he offered to carry to church for her. He had been a pupil of the famous tenor, Simms Reeves and had sung in the choir of the Chapel Royal at Windsor, his home not being far from there.

Then, these other young Englishmen appeared, and the Brunel Township er[?] set in, and things happened thus. One of them had a relative at Cooksville who had located Lot 10, and gave it to him. That is how they came to be there at all. The relative took ill, and sent for Norman Clark, died, and, left him his business. He married, had one daughter. In after years he sold out, and retired to England. The daughter married a younger cousin of Tom Salmon (believe it or not). May Salmon met her in England in 1911. The other Englishman got a cable to proceed at once to Australia to join an uncle in a large and flourishing wine business, leaving Tom Salmon alone. Towards Spring, putting on the snowshoes, he followed a cut-out line, which he had discovered. It was the Township line of the 1865 survey, and led him out to the Lake of Bays, at Huckleberry Point. At that time, there was a boulder, 21/2 feet square, and roughly 4 feet high sitting on the top of the Point, having on one face, the date-1692, and some initials, as near as he could decipher it, which was afterwards upset off the point by some joker on a holiday canoe trip.

He liked this lake, and decided to move into the Indian bark hut that was there. Then along came Jonah Nanabushkong who told him all about it, and sold him a bark canoe, and showed him how to find canoe barks, and peel them, and make canoes out of them. Once, when he came to see him, he decided that all signs pointed to Dad being lost, so, he hunted them up, and when they were fed, and warm and comfortable, Dad said,"Do Indian men get lost"? He replied in a scandalized tone, and with a twinkle in his eye. "Oh, no that men do-Indian get lost? Teepee sometime lost, never Indian."

After that, he dismounted his cook stove, and started to move all his belongings out to this lake in a hand-sleigh he had learned to make, getting all over just as the last snow left, storing things in the bark teepee. As soon as the ice left the lake, he came over, and paddled around the shore, camping at night right where it overtook him. Finally, he came to an abandoned square timber house, very large, on the South shore opposite Bigwin Inn (where it is now). Bushes were growing up through the doorstep, so he settled down in it. In due time, along came a Great Lakes boat captain, Allan Phillips of Cornwall, Ontarie, with his wife, baby, and all his worldly goods in a bark canoe. He stopped the night, then moved on to Cedar Narrows, now Dorset. But they kept in touch, hunting and trapping together, meeting the Hudson Bay Company buyer at Minden (an old settlement) going there by canoe, as soon as the ice went out, with their Winter's take of furs.

Finally, Mr. Salmon gave up that house in Ridout Township to Mr. John Robertson, Scottish immigrant, who built and operated the Summer Resort Grove Park. Among the people belonging to the Ridout era, were the Countess de Balinhard, and her son John, a Scottish peeress, who was hunting a place to settle down in Canada. It was a French title from Mary Stuart days. They finally went to Digby Peninsula, N.S., from where they corresponded with Dad for some years afterwards. Once John sent him a barrel of oysters (the railroad, by that time, came to Gravenhurst) He and a companion went to get them, realized, that a barrel of oysters in a canoe was a transportation problem of more magnitude than they were able to cope with- so, they threw an oyster party, long remembered in the town.

Well, life flowed along like that, mixed up with periods of book-keeping by scaling for Lumber Companies, hunting, trapping, fishing, guiding, surveying expeditions to such places as James Bay, and improving on Indian canoes and snowshoes, as his Father sent him good tools from England..Till 1876- Mr. Robson same from Brantford to Baysville. Driving among his family, was Elizabeth, to whom Tom Salmon was married Feb.14,1883, living happily ever after, in spite of continuing improbabilities. The clergyman's name was Fish, and there was five feet of snow on the level, that Winter. They settled on Lot 15, Concession 2, Township of Franklin, taking up also Lot 14 later on. Tom Salmon's snowshoes were famous. His trademark- - known wherever reliable snowshoes were needed. His were shipped to the Klondike, to the Hudson Bay Co., to Norway, and to Northern Russia.

He and Mrs. Salmon gradually established a Tourist Resort at Fox Point. It evolved from a place where fishermen and hunters stopped on the way to what is now known as Algonquin Park. Some would bring their wives, and leave them until their return from the wilds. Everyone who came to Fox Point, found rest, and happiness. There was no one quite like Mrs.Salmon. She gave freely of everything she owned, and asked nothing in return. There are hundreds of stories of her generosity, and her kindnesses will be remembered by all who knew her.

Tom Salmon was born at Muawmeer Lahore, India, his father being that Lieut. Col. Clare Salmon of mutiny fame mentioned in one of our school history books. Col. Salmon lived until 1897. Thomas Salmon, until Aug. 3, 1943. Mrs. Salmon died Dec. 20,1942. They had a family of seven.

Written by May Salmon, Dwight, 1950. The Salmon Family brought up to date - Dec. 1951

Thomas E.J. Salmon, and Elizabeth Graeme Robson were married on Feb.14,1883. They had seven children, viz.- Mary (May) H.C.; Margaret (Daisy) - Mrs. D. Langford; Frances Grieves (deceased in childhood); Clara Sewell; Graeme R.; Anne C.; and Erie Barton.

Margaret Salmon married to David Langford of Dwight-4children Kenneth m. to Edna M. Shaw - child Evelyn Francis M. - deceased Ronald G. m. to Alice Hemming, one son Francis, he is an electrician in Acton,Ont. K. Josephine, m. to Calvin Watts, Huntsville, son, Richard; daughter, Elizabeth Anne.

Clare Sewell m. to Kathleen Barton- 3 children Thomas Edward to Norma Irwin - Toronto Barton C. to Dorothy Reading - Govt. of Chile, S.A. Employee Mary Elizabeth to George Robson Bone.

Graeme Robson Salmon m. to Ethel Jones Builder, Buffalo, N.Y. - 2 daughters.

Anne C. Salmon m. to J. W. Emberson- owner of Foxwood Inn, and formerly at Ronville Lodge - 2 children.

May Salmon Eric Salmon live at Boyne Bank, Dwight, with their aunt, Mrs. Harry Irwin- both unmarried. Mr. Thomas Salmon

Among the early pioneers, Thomas Salmon was outstanding in a great many ways, especially in his knowledge of crafts. He was an expert at making snowshoes, and sold them to people in many distant places, and was once commissioned to make them for an Arctic expedition. He had been taught by Indians, and they also showed him how to tan deer hides, and to fashion them into mitts and mocassins. He also learned from them how to make canoes and paddles. Mr.Salmon made a very good wax for using on linen thread, by combining deer tallow, pitch, beeswax and resin.

He was a famous trapper, and guided fishermen who wished to try their luck in the lakes of Algonquin Park. He was also noted as an expert fly fisherman. He had learned this art in England, and could cast while standing with his back against a barn door. He took part once once in a casting contest, when they floated chips down stream, to test his accuracy, and he landed his flies on the chips every time, at a distance of 90 feet. What a pity his skill in all these arts had to die with him.

Most of the above facts were obtained either from his daughter, Miss May Salmon, or from Miss Audrey Saunders' book "The Algonquin Story"

An excellent picture of Mr.Salmon, also two guiding pictures.

THOMAS SALMON WAS FIRST WHITE SETTLER

Traded with Indians on Bigwin Island Ethel's Scrapbook

Thomas Salmon, aged, and honoured resident of Fox Point, is probably the oldest resident now living on the Lake of Bays, An interesting story of his early life in the community, appeared in the last issue of the Bigwin "Banter". We quote the article, as one of unusual local interest. The article reads as follows;

Thomas Salmon, is the sort of "Indian" Columbus expected to discover. He was born in India, but educated in England, and, had already entered Oxford University, when his money vanished in a bank failure. Mr. Salmon came to Canada in the early sixties, heading north from Toronto, to establish a home and fortune in the northwoods. He settled on one of the smaller lakes, discovering Lake of Bays by chance one Sunday, when he was following the lines of the new township. It didn't take him long to stake his claim. "It was like comparing a pint jug to a barrel” says Mr. Salmon, of the two lakes. He settled at Fox Point, looking west towards Bigwin Island, where a group of wigwams indicated an Indian settlement ruled over by Chief Bigwin.

Bigwin Island was originally known as Big Wind, because every wind that ever blew, swept across the island due to its situation in the middle of the channel. Lake of Bays was called Trading Lake, when Mr. Salmon first came upon it. Norway Point, got its name from the beautiful Norway pines that used to grow dense and green right to the water's edge.

A five hour trip with an Indian squaw, Mrs, Cumago, was Mr. Salmon’s initiation into the fine art of paddling a canoe. The Bracebridge route included a portage which the young man took easily in his stride. Now that he is older, with more time on his hands, Mr. Salmon is planning to make a birch bark canoe, like the one he first travelled in. If it is as good as the snow shoes he makes, it will probably be better than the original canoe. For- Salmon's snowshoes are famous throughout the north country.

Full dress in the north country was somewhat different from what one would wear in London, Mr. Salmon discovered by bitter experience. He turned up at a party after a logging bee, resplendent in swallow-tailcoat, silk hat, and tinted gloves. After one startled glance at the women dressed in their best aprons, and men, in their best lumber jackets he gathered his wits about him and proceeded to "dress" himself. He worked off his gloves behind his back, hid his coat and hat, borrowed a pair of high boots, and bought a tough looking jacket from one of the men. When he looked appropriately garbed, they allotted him the task of doling out the whiskey with a tin dipper, from a big tin pail. And, they didn't laugh at his party outfit - until after he had gone.

White bread, hot from the oven, was a favourite treat with the Indians. Three of them once ate a whole pan of fresh white bread at one sitting, Mrs. Salmon told us. However, she did not begrudge it, as the Indians had always been very friendly towards her husband. When he first settled on Trading Lake, often, the only evidence of a visit, would be the quarter of fresh killed venison., hanging inside the door, left by a successful hunter on his way home to Bigwin Island. Tomahawks have been found on the Island, and the traces of an Indian burial ground. There is an old copper kettle too, said to have belonged to the tribe on Bigwin.

The first tourists in Muskoka did not have such an easy time of it, according to Mr. and Mrs. Orville Simpson. Mr. and Mrs. Simpson have been guests at Bigwin Inn since the inn was opened, and date tourist history, before and after Bigwin Inn. Before, there was just one boat a day, leaving at 5 a.m. and returning at 7 p.m.. If you missed it, you had to wait until the next day. Most people considered raw fruit, as unpalatable as raw meat, and raspberries, strawberries, cherries and blackberries, were stewed flavourless. A steamer trunk was an amazing load of baggage for one family, and was brought over the Portage on a stone boat, a horse drawn land sled. Fresh food supplies every day, temptingly served, ferry service, telephone, rooms with bath, orchestra, theatre, were undreamed of luxuries for a Muskoka Summer resort. THE CUNNINGTON'S

The story of the Cunnington family in Muskoka, is really the story of the life of one man, Boyce Henry Cunnington, and so begins on June 16,1854, when a son was born to another Boyce Henry Cunnington and his wife, the former Emily Serkings. This was their second child, a daughter, Emily Rebecca, having been born in 1852. Could his parents have peered into the future, they would have seen a long, adventuresome, well-lived life stretching ahead for their son, who was given his Father’s name.

Tragedy struck the home in a little more than six months after the birth of Boyce Henry Jr., for the father, a Draper by trade, died on Christmas Day, 1854, aged 34 years. The mother had to go to work to support herself and children, and secured a position as housekeeper and bookkeeper in a London home, while the Grandmother cared for the babies.

At the age of six years, Boyce Henry entered an Orphan Working School, where he stayed until fourteen. Here, the rules were strict, and the food drab, and, at one time, the young lad had dreamed of running away to sea. Just how or why he eventually decided to come to Canada, is not known, but, no doubt, to a boy of fourteen, to cross the ocean to a strange, far-away country, would seem the ultimate in adventure, even though it meant leaving all his known loved ones behind. So, as a "Home Boy" he came to Canada in 1868, in a crossing that took six weeks, and was so rough, he never wished to return to England.

He was sent to the community of Mayfield, in Peel County, Ont., where he worked for farmers, who, for the most part, were very good to him, although, he liked to tell of working for one who eventually went insane cut off his wife's head, and burned it. He ran away from this home, hiding in a snow drift, while the farmer, looking for him, passed close by.

He spent nine years in this vicinity, and then, wanting to marry Prudence Gray, and start a home of his own, he decided to come to Muskoka, which was being opened to settlement. Prudence was to wait until he had some land cleared, and a home started.

Free Grant Land in Muskoka! What a glowing picture was painted by the Government to entice prospective settlers to this part of Ontario. Henry Cunnington, along with plenty of others, wanted to believe that here was a rich farming land, covered with virgin forest, only waiting to be cleared and planted to yield bountiful harvests. There was a virgin forest, but mostly it covered rocks and stones, and to clear and plough even a small plot, entailed hours and hours of patient, back-breaking labour.

The young Englishman located his property on a peninsula jutting out into the Lake of Bays, and he began his log home about a mile back from the shore of the lake. He cleared and tilled the land with oxen, and many a stone fence still attests to the hard work and disappointment that must have been his, when he began his ploughing. About once a month during the Summer months, he would row to Baysville, a small village thirteen miles distant, down the lake, for mail and supplies. He was very fond of reading, and, when his day's work was done, he would sit and read by only the light from his fire. What a change he lived to see in fifty years, when Steamers and motor boats plied the lake, when he could drive to Huntsville, Winter or Summer, by car, and when he could listen to world news on the Radio, and read by light of electricity. In 1882, he married Prudence, and, to this union were born six children, Boyce Henry, Emily, William, Percy, Arthur and Elsie. With the exception of William, who settled at Matheson, 0nt., and Arthur, who went to Toronto, these sons and daughters all married and started homes and families of their own, within a few miles of the parental homestead, and now, in the year 1950, most of the children's children are married, and have their own boys and girls.

Also, in 1882, Henry Cunnington's Mother came to Canada, to live the rest of her life with her son. His sister Emily, married Benjamin Harris in England, and always remained there, dying in Oct. 1921.

His Mother, "Grandma" as she was always called, arrived via Bracebridge and Baysville and the steamer "Dean" during the first season for steam-boat traffic on the Lake of Bays. Walking the mile from the shore, through the dense bush to the log house, her spirit surely must have quailed somewhat, for what a change was this from the life in the city of London. She quickly adapted herself, however, to the new country, and the privation of pioneers, joining in the joys and sorrows of the settlers, and being always willing to help sick and afflicted. Very meticulous in her housework, and about her person, she always retained the ladylike qualities common to Englishwomen of her day, and lived to ninety-one, dying in September, 1920.

In 1886, Mr. Cunnington purchased property right on the lakeshore from a Mr. Parkin, a Homeopathic doctor, who was forced to sell because of failing health. This location was named Port Cunnington, by an Italian opera singer, Madame Maroni, who had a magnificent voice, and sometimes on a still Summer evening would thrill all who could hear her, as she sang from the top of a nearby hill.

As mentioned before, this part of Muskoka was never meant for farming, even for patient, hard- working pioneers, and their plodding oxen. Some other means of livelihood had to be found for the growing family. Here, though Nature had been lavish with rocks under the thin surface soil, she had also been lavish with her beauty. The lake has a shoreline of three hundred and sixty- five miles, indented by many bays, framed by towering evergreens, and silvery birches, and in the sheltered bay where Henry Cunnington chose to build his permanent home, there was a wonderful beach, sloping gently to the water's edge. The lake could look like a sheet of polished glass on a still evening, or sparkle like diamonds as ripples sparkled in the morning sun. In short, here was Nature's beauty hardly rivalled anywhere in Canada, and here was the peace, that tired city people longed for, and so, in 1890, a tourist resort was started. It was begun in a modest way, but more rooms had to be added to the family home, to accommodate the growing business, and then, cottages were added until eventually, seventy-five guests could be looked after, and it was thus, that Port Cunnington Tourist Resort began, and prospered.

Prudence Cunnington, always a faithful helpmate, died in 1910, and in 1913, Henry Cunnington married Mrs. Thos. Taplin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Haron) a widow from Uffington, near Bracebridge. Mrs. Cunnington had three children by her previous marriage, Joseph, Nellie, and Ina. Joe and Nellie married, and settled at Port Cunnington, but Ina, at present in Vancouver, is still single. Three more children arrived after the second marriage, Charlie and Mary (twins), and Winifred. Mrs. Cunnington worked very hard to help her husband make a success of the Resort, too hard for the sake of her health, for, in 1938, she suffered a stroke from which she never fully recovered, being doomed to spend the rest of her life in a wheel chair. However, by this time, the children were grown-up, and able to take over their share of the responsibility of the business. Eventually, the last three mentioned, married, Charlie and Winnie, living near home, and Mary, at Creighton Mines.

Although busy with his own interests, Henry Cunnington also took a keen interest in the affairs of the neighbourhood, the Township, and the County. When a Post Office was opened at Port Cunnington, he was the first Postmaster, and served in that capacity until his death. Anxious to see the district open up, he drove the mail stage to Dwight for 25¢ a trip for some time, paying 40¢ for his dinner. He was a Justice of the Peace, and served on the School Board; he was a warden, and Sec-Treas. of the Anglican Church for over forty years, and, when it became apparent that this church- located across the lake at Fox Point- could no longer serve the interests of the growing village of Port Cunnington, he and his wife were mainly responsible for the new one being built on property donated by him. He was also President of the Huntsville and Lake of Bays Telephone Co., a company formed in the early years, by the settlers themselves, that they might enjoy the luxury of telephones in their isolated homes.

To us, in this present day, with all the comforts and conveniences of the modern world, it seems, looking back at the histories of our pioneers, that they must have led terribly dull, drab lives, -no cars, no movies, no radios or electric lights, shut in all winter long- but, in reality their lives were anything but dull. They enjoyed Community life at its best, neighbour helping neighbour in sickness, in time of need, at a "Bee" or "Barn-raising", and then, enjoying together a country dance or box social, or a school concert. Perhaps it would be just two old friends, like C.J.C. Crump and Henry Cunnington spending their quiet evening together playing cribbage or checkers. Perhaps their joys were simple, but, they were real, and they had the peace in their lives that is so hard to find now-a-days.

Boyce Henry Cunnington changed little with the passing years. Never sick, always moderate and regular in his habits, a good friend and neighbour, very quiet, although he could be "tough" when the need arose, he earned the love and respect of all those who knew him. He died Dec.24, 1944, at the age of ninety years and six months. He is buried in the cemetery for which he donated the land for the church, and from where one may stand and look down at his home on the lake shore. In his funeral service, the minister said that it could be said of him, as of Sir Christopher Wren, "If you would see his monument, look about you".

Written by his daughter Mary Cunnington Elder The marriages of the Cunnington-Taplin families are as follows,

Boyce Henry Gunnington m. Lily Keefer. They have one son, Boyce Henry Cunnington Jr..

Emily Cunnington m. Wm. Munroe - one child, Alma.

William Cunnington m. May Dodd - five children, Doris, Enid, Marjorie, Bill and Frank.

Percy Cunnington m. Dora Thompson - four children, Gordon, Dorothy, Elsie and Herman.

Arthur Cunnington m. Margaret Campbell - two daughters, Marjorie and Doris.

Elsie Cunnington m. E.P. Boothby,- six children, Ralph,Dalton, Donald, Helen, Rhodes and Ross.

Joseph Taplin m. Doris Clan, one son, Peter.

Nellie Taplin m. Arthur Boothby, no children.

Charlie Cunnington m. Nellie Asbury, three children, Douglas, Mary June, Joanne Edith.

Mary Cunnington m. Vincent Elder, no children.

Winifred Cunnington m. Elwood Campbell, one son, Roger.

Good pictures.

[copy of newspaper clipping] CUNNINGTON,-Mary Edith liam and Percy Cunnington, deceased. On Saturday, August 26, 1967, at her; Mrs. Cunnington is resting at the Addi- home Port Cunnington, Ont., in her son Funeral Home in Huntsville. Serv- 89th year, wife of the late Boyce Henry ice in St. James Anglican Church, Port Cunnington, dear mother of Joseph Cunnington on Monday, August 28: at 4 Taplin , Nellie Boothby, Ina Parsons, p.m. Interment in St. James Cemetery Charles Cunnington, Mary Elder and in Port Cunnington. In lieu of flowers VVinnifred Campbell; and dear donations to the Memorial Fund at St. stepmother of Emmie Munroe, Arthur James Church, Port Cunnington, would Cunnington, Elsie Boothby, Boyce, Wil- be appreciated.

THE ROBSON FAMILY [There is much handwriting on this page that is difficult to read] William Grieves Robson was born at Garbuttsville, N.Y., March 10, 1820, and his wife, Deborah Gray was born in Toronto, May 4, 1831. They came to Baysville, Muskoka, with their ten children in October, 1876, driving with a team of horses and wagon from Paris, Ont..- two of their boys riding on horseback.

His parents came from Northumberland County in England, to America, but his wife's people came to Toronto from Pennsylvania, having been of those Quakers who came over from England with William Penn.

The family lived in Baysville about one year, and then rented Ridgewood” opposite Bigwin Inn on the south shore of the Lake of Bays, Ridout Township, from the owner, Jesse Ryerson, who was a brother of Egerton Ryerson famous in Canadian History as the Father of the Ontario Educational System. They lived there until the Spring of 1883, clearing land, and building the frame barn which still stands, though having been moved twice by road commissioners. Then, they moved to Ten Mile Bay, Lake of Bays, at Lot 8, Concession 6, Franklin Township.

This property was originally filed on by a Mr. MacLellan, who, had lived in Montreal, where his wife's brother was the young High School student killed in the 12th of July riots of 1880. Mr. Maclellan had cleared some land, and built a small house, but his wife was very nervous about the bears and other wild animals, which were often seen in the district, so he relinquished his claims, and cancelled it for Mr. Robson. This property became the present Birkendale, and the Post Office has been in the family since the establishment in 1896.

Mrs. Robson died in 1897, and her husband in 1900, on the anniversary of her funeral. They had lost their youngest boy Graeme Joseph, aged three, of Typhoid Fever, while they lived in Baysville. The surviving family of nine, all lived at Birkendale. There were Mary, a nurse, James Stuart, a contractor, Elizabeth, who married Mr. Thos. Salmon at Fox Point, Samuel, who stayed in the U.S. for a while, but afterwards took up land at lots 10 &11, George, a carpenter, Captain Grieves Robson, the first native Captain on the Lake, Catherine, Jane, a teacher, and Jessie, who married Mr. W.H. Irwin.

Between 1883 and 1900, Mr. Robson had built the first road through from Birkendale to Dorset, afterwards named "The Bull's Run", and also the first framed(?) bridge across the OxTongue at Marsh's Falls, where there had been only a floating bridge. Mr. Robson's bridge was afterwards destroyed by fire (bush) which also burned up the saw mill and other buildings of Captain G.F. Marsh. Later on, the bridge was re-built by Mr. W.H. Irwin, who kept Hemlock Lodge.

The Robson Family of Birkendale, Lake of Bays, brought up to date-Aug. 1951.

William Grieves Robson, and his wife Deborah Gray, had a family of ten children, all of whom were born before they came to Baysville in 1883. [1883 is crossed out and written in 1876] They are listed as follows:

Mary Grieves Robson - a nurse, and also Postmistress for several years. Later on, she opened Birkendale House, a tourist resort with accommodation for about twenty guests. It was burned down in 1909. She died in Sept. 1942. [crossed out and written 1941] James Stuart Robson - contractor

Elizabeth Greene Robson - m. Thos. Salmon (see Salmon Family)

Samuel N. Robson m. to Nina Horton. He was a R.R. engineer and lived at Grand Rapids, Mich., but after his wife died, he came with his two children to Birkendale, and in 1924 bought a farm from Geo. E. Hutcheson of Huntsville, comprising all of lots 10 & 11. He afterwards married Mary E. McLarlin of Mich.. Mr. Robson died April 2, 1934, leaving his property to his wife and daughter. In Aug.1936, the farm was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Leon Bedat of Toronto who still own it,1951.

George Grey Robson- m. to Margaret Reid- 2 daughters Winifred F. m. to Charles Dillon Ailleen m. to Thomas Dillon

Mr. G.G. Robson made their home at Birkendale, and he bought a saw mill and ran it for a number of years. He was also a builder and carpenter, and helped to build the Methodist (United) Church at Sea Breeze, and was one of its first trustees. He also acted as sec.-tres of the school for several years, until his resignation in 1908 on account of poor health. He died in Nov. 1911. Mrs. Robson survived him for forty years, living with her daughter, Mrs. Charles Dillon, during the later years of her life. She passed away April 1951, and is buried beside her husband at Birkendale Cemetery. The funeral service was held in the church, and was conducted by Rev. Florence Hunter, and the Rev. John C. Robson, a nephew.

William Grieves Robson- m. to Constance Cameron- 3 children. Elizabeth Grieves m. James Walker, Toronto Dorothea James, with brother in Huntsville Rev. John C. Robson, the well liked pastor of St.Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Huntsville. His mother and sister live with him. Captain Grieves Robson owned and sailed the S.S.Equal Rights, on the Lake of Bays for a number of years, and then sold it to his brother George. He had two other boats also, - the Nishka, and the Jennie R.. Captain Robson afterwards retired, and went to live in Toronto. He died in (?) [handwritten: March 1942]

Catherine Kirtz Robson lived in Birkendale - died 1948.

Jane McNaught Robson taught school at Fox Point in first little log school house, also at Birkendale, and other places, Later, helped her sister Jessie at millinery business in Huntsville- died 1904.

Jessie C. Robson m, William Harold Irwin, in 1904. They lived at Birkendale, and then, after the sudden death of Harry Irwin's father, W.E. Irwin, in Aug.1906, they took charge of The Hemlocks, a popular Summer resort about one quarter mile west of Birkendale, on the North shore. They managed this resort very successfully for four years, and then decided to go to B.C.. On their return, Mr. Irwin built several cottages, including the McConnell’s, Whitelaw's, where they lived for several years. In 1926, he bought property, and built a home along the South shore, about six miles west of Dorset, which they called Tanglewood. Mr. Irwin died in 1934. After a few years, his wife sold the place, and is now living at Boyne Bank in Dwight, with her niece and nephew, May and Eric Salmon.

Mrs. Irwin has been noted for her interest in arts and crafts, especially weaving, which still occupies much of her time. All through the years, she has produced some very fine pieces, which attracted the attention of Bride Brodie, writer for the Globe and Mail, and of Miss Tapley Thomas, specialist in occupational therapy. SEA BREEZE

Sea Breeze is the name given to a long section of the Eastern shore of Ten Mile Bay. There are a great many cottages built amongst the silver birches on this shore, and the owners are very proud of their fine sand beaches and of the numerous, natural bubbling springs which provide many of them with pure, ice-cold drinking water.

THE CHEVALIER FAMILY

At the far south eastern end of Ten Mile Bay, the Chevaliers have lived since 1902. The family, which is of Scotch French parentage settled in Grimsby, but later on, moved to Baysville. From there, in 1902, they came across to their present location, where they acquired a large farm.

Sardis Chevalier, the father, died in August,1947, at the age of 90, leaving a farm to each of his two sons, Alvin and Alfred. Alvin married, and lived on his farm for some years, and his three children attended the Sea Breeze school, but he finally moved to Huntsville.

Alfred is still on his farm. He married Olive Croft whom he met at Ronvil Lodge, when they were both working there, and they have two sons, Harold who is married, and living in Toronto, and Jack, at home.They have some good well-cultivated land, and a comfortable home, with all the modern conveniences.

The Chevalier family have added greatly to the comfort and convenience of the Summer residents along the Sea Breeze shore, all through the years by supplying them with milk, vegetables, ice and wood. On account of the gasoline restrictions during the Second Great War, he had to stop delivering milk and vegetables, but he still supplies ice and wood, besides keeping a watchful eye on 30-40 cottages during the Winter, Alfred is a clever carpenter, and he, and his son Jack have built a number of cottages, including the beautiful pine log cottage which Dr. D.A. Campbell of Toronto occupies during the Summer.

Harold and Jack were in uniform during the war, as well as their cousins Gilbert and Vernon, who went overseas.

John Dale was one of the first settlers on this shore, and, before 1880, had a power mill at the mouth of the creek near The Bluffs, which supplied lumber to many of the early residents. He was married to a daughter of Mr. McCutcheon, the first owner of Ronville Lodge. They often attended the little Presbyterian Church, as well as the Methodist Church built later at Sea Breeze.

Harvey Clark Lived near the Dales at this time. He was related to the Birk’s through marriage. THE BIRK FAMILY [Handwritten: puts ‘u’ above Birk. Also “C.H. Burk died 1955-age 99”]

Mr. Charles Birk is the grand old man of Franklin Township, having been born April 18, 1857. Though he will soon be 94, he is active and well, and is looking forward to having his own garden again this Summer, of corn and potatoes. He lives with his daughter Mrs. William Clayton in Dorset, and his three sons Earl, George and Roy all live near him in the same village, as well as another daughter Marion who is married to Angus McKay.

When his great grandfather first came from Ireland, with his wife and a baby son, who had been born on board ship, they settled at Smithville near Welland, and a large number of the family still live in that vicinity. In 1877 when Charles was in his 20th year, he came to the Lake of Bays, attracted by the government's offer of free grants of land in Muskoka. He stayed for two or three years in Dorset, and then, in 1880, he persuaded his parents, two brothers and a sister, to join him, and they filed a claim on Ten Mile Bay, just north of where the United Church was built. The three sons, William, Charles and Gordon [crossed out and written: Gideon] helped their father George Birk to clear the land, and, build a home there.

Charles and his brother made a living by logging, and acting as guides to hunting and fishing parties, and also did some prospecting up in the mining district around Gowganda. Charles married lna Remey, and settled in Dorset. Gordon [crossed out to hand write: Gideon] built a large house, which he afterwards sold to Walter Wager, and he, about 1905, sold it to the Pentelow family who have held it ever since.

The eldest brother William, remained at his father's home, and, after his parents passed on, he enlarged the place, and ran it as a tourist resort for a while. He had five children, Milton, who still lives near Sea Breeze, Roy and a sister Lila (Mrs. Dayball) now at Welland, and Harry and his sister Myrtle (Mrs. Robert Reid) now at Detroit. This property was later sold to Mr. and Mrs. Francis, of Toronto, to whose family it still belongs.

Milton Birk now lives on the highway at the corner of the Sea Breeze road. His oldest son James now lives in St. Catherines, the daughter Viola, (Mrs. Hammond) is in Toronto, and Charlie, with his wife and two children are living at home. He served overseas in the Second Great War.

THE PENTELOW FAMILY

Probably the oldest Summer residents at Sea Breeze, are the Pentelows, who jointly, with their relatives, the McGill's bought the extensive property and large house south of the school, which was built by Gideon Birk. Their family have been coming up every Summer for 45 years. Their home is in Guelph, and Mrs. Pentelow died there in May, 1950. She will be long remembered in her native city for her splendid work with the Red Cross, and also especially for her unceasing interest and efforts on behalf of the Humane Society. Her husband still lives in Guelph, and their only son, Howard of Waukegan, Ill., noted for his prowess as a fisherman now owns the property which he and his family regard as their second home.

THE THOMPSON FAMILY John N. Thompson came to the Lake of Bays from Grey County about 1875, and, after living a few years at Rat Bay, he located at what is now known as Thompson's Portage. Here, he cut logs, cleared land, and built a log house. His wife was Janet Catharine Kennedy.

They lived in this log house until 1910, and then they built a new home, which is still occupied by their son Alec. Mr. John Thompson died Aug. 9,1909, and Mrs. Thompson July 18, 1930. Mrs. Thompson was known to every-one as Grandma Thompson. She was a wonderful cook. Her bread was unsurpassed, and her four daughters have inherited this gift. Grandma Thompson's doorstep was surrounded by flower beds, and morning glories and wild cucumber vines covered the front of her house. She made hooked rugs, using burlap grain bags for the base- drawing her own patterns and using discarded clothes for material. Her drawings were crude, but she never drew a house, without putting a flower bed in front of it. Some rugs had birds, cats, or wild animals on them, and many had just her flowers. She had little to do with, but her artistic ability was evident.

There were 7 children in the family

Archie - m. Minnie Wilder, daughter of Alfred Wilder, live in Michigan.

Margaret - m. Archie Ketch

Jennie - m. Fred Mossington - live in Manitoba

Alec - m. to Janet Dodge of Buffalo, and lives in the old homestead.

Evelyn m. Lance Allinson, and lives near the old homestead. They have one son Gordon, who married Alice Schutt of Scotia Junc.. Their home is near that of Gordon's parents.

Dora - m. Percy Cunnington, also lives near her former home- 4 children

Elsie and Herman are at home

[note: lots of handwritten notes on this page on the children section] THE WOOD FAMILY

Mr. and Mrs. Godlip Wood arrived in Franklin Township, Muskoka, in 1877, to settle on lots 20-21. They built a shanty of hollow bass wood, split and capped, to keep it from leaking. It was free grant land. They lived to the ripe old age of 84 years, and had one daughter, who is now Mrs. Matilda Stone. Mrs. Stone says she will be 71 years old, May 12, 1951.

At first, it was very hard to get along. There were no roads, and they just had to find a way through the bush, and blaze trees as they went, so they could follow it back. To get provisions, they had to go to Huntsville, a little place then, of about a dozen buildings. Sometimes, they went in a flat bottomed boat, which had to be pulled over logs when they reached the canal, which was only a big creek. In Winter, they went with an ox team over the ice. Later, there was a little store in Dwight, which carried tea, tobacco, and other supplies.

In 1887, Mr. Wood helped to build the Baptist Church in Dwight; and he also helped with the Presbyterian Church there. In the same year, he and Mr. Longhurst, Mr. James Cunningham, and Mr. G.B. Meredith organized Orange Lodge No. 48, on July 12.

He was a mason, by trade, and when building started, he did lots of work at $1.50 a day.. For several years, when there was no minister in the Winter, he used to go to Cain's Corners and hold service in the Orange Hall, and on Wednesday evenings, he held prayer meetings in peoples' homes. His wife was always with him as his helper, and, best of all, they faced everything hand in hand with a smile.

This information regarding her family was kindly written up by Mrs. Matilda Stone who lives in a small home, on Lot 20, Con 7- on the Port Cunnington Road. In order to bring the history up to date, we shall mention briefly other members of the family, with their children.

James Wood lives quite near on the same lot. He was married in 1937 to Phyllis Stadinsk who, when she was just a baby, came to Canada with a group of relatives and friends, from the Ukraine. Her parents settled on a farm near Winnipeg, but later came to Ont., and she found employment on the Lake of Bays. They have four children. Mrs. Wood was pres. of our W.I. from ’48-50.

Godlip Stone also lives near - m. to Dorothy Consentine- 3 daughters.

Melville Stone has a cottage at this point also, but moves to Huntsville for the Winter, as it is nearer his work, m. Violet Cane -5 children

Florence Stone , m. to Raymond Consentine who served overseas during the second Great War - 2 children. Mr. Consentine is at present, night watchman for some construction work, including a museum which is being done in Algonquin Park. During the Summer, they run a successful tourist camp - Lakeside Cottages. JOHN MUNROE SR. & THE MUNROE FAMILY

John Munroe's parents came to Canada from France, and settled at Arthur, Ont.. They were of French descent, and brought with them a silver spur which belonged to an ancestor who was an officer under Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. This spur is now in the possession of Otto Munroe.

John Munroe was born on Feb. 2, 1856. About 1878, he went to Bracebridge, and for several years worked for John Harvey, who had an extensive transport business, with from 35-40 teams of horses, and several stagecoaches for carrying passengers, besides many wagons, and sleighs for carrying freight and luggage. At that time, the railroad came only as far as Gravenhurst, so settlers, pioneers and travellers would continue their journey by taking a boat from there to Bracebridge, and from there, would go by coach to their various destinations. In those early days, Mr. Munroe transported many of the settlers and their belongings to their new homes at Kearney, Huntsville, Dorset, Sprucedale, and many other places.

Soon after coming to Bracebridge, John Munroe married Charlotte Ann French, whose family had come from Ireland, and were connected with Maj. Gen. French who fought with distinction in the Boer War and under Lord Roberts. They remained in Bracebridge for about six years, and, during1884, when the Grand Trunk Railway was being extended northward from Gravenhurst, they ran a boarding house for the workmen. At that time, they had three sons - William, John and Otto.

In 1885, they moved north to the Lake of Bays, where they took up land at Fox point, which they cleared and farmed very successfully. Mr. John Munroe was a keen farmer, producing many prize winning garden products, which he exhibited at all the local fairs. Three more children were born at the Lake of Bays- Lottie, Melville and Hattie. Mrs. Munroe died ten days after the birth of the latter, July 10, 1894, but her husband lived for 32 years and died Feb 7, '26.

William, the eldest son, has a farm on the Port Cunnington Road. He still keeps a team of horses and some cows. He m. Emma Cunnington.

John, lives near the old homestead. Through the years, he has earned a living in many different ways, as guide to hunters and fishermen, as bushman, logger, millman, builder and so on, but now, he is chiefly occupied with his fine garden - 3 children

Otto lives in the old homestead, and in the log house which his father built. In the early days, he helped his father on the farm, but now, there is little farming done in this land, and much of it has gone back to the bush. He m. Janet Ketch - 1 daughter.

Melville - m. Lillian Mathias, whose father was a well known Methodist Minister, carpenter by trade, and lives near his brother John - 6 chil. Melville Munroe died suddenly Nov. 1952

Mrs. Munroe's grandfather was of U.E. Loyalist stock. He had two mills at Uffington, a saw mill, and a grist mill. He was married to Elizabeth Brownell, and they had 9 sons. She used to spin, card and weave the wool from their sheep, and make it into suits for her sons.

Mrs. Munroe's father had an original map of Draper Township, on which all the farms of the first settlers were outlined, and inscribed with their names. The map is now in possession of one of his brothers Hattie m. to Wm. Keown, and they live at Ox Tongue Lake- 4 sons

Lottie m. Fred Quinn, and lived in Dwight - 3 children

John died June 3, 1953, and is buried at Hutcheson Memorial cemetery in Huntsville

William Munroe died very suddenly at his home in Sept. 1954. He is buried at St. James Cemetery, Port Cunnington.

Otto Geoffrey Munroe died June 6, 1957, buried in Huntsville. THE WILDER FAMILY

The Wilder family came originally from England and settled in Grey Cty, in or near the town of Durham. About 1877, Russel Wilder and his wife, with their son Edward, and their daughter Nancy and also three nephews- Jonas, Alfred and Squire, came to Muskoka, and settled in Franklin Township on lots 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 - cons. 6. Russel Wilder died in 1908, and his wife in 1915.

Nancy Wilder m. Godlip Wood, and their only child is Mrs. Matilda Stone.

Edward m Martha Ward, and one of their daughters m. Alec Cain, and still lives in Huntsville - 5 daughters, one son. Mrs. Ed. Wilder died in 1906, and her husband about 1946. Mr. and Mrs. Alec Cain had two sons, Henry and Edgar, who settled at Hillside, and I think Violet, Mrs. Mel. Stone, now in Huntsville, is a daughter.

Of the three cousins, Jonas is the only one who has descendants living in this district at present. Alfred m Mary Ann Jamieson. He located lots 13,14, & 15, cons. 7, and lived there until 1898, when he sold his property to the McIlwain's, who had just sold theirs to the Hungerford’s. In 1905, the McIlwain's sold the second property to the Tapley's, who stilll live there. - 5 children.

Squire Wilder, as he was called, lived in this district for a few years, and then went to Michigan.

Jonas m. Louise Jamieson - 5 children, eventually moved to Michigan.

When the Wilders lived in Durham, they attended the Baptist Church which had been established by the late Rev. Alexander Stewart. When he learned that they had no church up here, he came up during the Summer, and held services in homes, until in 1886, he built a Baptist Church in Dwight, with the help of the Wilder's and Godlip Wood. Mr. Stewart spent many Summers, and one Winter in this vicinity doing missionary work as a labour of love, and his family and his grandchildren have been coming to Dwight ever since. He died in 1904, at the age of 91.

Good map - section of the Lake of Bays- Franklin Township, showing the Port Cunnington, Fox Point, Birkendale which comprise the Haystack Bay Women's Institute. EGBERT BOOTHBY & FAMILY

Egbert Boothby was the oldest son of Harry Boothby, and Myra Shore, and was born about 1858, in England. He came with his family to Canada, when he was about 14 years old, and was with them when they settled at Brown's Brae, on the South shore of the Lake of Bays.

Egbert was married to Lily Morrow, who belonged to a pioneer family and was probably a cousin of Martha Jane Morrow, who married brother Edward. He and his brother Edward moved to Port Cunnington about 1889, and both located on farms there. In 1907, Egbert and family decided to move to what was afterwards known as Point Ideal, a very beautiful part of the Lake of Bays, and here they made their home, and raised their family. Soon they built a lodge, and several cottages, and their place became a very popular Summer Resort. At Point Ideal, they have always had a fine garden, both of vegetables and of flowers; they have had their own cows, with plenty of good milk and cream, and, in the early days, always had a flock of sheep, so that their guests could have the delicious lamb for which Muskoka was noted.

There were six children

E.P.(Bert) Boothby- m. to Elsie Cunnington- who are still at Point Ideal and still making it a very successful Summer Resort. Ralph-m. to Marion Coates - Bracebridge Dalton-m. to Lillian Thompson of Portage Donald - at home Rhodes - m. to Lorraine Warden - Matheson, Ont.. [handritten: ‘Warden’ is crossed out and written ‘Ball’ above] Helen - m. to David Crossier- live at the old family [handwritten: ‘Crossey’] homestead farm near Port Cunnington, where her grandfather Egbert Boothby, first settled. Ross - at home

Norman - m. to Florence Gouldie, of Dwight. They Keep the Post Office at Dwight, and he also does a trucking business.

Stanley m to Birdie Matthias. Mrs. B. died in 1932. Married 2nd to Helen Walker - live at Hillside.

The three daughter are

Mrs. Bob Good (?) of Port Cunnington

Mrs. Draper of Huntsville

Miss Gertrude of Woodstock

Mr. Egbert Boothby died in 1938. His first wife died about 1913, and his second, Miss Annie Robertson, of Grove Park Lodge, is still living.

Mrs. Egbert Boothby (Annie) died March 1957 Dalton Boothby died of a heart condition, 1956. EDWARD S. BOOTHBY FAMILY

Edward S. Boothby was the second oldest son of Harry Boothby and Myra Shore, being born in the year 1860. He came with his family from England to Bracebridge when he was 12 years old. A year later, the family moved to Brown’s Brae, on the South shore of the Lake of Bays, where his father located 490 acres of land. The family included Egbert, Edward, Harry, Billy, Johnny, Tommy and Alice.

Edward S. Boothby married Janie Morrow in 1888. She was a daughter of Arthur, and Martha Jane Morrow- also pioneer residents of Brown’s Brae. They moved to Port Cunnington a year later, where he bought land from his brother Harry, who had located land there. Here, their ten children were born,

Mr. Boothby made a good living by farming. He kept cows and sheep, and also did considerable carpenter work. Like the rest of the early settlers, he worked hard, and long hours,. Some of his handiwork is still to be seen, namely at Bigwin, where he hewed the posts under the pavilion. He was also an excellent dock builder. Some of the docks he built, still remain in use. He served for several years on the school board as trustee, and later, as treasurer. He was an Anglican, and acted as warden for many years. Mr. Boothby suffered a stroke, and passed away at the age of 76. He is buried in the cemetery at Port Cunnington. Mrs. Boothby in her younger days was many times called upon when sickness developed in any of the homes around. She assisted many times at the birth of a baby, and was always willing to give a helping hand. She has always been smart on her feet, and today, in the year 1951, she is as smart as ever, at the age of 83.

Much loved Grandma Jane Boothby died Aug. 1954, and is buried at St. James Cemetery, Port Cunnington.

Edward -m. Celia Head - died Dec 1951., Huntsville

May -m. Arthur Gibbs- lives at Port Cunnington Daughter Dorothy m Boyce Cunnington Jr - Pt. Cunnington

William H. -m. Beatrice Reilly

Elizabeth (Lizzie) -m. To Jack Green, Omemee.

Ada -m to Dan Hughes, Niagara Falls.

Jack - m. to May Tangate - Portage

Arthur -m. Nellie Taplin, has a boat Livery at Port Cunnington. Mrs. Boothby is secretary to Board of education. Roy - m. Eva Lehman. Mr Boothby has been Assessor and Tax Collector for Franklin Township. He also owns and runs a general store at Port Cunnington, ably assisted b y his wife.

Fred - m. May Asbury - lives at Pt. C. and has a boat livery. Jennie - m. to Mr. Clarence Martin - Huntsville THE HUNGERFORD FAMILY

Thomas Henry Hungerford’s wife was Margaret Wolf Hungerford, an Irish novelist, writing sometimes as "The Duchess", and more often anonymously. She produced more than thirty light novels, which had a wide vogue in their time. Her most successful was "Molly Baun". Mrs. Hungerford died, Jan. 24, 1897.

After her death, her husband, T.H. Hungerford left Ireland to find a home in the western section of Canada, for his family. On the steamer, he met Mr. Thos Salmon, an Englishman, who was returning to his home, after a visit to England. He had settled at Fox Point, on the Lake of Bays, and he persuaded Mr. Hungerford to see his part of the country, before he went West. Mr.Hungerford liked the Lake of Bays, and bought the property- lots 15, 16, 17, Cons. 6, from Wm. Mcllwain, and named it Lumina.

In Sept.1898, he left Co. Cork, Ireland, with his family, two step-daughters, Reine and Elsie Argles, and his three children, Henry, Vera, and Tom. They also brought their Irish setter, and their cat “Grandma". They stocked the farm, and tried to make a living, but it was a hard battle.

In 1907, when the children were away at school, Mr. Hungerford started for the West again, but was taken ill on the train, and died suddenly, at Reno, Nevada.

For years, no one lived in the farm house at Lumina, Reine Argles was a nurse overseas, Elsie Argles lived in Ottawa, Henry and Tom, graduated from Veterinary College in Washington D.C.. Vera was a librarian in Buffalo. Later, Henry went to the Philipine Islands. Vera married Lynn Farnham, in the Philippine Islands, and Tom took up a homestead near Edmonton. Both Henry and Tom were Overseas in World War 1, Henry, with the Royal Artillery, Tom, a machine gunner.

After the war, Tom returned to Lumina, in April 1921 he married a Buffalo girl, Elizabeth Burt, and they opened Lumina as a Summer Resort. They had the old farm house, and two tents. The house had been unoccupied for so long, that the raspberry bushes grew right up to the front door. There was no plumbing of any kind- water was carried from the lake, by pail. The first thing Tom did, was to pipe water down from the Spring, high on the hill side. Now, that same Spring feeds into a cement walled reservoir, and supplies water for the two main houses, and 20 cottages that comprise Lumina, 1951.

There were only wagon roads, no automobiles. All guests arrived by boat, and each brought with him, a large, heavy trunk of clothes, and, almost always, a large, bamboo, fishing pole.

Lumina guests landed at a dock in Echo Bay- a fine dock, built by Mr. DeWitt Clinton, a Buffalo Lawyer, who had a Summer cottage “Deepwater" on the Lake of Bays. Alex. Thompson had a cart, that carried the luggage across Thompson's Portage, and, a Lumina boat, took them to the resort.

The growth of Lumina has been gradual. Guests are loyal to the Lake of Bays, and return year after year. We, who live here all year, enjoy a rare privilege. it is a wonderful country to live in, and to bring up our children. Every season has its treats. In the Spring, the maple trees are tapped, syrup, and maple sugar are made. There are wild flowers, and wild strawberries on the hillsides. Then Summer, when you share your beautiful country with the city visitors, you paddle your own canoe, swim and have picnics. In the Fall, there is the annual school fair, when the children exhibit their school work, and compete in marching, races, etc... The glorious Fall colouring of leaves to enjoy- and then, Winter, best of all, comfortable homes to live in with every city convenience, outside- deep snow, glorious sunshine, hills to slide down, skiing, and sometimes, the entire lake to skate on.

Two children

Betty - m. Fl. Lt. Donald Bell of Ottawa - one son, Robin.

Ted m. Phyllis Campbell of Owen Sound. Ted and his wife, are now helping at Lumina.

Henry H. has a home on the Lake of Bays, and lives here during the Spring and summer months.

Written by Mrs. Tom Hungerfotd

Pictures, and good map to trace.

THE TAPLEY'S OF BONDI The Tapley's came directly to Port Cunnington on the Lake of Bays from London, England in May, 1905.

Joseph Tapley was born in London in 1861, and, at an early age, showed great musical ability. While attending elementary schools, he was also a member of St. Andrew's choir at Stockwell Green, East London. His father, John Tapley, conducted the St. Celian choir attached to the Congregational church at Stockwell.

For a time, Joseph Tapley was associated with the law firm of Shum, Crosman and Crosman in London, but, under the patronage of the Dowager, Lady Freek, and Clement Coleman, he entered the National Training School for music, which was opened in London by Queen Victoria about 1865. This school was later re-named the Guild Hall School of Music. In this school, Mr. Tapley trained under Sir Arthur Sullivan, Sir John Stainer and Ernest Pauer, graduating in 1882 with highest honour.

In 1890, Mr.Tapley toured Australia and New Zealand with such success that he did not return to England until 1895.

In 1900, he married Elizabeth Scarf in London. In 1901, shortly after their first son Douglas was born, Mr. Tapley was persuaded to make another tour to Australia and New Zealand. From this tour, he returned to England by way of the Hawaiian Islands, and the United States, and, by so doing, he travelled completely around the world.

In 1905, doctors advised Mr. Tapley to give up the stage, for reasons of health, and, through the advice of Mr. A.J. Webb, he came to Port Cunnington with Mrs. Tapley, and their two small sons, Douglas, and Percy.

With the advice of Mr. B.H. Cunnington, Mr. Tapley bought the farm owned by Mr. Wm. McIlwain, at the head of Haystack Bay, and named it Bondi, after a famous seaside resort in Australia.

Although unaccustomed to farming, Mr. Tapley took a great interest in agriculture, and in his cows, horses and lambs, and farmed actively until 1930.

In that year, he made a return visit to England with his daughter Violet, and, soon after his return from the trip, retired from active work. He was a semi-invalid during his later years, and died at Bondi in 1943 in his 82nd year.

Mrs. Tapley was always a splendid helpmate, and, during those last difficult years, proved her real worth, and established a record of unselfishness and self-sacrifice.

The eldest son, Douglas, seemed to inherit his father's lovely voice, but died, at the early age of sixteen.

Percy, the second son, was educated in Buffalo, N.Y., where he met and m. Louise Ross. They have two children, Mary Louise, and Reilly Douglas, live in Toronto. They own and operate a Summer resort at Dwight, called Logging Chain Lodge, and have a cottage on Lake of Bays known as Reilou, after the two children.

Violet, the only daughter, was educated at Branksome Hall in Toronto. She married Allan Hunter, son of Carl H. Hunter, professor of music at the Toronto Conservatory of Music, thus linking two musical families.. They have two children, Stephen, and Carol, and have a charming home in Oakville.

Paul, the youngest son, was educated in Huntsville, and Guelph, and is now operating the farm in conjunction with five tourist cottages, assisted by his wife, and small son, Brian Douglas.

Paul married Rosemary Buck, who came from Windsor, England, where she lived beside the famous Windsor Castle. Rosemary's father visited Canada in 1906, and she had always been fascinated by his descriptions of this wonderful country. In 1948, she flew the Atlantic, landing at Toronto, where she was a nurse for some time, at the hospital for sick children. She came from Toronto to Muskoka, where she now lives happily with her husband and small son.

Percy Nugent Tapley died suddenly, May 13, 1956, and was buried in Dwight.

Pictures. TRAFFIC ON THE LAKE OF BAYS -from the Haystack Bay, Tweedsmuir History

In those days, in the Lake of Bays district, where there are splendid highways, and, where even the side roads are kept in good shape for driving, most people depend on the motor car for getting from place to place, and have become so accustomed to the speed and comfort of this mode of travel, that it would be hard for them to realize how very, very different things were of the beginning of the century.

At that time, motor cars and air planes were not even invented. Long journeys were often made on foot, as there were few roads that were passable even for horses or oxen, when hitched to buggies or wagons. Many of the roads were cut through the bush and were very narrow, rough, and often marshy in places. The era of good roads, for which we have to thank the motor vehicle, had not even begun. So, we find, in those good old days, people preferred to travel by water, whenever they could, and boat traffic was very popular. This was especially true in the Muskoka Lakes, and in the entire Lake of Bays district, and settlers in these parts, were fortunate in being able to travel safely and speedily over the ice in Winter.

When the lakes began to grow popular as Summer Resorts, people coming up from Toronto, or other points in Southern Ontario, would take a morning train to Huntsville, and there they would embark on a steamboat, which would take them across Peninsula Lake to North Portage, calling at numerous places en route, and disembarking passengers and freight, as well as mail. At the North Portage, passengers would often walk across the one mile strip of land to the Lake of Bays, but later on a coach service was provided by the Osborne's, who would drive tourists and their luggage across for a small fee.

Picture of coach

In 1903, tracks were put down, and the Portage Railway, consisting of a one coach train, and tiny engine, was installed, and has been in use, ever since, and which, because of its uniqueness as the tiniest railway in the world, has always been a constant source of interest and delight to visitors.

Arriving at the South Portage on the Lake of Bays, passengers would board another steamboat, which would be waiting to take them to their various destinations. It might be quite late at night before they would arrive, as the boat called at many cottages and resorts along the way, and there were often many delays, unloading, and re-loading, as in those days, the boats were the mail carriers. There are not so many wharves on the lakes now, but, at that time, all post offices, resorts, mills, and many of the cottages had their own wharves.

Ever since the Lake of Bays district began to be settled in 1876, steam-boats have held a very important place, both for towing logs, and the conveyance of passengers. The first boat in our records was the S.S."Dean", or ‘’Helena" as it was afterwards called. It sailed the lake in 1876, under the guidance of Captain Huckins.. Then, we hear of that splendid pioneer, Captain Marsh, who had a mill at Marsh's Falls on the OxTongue River, near Dwight, where he built, and launched the "Mary Louise" in 1885. Picture S.S. “Mary Lou ise",1885 - S.S."Florece" - 1894

Captain Huckins launched the S.S. "Excelsior", which was built at Baysville, the same year. Old residents still laugh over the extremely low cut-rate prices for trips in those days. Later Captain Marsh bought the "Excelsior", and took it to Huntsville. Unfortunately, it was partly burned in the Huntsville fire of 1894, but he re-built it and called it the “Empress".

Meantime, probably about 1890, the mill, built by Captain Marsh, at Marsh's Falls, was destroyed by fire, and he moved to Huntsville. He purchased the Denton interests, and established a system of navigation over the whole lake region from Huntsville to Dorset. He organized the Huntsville and Lake of Bays Navigation Co., which was later purchased by Mr. C.O. Shaw

The S.S. "Florence”, and a small steamboat, called the "Lady Of the Lake” were built in Huntsville by Captain Marsh to sail on the Lake of Bays.

Captain Marsh died in 1904.

Captain McGraw brought a boat to the lake called the "Equal Rights”, which was afterwards owned by the Gouldie's of Dwight. About 1910, it was purchased by Captain Grieves Robson, who sailed it on the lake for a number of years, but later, it was bought by his brother George, to use in connection with the mill in Birkendale.

Mrs. George Robson still has the Day-Book used at the Mill, and she can recall many pleasant and interesting experiences in connection with the S.S." Equal Rights", as in those days, boats were the chief means of traffic, and people depended on them for conveyance at weddings, funerals, picnic parties, and many other occasions.

About 1905 the "Florence Main" under Captain Santamour, and the “Joe" under Captain Fred Brown, were brought here from the Muskoka Lakes, and sailed on Lake of Bays, for a number of years. The “Florence Main" was re-built about 1920, and re-named the "Mohawk Belle". She was a fine 100 foot steamer, and, for many years, carried capacity loads of passengers. Finally, her top part was removed, and she was used by Bigwin Inn for carrying wood, and other material, until, in 1950, she was replaced by the S.S."Kathleen". THE CHURCHES

St. Paul’s Presbyterian

In the early pioneer days, settlers were serious regarding their religion. Sunday was usually kept strictly as a day of rest, worship and family sociability. Years before there was any church structure, services were held in private homes and school houses, and then, when the congregation decided to build a church, the land was usually donated, and men contributed generously, both by labour and money towards the erection of it.

The first Presbyterian congregation, as well as the first church in this district, was established on Ten Mile Bay, near Ronville Lodge, when a small church was built in 1885, on the point where the Cockshutt's now have their Summer home. The minister, Rev. McKay, and others, constructed the church of lumber towed from the South shore, where it had been bought from a mill in Baysville. Members of St. Paul's, as this church was named, were the McCutcheon's of Ronville, The Dale's and Clarke's from the Sea Breeze shore, the Wager’s, Shrigley’s, Robson’s, Irwin's and others. They lost some members when the Methodist church was built at Sea Breeze in 1896-97, but, as service was held in the Methodist church in the morning, and in St. Paul’s in the evening, attendance kept up very well for some years. However, when church union took place in 1925, it was decided by the members to join in worship at one church, and the Lakeside church was chosen, as it was the better building. St. Paul's was torn down, and the lumber sold to Edward Grey, who used it in building his home. A small cemetery plot connected with St.Paul's church, has been enclosed, and held sacred ever since, and can be seen near the Cockshutt home. Among the ministers who served at this church were Mr, McKay, Mr. Webster and A.C. McCollum, the latter, still well and kindly remembered by many in the district, afterwards joined the Anglican Church, and is the much liked rector of beautiful St. John's church at York Mills, Toronto. The names of other ministers who served at this church are Seiveright, Lambert, Conning, Bayne, McGillivray, Cosford, Seiber, Pickup, Fletcher and Jones.

The Birkendale United Church (Lakeside Methodist Church)

The Birkendale United Church, or, as it was formerly, Lakeside Methodist Church, was built in 1896-97, and the first trustees were William E. Irwin, George G. Robson, William Burk and Mr Hamilton. Mr. Irwin took the lumber across on the ice with his team of horses, and together with the Robson' s, Hamilton’s, Burk's, Dale's and others, they soon built a nice church. At first, this church was connected with the Dorset district, and their minister came from there. But later, they were placed with the Hillside circuit, and have been with that group ever since. Some of the ministers who have served here, are Rev. McTaggart, Whitehead, Halbert, Holmes, Marshall, Kendall, Cruise, Halpenny, Morris, Rev. John Morris is at Malton, near Toronto, Mr Brahm, and his wife come to Dwight every Summer, where they have a cottage, Rev. T. Tucker, and his family, went to Angola, Africa, several years ago, and there, he joined his father in missionary work. In 1925, this church, like all the Methodist Churches in Canada, went in the United Church of Canada with the Congregational, and many of the Presbyterian churches, and it was at this time that it joined with St. Paul's Presbyterian to form one church. During the last great war, it became more and more difficult each year, to supply rural churches with ministers, so for the first time, women were sent to take the services, and many of the churches were grouped together. Miss Paddock, Miss Stedman, and Miss Florence Hunter were three ladies who have given very devoted and efficient service at the various churches, where they have assisted. For several years now, at the Birkendale church, services have been held, only during July and August, but, at Dwight, only four miles away, there is a church service every Sunday evening, all the year around. Visiting ministers at Summer resorts, or those who have cottages, often help out very acceptably by preaching on Sundays.

St. John's Church (St. John in the Woods) Fox Point

This attractive little church was built early in this century. The land for this church was given by Mr. B.H. Crump, Mr. Thomas Salmon and Mr. French at a point where their properties joined. The settlers cut down the trees, cleared the land, and laid a stone foundation. Then the contract for building and furnishing the church was given to Irons and Winnecott, Huntsville. On the building committee were H.W. Crump, Thomas Henry Hungerford, and Harold G. King. At this time, Fox Point was in the Franklin Mission, and the catechist, Mr. Harold C. King, sent out by the Anglican Church in Toronto, had two other missions, which he visited every Sunday, if possible. These were Grasmere, and the Quinn settlement, back of Dwight, or Stony Lonesome, as it was sometimes named. Before St. John’s was built in 1901-02, Mr. King held services in the little log school house, near Boyce Cunnington's mill. He boarded with the Hungerford family at Lumina. It is said he met his future wife at the Hemlocks, a Summer resort near Birkendale. She was Miss Ailleen Arnold, of Toronto. After Mr. King was ordained, they went West to Vancouver, but they are now retired, and live in Nanaimo. Various students were in charge, until in 1912, the bishop arranged for an ordained minister to conduct the services, and the Rev. A.W. Hazlehurst of Baysville was the first appointment. He seems to have continued at the church until 1926, and, after that, there were Rev. L. Sampson, Rev. Warder, Rev. H.K. Eward and others. There seems to have been a very generous spirit amongst the members of St. John's as, besides the gift of the site, there was a vestment box, given by Boyce Cunnington, a lectern and reading desk, from Mrs. Crump and a font, given by Mrs. McCown and Mrs. Mitchell. Quite recently, in 1948, a couple of sanctuary chairs were made, and given by A. Stewart-Jones of Birkendale. During the last fifty years, these, are the men who have acted as wardens at St. John’s, and also at St James - since it was built in 1935 - Mr. B.H. Cunnington, H.W. Crump, C.J.C. Crump, Thomas Salmon, Thomas H. Hungerford, W.H. Boothby, Roy Boothby, John Munroe, Charles Cunnington, and Clare Emberson. In 1912, Mr. B.H. Cunnington gave the land for a cemetery at Port Cunnington and it was subsequently built nearby. It was impossible to have a burying ground at St. John's, as the ground was too rocky. Since St. James' church was opened for worship in 1935-36, the two churches have worked together very harmoniously. They have a joint treasury for all collections, donations, and proceeds from social projects, and the same student ministers to both congregations during the Summer months. Various improvements have been made to the churches from time to time, as for instance, making repairs, and painting the chuches, building a new wharf at St. John's, purchasing a new motor boat for the use of the student minister, and, in 1950, the installation of electricity at St. John's church. St. John's began as part of the Franklin Mission. Almost from the first, it has been partly self-supporting, and wholly so for a great many years. Now this church is able to give generously to the Algoma Diocesan mission funds, to the Cowley Fathers and other causes. Most of the church income comes from the collections and donations and also from regattas which have now become an annual affair at one or other of the local Summer resorts. SAINT JAMES CHURCH PORT CUNNINGTON

Through all the years, the members of the Port Cunnington settlement, and Fox Point, had merged their efforts, and worshipped at St. John’s Church, together. They had all worked hard to get St. John's built and equipped, and it speaks well for the devotion of such men as Mr. B.H. Cunnington, P.B. Walmsley, E.S. Boothby, Boyce Cunnington and others, that they helped unselfishly towards the success of this church, though they had to come so far. However, about 1930, the Port Cunnington people began to have a great desire for a church of their own, partly because of the distance to St. John's, and also, because they wanted to have services all through the year, instead of just during the Summer months. But it was not until 1934, that it was finally decided to build a church, rather than a parish hall, and to place it on land given by Mr. B.H. Cunnington, near the cemetery. A building committee was appointed - W.H. Boothby, J.H. Greene, E.P. Boothby ( Point Ideal ), B.H. (Boyce) Cunnington, and Stanley Boothby, as well as the two wardens, B.H. Cunnington, and John Munroe. There was great enthusiasm, and many of the men agreed to work on the church free of charge. The Women's Association too, was very active in raising funds, and announced that they had $477 on hand in 1934, and planned to hold a bazaar at Port Cunnington in August, 1935. The following ladies were on a committee in charge of this affair -Mrs. Bert Boothby, Mrs. J.W. Emberson, Mrs. Tom Hungerford, Mrs. John Greene, Mrs. Boyce Cunnington.

Mr. S. Roxborough Smith was the student in charge at this time, and he was so well liked, that the Synod was asked to send him back again, and again. He was at the Fox Point church during the Summers of 1934, 35, 36, and it was during this period that St. James' Church was built, and opened for service. He stipulated that the two churches should have a common fund in the treasury, with two wardens, one from each church. This was agreed to by the members, and so it has remained ever since. It was also agreed that service would be held at St. John's in the morning, and at Port Cunnington at 7.30 in the evening.

St. James' Church was consecrated in August, 1937, with 35 people present. Services were held for some years during the winter, but it was not always possible to get ministers, especially during the war, though the Cowley Brothers, or Fathers, of St. John in Bracebridge often helped out, and still do. The various students who have been sent here since 1936, are -etc, etc. Funeral services were held at St. James' Church, on Dec. 24, 1944, for Mr. B.H. Cunnington. There were 105 present, and the temperature was 24 below zero on that day.

Grateful mention should be made of Summer tourists, who have often helped most generously with time and money, especially Col. and Mrs. Ferguson, and Rev. Lorne Young, and his brother, the Rev. E. Young. Special mention should be made of Mrs. Edwin S. Miller who for nearly forty years have had a Summer home "Pine Acre" near Lumina, and have shown a keen interest in the people of the district, and have given generously to the church, St. John in the Woods, and to the welfare of the children.

THE CEMETERIES

It has been said that many graves lie in secluded, lonely spots unknown to the present generation, and this is probably true, as the early settlers had no established burying grounds at first. It was not long however, before ground was cleared for a graveyard, and a church. All three graveyards in this district are connected with churches. One of them, is a very small, enclosed space on the property of Mr. Cockshutt, near where St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church used to stand, and still held sacred. There are only five graves in it- Mrs. McCutcheon, whose husband was the first owner of Ronville, Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Dale, and two of their children. Mrs. George Robson recalled, that when Mrs. McCutcheon died in the Winter, the pall bearers carried the casket from her home to the grave, walking over the deep snow on snow shoes.

The second graveyard to be established was at the Lakeside Memorial Church, or the Birkendale United, as it is now called, about 1897. Many old timers lie there, including Mrs. Clarke, Mr. Shrigley, Mr. Pratt, Mr. and Mrs. Fritzels, Mr. Hamilton, Miss Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Irwin, Mr.Griffiths, veteran of the Indian Mutiny, Misses Aiken, Sam Robson, George G and Mrs. Robson, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Salmon, the Chevaliers, the Burk's, the Wilder's and others.

Mr George Robson has told us of a number of funerals at which the casket, pall bearers, minister, and most of the relatives and friends were taken by boat to the Lakeside Church, where the service would be, and then, interment would take place in the adjoining cemetery. This was especially the case, when Captain Grieves Robson owned the S.S. Equal Rights.

In May 1912, Mr B.H. Cunnington gave the land for a burying ground at Port Cunnington, and it was duly consecrated by the Bishop. The Church of St.James, which adjoins the cemetery was built in 1934-1935. Among those buried at this cemetery are the Cunnigton's, the Boothby’s, H.W.Crump, Mrs. C.J.C. Crump, Mr. Walmsley, Sr., and Mr. Lynn Farnham, husband of Vera Hungerford Farnham, whose ashes were brought here from the Philippines. STEWART MEMORIAL CHURCH

The Reverend Alexander Stewart was one of the splendid, pioneer preachers of Ontario, who, over one hundred years ago, established churches in the newly settled district all through Grey and Bruce Counties and many other settlements, persistently keeping his appointments in all seasons, and all kinds of weather, often walking 25 miles, and even 45, to conduct a service in some wilderness church or home. Mr. Stewart really belongs to Dwight, and his descendants have been firmly established there for over sixty years, but, as will be seen, he also established connections with Birkendale and other parts of our district.

In 1877, the Wilder family, and Mr. and Mrs. Godlip Wood of Durham, in Grey County, came to the Lake of Bays district to take up Crown Land, and make a new home. In Durham, they had been members of Rev. Stewart's church, so, when he learned they had no place to worship, he followed them to Muskoka in 1882 summer, and for several summers he held services in many homes including Birkendale. By 1887, he had a church organized, and a building was erected in Dwight, which is still open during the summer, and often overflows with tourists and residents in the district who love the little church and its inspirational services. This church, which at first belonged to the Baptists, is now a Community Church, in care of the United Church, who have another building in the village which is used during the Winter. The story of this intrepid, courageous missionary was written by his son, Rev. J.W.A. Stewart, for the Canadian Baptist, in 1886, when his father was over seventy. He was born in Banffshire, Scotland, in 1813, and sailed for Canada in 1832, paying three pounds for his passage, and boarding himself. After a stormy, seven weeks voyage, he landed in Quebec, with only three pence as his total capital. He obtained employment in Quebec and Montreal. In about 1836, he had reached Ontario, where he got work at a sawmill in the County of Norfolk. In 1842, he was married near Simcoe, to Esther Stratton Wilson, whose people came from Bedford. They had six children- five daughters and one son- Joseph William Alexander. In 1845, he was converted and joined the Baptist Church through the influence of his wife, and in 1851 he was ordained as a Christian minister. Soon after that, in 1853, the family moved to Durham, where he took up land, and built a home. Besides being pastor of the church, he helped to build in Durham, he organized many churches in all the surrounding districts, and toiled as well among the Indians on the Grand River. His wife died in 1868, just as their only son Joseph, at sixteen, was preparing to teach in the village school. Alexander Stewart carried on as a preacher and missionary till he died in 1904, at the age of 91.

For several years after Rev. Stewart's first visit to Muskoka, in 1882, he returned every summer, and as there were no churches at that time, he held services in many homes at Dwight, Birkendale and all the surrounding country. Mrs. Jessie Irwin tells of many meetings held at the Robson home, and of many pastoral visits during the week. He often visited her mother during her last illness, usually walking, but sometimes travelling horseback.

The first church in Dwight, which was probably the first in the township, was dedicated in 1887, and ten years later, the little Methodist Church at Sea Breeze was opened.

EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS Education in most rural districts of Ontario, seems to have passed through three phases. At first, there was very little provision made for formal education, and the pioneers usually got together, and arranged for it themselves. They would give the land, the material and the labour free, and build a little log school house. The equipment was very simple, usually just a few benches at first, with perhaps a crude table and chair for the teacher. They would hire for very little pay, sometimes for board or lodging only - someone, with not much education himself, to teach their children a little reading, writing and arithmetic.

But, when the Common Schools' Act was passed in 1841, a new impetus was given, as it permitted the formation of School Sections, and the election of three trustees for each school, who could raise taxes to build school, hire teachers, and have all the legal machinery for its carrying on education. This second phase lasted for 100 years.

Since 1940, the third phase has been reached, and the tendency now to provide better buildings, finer equipment, and more efficient teachers is to build what are called Consolidation Schools at some central place, to which pupils from outlying districts may be brought and returned each day. School areas also are often formed, and these may comprise several school sections, and even a whole township.

After 1871, the supervision of education came under inspectors, who often had a very large territory, which some have been known to cover all on foot, walking from one school to another, in all sorts of weather, and over very uncertain roads. Inspectors' visits were not always a source of joy to teachers or pupils, and they were not sorry that they could be made only once, or, at the most, twice a year.

The first Fox Point, and Port Cunnington School

The first school in the Port Cunnington district, was built in 1893. It was built of logs, on land donated by Mr. B.H.Cunnington, near where Boyce Cunnington's mill is now in operation. As far as can be learned, the work was given free by all the male residents of the small community. The first teacher at the school was Miss Jennie Robson, of Birkendale, and one of the first pupils was Mrs. David Langford of Dwight - Daisy Salmon.

In 1908, a larger school was deemed necessary, and so, William Munroe, with the help of his brother John erected a new frame building, near the site of the old one, at a cost of $600. The average wage for a school teacher at the beginning of the twentieth century was $216 annually, and out of this was paid $6 a month for board.

In 1930, after several meetings of the ratepayers called to settle best ways and means of having all children attend school more regularly, it was decided to build two schools, one near Port Cunnington, and the other near Lumina. This did away with the difficulty of crossing the water from Otto Munroe's. Stanley Boothby was given the contract of building these two schools, at a cost of $900 each. The acre of land that the school was built on, netted the owner $75.

In the year 1940, a Township area school board was elected, with one trustee each from the communities of Dwight, Portage, Hillside, Fox Point, Port Cunnington and Birkendale, a total of five trustees. At the time, Birkendale was not represented, on account of the school being closed. This joint school board eliminated the necessity of each school section having its own board of three trustees and a secretary-treasurer. Two of the teachers who taught in these schools, married here and are still living in the community. They are Mrs. B.H. Cunnington, who taught here in 1901 as Miss Edith Hawn, and Mrs. W.H. Boothby who taught here in 1916, 17,18, as Miss Beatrix Riley. The following trustees were elected to the first Township area school board in Jan. 1940 -Norman Thompson, ? Peterson, Bert Boothby and Jack Hawke., Miss Mary Cunnington (Mrs. Elder) secretary.

The Birkendale School

The first school on Ten Mile Bay was held in a log house, near the bluff at Dale's mill, and was attended by the Dale, Clarke and other children. It was kept open for only two or three years, and then the Birkendale school was built. The Birkendale school was built in 1895, and, at first was on the road leading to Dorset, about1/2 mile north of Goose Lake. As this location was inconvenient for many of the children, the school was afterwards moved to its present site, near the United Church at the lake. At first, they got their drinking water at the lake, where there is a very fine sandy beach, but, later on, they had a well, of pure, cold water and a pump. The school is well built, with a good foundation, well lighted with windows on both sides, and is heated with a wood stove. Miss Jennie Robson was the first teacher, and amongst the pupils were the Dales, Clarke’s, Wager’s, Salmon’s, (Dick), Fritzell’s, Shrigley's, Robson’s, Irwin's, Chevalier's, Burk's, Emberson's and Dillon's, as well as some of the Thomas Salmon's- Daisy, Graeme, and Anne, who stayed with their relatives the Robson's.

In 1905, the School Board bought the new site for the school, on the lakeshore, from Mr. Wager. The school was moved to its new location, just south of the Methodist, now United Church, by Mr. J.S. Robson, for $12.47. The trustees at this time, were W.E. Irwin, chairman, R.H. Salmon, sec-tres, L. Dale, H. Clarke and Mr. Burk. Mr. W.E. Irwin died suddenly during the Summer of 1906, and was replaced on the Board by W.A.H. Irwin. The teacher at this time was Miss Iva Robson, who received a salary of $18.00 a month. The school term began in April and ended in December. There was no school during the winter months, because of the snow and other difficulties. During the early period, the trustees assessed property, and levies and collected the taxes. But, when the township of Franklin was organized in 1929, a council was elected annually, which attended to these matters. The best maple and pine wood was supplied, and delivered to the school in those days at from $1.55 to $1.50 a cord. At a meeting held in April.1914, it was moved and carried, that the application of Mrs. ? as teacher at $30.00 a month be accepted, providing she sweep the school and light the fires. However, salaries gradually increased, and we find $800 being paid in 1940, while now, 1950-51, $1800 is expected as annual salary.

The school at Birkendale was closed about ten years ago, owing to the very small attendance, and the pupils were transported daily, first to the school at Dwight, for four years, and then, when it became overcrowded, they were taken to the Lumina school. The Birkendale school after extensive renovations, was re-opened in Sept. 1950, with Mrs. Robert Boothby as teacher. The situation was reversed, and now the Lumina school is closed, and its four pupils are brought to the Birkendale school. Mr. T.W. Emberson has had charge of the transportation for the Lumina and Birkendale schools, since the formation of the Township area school boards in 1940. Mr. C.J.C. Crump, of Ronville Lodge, acted as Auditor for a great many years. The late Mrs. George Robson, F.W. Cope, C.W. Irwin and others, also acted in this capacity.

Lumina, Fox Point School

The Fox Point school is the smallest of the three schools in our district, and it was opened in 1930. Among the pupils attending the school were Paul Tapley, Ida Jeannette and Junior Thompson, Irene, Ruth Elsie, Donald, Bess, Belva, Jean and Mary (later Lynne) Munroe, Margaret Munroe, Gordon Allenson, and Gordon and Dorothy Cunnington, Betty and Ted Hungerford. Miss Carberry, Miss Waring and Miss Mawhinney were among the first teachers. Miss Mawhinney was a very capable teacher, and fortunately remained at the school for 9 years. At the entrance examinations held in Huntsville, Paul Tapley and Ted Hungerford won silver medals donated by the principal of the Huntsville High School each year, to the pupil in the rural districts with the highest standing. Betty Hungerford won the gold medal donated by Mr. H.E. Rice, editor of the Huntsville Forester, for winning the highest marks in the district. This Fox Point School is closed now, and has been closed before, because of scarcity of pupils. At present, its four pupils are being taken to to Birkendale School.

The new School at Port Cunnington 1950-51

On April 11, 1951, pupils were in attendance for the first time at the fine, new school which has just been built at Port Cunnington. The teacher in charge, was Mr. James Dalgliesh of Edinburgh, Scotland, who lives in the old Walmsley house, with his wife and two little daughters. The school was built by Mr. E.S. Peterson of Hillside, a former chairman of the school board, at a cost of $9200, and is up to date in every way. It is equipped with electric lighting, wood furnace, modern plumbing and electric hot plate for cooking lunches, weighing scales for use by the health nurse, and a large basement, with two separate play-rooms. There is accommodation for from 30-35 pupils. The Township area school ward is composed of the following members for 1951 - Mr. Ellwood Campbell, chairman, Mr. James Wood, Mr. Herb Graham, Mr. Ralph Blackwell, and Mr. Albert Bullock, - sec., Mrs. Arthur Boothby.

School Fairs

The first school fair for the district was held in Sept. 1916 at Hillside, where the present school now stands. It was sponsored by the U.F.0.- United Farmers of Ontario, of Hillside, Portage, Dwight and Fox Point - also, Port Cunnington communities were all represented. Money was raised for prizes by public subscription and social parties, and, in addition, a grant was received from the Government, through the U.F.0.. As far as can be ascertained, the Fair was discontinued until the year 1920, probably because of the Great War, and also the inconvenience of getting there. In the year 1920 Cain's Corners was chosen as a more central location, and the Farmers' Fair was held in connection with the School Fair, this causing keen interest, individuals offering prizes for various articles, the first prize article going to the donor of the money. There were two large halls at Cain's Corners, and both would be jammed with exhibits, one for those of the farmers, and the other for the school children. Some of the main organizers of this Fair, and who took an active part in it were James Ferguson, F.A. Emberson, Randolph Hill, Robert Meredith and Joe Brown of Hillside. The late R.M. Tipper, agricultural representative of Huntsville, was a judge for many years. The buildings at Cain's Corners were finally condemned, and so, once again, a new spot was chosen for the Fair, this time, it being Dwight. This place was really more central than the other places, and the Fair has been held here for the last ten years. Port Cunnington first attended the Fair in 1916, when Pupils and parents, under the guidance of Miss Beatrice Riley, now Mrs. William Boothby, went by the steamer, Mohawk Belle, to the Portage, crossed over on the train, and took another steamer, Ramona, to the farm of Randolph Hill, and thence to the Hillside School. This was indeed a treat for all, but very tiring, and so, because of the inconvenience of getting there, Port Cunnington was not represented at the Fair for several years. The year 1927, was to be remembered by a lot of us, for, in that year, Canada's Diamond Jubilee our school won special praise for our costumes at the Fair. The girls wore pink, green and blue ruffled old-fashioned costumes, made with matching bonnets, and the boys wore swallow tail coats and top hats. Our banner depicted life in that year and life sixty years before. The T. Eaton Co. have for many years donated a prize to the pupil winning the highest number of points, which I am sure has caused greater enthusiasm among the pupils, as the prize has always been a worthwhile one. The Farmers' Fair discontinued their connection with the School Fair several years ago, when they commenced sending their exhibits to the annual Agricultural Fair in Huntsville. But, the School Fair in Dwight, sponsored by the Franklin Township School Board, has continued to be an annual event each year.

The Irwin Memorial School

The Irwin Memorial School at Dwight was formally opened on Monday evening, Oct. 22, 1956, by the Ontario Minister of Education, Hon. W.A. Dunlop, before a capacity audience. This new Consolidation School replaces one room schools which have been in use many years, at Dwight, Birkendale, Hillside, and Portage, and many of the pupils from these former places of learning are now transported by bus to the Irwin Memorial School. It is a pleasure to see this school in such extensive grounds, providing plenty of scope for landscaping, as well as for playground, sports, and games. The ground, comprising about 22 acres were given to the Township by Mrs. H.B. Hamilton, a member of the Irwin family, who were pioneer Summer residents of the area, so the school was fittingly named in their honour. It was hoped that Mrs. Hamilton would be present at the opening, but, unfortunately illness prevented her attending.

The day of the little red school house is gradually passing, but we still have a one room school at Port Cunnington, as their rate payers preferred it that way. The other schools are quickly being bought up for other purposes. The school property at Dwight, will be used by the owners of Northland Lodge in connection with their Summer Resort which it adjoins. The schools at Hillside and Portage are being used as Community Centres, while the little one near Lumina, owned by the Hungerfords will probably be turned into a cottage. These little buildings have served their purpose well as educational centres, and we are glad to know that they will still be put to good use. Post Offices

In the whole Township of Franklin, there are six Post Offices, Dwight, Hillside, Portage, and the three with which we are directly connected, Fox Point, Birkendale and Port Cunnington.

Before any of these were established, Mr. M.H. Cunnington used to row over to Baysville, a distance of ten miles or more, for the mail, once a month. When an office was opened at the Salmon home, mail was distributed from there to Port Cunnington, and all the surrounding district. During the Summer season, probably from April to November, the mail was brought from Huntsville by boat, every other day, except during July and August, when it came daily. In the Winter, it had to be brought from Dwight. Mr. Salmon would take the mail from his own Post Office, and also that of Birkendale after 1896, when it was opened, to Dwight, travelling on foot, on horseback, or by sleigh, as the case may be. He would then bring back the incoming mail for Birkendale and Fox Point, and it would be called for by settlers from Port Cunnington, and other places. In Jan. 1914, a Post Office was opened at Port Cunnington. On Dec.7, 1938, the Fox Point Post Office was moved from the Salmon home to the home of Melville Munroe, all the office equipment being transferred. Since then, the mail has been delivered to all the Post Offices by transport, three times a week, except during July and August, when it comes daily. In these two months at Port Cunnington, the mail is brought daily by boat. In Nov. 1953, the Fox Point Post Office was transferred to Mr. and Mrs. George Magee, as Mrs. Munroe felt she was unable to take care of it.

Telephone and Telegraph Systems

About 1890, Mr. H.P. Dwight, president of the Great Northwestern Telegraph Company, established a large Hunting Club Lodge on Long Lake, east of Dwight, and prominent business men of New York and Toronto belonged to it, including Erastus Wyman, of New York, and W.D. Matthews, Sir Edmund Walker, E.R. Gundy, of Toronto, as well as Messrs. Millichamp, Townsend, Rainier, and others. In order to establish connections with the outside world, Mr. Dwight, after whom the village of Dwight got its name, had the Great Northwest Telegraph extended to this village, and to Dorset. Afterwards, in 1897, for the convenience of Mr. Thomas Salmon, the system was joined to Fox Point, and, later on, it also included Birkendale and Ronville. But, at this time, it ceased to be a telegraph, and became a telephone system.

The Huntsville and Lake of Bays Telephone Co.Ltd..

In April, 1914, it was decided to establish a general telephone system, throughout the Township of Franklin. Share holders were solicited, and a charter was applied for. In June of the same year, the charter was received, and in July, the first general meeting of the share holders was held. The following officers were elected - Pres. C.J.C. Crump, Vice-pres. B.H. Cunnington, Sec-treas. P.B. Walmsley, manager, P. F. Newton. The directors included the above officers, as well as R.I. Hill, F.A. Emberson, and George Morgan. It was decided to issue 400 shares at the value of $10 each, with a capital of $4000. Service started during the Sumer of 1915, with a central office at Hillside. Mrs. Frank Lehman, Esther Emberson, was the first operator, and continued in service for 28 years. In 1916, the capital was increased to $8000. In 1927, B.H. Cunnington was elected President, and held this position till 1934, when Hugh Hill took over. Mr. F.A. Emberson became Sec-Treas. in 1922, and continued till his death in 1941. After that, his wife, now Mrs. Joe Thornton carried on till the company was dissolved in 1948, when they sold to the Bell Telephone Company

Correction Please

We find that when the Lake of Bays Telephone Company was organized in 1915, the central office was at Dwight for five years, and not at Hillside, as stated before. Mrs. Lance Allenson, formerly Evelyn Thompson, was the operator there, first, at Asbury's, for two years, and then, her office was at Quinn's, for three years. The central office was moved to Hillside in 1920, when Mrs. Frank Lehman became the operator

The Bell Telephone Company - 1948

The Bell Telephone Company of Canada bought the old business, and renewed all equipment. They established a central office, with switchboards at Huntsville

Franklin Township

The Township is called after Admiral Sir John Franklin, the Arctic Explorer, born at Spilsby, Lincolshire, in 1786. He entered the Navy in 1800, and served at the battle of Copenhagen, in 1801. In 1803, he went with an expedition to explore the coasts of Australia, was shipwrecked, carried to China, attacked by a French squadron in the Straits of Malacca, and had various other adventures. He was on the Belerophon, at the Battle of Trafalgar, served on the United States coasts during the war of 1812-15, and was wounded at the Battle of New Orleans.

In 1818, he attempted to go to India, via Spitzbergen, and in 1819, he was appointed to command an expedition to travel overland from Hudson’s Bay to the Arctic Ocean. On that trip, he passed through Toronto and Barrie. From the shining sands of Penatanguishene, Sir John Franklin passed on April 23, 1823, to join his party on his second journey to the polar sea. In 1823, he married Miss Eleanor Parden, who died in 1825, and in 1828, he married Miss Jane Griffin born 1791- died 1875. In 1829 Franklin was knighted, and he was Governor of Tasmania, 1836-43. In 1845 Sir John was appointed to the command of the Erebus and Terror, and went to discover the Northwest Passage. He never came back, and not until several expeditions had been sent in search of him, was his fate definitely ascertained. In a paper read before the Ottawa Canadian Women's Historical Society, Miss Kenney says that Sir John Franklin laid the cornerstone of Rideau Canal Locks, August, 1827.

Franklin Township did not become organized till 1929, when the first Township Council met in Jan. of that year. It consisted of a Reeve - James W. Asbury of Dwight, and four councillors, Gordon Thompson, J.W. Emberson, John Robertson, and W.H. Boothby. The treasurer for the first year was Victor Asbury, and the Clerk, Thomas Hungerford, but the following year Mr. Hungerford was appointed to both positions, and held in high esteem as he is for ability and restitude, has satisfactorily held them ever since.

In 1931, the Hydro was brought to Dwight, and in 1932-33, it was extended to Fox Point, Port Cunnington, and other sections of the Township. In the early days, before the Township was organized, 1929, commissioner or road bosses were chosen in each of the districts. There were no taxes levied in those days, except for schools. And, as the buildings were often erected by the settlers themselves, and the teachers' salaries were very low, only $80 for a year of eight months, at first, these dues usually ranged from about five to eight dollars a year for each household.

The Government gave grants at times towards the building of roads, as, for instance, when Grieves Robson, of Birkendale, was commissioned to build a road from the OxTongue River to Dorset. I am told he was given a grant of $800, and that included the building of a framed bridge at Marsh's Falls. Even at that date, probably between 1888-1890, when labour and material were very cheap, we cannot imagine that $800 would go very far towards building a ten mile stretch of road through virgin forest, so we are not surprised that later on, this road was nicknamed The Bull's Run. However, it served its purpose until 1933-34, when the Northern Development Company put in a new highway, which is part of the new road extending from Huntsville to Minden. BRIDGES AND ROADS

The present road between Dwight and Dorset was built in 1931-32. The former road was built by the colonization road department and local labour about 1895, and wound along the lake front in Dwight, but the new road took a straighter trail, back of Dwight. The Northern Development company, organized by the provincial government, started building roads during the depression, in order to give work to those on relief, in the Fall of 1931. Thousands of men who were on relief in the towns and cities were glad to work on the roads for 10 dollars a month, including, of course transportation. This company made no contracts, but employed local labour also, as well as teams of horses. Dave Langford and Charles Dillon and others helped to build labour construction camps at Marsh's Falls, Goose Lake and other places.

Bridges

The first bridge over the OxTongue River was a floating structure built by Captain Marsh, that splendid pioneer who did so much for navigation on the Lake of Bays, and, afterwards at Huntsville, probably about 1880. He built a sawmill at the Falls, and built boats. About 1888, Grieves Robson built the first framed bridge over the River. This was later destroyed by a bush fire which also burned the sawmill and other buildings owned by Captain Marsh. About 1892, this bridge was re-built by Grieves Robson. The fourth bridge was built by Mr. George Robson, and Mr. W.H. Irwin (Harry) with strong beams and timbers from Mr. George Robson's mill, in 1907-08. The present bridge was built by the Colonization Road Dept. during the Summer of 1927 and was opened for traffic in Oct. of 1927. It is a strong, well-built steel bridge, with cement foundation.

The bridge at Goose Lake was constructed of wood by Grieves Robson, when he built the road to Dorset in 1888-90. It was replaced in 1928 by the colonization road dept. with a steel and wood bridge. Then, in 1934-35, the Northern Development Co., replaced this with a stronger and more permanent structure, of cement and steel, when they were laying the present highway to Dorset. These, I think, are the only two bridges in our district, though there are some small structures with culverts, built over creeks.

The wharf at Fox Point. In 1948, the Public Works Dept. of the Ontario Govt. built a much needed floating dock at the Fox Point Post Office. It is constructed of British Columbia Cedar, 30’ by 10' in size, and the work was done mostly by Mr. Clarence Brooke and Mr. Melville Munroe at a cost of $700. Later on, in order to give the dock more support, a stone approach was built, extending 10 feet into the water.

The Government wharf at Dwight was built during the Winter and Spring of 1950. It has solid stone piers, with a British Columbia cedar superstructure, and one third of it is covered. The work on it was done chiefly by Hugh Hill, Clarence Brooke, Herb. Brooke and Norman Boothby. The entire cost was borne by the Govt., but the village is expected to keep a light on it, and to pay for maintenance.

THE STORY OF THE INDIANS IN THIS DISTRICT Although we know that the Indians roamed through this district, hunting and trapping, and though traces of their camping grounds have been found they are very rarely seen in these times. They seem to have withdrawn to the Reserves, and there are three of them, not far away - Rama Reserve, near Orillia, Gibson Reserve, near Bala, and the Shawanaga, just above Parry Sound.

None of the Algonquin bands had any fixed abode, but wandered from one place to another, taking all their belongings in their birch bark canoes and setting up their bark wigwams wherever they wanted to hunt or fish, or to gather blueberries or wild rice. They made snowshoes, by bending white ash bows, and stringing them with moose or caribou thongs. For fishing, they made nets of willow roots, and used spears, or bone hooks. Usually, they prepared for the winter, by drying raspberries or blueberries, and storing smoked fish, or by preparing a cache of game. But, they were often hungry, and when March came, it was invariably a hungry month.

The name of our electoral district - Muskoka- according to Hamilton, an early historian, was derived from the name of the great Rama Chief-Mesqua Ukee, whose authority extended over the whole territory, named after him, who fought side by side with the British, and was awarded the silver medal with the image of King George, after the war of 1812. His territory stretched to the Lake of Bays, or Trading Lake, as it was called then. Bigwin Island, in the Lake of Bays, was for many years occupied by Indians as a trading post, and council area, according to Captain R.L. Fraser, who wrote an interesting History of Muskoka in 1942. The Indian Camp must have existed for a long time, as a cemetery was discovered with at least thirty graves, which numbers of people in this vicinity have seen, though traces of it are gradually disappearing.

During the early part of the 19th century, the Algonquins and Ojibways trapped and hunted a great deal through the Lake of Bays district, and especially through the great lake studded territory, now known as Algonquin Park., then took their heavy loads of furs to the Hudson Bay post, or to independent traders. In order to intercept some of the free traders who came into the Lake of Bays from Georgian Bay, Mr. Thomas Goffatt, the factor of the Hudson Bay post at Orillia, set up an outpost on Bigwin Island, where the Inn now stands.

Traces of Indian encampments have been found at Fox Point, and it is known that they portaged from there to Echo Bay, and then on down to Dorset, and other places. Their campsites have been found on the Narrows, near Dorset, and a number of our early settlers have met Indians on the south shore of the Lake of Bays, who came up in the Spring from their Reserve at Rama to make maple syrup and sugar, boiling the sap in big copper kettles, which, we are told, had been provided by the British Government. Two of these Mohawk Indians were called Silas and Jonas Namaquishkong. It is generally accepted that we have to thank the Indians for the discovery that the maple sap could be made into sugar. In the Algonquin legends of New England, there is frequent mention of maple sugar, and the story goes that one day Nakomis, the grandmother of Manabush was in a forest, and accidently cut the bark of a tree, and noticed the rich sap running down. She tasted it, and found it very sweet. At the time, she happened to be boiling some venison, and, needing more liquid, she added some of the sap. The result was so delicious, that they kept on using the sap, and finally found, to their immense delight, that they had a rich, new food, in the maple syrup and sugar. The Indians used to store the maple sugar in birch boxes. In her splendid little book The Algonquin Story, Miss Audrey Saunders, tells of the visit of Champlain, the great, French explorer, to this region, in 1616. She traces his journey up the Ottawa River, then, along the Mattawa to Lake Nipissing, and, from there, down the Georgian Bay in canoes with his Indian guides to the Severn River, and thence, to Lake Couchiching and Orillia. He did not touch our Lake of Bays, but he did pass through Muskoka.

There is a picture here of Chief Big Wind, with this note;

Chief Big Wind, taken on his hundredth birthday. He lived to the age of 103, and died at the Rama Reserve, near Orillia. In earlier days he often camped on Bigwin Island, with members of his tribe. He used to visit at the home of Mr. George Hunt, who made the beautiful cover for this book and gave us this picture of his Mohawk friend. EARLY PIONEER INDUSTRIES AND CRAFTS AMONG WOMEN

The lot of the pioneer woman in Muskoka, must have been a hard one, but it can never again be as strenuous as it was seventy years ago. There were no such things as motor cars, motor boats, telephones, wireless, electric light, moving pictures, radio, airplanes, and many other devices, which, to-day, help to make backwoods life more endurable.

Women, in those days, had to be very industrious, and resourceful. They had no electric washing machine, irons, or other appliances which we enjoy to-day. They had no baker to bring them bread or cakes. They could not even buy the cloth to make dresses and suits for their children, but had to spin and weave the wool from their own sheep to get material for this purpose. They hooked rugs, and wove carpets and blankets. They made many warm, attractive quilts for their beds, and knit innumerable stockings, mittens and caps.

In the early days, one of the favourite get-togethers was a quilting bee, and one of these, which Mrs.Thomas Salmon had in her home at Fox Point, was described to me by Mrs. Hungerford. There were eight quilts set up in eight different rooms. Neighbours came over the ice from every direction, quilted all day long, had fine visits with each other, and wonderful food. That night, the quilts were finished. We can just imagine the bounteous supper that was served, and that all these kind neighbours enjoyed themselves very much.

Mrs. William Grieves Robson was of Quaker stock, and knew how to spin and weave wool. She brought her spinning wheel with her from Pennsylvania, and spun the wool from her sheep into cloth and blankets. Her grand daughters still have one or two of her blankets.

Mrs. Harry Irwin and Miss Mary Robson, were both noted for their weaving. At Foxwood Inn, Mrs. Emberson still has two blankets woven from the wool from their own sheep. The spinning, however, was done in Huntsville as their spinning wheel was destroyed in a fire. Mrs. Irwin still weaves rugs and carpets, though she is now over eighty. Mrs. Thomas Hungerford makes many rugs which she hooks in very attractive, original designs. At one time, she taught rug-making at various centres, to women interested in Skoka Craft. Mrs. John (Grandma) Thompson, hooked a great many interesting rugs, drawing her own pictures of houses, birds, flowers and trees. Her materials, worn clothing, died with her own dyes. Some of her rugs are still in use. Her daughter, Evelyn, Mrs. Lance Allinson, follows in her footsteps, and has inherited and improved her Mother's art. Mrs. William Munroe makes beautiful pieced quilts, and Mrs. Boyce Cunnington has an unsurpassed collection of appliqued quilts, every stitch of which she made herself. Mrs. Melville Munroe is an expert knitter, and very fast. She knit forty pairs of socks between Sept. and Christmas. The first Gift Shop in the district, was Betty’s Shop at Lumina. Lovely china, blankets and linen. Up to the time of the second world war, Henry Hungerford brought articles from China, Japan and the Phillipine Islands, to be sold there. Trade has fallen off, for there are so many stores now selling china. In 1950, a tuck shop was added to Betty's Shop. Mrs. Charles Cunnington has a Tea Shop and Gift Shop at Port Cunnington. She is an excellent cook, and homemade things are a treat. Mrs. Dey has a Gift Shop on the Algonquin Park Road. Ronville Lodge has a tuck shop- sells china and drugs. Foxwood Inn has a tuck shop.

INDUSTRIES IN THE LAKE OF BAYS REGION In all probability the first settlers came up to this part of Muskoka with the expectation of farming, and many of them did clear land and produced good crops of grain, hay, and vegetables. Some of them, like the pioneer Jack Munroe, even took prizes for their vegetables at the Fairs. Cattle, horses or oxen, sheep and pigs were raised on many homesteads, so that most families had their own supply of milk, butter and meat, as well as plenty of fodder for their animals. However, after twenty years or so, it was found that the land was not producing so well. The soil gradually petered out. Farming ceased in many settlements, and cleared sections went back to bush or weeds. The soil is based on rock, and has no great depth in many places. But, if modern conservation methods had been employed it might have retained its richness for many years. There are still some splendid vegetable gardens in the district, which have been kept in shape by vigorous cultivation and by enrichment from compost heaps, manure or commercial fertilizers. There are no sheep whatever, bears and dogs having made it impracticable to keep them. There are five teams of horses and four cows, and, I think, three or four families usually get young pigs in the spring for killing in early Winter.

People in our locality, though, are engaged in a great many other industries, such as logging, trucking, building and so on, and they will be dealt with, later on.

But now we will try to write up our greatest asst, the tourist industry. The tourist business, just sort of sprung up itself in the early days around the Lake of Bays, partly because of the scenic beauty, but chiefly because of the immense attraction hunting and fishing have for men. The men would come up first to fish and hunt, and liked it so much, that they would ask to bring their wives and families the next year. More accommodation would be needed, and so it grew. I have been told that is how the business started at Fox Point, Port Cunnington, Ronville Lodge and other places. Now, it has become a real commercial enterprise, and scores of people and places are engaged in it. We shall try to name most of these, even telling of some that flourished fifty or sixty years ago, but have dropped out, because of fires, deaths or other casualties. THE TOURIST INDUSTRY

RONVILLE LODGE

Ronville Lodge, or Maple Valley is it was first called, when it was owned by the McCutcheon's back in 1880, was one of the first places to take tourists, not more than eight or ten, as the place was small at that time. About 1895, the Crump brothers bought and enlarged the lodge so that they could accommodate eighty or ninety guests. They replaced coal oil lamps with acetylene gas lighting, and installed a washroom on each floor. They also built a fine wharf, and made other improvements. They planted trees. In 1926, they sold to Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie W. Emberson, who at once put in running hot water, and added several more washrooms. They also built several cottages, and in 1932, when hydro became available, had the whole place wired, and replaced the gas lighting with electricity. Later on, they installed electric ranges, refrigerators, dishwashers, and a laundry with electrical equipment. Tennis, croquet, and badminton, boats, horses. Ronville Lodge increased in efficiency and popularity under the Emberson management, till 1947, when they sold, and moved to Fox Point. Mr. and Mrs. Bert Lyon took over in the Spring of 1947. Efficiency and popularity have continued under their management. They have made improvements also, such as enlarging and brightening the dining room, and adding an attractive cocktail bar, decorated by Mr. Francis Johnston, a local painter. They have also built a small horse ring, for training horses, as Mr. Lyons keeps a good stable, besides the saddle horses. For the guests' pleasure, there are tennis and badminton courts, a large billiard table, and plenty of boats always on their splendid sand beach.

FOX POINT HOUSE

Fox Point House, the hospitable home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Salmon, just grew into a summer resort, as men coming up to fish or hunt, would stay for a night or two, and then go off with Tom Salmon or some other guide, leaving their wives behind. The Salmon's had some cottages and tents, as well as a large house near the lake to accommodate thirty or forty guests, and, as they had their own cows, sheep, pigs, and hens, as well as fresh vegetables, they were kept very busy. But, how their guests must have enjoyed the fresh milk, thick cream and fresh eggs, and the delicious Muskoka lamb. Miss May Salmon tells how she made twenty loaves of bread every day, and sixty on Saturdays, as well as buns, pie, cakes, tarts, and cookies. Fish were very plentiful in those days, and hunters always got their deer, and a few extra, as there were no restrictions then. About 1935, the Salmon's sold some of their lake front property to Palmer Goetz, and built a large home of their awn, in which they took few guests, but a few years later, discontinued guests altogether, as they were both getting up in years. JAMES WALTER EMBERSON 1895-1955

The late Mr. James Walter Emberson, "Bub", to all his friends, was born in Franklin Township, near Hillside, on June 2, 1895, a son of the late S.A. and Mrs. Emberson, pioneer citizens. He attended local schools, and assisted on his father's farm, until his marriage on June 24, 1919, to Miss Anne C. Salmon, daughter of the Township's first established resident, the late Thomas Salmon. In 1926, he purchased Ronville Lodge, on the Lake of Bays, which he operated successfully for twenty- two years selling in 1948, to Mr. J.A. Lyons of Toronto. Before he sold, however, he established Foxwood Inn, on the Lakeshore, near Fox Point, and had built it into one of the most modern of the smaller resorts on the lake. During his busy life, he found time to give to public affairs. He was the first chairman of the Lake of Bays Tourist Association, in 1927, and served on the first executive board of the Muskoka Tourist Development Association, formed in 1934. He entered the Franklin Township Council soon after the township was organized and served on it from 1929 until 1943. In 1947, he was elected Reeve, and held this position with the exception of one year, until his death. Despite his illness, Reeve Emberson attended the first 1955 meeting of the Franklin council, which was held at Foxwood Inn on Jan. 10. He died suddenly in Toronto a week later. Mr. Emberson was a charter member of the Huntsville Lyons Club. He also served on the Memorial Hospital Board, and the Chamber of Commerce. Beside his widow, he left two children, Clare, who has been associated with him in the operation of Foxwood Inn, and Nora, Mrs. Ralph Parrott, now of Blind River. He had three grandchildren. A brother, and three sisters also survive, Walker, of Hillside, Lucy, Mrs. Wilfred Tipper, of Ettwell, Fanny, Mrs. Frank Newton, of King, Ontario, and Ettie, Mrs. Frank Lehman, of Hillside. The funeral, held at his home, Foxwood Inn, on Friday, Jan. 21, 1955, was one of the most largely attended in the history of the Township. Hundreds of messages of sympathy, and scores of floral tributes testified to the esteem in which he was held. The service was in charge of his wife’s cousin, Rev. John Robson M.A., of Toronto, assisted by Rev. Douglas Muir, of the Muskoka United Mission, and Rev. William Cairns, a personal friend, of Toronto. PORT CUNNINGTON

Port Cunnington has rather an interesting history. Long before it became a resort, it was settled by an Irish Family by the name of Parkin, and also by Mr. Parkin's sister's family, the Count and Countess Maroni, and their five children, one of whom was named Everista - from Mt. Everist. [sic] The Countess Maroni was an opera singer, and often delighted people who gathered around in their boats, while she sang from a hill near the shore. Mr. Warwick Parkin, had studied for the priesthood in Switzerland and had taken up medicine, so was often a great help to his neighbours, in times of sickness. In 1886, he was forced to sell, on account of ill health, and the whole family moved away. Mr. B.H. Cunnington, the purchaser, moved to this property, and by 1890, opened it as a summer resort. It began in a modest way, but soon more rooms were added, and cottages built, until now 75 guests can be looked after. Mr. Charles Cunnington, and his twin sister, Mrs. Vincent Elder, take charge of the resort, while Mrs. Charles Cunnington runs a very successful tea room and gift shop.

PARK PLACE

Park Place, which is just above Port Cunnington, on a hill, from which there is a lovely extensive view, was first settled by James Larsen, who was a Swede, and a sailor. About 1885, he built a large home, cleared his land, and had a good farm, where he had flocks of sheep and lambs, as well as other farm animals. He planted apple trees which are still bearing well in 1952. He and his wife, who was a Miss Green ran a successful summer resort for several years, taking from ten to fifteen guests. In 1904, they decided to move to Manitoba. He sold his place to Mr. P.W. Walmsley who had just come out from England. The next year, his fiancee, Gertrude Dew, and her father, came from England, and Percival Walmsley and Gertrude, were married, in St. John’s Church, Canon A. Hazlehurst, having been taken to and from the church in the S.S. Equal Rights, by Captain Grieves Robson. The Walmsley's continued to take guests, until their home was burned down, having been struck by lightning. They built another home, and remained there until about 1927, when they moved to Huntsville. They had five sons and one daughter, who are now living in different parts of Canada, from Montreal to Vancouver. This place is now owned by Fred Boothby, but is unoccupied at present.

THE HEMLOCKS

The Hemlocks, which was not far from Birkendale, was built and opened as a summer resort by Mr. W.E. Irwin about 1897. They took from thirty to forty guests, and had their own wharf, on which the steamboats could land passengers. When Mr. Irwin died suddenly in August, 1906, he was buried by the little Sea Breeze church, which he had helped to build. His son Harry, and his wife, Jessie Robson, managed the resort for four years and then, when they moved away, it was taken over by Charlie Irwin and his wife Blanche. Through the next twenty years, its popularity increased, until, in 1931, the building was burned down unfortunately, and was never re-built. Charlie Irwin died, Feb.5, 1952, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ted Salmon, Toronto

BIRKENDALE HOUSE

Birkendale House was kept by Miss Mary Robson from 1898 to 1909, when her place was destroyed by fire. Miss Robson catered to her guests during the summer, but, at other times, she acted as a nurse, and was often taken to cases by Dr. Howland, and other doctors. After her sister died, she often helped at the Birkendale Post Office, which has been operated by the Robson's since it was first established.

SEA BREEZE HOUSE

George Burk built his home at Sea Breeze in 1886, just north of the church and school which were built much later. When he died, his eldest son, William, enlarged the house, and improved the grounds, as he and his wife decided to follow the popular trend and take tourists. They ran their place as a successful tourist resort, with from ten to fifteen guests, for several years, and then sold to Mr. and Mrs. Francis whose sons still own the place.

WANDA LODGE

Wanda Lodge was formerly a summer resort, kept by Mr. and Mrs. Boyce Cunnington 2nd. Mr. Cunnington owns the sawmill, just across the bay from Fox Point. Wanda Lodge was opened in 1914, and continued till 1942 when Mrs. Cunnington had to give up on account of ill health. As many as sixty-four guests have stayed in the main lodge and cabins, and she did all the baking and work herself, with the help of only one girl. She often went out nursing, during those early years, and even acted as undertaker's assistant at times. She came from Pittsburgh, in 1910, when she was married at Port Cunnington, on Oct.15.

MAGEE PLACE

Mr. George Magee came to the Lake of Bays, at Fox Point, in 1942. He rebuilt the old Rankin home. He also has two or three cabins, and a boathouse. In 1945 he married Lillian Bole(?) [‘Bole’ circled and line to handwritten: “Bull of Brampton” and something else illegible], and that same year, they opened their attractive place to a limited number of guests- eight to ten. Mr. and Mrs. Magee live here, all the year round.

FOXWOOD INN

Foxwood Inn is kept by Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Emberson “Bub" who moved here from Ronville Lodge, which they sold, in 1947. They have a comfortable main lodge, and six cottages, as well as a nice winterized cottage, which is being built at Fisherman's Point. Theirs is the only resort in this particular district, which keeps open all winter, and also the only one which provides guests with skiing facilities. They have a fine electrified ski tow, and lift. There is an assortment of boats at their fine wharf and beach, and, for other recreation, tennis, quoits, and table tennis.

BIRCHCROFT LODGE

Birchcroft Lodge is built on the farm that belonged to Mrs. Matilda Stone "Apple Hill", with a beautiful view over the Lake of Bays. There is a main lodge, two auxiliary lodges, and fourteen cabins, to accommodate from fifty to sixty guests. A special feature, is the enclosed children's playground, with swings, sand boxes etc., while recreation includes tennis, badminton, shuffleboard, horseshoes, volley ball and archery. The recreation hall provides music and dancing, as well as table tennis, bingo and other games. At the sand beach, there are floats and diving boards. The place is owned, and managed by Mr. and Mrs. Gilligan.

BIRKENDALE INN

Mr. and Mrs. Pfelzer bought this place from Mr. Tom Dillon in 1948, and it includes at present, a large, modern house with a furnace as well as a small building, formerly used by Mr. Dillon, for boat building. The Pfelzer's added a small kitchen to this latter building, where they now have a snack bar and dinette, serving excellent meals to local visitors and motorists. They also take a few overnight guests during the summer. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn bought this place in 1951. They have four children.

POINT IDEAL

A Polish family, by the name of Humiez, were probably the first to live at Point Ideal. Count Humiez was a Polish exile, and had two daughters who were very artistic, and spent most of their time painting pictures. When amnesty was granted, they sold their property to Mr. Egbert Boothby, and returned to Poland. Mr. and Mrs. Boothby, and their family, moved from their farm at Port Cunnington, to this beautiful point in 1907. They realized its possibilities as a tourist resort, and built a main lodge, and a number of cottages. They were very successful. Their son, Bert, and his family, bought the resort from his father, in May, 1921, They too, have had great success. They have added several cottages, have a nice farm, fine vegetable garden, and usually lots of flowers. Their sand beach is very safe for children, and they have a fine wharf. They can accommodate 100 guests.

LUMINA

Lumina is a charming resort at the head of Haystack Bay, and is owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Tom Hungerford. It consists of a central lodge, and twenty bungalows and cottages. Lumina was the first resort in the district to house all their guests in individual cottages. Fire Island, in the Bay, is also a part of the Lumina property. There is no house on the island, but there are three fire places, built in different spots to be used for picnics, etc.. Lumina has wide lawns, bowling greens, croquet, tennis courts, and shuffleboard, as well as a good sand beach, with diving boards, modern boathouse, with sundeck, plenty of boats of all kinds. Mr. and Mrs Hungerford also have a comfortable home of their own, in which they live all year round. Mention should be made of the Gift Shop. Mrs. Hungerford'a great love for fine china has an outlet in the Betty Shop. The china, linen's etc., are selected with great care, and are much appreciated by the summer visitors. Now, a snack bar has been added to the shop.

BIGWIN INN

In 1910, Mr. C.O. Shaw bought Bigwin Island from Mr. Millichamp of Toronto, and, soon after, with the help of an architect, Mr. John Wilson, of Collingwood, commenced to plan, and build, the famous hotel. The work on it was slowed down, during the first world war, but, it was ready for opening, in June, 1920, and the advertising and publicity had been so good, that accommodation was all booked for the first season. The Ladies' Aid members, of St. Andrew's Church in Huntsville, had gone over to Bigwin Island twice a week, in order to get all the linen, curtains, towels and so forth, ready for the opening. So, as a slight recognition of their faithfulness, Mr. Shaw invited them to the first luncheon served in the new resort, just two days before the opening. In order to publicize his hotel, Mr. Shaw invited the publicity officials of the Grand Trunk railroad, as well as the Editorial Association, who were on tour at the time, and represented all the leading newspapers of Canada and the United States, to spend a day at his resort, where they were taken on a tour of inspection. Good descriptions of all the commodious, fireproof buildings are to be found in folders, and in Captain R.L. Fraser's interesting History of Muskoka. Bigwin Inn provides accommodation for over five hundred guests, and, it is regarded as one of the best appointed summer hotels in North America. Scores of the employees come back to the resort, summer after summer, and the same can be said of the guests, many of whom have been prominent people in Canada, the United States, and all parts of the world. In 1943, Princess Juliana of Holland, and her children, spent a month in one of the stone cottages near the Inn. She was a war guest of the Canadian Government, at the time. Mr. C.O. Shaw died in 1942, and, it may be said, that as long as Bigwin Inn survives, he will have a monument to his memory. One marvels at the vision, courage and good taste of the man who could conceive and build such a splendid resort, and set it in such a beautiful, and ideal environment. The people of the Lake of Bays have reason to be grateful that he chose our lake, for his splendid enterprise. The people of Huntsville also have reason for gratitude as he was co- founder of the Anglo-Canadian Leather Company, as well as the organizer of the famous Anglo Canadian Concert Band, which had such a fine reputation in the early part of this century. In 1947 Bigwin Inn was sold to the Cardy Hotel people, and they, in 1948, sold it to the Leslie Syndicate, who still control it.

Tourist Accommodation-- Cottages or Cabins to Rent

The Tapley's at Bondi - three or four cottages, and boathouse.

Mr. and Mrs. R.J. Cousentine- Lakeside Cottages, housekeeping cottages, and Tuck Shop.

Mr. and Mrs. J. Thornton- Ronville Road- 2 housekeeping cottages.

Mr. and Mrs. Leon Bedat- Ronville Road-3 housekeeping cottages

Mrs. Moase- Lake Couchiching - one cottage

Bewakenor - the Irwin (Huntsville) place

W.B. Irwin 4 housekeeping cottages

Rev. L.C. Whitelaw's cottage- Toronto minister. - one large housekeeping, built and occupied by H. Irwin, a few years,- rent- two or three.

Norton's - Fox Point Road-rent 2 or 3 housekeeping cottages.

Mr. and Mrs. Melville Munroe- one housekeeping cottage.

Mr. and Mrs. Otto Munroe - five housekeeping cottages Mr. and Mrs. Alex Thompson-3 housekeeping cottages

Mr. and Mrs. Boyce Cunnington-3 housekeeping cottages

Mr. and Mrs. W. Stuart -Jones -3 housekeeping cottages

Mr. and Mrs. Archie Hambleton- Totem Lodge-4 housekeeping cottages Logging and and Lumbering

Logging and Lumbering was one of the chief industries towards the end of the nineteenth century. The Gilmore Company, Shier's, Mickle-Dyment, and other lumber companies operated on the Lake of Bays extensively, and many booms of logs were floated across the lake to Dorset or Baysville, and from there to the south, then on to England, where there was a great demand for our big, square pine logs at that time. Now, the big pines are almost all gone from our forests, and, the big lumber companies are operating in other fields. But, we have two local sawmills that are still kept busy most of the time, -Boyce Cunnington's mill at the Narrows in Haystack Bay, and the Lupton's mill at Goose Lake. At the Cunnington mill, which was started in 1927, they now use a diesel engine for sawing and planing the logs, which include many varieties, pine, birch, spruce, maple, hemlock, balsam and cherry. At the large Lupton mill, owned and operated by Mr. Bob Lupton and his two brothers, they have a steam power sawmill, heat supplied by using sawdust in a big Dutch oven. But, his planer is run by diesel engine. Both Mr. Lupton and Mr. Cunnington have logging camps in the woods beyond Goose Lake, where they cut their logs in 16 foot lengths when possible, but also in 10, 12 and 14 foot lengths, and, they are then hauled by truck to the mills. Both make use of bull dozers and tractors. But, horses too, are still used for loading. Mr. Boyce Cunnington, 3rd, is in partnership with his father, and, is usually in change of the bush camp.

Some of the Early Mills

Back in the 1880's, and on, there were other mills, which must have been a great help to the first settlers. Dale's steam sawmill was probably the earliest of these, and operated towards the end of Ten Mile Bay, for fifteen or twenty years, until the mill was destroyed by fire, about 1897. There was another mill built by Captain G.F. Marsh, who came from Richmond Hill and settled at Baysville. He afterwards came up to the Oxtongue River, and, realizing the possibility of power in the Falls, which now bear his name, he built a sawmill there. Later on, he established a ship-building plant, where he built and launched the Mary Louise. But, unfortunately, soon after that, probably about 1892 to 93, his whole plant was destroyed by a raging bush fire. He moved to Huntsville, and, for some years, controlled the navigation interests from Huntsville to Dorset. About 1904, George Robson built up a steam sawmill at Birkendale, for which he brought machinery and boiler from near Baysville, on the ice, assisted by Mr. Albert Hawke, with his team of horses. After a few years, his health failed, and management of the mill was taken over by Mr. Harry Irwin, and, it was at this time that Mr. Irwin built a new bridge, at Marsh's Falls. When Mr. George Robson died, in 1911, his wife sold all the mill equipment in Dorset and other places.

Trucking

Trucking is another paying industry that is carried on by several men, especially, in the Port Cunnington district. Big trucks are owned by Percy Cunnington, Fred Boothby, and by Don and Dalton Boothby at Point Ideal, and they.are kept busy hauling logs, lumber, stove wood, gravel, stone, sand, builder's supples, and other material. Formerly, people depended on the boats during the Summer, while in the winter, supplies of all sorts were brought over the ice. But, in these days of good roads, all of this has change and our mail is brought by truck, as well as deliveries of goods sent by express or freight. Other Industries

Gravel pits are owned by Mrs. Joseph Tapley, Boyce Cunnington, Jr., and Charles Christenson of Huntsville, at Goose Lake. They are a source of income to the owners. A fine stone quarry is owned by Fred Boothby, at Port Cunnington, from which he has been cutting and trucking stone. At present, he is selling stone to the Parks Department of the Ontario Government, for the building of the gates and museum at Algonquin Provincial Park.

Ice cutting might be mentioned as another industry, as many of the men cut it for their own use, and also sell quantities of it. Alfred Chevalier supplies many of the cottages at Sea Breeze, with ice all summer, and, at Port Cunnington resort, an extra supply is kept on hand for any cottagers who need it. This industry is diminishing, as a great many are installing electric refrigeration - even, the summer cottagers.

There are two boat liveries at Port Cunnington, kept by Arthur and Fred Boothby, where they rent all sorts of boats by day or week. In a lesser degree, most of the summer resorts have boats or canoes that they rent to their guests for fishing or pleasure.

There is just one electrician in our locality, Wilfred Norton of Fox Point, and, we are glad to have one so near. He came to Fox Point about eight years ago from Huntsville, where he had learned his trade from boyhood from his father

Building and Carpentering

Nearly all the men in the district can handle tools, though some, of course, are more adept than others. One is amazed, sometimes, to see them Build their own homes, paint them, wire them, for electricity, install the plumbing, as well as a furnace heating system. Some seem to be masters of all trades. At Port Cunnington, the Boothby's excelled as carpenters and builders, as well as Boyce Cunnington Sr., while Godlip Stone and Alec Thompson were extra good at stone work. At Fox Point, the Munroe brothers are all handy men and still do a great deal of building and carpenter work in that locality. In the early days at Birkendale, the Irwin's, the father, and two sons, Charles and Harry, were the best builders. They built their own home, and the United Church at Sea Breeze. Later, Harry built a fine bridge at Marsh's Falls. Besides being a fine carpenter, he was a cabinet maker, having taken training at a special school, and he made all kinds of furniture, including tables, chairs, kitchen cabinets and so forth, as well as boats and canoes. We might also mention the Dillon brothers Tom and Charlie, and must not forget Roy Conebeare who really excels as a builder, having had his training in Toronto, and is always in great demand. Walter Argent is another excellent carpenter who has lately come to the Birkendale district. All of this country abounds in all kinds of splendid building stone, and, it has always been a matter of regret that there are no good native stonemasons, for, if one wants a well built fire place, or other nice stonework, one has to go to Huntsville, or, even further afield. Nothing is more attractive than stone, when used as building material, yet, there are very, very few stone built homes. It is a joy to see that the Parks Department are using stone almost exclusively in building the new gates and museum at Algonquin Park.

The Making of Maple Syrup It almost goes without saying, that the early settlers found maple syrup and sugar a great boon. Everyone had maple trees to tap, and so, all through the years, it has been produced, and, when families were large, and when plenty of help was available, as well as horses or oxen, the making of maple syrup was more fun than work, and, was often made the occasion of many merry sugar parties and other jolly gatherings. In many homes, it was a source of income, too. It is still made in this district but not in as great quantities as formerly. EARLY INDUSTRIES AND CRAFTS OF THE PIONEER MEN

The men in the early pioneer days had to be very resourceful and self-dependent. The first settlers had no tractors, bull-dozers or snow-plows, but much back-breaking work. There were no electric milking machines, no mechanical churns, or separators. But, the families usually fared well, with plenty of good milk, cream and butter to supply nourishment and vitamins.

It is hard for us to realize how very difficult it must have been for the pioneers to make a start, with no roads, no mills near at hand, and very little equipment. It is fortunate for us that they did not get discouraged, and go away somewhere else, and perhaps some of the timid ones did. it was fortunate too, that the early settlers were very neighbourly and helpful. They would lend their tools, exchange their horses, oxen, and work, and arrange logging bees, building bees and so forth. So, in time, they managed to get some lend cleared, a home built and to live comfortably. Usually too, there were large families to help with the work, and it is not surprising that young folk grew up to be clever craftsmen who could take hold of many occupations, and do them well.

Farming flourished for a while, and good crops were raised. There were herds of cattle, and big flocks of sheep, numbering after 100, on some farms. But, all this is changed now, and it would be hard to find even one sheep in the whole district.

However, other occupations, more in keeping with the natural advantages of this rocky lake country have supplanted farming, and have proved to be very successful. SPORTS AND RECREATIONS

Most of our summer visitors regard the whole of this Lake of Bays region as a real playground, and, of course, there are many opportunities for having a good time. The lake is noted for its splendid, sandy beaches, its safe channels for boating and sailing, and for the fish, which hide in its deep, cold waters. Then, when the boaters, sailors, swimmers or fishermen get tired of the water, there are many ways of finding enjoyment on land, including tennis, horseshoes, quoits, coquet, horseback riding, golf, or even an old fashioned hike in the woods. Many too, find enjoyment in just lounging on lawns or verandah, and gazing at the beautiful scenery, or, indulging in a game of cards or billiards, or, driving to some lovely spot like Algonquin Provincial Park, where the deer are so tame, they will eat from your hand.

Fun may be had at night, too, as, if one enjoys moving pictures, the Capitol Theatre at Huntsville usually has a varied choice, or, one can go to Dwight for the square, country dances, or to Bigwin Inn for the more formal kind. One might go on enumerating, but it can easily be seen from the foregoing that there certainly is no lack of recreation.

The year round residents in this resort region are usually very busy during the tourist season, but, I feel sure that many will take time off for a dip in the lake, or for an occasional picnic. Some of the men who act as guides will probably go off on long fishing trips with their guests, while many of the women are glad to assist in various ways at the resorts. In November, during the hunting season, many of the men in the district take their vacation, and go off to hunting camps for two weeks or else make up hunting parties and go out each day till they get their quota of deer. Some of the resorts, or private homes, even, take a few huntsmen guests at that time. At Christmas time, there are always many family parties, Christmas trees, and other entertainment for the children in the schools, and our Women's Institute always have a special Christmas party, when the members exchange gifts. The lake usually freezes over towards the end of December, and, in some seasons, there is a great deal of fun derived from skating on the sheltered bays, building a bonfire on the bank, and enjoying a feast of weiners and rolls. Ski-ing is practised to some extent in this district on the hills, and over the frozen lake, but, not as much as one would like to see, nor as much as was done twelve or fourteen years ago. There are splendid ski runs and jumps with a tow rope in operation at Foxwood Inn, and all skiers are free to use it, but Mrs. Emberson says it is seldom, if ever used by anyone in the neighbourhood. Some of the folk at Port Cunnington have taken their children into the closed skating rink at Huntsville, for practice and instruction. One of these children - Lynne Boothby is now attending High school at Niagara Falls, and taking special lessons in figure skating. She will give an exhibition of her skating, at the Huntsville Skating Carnival on March 6,1952.

For some years before the beginning of the last war, there was a fine hockey team at Port Cunnington which practised regularly, and played matches with teams in Dwight, Dorset and other places. After the war began, most of these young men enlisted in various services, and of course, the hockey playing was stopped for awhile. When the men returned, an attempt was made to get it started again, but unsuccessfully, as some of the players moved away, or got married, and so it was finally broken up. HUNTSVILLE FACILITIES AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT

Many of the settlers who came to Franklin Township in the early seventies, to take up Govt. grants of land, passed through Huntsville on their way, and, all through the years, and up to the present, have been dependent, more or less, on this enterprising town, for medical and hospital services, dental care, High School facilities, weekly newspaper, bank, library, and to its excellent stores for household provisions and supplies of all kinds.

Almost as soon as settlers became established in a community, schools were built, often very crude, and poorly furnished. But, teachers were provided, and a beginning was made. However, there was no provision whatever, for any education beyond the public school in this district, and there still is none. Even in Huntsville, there was no High School until 1924, though in the upper grades, some teachers taught Senior Leaving subjects, equivalent to High School studies. At that time, parents ambitious for some higher education for their children, either took them in and out every day, or else made provision for them to board in town during the week, or sent their children to private schools. Now, however, things have greatly changed, and buses are provided which carry children back and forth every day, free, all the way from beyond Dorset to Huntsville.

In Sept. 1950, a fine new High School was opened in Huntsville. It has very modern equipment, and all the innovations to be found in city Institutes. This has all been made possible by generous grants from the Provincial Govt. There is no heading to this section - but it concerns Permanent residents, who have come here in more recent years.

This (picture) is Bicknor, the modern home of Mr. and Mrs. Leon Bedat, which was built for them by Mr. Roy Conebeare in 1944. It stands on a hillside, with a wonderful view of the lake. They moved up from Toronto at New Years, 1945, and have been permanent residents ever since. They have their own private sandy beach, and usually have a nice display of flowers down the terraced hill, as well as a few vegetables at the beach as Mr. Bedat is very fond of gardening. Mr. and Mrs. Bedat, formerly of Toronto, purchased the Sam Robson property in 1936. It consisted of about 97 acres, more than half in bush, with a good trout stream running through the western section, down to the lake, where there was considerable lake frontage, with some sandy beach. They added many improvements to the big farmhouse, including two stone fire places, screened porches and kitchenettes, and having divided the house into two apartments, rented them during the season, to housekeeping tenants. Later, they put in a running water system, with electric pump, and modern conveniences. They demolished a number of untidy outbuildings and fences, put a new foundation under the barn, as well as a new roof, after lowering it twelve feet or so to make it more suitable for use as a garage

Clovelly Girls' Camp

Then, in Dec. 1952, they sold this part of their property, including a section of fine, sandy beach and twenty-eight acres of land, to Miss Margaret Wagland of Toronto, who has developed the place, into a very fine camp for girls. This Summer will be the fourth year of operation, each more successful than the last. She has had several new dormitories built, and has made other splendid improvements, including a new dining hall, infirmary and a 100 foot wharf, and a two floor diving tower. Her new illustrated brochure for 1956 promises a very fine programme for this season, with an excellent staff.

Mr. and Mrs. W. Stuart-Jones bought several acres of the former George Robson estate, after Mrs. Robson died in 1951, including a lovely point, with some good shore lots. There is an old house on the point formerly occupied by the Robson's, but this was torn down. Three small cottages were renovated and re-built. There was also a large, well-built barn on the place, which, with the help of an architect, Bill Fleury, of Toronto, Mr. Jones turned into an attractive, roomy home with splendid, modern equipment and huge picture windows. He also built two attractive cottages, which have been sold to summer residents.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Forbes Dey bought the late Walter Argent's modern home on the Ronville Road for a year round residence, in the Fall of 1953. They also own a 25 foot lot which reaches down to the lake, across the road from their place. The Dey's formerly owned a successful Gift Shop on the Park Road, which they sold in 1952.

The Acres - Mr. and Mrs. William Ewart Homan of Toronto bought the extensive Charles Irwin place of Birkendale in Oct. 1952, and came up to live there permanently in May, 1953. He has since then built a nice comfortable winter home for themselves, as well as three well-equipped housekeeping cottages, which they rent during the summer season. He intends to build more of these cottages along the lakeshore in years to come. Mrs. Irwin offered her place for sale after her husband's death in Feb. 1952, but she kept her own home and lot extending to a good sandy beach, and she occupies this place during the summer months. Her daughters, Mrs. Salmon of Toronto, and Mrs. Reekie of Ottawa, sometimes come with their children to visit her there.

About three years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Dillon built a nice new home on Robson property, but facing on the Ronville Road. Mrs. Dillon was formerly Aileen Robson of Birkendale. Their family of three, Frances,Ted and Barbara are all married and away now. They have three grandsons.

Mr. W.J. Squires is another permanent resident who bought some property-about an acre or so - from the Robson’s estate in the Fall of 1953. He has since built a small comfortable home on #35 highway on the way to Marsh’s Falls. They formerly owned and lived on part of the Alvin Chevalier farm, which they sold.

At Goose Lake, on the Dorset Road, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lupton and their family, as well as two brothers, Frank and Donald, came to our district in 1943 from the Brittania Road, where they still have a mill and by 1944, had established a sawmill and a home at Goose Lake. Ever since that time, great quantities of planed lumber have been produced, while the men have been kept busy during the winter, cutting down trees and getting out logs. Mr. Lupton has been a member of the school board, since 1952, and has taken great interest in the planning and building of the new, central school at Dwight. The Lupton's have eight children, two of them, George and Mary are married, and one of the daughters, Hilda is working in a bank in Toronto. The others, Harold, Don, Bernice, and Lloyd are still at home. George, the eldest son and his wife have a nice home across the road from the mill property, and have one son, Michael Owen, born in1951. Mr. Lupton has just been appointed, March 1956 as road superintendent and driver of the township truck. Frank, an uncle of George's has a home just next to his. He married Mrs. Larsen, a daughter of Reg. Hollinshead, of Fairy Lake. She was a widow with two children, Nora and Ronald. Now, there are three more children, Peter, Mark and Hope. They moved into their new home in 1949, when Peter was a few months old. Donald, another brother, used to live at his home on Goose Lake, but now has it rented to a family by the name of Payne, and he lives on the Brunel Road. He has eight children. Acknowledgments

On behalf of the Haystack Bay Women's Institute, we should like to tender our sincere and grateful thanks to all who helped in any way in the compilation of this Tweedsmuir History book, and to assure them that their co-operation is greatly appreciated. There are a few who deserve special mention, namely, Mrs. Thomas Hungerford- who printed the whole book by hand, also contributed the story of her own family, and her son Ted who illustrated and printed the Frontispiece, and contributed two pages of logging and lumbering pictures. Mr. George Hunt, who made the beautiful leather cover for our book. He taught crafts to the Air Force at Camp Borden during the late war. Mrs. Ellwood Campbell, the Convener, who was always willing to supply help and information, at all times, and her sister, Mrs. Elder of Sudbury, who wrote the interesting story of her own family, the Cunnington's. Mrs. George Robson who supplied a great deal of information on the early history of Ten Mile Bay and Birkendale, prior to her death in April, 195[?] and also her daughter, Mrs. Charles Dillon. Mrs. Harry Irwin (Jessie Robson ) who can still remember back to her school days over seventy years age, and is a mine of reminiscence. Also her niece, May Salmon, who wrote the fascinating story of her father’s life, and gave much help in other ways. Mrs. J.W. Emberson who loaned an album of pioneer pictures, and supplied many other pictures. Mrs. Matilda Stone, and Mrs. Lance Allenson, who wrote the stories of their families. Mr. Paul Tapley, who supplied the history of his family, as well as many nice pictures, and a page of road pictures. Mr. John Munroe, who supplied many facts regarding his own family, the soldiers of both Great Wars, the early history of Lake traffic, and so forth. Mr. David Langford, who gave authentic details regarding the names and periods of the early boats on the Lake of Bays. Mr. Tom Hungerford, sec.-treas., who supplied information regarding Township affairs. Mr. Charles Cunnington, sec.-treas. of the Church Board, for lending the minutes of the two Anglican Churches, St. John's, and St. James'. Mrs. Arthur Boothby, sec. of the School Board, for the loan of the minutes of the three schools in the district. Mrs. Roy Boothby, sec., for the minutes of our Women's Institute, since its formation in 1939. The following books have been of great help ; The Algonquin Story by Audrey Saunders; The History of Muskoka by Captain R.L. Fraser