SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER Postcard Memories of Sparrow Lake Resorts
Bruce M. McCraw
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SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER Postcard Memories of Sparrow Lake Resorts
Bruce M. McCraw
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SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER Postcard Memories of Sparrow Lake Resorts
Bruce M. McCraw
NATURAL HERITAGE / NATURAL HISTORY INC.
See You Next Summer Postcard Memories of Sparrow Lake Resorts Bruce McCraw Natural Heritage / Natural History Inc. Copyright © 1998 by Bruce McCraw All rights reserved. No portion of this book, with the exception of brief extracts for the purpose of literary review, may be reproduced in any form without the permission of the publisher. Published by Natural Heritage / Natural History Inc. (P.O. Box 95, Station O, Toronto, Ontario, M4A 2M8) Designed by Gringo Design Printed and bound in Canada by Hignell Book Printing, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data McCraw, Bruce See you next summer : postcard memories of Sparrow Lake Resorts Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1*896219*41-1 i. Sparrow Lake Region (Simcoe and Muskoka, Ont.) — History. 2. Sparrow Lake Region (Simcoe and Muskoka, Ont.) — History — Pictorial works. 3. Postcards — Ontario — Sparrow Lake Region (Simcoe and Muskoka). I. Title. FC3095.S72M32 1998 971.3*17 Fio59.S72M32 1998
THE CANADA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS SINCE 1957
098-931047-7
LE CONSEIL DBS ARTS DU CANADA DEPUIS 1957
Natural Heritage / Natural History Inc. acknowledges the support received for its publishing program from the Canada Council Block Grant Program. We also acknowledge with gratitude the assistance of the Association for the Export of Canadian Books, Ottawa.
Dedicated to my father Donald Frederick Fraser McCraw (1883-1976) who gave me many happy summers at Sparrow Lake where he also taught me how to fish -
TABLE OF CONTENTS vii
Foreword: David E, Stanton, President, Sparrow Lake Historical Society
ix x
Author's Note Acknowledgments
xiii xv
About Postcards Map of Sparrow Lake
i
From the Beginning An overview of the early history of Sparrow Lake and the initial development of Sparrow Lake tourism*
18 19 22 24 26 28 29 31
Resorts of Port Stanton Stanton House Sparrow Cottage Bayview-Wildwood Lakeshore House Bonheur Lodge/Bayview Lodge Wildwood Inn Sundown Lodge/Wild Echo
33 33 37 42 46 54
From Port Stanton to Maple Grove Sparrow Lake (Massey) Camp RoehPs Hotel (Torpitt) Torpitt Lodge Grandview Lodge Maple Grove
5$ 58 62 65 69 71 74 78 85 89 91 94 96 99
From Port Stanton to Vanomi Bennett's Peninsula Farm Hotel Idylwild Lodge Lakeview House Wenona Lodge Clipsham Lodge Uneeda Rest Hotel Wiancko House Delmonte-in-the-Pines Vernon Lodge Franklin House/Silver Pines Balmoral Hotel Mount Royal/Hamyrth Lodge Vanomi/Sparrow Beach Lodge
103 104 108 112 114 119
The Things We Did Together Fishing Boating Bathing and Beaches Friendly Competition and Get-togethers Church on Sunday
122
Epilogue Richard Hymans, Sheridan Park Public School, Mississauga, Ontario
125 131 136 137
Notes Index Credits for visuals About the Author
FOREWORD The sentiment expressed in the title of this book by Bruce McCraw, certainly applies to my life* I grew up on Sparrow Lake and cut my teeth in the tourist business working in my parents' budding resort 'The Wildwood Inn/ Later I chose a more technical vocation and left to live in Brampton, Ontario for twenty-five years pursuing an aviation career I retired early and, quickly, Ann and I sought to get back to the lake where we had had so many happy days at our cottage* We built our retirement home on our cottage site and now we enjoy every day on this lovely lake* Being a part of its history, I became involved in The Sparrow Lake Historical Society and take great pleasure in the retelling of this history* Through the years the Society has assisted in such projects as Still Smiling at the Front Desk by my cousin Susan Pryke, and A Legacy Almost Lost by the Kilworthy Historical Committee led by Betty ChishGraham* We have acknowledged and promoted A Respectable Ditch by author and member Professor James Angus which is a history of the Severn River* His latest book Severn River is a wonderful pictorial book on the Severn River and Sparrow Lake area* It is now my privilege to endorse this book by Bruce McCraw and its delightful format of telling the past through a collection of postcards* Bruce has been attending postcard and antique shows and buying postcards throughout the years as a hobby* He now has compiled them into a history of the resorts and through the magic of pictures this book will take you back to a time of happy memories and places you have experienced* It is a labour of love for Bruce and he has worked meticulously to ensure the correct story is told* This book brings forth the history in a vivid presentation that will be treasured and present on coffee tables for
Vlll
Foreword
many years to come. The Sparrow Lake Historical Society congratulates Bruce McCraw on this very special book . . . David Stanton, President Sparrow Lake Historical Society 1998
• ix •
A U T H O R ' S NOTE My story of Sparrow Lake is not unusual and can probably be duplicated by many who find that Sparrow Lake tugs at their heart* My father was told of Grandview Hotel on Sparrow Lake by an old friend and in the spring of 1926 he came up from Toronto to view the place* He realized immediately that Grandview had immense potential for recreation for adults and children alike* He booked a reservation and brought the family, including me at age two and a half, for a stay that summer* In the succeeding years my mother, brother, sister and I would stay for six weeks returning to Toronto in time for the Canadian National Exhibition* As there was regular train service to the Sparrow Lake station at Port Stanton at that time, my father came up weekends and later for a holiday to spend the days fishing. After his retirement he enjoyed eighteen more summers at Grandview with his fishing pals* After my teens my visits to Sparrow Lake were curtailed, but I was able to be at Grandview often enough to meet the girl I would marry* Now that I am also retired, my wife Pat and I can enjoy long summers there* Although since boyhood I have known a little about the other resorts, my postcard collection stimulated me to pursue a more thorough study of all the hotels and lodges that have dotted the shores of Sparrow Lake* As a result I have become much more aware of the local history and of the people who are part of it* This book is for all those who like me, find that Sparrow Lake always beckons one to return* B*M*M*
1998
• X•
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS While my name appears as the author of this book, there are many people who enabled me to write it and to get it into print. As a novice in this field, their assistance was vital to the completion of my task* I am grateful to David E. Stanton, President of the Sparrow Lake Historical Society for providing me with historical background of Port Stanton and of nearby Massey (Sparrow Lake) Camp. Both David, and James R. Stanton, Vice President of the Sparrow Lake Historical Society, helped me with the history and development of the resorts of Port Stanton as well as the role of the early Stanton Steamers in the emerging tourism of Sparrow Lake, My thanks indeed to Doris Muckle for allowing me to peruse and refer to appropriate sections of her family history which provided insight into the early years of life on Sparrow Lake, and as well, of the Franklin family and of Franklin House, an early resort on Sparrow Lake. I must acknowledge the accounts of early pioneer life, including those of families that settled in the Sparrow Lake area, many of whom spawned Sparrow Lake resorts, provided by A Legacy Almost Lost - An Anthology of Kilworthy Country. This book published by the Kilworthy Historical Society and ably coordinated by B. Elizabeth Chish-Graham was an invaluable resource to me. I could not have done without all those who reviewed what I had written on the various Sparrow Lake resorts and made corrections or provided further background or anecdotes. Those who helped me include: Hazel Carney (Bennett's Hotel, Idlylwild), Jean and Stanley Clipsham (Clipsham Lodge, Lakeview Hotel), Robert E. Clipsham (Uneeda Rest) who also loaned me several of his postcards, Bill Darker (RoehPs Hotel,
» XI •
• xii - SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER
Grandview Lodge, Vanomi), David Long (Wenona Lodge), Jack Tresidder (Torpitt Lodge) and Leanore Wiancko (Wiancko House)* Bill and David Darker and Betty Niro also added several postcards. Others who were helpful or encouraged me were Ted Martin (Martin's Store), Susan Stan ton Pryke, Don Coulman, Guelph and various executive members of the Toronto and Golden Horsehoe Postcard Clubs* I also gained much from my association with the Sparrow Lake Historical Society* In addition to learning about the area and the resorts from newsletters and speakers at their meetings, their members have eagerly shared their stories with me and urged me on with my work* Above all their welcoming friendship means a great deal to me* The Express Business Service Centre of Orillia was very helpful in producing numerous manuscript photocopies for me* The United Church Archives (Victoria University, Toronto), kindly allowed me to review their records of Massey Camp* I often sought guidance from Sally Wismer, Executive Director, Guelph Arts Council* Her technical advice arising from her considerable experience in working with writers and publishers is gratefully acknowledged* Robin Woods was always enthusiastic despite the numerous drafts she typed and retyped for me* I was encouraged by my publisher Barry Penhale, Natural Heritage Books who expressed an early interest in my efforts and continued to work with me during the various stages of this venture* I also wish to recognize the endeavours of all those who tried to teach me the proper use of a preposition* My son, Scott, found numerous postcards of Sparrow Lake resorts for me at postcard shows and many of these are included in this book*
Acknowledgements
Finally, I could not have done without the assistance of my wife Pat who repeatedly reviewed what I had written, always offering constructive criticism, and as well really acted as my business manager* Despite the assistance of those I have mentioned here and my best intentions, it is entirely possible that errors have crept into this book. For these I apologize and ask that I be corrected.
B.MM.
1998
• xiii •
About Postcards
At an antique show over twenty years ago I discovered a postcard of RoehPs campsite, formerly located where the Torpitt golf course is now* The card had been written on July n, 1907* Knowing Sparrow Lake since childhood, I looked for more and soon found another two: one from Stanton House postmarked July 10, 1906 at Severn Bridge and another much later unused one of Delmonte Hotel. In no time I developed an appetite for collecting postcards of Sparrow Lake resorts so that eventually I had well over 350 from the more than twenty resorts that once flourished around the Lake* I soon realized that these postcards told a story and could form the basis of a book. They documented how resorts evolved from tent or simple cabin with no heat or running water to todays' modern unit, how holiday travel by train gave way to the automobile, how transport to the lodge from Port Stanton by motor launch replaced the steamer and how recreation on water evolved from skiff and canoe to the outboard motor*
XIV
About Postcards
The earliest Sparrow Lake postcards were printed for resorts not long after postal regulations allowed pictures on postcards* These were often the most elegant, frequently tinted and with art nouveau ornamentation; some were bordered with a frame to make them look like a photograph of a picture. It wasn't long before the novelty card appeared showing the over-sized fish that were caught in Sparrow Lake* Years ago postcards were the only inexpensive and fast way for the tourist and the local resident to keep in touch with family and friends* For a long time it cost no more than one or two cents to mail a postcard* Usually a short note to the recipient told of a safe arrival home or of some other event. Postcards travelled quickly from the village and town post office, often to be received on the same day, and even after travelling long distances, in less than three days. The quick dispatch of mail was assisted by railway mail cars, no longer in existence, on passenger trains and sometimes on separate mail trains between major centres* The old mail-baggage cars frequently had letter slots so that the sender in a village or small town could deposit mail directly when a train made a station stop* The extensive rail network and frequent train service of the past combined to make for rapid mail travel, well suited to the simple format of the postcard* That so many postcards of Sparrow Lake resorts dating from the early IQOO'S to the present were saved and are still to be found in the antique store, is a testament to the popularity of Sparrow Lake* Some showed clear evidence of being removed from albums* By no means were all of the postcards sent to local addresses; the author was fascinated to find that so many that were mailed to friends and relatives as far away as California, England and Belgium, all to end up back in Ontario in the hands of postcard dealers*
• xv •
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From Tlie B e g i n n i n g
Sparrow Lake borders the southern rim of the Canadian Shield between Muskoka and Simcoe County. With the rugged terrain making settlement difficult the area was later in opening up than other parts of southern Ontario. However by the i86os early tourists found the Sparrow Lake environs to be a natural playground with good hunting and especially excellent fishing. Little wonder that over twenty resorts eventually emerged around the Lake* Sparrow Lake is said to have been known to the Indians as the 'lakeof-the-big-sun-fire' because of its beautiful sunsets/ There is evidence that for centuries they camped along its shores, lured there no doubt, by the excellent hunting and fishing in the area. The first visitors from the Old World were the French explorers* In the i68os La Salle navigated the Severn River, including Sparrow Lake, at least three and possibly four times.2 Evidence that these visitors had been in this area came to * i*
• 2 • SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER
light in the mid 19505 with Beulah (Stanton) Martin's discovery of a small brass bell, identified as iyth century Jesuit, beneath their store located by the shore at Port Stanton* A little over a hundred years later, in 1793, John Graves Simcoe, Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada made a trip to Georgian Bay and referred to a small lake (Sparrow Lake) about six miles in circumference* He was apparently impressed with the beauty of the Sparrow Lake-Severn area as well as with the prevalence of rattlesnakes*3 It would be another 65 years before Sparrow Lake would see permanent settlers* In 1859 the recently appointed agent for the settlement along the Severn and Muskoka Road issued the first 'location tickets' for land in the Sparrow Lake-Severn area, and by the end of the year reported fifty-four 'locations'4 some of which were a 100 acres or more* Outlined on a Ticket of Location were certain conditions: the amount of land to be cleared and fenced, the building of a 'dwelling house' as well as the period of time within which the conditions were to be fulfilled* Among the settlers who came between 1860 and 1875, and who later established resorts, were the Clipshams, Franklins, Maguires, Roehls, Stantons, Whitesides, and Wianckos, names still well known or remembered around Sparrow Lake* Only three years before the first 'location tickets' were issued, timber licences were granted for cutting on the Severn and Black rivers, and in 1861 for Morrison Township on the east side of Sparrow Lake*5 Among the early lumbermen were Quetton St* George (Lake St. George) and Peter Christie, both of whom were licenced to cut 50 square miles in the Severn area*6 Lumber companies soon became a major source of employment and remained so until the late iSoos* To this day the sunken and stone-filled hull of the W*P* Christie lumber company tow boat is clearly visible
From The Beginning
from the dock in front of Martin's Store in Port Stanton. (The tow boat was built as the Simcoe in the i88o's and was later purchased by Captain Tom Stan ton and renamed the Pocahontas).1 Life was hard for the settlers* Hugo Stein, an early resident at the north end of Sparrow Lake, said that in 1860 tall pines, large oak and huge elms up to four feet in diameter reached the waters edge. While clearing the land the pioneers found Indian artifacts from which they made hoes and other tools.8 Wildlife were abundant, including: timber wolves, lynx, deer and black bear. Muskelunge, pickerel and black bass, as well as channel catfish, were an important source of food. If channel catfish were smoked in the cooler weather of the fall they could be kept well into the winter.9 Travel was difficult. To row to Severn Bridge and then walk to Washago was a several hours1 journey* To make clothing and blankets, Bertha (Roehl) Schulz, the daughter of early settlers, told of pioneers spinning their own yarn from flax which they grew, and from the wool of their sheep.10 The mid 18705 brought about major changes that made life easier for the settlers. The Northern Extension Railway from Allandale (Barrie) reached Gravenhurst in 1875 and a little station, the Severn, was located at Severn Bridge and another at Kilworthy (originally called Lethbridge), six miles south of Gravenhurst. Also in 1875, the enterprising Captain Thomas Stanton launched a little steamer, the Pioneer which he ran from Sparrow Lake to Severn Bridge where it made connections with the trains.11 Sparrow Lake now was quite accessible to campers and expanding tourism soon followed, especially when the excellent fishing became known. It was said that the Iron City Fishing Club (from Pittsburgh PA) caught so many fish that they gave them to farmers to feed the pigs.12
•3•
• 4 * SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER
Originally the early fishermen camped on settlers' property, but it was not long before they requested room and board* Soon the increasing number of summer visitors demonstrated the need for larger accommodation* By 1884 Captain Stanton had moved his family from the original homestead (where Sparrow Lake Camp is today) to present-day Port Stanton, and in that year established Stanton House, the first resort on the south shore of Sparrow Lake/3 This was followed by Uneeda Rest (1898) on the east side of Sparrow Lake, Lakeshore House (1898) at Port Stanton and Bennett's Peninsula Farm Hotel (1900) on the upper Severn near the entrance to Sparrow Lake/4 Between 1900 and 1912 eleven more lodges (some were called hotels) were established or built on Sparrow Lake/5 After 1900 it was obvious that an expanded steamer service was needed to serve the emerging resorts and the growing tourist population* Captain Stanton's Lady Franklin (the rebuilt and lengthened Spartan) could no longer keep pace with the traffic, so work was begun about 1901 to build a larger vessel, the Lakefield. This steamer, completed in 1905, was an attractive ship, 70 feet in length/6 In 1907 the 40 foot Glympse was added and these steamers comprised the Sparrow Lake Steamer Line operated by Captain Stanton's sons, Frank and Bert Stanton* About the same time as the Lakefield was completed, Thomas Wood, a relative of the Stantons, built a slightly larger steamer, the Champion, which was based at Idylwild Lodge on the upper Severn River not far from Bennett's Peninsula Farm Hotel*17 The addition of the Champion and the Lakefield, which together could carry well over 300 passengers, coincided with the completion of the Canadian Northern Ontario Railway (CNOR) to Parry Sound in 1906* Summer train service commenced in 1907 and, best of all, a little
From The Beginning
station, 'Sparrow Lake' (now long gone) was located at Port Stanton* Apparently Captain Stanton convinced the railway to swing the tracks close to the Lake rather than about a quarter of a mile inland and, as well, donated the land for the station. With a direct route from Toronto in operation, travel to Sparrow Lake shifted away from Severn Bridge, although Bennetts and Whiteside's steamer, the G. Whiz, continued for a time to meet the Grand Trunk Railway trains at Severn Bridge/8 Sparrow Lake Station became a boon for the CNOR with hundreds of tourists coming and going on weekends during the summer months. Then the trains and steamer service were closely linked. Moreover, the Passenger Department of the CNOR issued a brochure, 'Sparrow Lake and Severn River' listing 16 resorts and promoting the beauty of the area, the excellent fishing (especially for muskelunge) as well as the fine accommodations. In the same year that the summer train service began, Port Stanton, as it became officially known, obtained a post office which was located in Stanton Bros. Store/9 Today it is Martin's Store. However, the first post office on Sparrow Lake was opened on the east side of the Lake by Adolphus Wiancko in 1878. Upon his death in 1907, his wife became post mistress.20 Port Stanton thus became not only the gateway to Sparrow Lake but a service centre, which today has been further extended with the very successful development of Stanton Airways by John, Ernest Stanton's youngest son. While not central to the development of resorts, the construction of dams and power houses in the early 19005 on the lower Severn resulted in raising and helping to stabilize the water level of Sparrow Lake. By 1918 the Sparrow Lake steamers were gone, having been replaced with gasoline launches from resorts that met the trains at Port Stanton for
• 5*
• 6 * SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER
the next thirty or more years, Ted Martin of Martin's Store has in his possession a 1924 photograph of the store with a sign listing a dozen Sparrow Lake resorts and their proprietors, together with the names of the seven launches serving those resorts* Even the launches gradually disappeared as train service diminished and access from Highway n improved. Today Martin's Store, near the Government Dock at Port Stanton, remains a popular port-of-call for tourists and cottagers as well as boaters on the Trent-Severn system* The road ended at Port Stanton until 1928 when it was extended by following the path of an old bush road as far as Torpitt Lodge (the 'Torpitt Road')* This development made it possible to reach the resorts and cottages on the west side of Sparrow Lake by car* Jack Tresidder (Jr*) recounts that in the dry summer of 1926, Bill Bauman, a guest at Torpitt Lodge managed to drive his Cadillac to Torpitt* This feat helped to initiate interest in a permanent road, and Jack Tresidder (Sr*), the proprietor of Torpitt Lodge at that time, became the driving force behind its construction* The marsh near Port Stanton presented as great a road building challenge as the rocky terrain* To provide a base for this swampy section, old straw mattresses from a resort were laid down, covered with branches and then topped with stone and gravel*21 While this new road was welcomed, the sharp curves and steep hills brought near terror to the uninitiated* Dick Dalzell, a guest at Grandview Lodge since 1926, recalled how as a confident teenager he would drive the cars of those too nervous to make the return trip over the road to Port Stanton* He would then hitch a ride by boat back to Grandview* Over the years the hills and curves have been smoothed out and side roads to cottages have been added*
From The Beginning
*7 •
A pioneer (Roehl) homestead and barn near the presentday gate to Grandview Lodge Resort. Another Roehl homestead, built about 1870 and still in existence, is located behind present-day Torpitt Lodge (1996).
From 1874 to 1906 the convenient connection to Sparrow Lake was via Severn Bridge. Tourists got off the Grand Trunk Railway train at Severn, a Jittie station one and a half miles north ofWashago, and took a steamer down the Severn River to Sparrow Lake. The station is in clean, as-built condition and the postcard dates from the early igoos. The tall gentleman towards the left of the postcard wearing a bow tie, vest and watch chain would be the station agent.
• 8 * SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER
Frank and Albert Stanton s steamer, the Lakefield (not the Lakeside as named in the postcard) at Port Stanton. Built in 1905, it was 70 feet long and was large enough to carry 200 people to resorts around the Lake.22 At first it met trains at Severn Bridge, but then in 1907, at Sparrow Lake Station, Port Stanton, after the Canadian Northern Ontario Railway was completed to Parry Sound in 1906. The steam yacht on the left is the Clifford owned by J.O. Wood a river pilot from Pittsburgh.23 The 40 foot steamer Glympse, built in 1907, and along with the Lakefield comprised the 'Sparrow Lake Steamer Line operated by Albert and Frank Stanton. The Sparrow Lake Steamer Line carried most of the commercial traffic for the railway from the Port Stanton wharf from 1907 on.24 The photograph for this unusually clear post* card, postmarked August 30, 1909, appears to have been taken from the wharf. A tractor engine that burned kerosene replaced steam power about 1911,25
From The Beginning
Letterhead and ticket of the Sparrow Lake Steamer Line, Stanton Bros., proprietors. The steamers were advertised as making connections with the Canadian Northern trains at Sparrow Lake Station.
*9 •
10 . see you next summer
The steamer Champion on the upper Severn River. An unusual postcard because only the upper half of the front is taken up with the picture leaving the bottom half, in addition to the back, for correspondence. The sender provided this remarkabk description of what it was like to travel to Sparrow Lake and stay at Maple Grove Resort in 1907;
"Dear Bessie... Aug. 15/07 ... This is the boat we came up from Severn on. We were on it three hours and enjoyed the ride. They had to stop at so many of the camps on the way which took quite a lot of time. This is such a pretty quiet place. You see everything just as nature placed it. The shore of the lake is right in front of the house and is so rocky. I sit up on the rocks and just enjoy the clean air and the quietness. Next week we will be the only ones here. There are nine others now, but they are going away Monday. I wish you could be here, as I know you would enjoy it, rowing etc. Lot of love, Anna B."
From The Beginning
*n •
A passenger train at Sparrow Lake Station probably one or two years after the line was completed. During the weekends in the summer months, hundreds of tourists would come and go from this little station. The building in the background to the right of the station is Lakeshore House.
A first class passenger train of the early igoos with a high-stepping 4-6-0 class locomotive in charge, no doubt a posed photograph with the trailing smoke from the locomotive added for the postcard. Railway publicity postcards were common in the early igoos. Since Sparrow Lake was on the main line to Parry Sound, in the early years summer visitors may well have travelled on a first class train like this one that would almost certainly include a dining, and even a parlour car for those who wanted to pay the extra tariff.
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A brochure issued by the Passenger Department of the Canadian Northern Ontario Railway about 1909 promoting the beauty of the Sparrow Lake'Sevem area, as well as the excellent fishing and fine tourist accommodation. It feted sixteen resorts most with rates of $6.00 to $9.00 a week! Summer rail fare between Toronto and Sparrow Lake Station was listed as $3.75.'
An early view of the platform at Sparrow Lake Station and the gangway to the Port Stanton dock. The building in the centre background is Stanton Bros, store, todays Martin's Store. It is difficult to tell whether the folks are waiting for the baggage to be sorted after getting off the train or whether the train for Toronto will soon arrive. One thing is certain, with the many large steamer trunks on the platform, tourists did not travel lightly in the early 19005. The postmark on the postcard is September 5, 1910.
From The Beginning • 13
A much later view looking toward the Port Stanton dock from the now fenced station platform. Although the postmark is July 20, 1937, the view is earlier judging from the models of the cars. Before 1928 there was no road on the west side of Sparrow Lake to Torpitt Lodge and cars had to be parked at Port Stanton.
The landing and post office, Port Stanton. On the left is an open-air ice cream parlour, later moved to the waterfront side of the store.2 The card is postmarked July 14, 1915 and bears two cent stamps, one labelled 'war tax.'
14 • SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER
A view of the Government Dock, Port Stanton, from the Lake in front of Lakeshore House. The postcard probably dates from the 19405.
A Port Stanton novelty postcard, postmarked July 5, 1914.
From The Beginning Judging from the model of the car and the tall gas pump (the reservoir on top held 20 gallons) this postcard ofStantons Store and post office would probably date from about 1936 or 1937. Known today as Martins Store, it serves cottagers and is also a major supplier for travellers on the Trent-Severn system.
The power house at Ragged Rapids under construction on the lower Severn about 1900. It supplied power to Orillia. The dam and power house were blown up in igij when the new power house at Swift Rapids was completed.21 Note the spelling of "Ragid" Rapids. Spelling and other errors were common in early picture postcards.
• 15 •
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The completed power plant at Ragged Rapids which began operation in 1902. The new power plant at Swift Rapids was one and a half miles downstream from Ragged Rapids*8 It supplied much more power and was important in helping to stabilize the water level in Sparrow Lake.
From The Beginning By 1918 the steamers were gone and gasoline-powered boats met the Toronto trains at Port Stanton. Several resorts then had their own launches as in this postcard where the Grandf iew Hotel launch is seen in the foreground, and on the far side of the dock, only partially in view, is the Torpitt Lodge launch. From the style of the outboard motor on the 'cedar strip' tied to the dock, the postcard would date from the mid to late 19305.
The three -mile road from Port Stanton to Grandview Hotel and Torpitt Lodge was opened in 1928. On the west side of Sparrow Lake, it was a challenge to navigate in the early years because in many places it was so steep and narrow. Mart Kinser, a long-time cottager, told how he had to shift his model "T" Ford into reverse gear (the only ratio that could handle the steeper hills) and drive up backwards!
• 17 •
R e s o r t s of Port Stanton
From the time that the first tourists began coming to Sparrow Lake in 1872 and, shortly afterwards, boarding with Captain Thomas Stanton1 and his wife Ellen (eldest daughter of another pioneer, John Franklin), various members of succeeding generations of Stantons have been engaged in the development and management of the resorts of Port Stanton* Edgar Johns, a nephew of Captain Tom, once commented "How often do we hear parents of today bemoaning the fact that, as their children grow up they are unable to obtain work locally and are forced to migrate to the large centres in search of employment. It is indeed hard to visualize any place less likely to provide work than the Sparrow Lake area in the latter part of the ipth century. And yet, not one of the three sons and three daughters that comprised the Stanton family left home before they had married and what is more remarkable, none was other than self-employed during a life time.2" 18
Resorts of Port Stanton
STANTON HOUSE Stanton House is the oldest resort on the south shore of Sparrow Lake. Still flourishing, it was established in 1884 by Captain Tom and Ellen after they moved from what is now Sparrow Lake (Massey) Camp to the site of present-day Port Stanton* Edgar Johns also recalled his uncle "as a big jovial man, with a heavy full beard, generous, kindly, and very fond of children. I have nothing but the fondest memories of Uncle Tom and Aunt Nell (Ellen) and the many happy times I spent at Stanton House as a small boy during school vacation*"3 After Captain Tom died in 1907, Ellen managed Stanton House until her death in 1910, From that time succeeding generations have been involved beginning with their daughters; Alice until 1928, followed by Marion with her husband William Clipsham, and then in Z 935 by Captain Tom and Ellen's son George and his wife Eva (Johnston). After 1950 George and Eva's oldest son Tom and his wife Phyllis (Hawkins) took over and began a modernization program which has continued since.4 Postmarked Severn Bridge July 28, 1906, no doubt one of the earliest postcards of Stanton House. The sender, J.A. Eberhart said they were "camping at Captain StantonV" The lady in front of Stanton House is Alice Stanton.5 The scene on the left is labelled "Point at Captain Stantons." The leaning mapk in the shore scene is still there and has grown to be a very impressive specimen.
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The early cottages at Stanton House with the windmill and water tower in the background. The windmill pumped water from the lake to the water tower for gravity pressure. The cottages were originally located on the railway right-of-way and were moved by the railway contractor for Mrs. Stanton when the line was moved closer to the lake in igo6.7 A motel unit replaced these cottages in the late 19505. The original Stanton House remaining until the 19605, is in the background obscured by a large tree.8 The postcard is signed by Ellen Stanton, Captain Tom's wife.
A three room cabin, part of the original Front Row. It had been moved prior to 1930 across the lake on the ice from an earlier location and moved again to its present site behind the hotel kitchen.9
Resorts of Port Stanton The "Mapks" a modern motel-type accommodation containing several units. It was built
in 1965. Tom Stanton's house is on the right, partially obscured.10
The hub of Stanton House today showing the main lodge (1967) and dining room (1978). The two-storey unit on the right is called "Front Row."11
The boathouse called Bayshore (1974) has waterfront accommodation in the upper storey. The boat and water-ski docks are on the right.12
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SPARROW COTTAGE Aroundi9o6 Sparrow Cottage was built and operated as a sideline venture by Frank Stanton, Captain StantonJs son, along with Frank's wife Violet (McMaster). Sparrow Cottage did not experience the growth of Stanton House or Lakeshore House because of Frank's involvement with other things, especially the Port Stanton store and the Sparrow Lake Steamer Line/3
A small resort in a delightful setting, the postcard was dated August 11, 1912. The card was sent from Guelph by a husband who told his wife staying at Massey Camp to make sure their children were "good." Sparrow Cottage was Captain Frank's residence and his venture into the tourist lodge business did not survive.14
Resorts of Port Stanron . 23.
Obviously considerable care was taken to arrange this highly posed picture taken on the lawn of Sparrow Cottage. Frank Stantons son Walter is sitting on the fence and a number of children are firmly planted under the supervision of the adults nearby.
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BAYVIEW-WILDWOOD Bayview-Wildwood had its origin in the amalgamation of several resorts in Port Stanton: • Lakeshore House • Bonheur Lodge/Bayview Lodge • Wildwood Inn • Sundown Lodge/Wild Echo The oldest, Lakeshore House, was established in 1898 and, except for a short period of time, has been a Stanton resort ever since/5 However, the name disappeared when it was absorbed into Bayview-Wildwood* Bonheur Lodge, originally the home of Ed Stanton (Frank Stanton's eldest son), was built in 1920* The Lodge accommodated a few tourists and was later bought by Ernest Stanton (Frank's youngest son). Once in Ernest's hands it was expanded and renamed Bayview Lodge in 1945* Ten years later Ernest bought Wildwood Inn from Walter Stanton (Frank's second son) and the combined resorts later became known as Bayview-Wildwood* Wildwood was built in 1931 by Walter on the site that had been the old Stanton sawmill, later used as a garage* Once the road beyond Port Stanton was completed in 1928, the garage, less in demand as a place to park cars, was torn down* Walter used the 12 by 12 timbers for Wildwood's foundation* He began to construct the three storey hotel with ten dollars cash, a wheelbarrow and the backing of his bank* In telling this story, his son David still refers to that bank as "my bank*" During their years at Wildwood, Walter, his wife Eleanore (Fosdick), and family made many improvements which added to the pleasure and comfort of their guests* Knowing the importance of good and plentiful
Resorts of Port Stanton
food, they made a ritual of inviting their guests into the kitchen at 9:00 each evening to finish up the day's leftovers* The present owner of Bay view-Wildwood, Ron Stanton (Ernest's eldest son), assumed management from his father in ip66/ 6 Ron has made numerous additions and today his place is advertised as an all-seasons resort/7 Wild Echo was called Sundown Lodge when it was owned by Tommy Dawson. Walter Stanton purchased it in 1951 and renamed it Wild Echo. He then sold it (^1952) to Fred Adams, but later it once again became a Stanton resort but within the Bayview-Wildwood orbit* However, it was operated separately from Bayview-Wildwood for nine years (1986-1995) as Wild Echo - a Lakeside Ranch Resort by Ron Stanton's son Doug. Today management has returned to the main resort at Bayview-Wildwood/8 While the resorts of Port Stanton are its most prominent feature, there are a number of permanent residences, privately owned cottages and Martin's Store, as well as the Church of the Good Samaritan, making this a community with a small year round population*
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L A K E S H O R E HOUSE
Lakes/tore House had its beginnings when Ellen Stanton came to Bert Stanton s wife, Martha, to ask if she would take the overflow from Stanton House m their home.19 Not many years later a more formal Lakeshore House was established. The postmark is August 13, 1915, but the view may date from about 1905-7, possibly when Lakeshore House was being built.20
In this next view Lakeshore House has a screened-in verandah to protect the folks from the Sparrow Lake mosquitoes. One of the two gentlemen standing together is wearing light-coloured "plus-fours" and this would likely date the photograph somewhere in the 1920$.
Resorts of Port Stanton
A later and more pleasing Lakeshore House showing the grounds in front adorned with more foliage and looking much like it did in the 19305. Note the attractive architectural details in the verandah railings and the second storey screened-in porch.
The tennis court which remains in the same site today with Lakeshore House in the background, partially hidden. The vintage of the parked cars would make it about 1930 or 1932.
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BONHEUR L O D G E / B A Y V I E W L O D G E
Regrettably, the only postcard in the author's possession of Bay view Lodge when it was separate from Bayview^Wildwood. It began as a house called Bonheur, built by Edwin Stanton, Captain Stantons grandson. While operating this house as Bonheur Lodge, Ed's wife Flora took in a few guests each summer while Ed ran the Stanton's store. Ed's brother Ernest later bought Bonheur and his wife Clara renamed it Bay view Lodge in 1945.2I In 1955 Ron Stanton took over Bayview management.22 The view is looking east.
Resorts of Port Stanton
W I L D W O O D INN
A general view of Wildwood in the 19305, The parking arrangements were typically casual for the era. Walter Stanton, another of Captain Tom Stanton s grandsons, built Wildwood in 1931 after dismantling the Stanton sawmill The sawmill was originally the W.P. Christie Lumber Company shingk mill and was purchased by Captain Tom Stanton in the i88os.23 Wildwood was later sold to Walter's brother Ernest who owned Bay view Lodge and this established the Bayview-Wildwood connection.24
A more formal ig6os view of the main entrance with an outside telephone booth now added for the convenience of the guests.
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An attractive end-view of Wildwood with the shuffleboard framed by a gateway and sheltered by a stone wall built by Walter Stanton. Walter was a skilled stone mason who also loved to use dynamite in his numerous construction projects.
Wildwood in the 19505 or early 19605 facing the bay with a neatly manicured front lawn. Wood boats like these are a rarity today. One is a 'cedar strip', the other a 'lapstrake*, i.e. with the planking overlapped.
Resorts of Port Stanton
B A Y V I E W - W I L D WOOD A 1980$ postcard advertising the amalgamated BayviewWildwood as a year round resort only a short distance north of Toronto, The large building in view is a renovated Wildwood.
W I L D ECHO A very early picture-postcard with two inserts; one of the launch Mustang which had an inboard engine and was owned by Charles Musson, a Port Stanton cottager25 and the other a cottage on Helens Island which was owned by the Butler family. Sundown Lodge had its beginnings on Helens Island and is now Wild Echo.26 The postmark is April 29, 1907. Early picture-postcards like this one were usually tinted and embellished with art nouveau ornamentation.
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An aerial view of modern Wild Echo Lodge.Today it is part of Bayview-Wildwood.
A permanent residence built in 1950 in Port Stanton, - "Toms House/' Tom Stanton is a grandson of Captain Tom.
From Port Stanton to M a p l e G r o v e
SPARROW LAKE (MASSEY) CAMP Anyone passing by Sparrow Lake Camp today might see a flotilla of canoes or a troup of knapsack-laden children on a hike, or hear a dinner bell or singing by an evening campfire. However, it did not begin as a camp for children, but, in common with other early resorts, was originally an adult/family camp. The property was purchased from its original owner, Captain Thomas Stanton, by the Massey and Langmuir families in 1892.' The Massey property was for many years the summer home of various branches of the Massey family and comprised about 85 acres with a main lodge, dining room and cottages/ Vincent Massey, a former Governor-General of Canada, refers in his autobiography to a family camp on a northern
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lake which may well have been the site on Sparrow Lake*3 In 1906 when the Massey family gave a limited deed to the property to Reverend Thomas W* Neal and Reverend John D* Fitzpatrick, the camp was then used as a retreat for ministers and their families until 1912, when Reverend Neal returned the deed to the Massey family* The Masseys, well known for their philanthropy, in turn, deeded the property to the Methodist Union of Toronto4 to be used as a summer camp for disadvantaged boys from the Fred Victor Mission, also established by the Massey family*5 The camp program was expanded to include girls in I9i6*6 At the time of Church Union in 1925, Sparrow Lake Camp became the responsibility of the Toronto Home Missions Council7 The adjacent Langmuir property of about 47 acres was purchased in 1926, and the current camp buildings were erected* Sparrow Lake Camp then became one of the largest of the United Church camps.8 Since 1940 the Camp has been operated on a self-sustaining basis*9
This card was mailed from Wenona Lodge, called "Wenona House" by the sender, on August i, 1911 suggesting that postcards of Massey Camp were available to lodges on the Lake.
From Port Stanton to Maple Grove
The postmark on this card is September i, 1906. The large building in the centre, partially hidden by a tree, is likely Massey Lodge, said to be erected by Chester Massey. It was probably the Massey family's own cottage and the other buildings were for guests.10 The exact date of the photograph is unknown and it is hard to tell whether the Massey family was still using the Camp (with Massey children on the dock) or whether this was the first year the Camp served as a retreat for ministers and their families.11 The building on the right, closest to the water, was the dining or cook house.12
With so many adults evident, this postcard would appear to be made from a photograph at a time when the Camp was being used as a retreat.13 The dining house is clearly open in this view, with tables for open-air dining,14 The date would be between 1906 and 1912.
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• 36 • SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER Around 1912 the Massey property was deeded to the Methodist Union of Toronto to be used as a summer camp for disadvantaged boys and the name Methodist Boys' Camp then appears on postcards. Since the program included girls by 1916 this postcard probably dates from between 1912 and 1916,
The Langmuir s Point property was adjacent to Sparrow Lake Camp and was purchased by the Toronto Home Missions Council in 1926. This enlarged the Camp from 85 acres to about 130 acres, making it one of the largest of the United Church Camps.
"At the sound of the dinner bell" is postmarked August 23, 1928. The scene, on the way to the present-day dining half, probably was taken shortly after it was built in 1926. Around this time, a person well known to Sparrow Lake, Reverend W.A. Hunnisett was a camp leader. The camp is now referred to as Sparrow Lake Campy and for a period prior to Church Union, the name Methodist Young People s Camp was also used on postcards. This site is also where Captain Tom Stanton built his first log house in the iS/os/5
From Port Stanton to Maple Grove
ROEHI/S H O T E L ( T O R P I T T ) All the resorts on the northwest end of Sparrow Lake - RoehPs Hotel, Torpitt and Grandview, as well as Maple Grove, were established on what was originally RoehPs property* The RoehPs resorts, - RoehPs Hotel (later Torpitt) and Grandview had their beginnings because of the energy and initiative of Mr Otto Roehl (1862-1955)* His father, Otto Sr*, (18051874) had emigrated from northern Germany in 1860 to join his brother William who, some years earlier, had settled where Torpitt Lodge is today* Otto's father and uncle each purchased 100 acres from the Crown and together these two tracts stretched from Duck Bay to Deep Bay* As the first settlers on the northwest side of Sparrow Lake, the brothers established homes and began farming* Their joint land was eventually owned by Otto Roehl and to this day some of it remains in the family* On the Severn River as well as near the Lake, the RoehPs farm was also an ideal camp site* By the i88os fishermen, and no doubt some hunters, were requesting permission to stay on the RoehPs property* The first visitors were the Erhardt brothers, Fred and Leonard, from Pittsburgh who camped on RoehPs pasture where the Torpitt golf course was later developed* Fred first came in 1883 and Leonard joined him in 1886* During a personal conversation in 1990 with Abby Cox shortly before he died, Abby, a long time resident of Sparrow Lake and the original proprietor of nearby Maple Grove, said that at first Fred Erhardt fished from a small birchbark canoe which he had made by a local Indian* Up until the mid-19405 the Erhardt brothers came every year to Sparrow Lake. Their long time friend and fishing partner Oscar Logan, another early visitor to RoehPs and also from Pittsburgh, came to Sparrow Lake until 1952 (All three stayed at Otto RoehPs nearby
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Grandview Hotel after 1919 when RoehPs Hotel was sold)* These men were serious fishermen and hardly a summer went by without them catching a trophy muskelunge* It wasn't long after the early campers came that they began requesting meals at the Roehl farmhouse* Later Otto built his first cabin and, as more fishing buddies came, this building was followed by several more. In 1910 he built a hotel, RoehPs Hotel, on the site of present day Torpitt* Otto was now seriously involved in the resort business which augmented farming and lumbering as a means of livelihood/6 Occasionally references are made to a Harmony Lodge on Sparrow Lake* It was not a resort but a cottage with a boathouse over which there were three small rooms and a verandah* Both the cottage and the boathouse faced the Severn River and were probably put up in the early 19005 on what, at that time, was RoehPs property, but is today part of Grandview Lodge Resort* The boathouse is still standing as one of the oldest structures on the northwest side of Sparrow Lake* In the 19305 there were two families associated with Harmony Lodge, the Rosenbergs from East Aurora N*Y* and the Parkers from Orillia, the latter occupying the boathouse accommodation*17 Harmony Lodge was apparently a shared vacation facility with the cooking and eating area in the cottage probably accounting for the name Harmony Lodge* Between Torpitt Lodge and Harmony Lodge, a Chippewa family from Rama, the Williams, camped near the shore of the river* Floyd and Fred Rosenberg from Harmony Lodge, the William's son and I were all about the same age and we would often play together* I can recall Mr* Williams putting out night lines in the River to catch catfish* Sometimes he caught huge channel catfish, and I would watch with fascination as the fish were being cleaned and smoked over a fire*
From Port Stanton to Maple Grove
An early view of Otto Roehl's resort from the Severn River before the hotel was built. The camper's tents are on the edge of part of the present day Torpitt golf course. By the early ipoos a few cottages had been built. Note the spelling of "Rowls" at the bottom of the postcard. Postal cancellation, Aug. 1907.
Probably the earliest postcard ofRoehl's Hotel which was built in 1910. There are no railings on the verandah and no addition, which was added later. The styk of architecture is typical of summer hotels at that time and in this instance its symmetry is particularly pleasing,
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Frank and Albert Stanton's Sparrow Lake Steamer Line 40 foot Glympse at Roehlsy filled to capacity, leaving for an outing possibly a baseball game. The man on the edge of the dock in the white shirt and suspenders is Otto Roehl. The note on the postcard indicates that some guests pursued other interests than fishing, "Guy, this is the only place to camp - [there] is a crowd of girls up here from Pitts" (Pittsburgh). Postal cancellation Aug. 18, 1909. Inscribed on the back of the postcard is - "Published by H.W. Wiancko, Sparrow Lake, Ont." He would have been proprietor at that time of Wiancko House on the east side of Sparrow Lake.
From Port Stanton to Maple Grove
An attractively bordered postcard of a now well established RoeW's hotel with numerous boats for the pkasure of the guests. The postcard was mailed to Scotland and somehow found its way back to a dealer in Canada to be purchased by the author.
A large and clearly happy crowd at Roehls Hotel about 1912 or 1914. Otto RoeM is standing on the verandah, second from the left, and wearing a white shirt. His wife Annie is behind his shoulder and barely visible.
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Relaxing on what is today part of the Torpitt golf course. The two horses pulling the hayrake indicate that the Roehls probably still kept farm animals. The path in the background is still there today.
TORPITT LODGE The story is told of a tourist in the 19208, who, after getting off the train at Port Stanton, intended to go to Lakeview House* However, instead of getting into the launch to take him to Lakeview, by mistake he got into the Torpitt launch and to his surprise found himself a guest at Torpitt* He enjoyed himself so much that he continued to go to Torpitt year after year for over 60 years. No wonder Torpitt is known as the (House of Friendship'! Otto Roehl's 46-room RoehPs Hotel was purchased in 1919 by Jack Tresidder (Sr.) after he returned from World War L He formally renamed it Hotel Torpitt because so many guests came from Toronto and Pittsburgh, In those early years Torpitt guests had to be met by boat at Port Stanton. There were several trains a day with specials on the weekends and, as such, kept two launches busy, one for passengers and one for luggage. The friendly competition that existed among some of the
From Port Stanton to Maple Grove
'captains' was displayed in the various ways they would decorate their launches to welcome the guests* There were many other aspects of Torpitt that provided pleasure and amusement for the guests* Frequent events included baseball games with other resorts including Grandview, Vanomi and Delmonte* Jack often played and occasionally served as umpire* During the 19305 the DelVan-Tor Trophy (Delmonte, Vanomi, Torpitt) was created from a trophy that Jack, a champion middle distance runner, had won while serving in England during WWL This trophy still occupies a place of honour in Torpitt's lounge* For several years in the 19305 Torpitt had a resident pianist, Al Linton, who played for the regular dances at the hotel* In 1936 a large dance hall was built by the shore of the river* The Saturday night dances there were always popular and well attended by guests from nearby resorts* For the midweek dances across the Lake at Delmonte, Jack would take a boat load of folks over for the evening in his launch* Torpitt is also famous for its golf course established in 1942 as a 6-hole course and later expanded in 1956 to the 9-holes of today* It is the only golf course on the lake* Since the beginning of these resorts there have been annual tournaments and over the years the Torpitt Lodge Labour Day Tournament has been the most significant event* The original Low Net Score Trophy was replaced in 1973 by the Margaret and Jack Tresidder Memorial Trophy* In May 1939 Torpitt burned, but a new structure, now renamed Torpitt Lodge, was built on the same site in record time, just 23 days, in time for the opening of the tourist season* In addition to the main lodge, today there are modern motel units as well as a laundromat for the convenience of guests*
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Faye and Jack (Jr.) have operated Torpitt Lodge since the passing of Margaret and Jack in 1972* Faye is well known for her good food and is renowned for her butter tarts* With a long standing and faithful clientele, the tradition of the 'House of Friendship' continues to this day, with many guests of over fifty years continuing to return for their summer vacation/8
The original Torpitt shown here with the verandah, was built in 1910. The large wing behind was added a few years later. This is probably one of the first postcards of Torpitt after Jack Tresidder (SrJ purchased it in 1919.
Keystone Cottage was one of the early Torpitt cottages probably built about the same time as, or possibly earlier than the original hotel. It was demolished in 1971 and today jack and Faye's home, built in 1972, is located on the site of the cohhttage.
From Port Stanton to maple Grove . 45.
Two views of modern Torpitt Lodge. The upper postcard was probably made shortly after the new lodge was built in 1939. The sender of this postcard said that she was "only here for a few days . . . wish I could stay here for a long time.'1 The lower more recent view shows a number of renovations: a tuck shop added in 1960, picture windows and an extension to the dining room on the main level in 1962 and upgrading of the second floor in 1970.
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A view ofTorpitt's dance hall, looking east towards Grandview, probably not long after it was built in 1936. It was large enough to accommodate guests from several nearby resorts as noted by the sender of this card, who was staying at Maple Grove and planning to attend the dance at Torpitt that evening.
GRANDVIEW LODGE After Otto Roehl sold his hotel to Jack Tresidder Sr* in 1919, he decided to build a small resort on Grandview Point* The original building had about ten rooms and was known to older guests as the Annex, later to be named Roehl HalL (In the early 19805 the original Roehl Hall was replaced with a modern motel style unit*) In 1923 he added a larger unit, which today with many improvements, is the main lodge of Grandview Lodge Resort* Mr* Roehl operated Grandview as a family resort with guests returning year after year, and when their children grew up they in turn came
From Port Stanton to Maple Grove
with their families. He was a strict disciplinarian, no late hours, no partying; even dances in the hotel lounge had to be carefully negotiated* He preferred guests who liked to fish, but other than fishing, entertainment was limited to tennis or horseshoes and, of course, swimming as Grandview had a large beach. In peak season there were regular baseball games with nearby Torpitt Lodge* In the early years, the 1920$ and 19305, weekly rates were inexpensive, as at other resorts on the Lake; fourteen dollars a week for adults and eight dollars for children. Meals were simple and wholesome with turkey the traditional Sunday fare* Kids made their own fun and pranks were common. One was to turn the Wurlitzer in the lounge of the main lodge on loud about midnight and watch through a verandah window as someone came down from an upstairs room to pull the plug out of the wall. Also rafts were built for children since there were a lot of logs and planks around in the 19305. Because Otto Roehl was an old lumberman, he approved of this and would readily give me lots of nails to build a raft to be equipped with a mast and an old sheet for a sail Long before slot machines became legal in casinos, five cent slot machines could be found in resorts. My memories include a vivid recollection of Jack Tresidder (Sr.), the proprietor of nearby Torpitt Lodge, racing over to Grandview to warn Otto that an inspector was on his way to check for slot machines. No one was in the hotel office so Mr. Tresidder enlisted me to help him push Otto's two machines into a washroom at the end of the lounge. He told me to bolt the door and not to come out until a signal was given. It never came. So after nearly an hour I peeked through a crack in the door and saw that no one was in sight. As I started to pull one of the slot machines out (they were heavy) a lady came by and said "What are you doing with those things in
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there?" As a startled 14 year-old I told here that I had to take them to the bathroom! As a retired school teacher she readily reprimanded me for my answer - "Don't get smart with me, young man!" Otto Roehl operated Grandview for nearly twenty years* After his wife Annie's untimely death in 1934, he came to rely more heavily on Flossie Robinson who, as a young girl from Kilworthy, had come to work for Mr* and Mrs* RoehL It is probably not an exaggeration to say that the smooth day-to-day operation of the resort was due to Flossie's lifetime devotion to Grandview* From her 7:30 wake-up call on the legendary Grandview horn to her making sure that the teenage waitresses went to bed early when they had over-partied, she always had the interests of the guests at heart* A transition in the management and ownership began in 1938* Otto leased Grandview to his only daughter Mildred and, subsequently, sold it to her in 1943* His son-in-law Cecil (Darker) was gradually able to devote more time from his work with Neilsons in Toronto to the operation of Grandview.19 Later Mildred and Cecil's sons Bill and David were the third generation in the resort business* In 1973 Bill and his wife Gayla became owners* Grandview was next purchased in 1988 by Jim and Susan Seabrook* This was marked by the change in name to Grandview Lodge Resort* Tragically, Jim Seabrook was drowned in Sparrow Lake in September 1993, but his widow, who remarried, carries on the business with her second husband, Rick Hollingshead*20
From Port Stanton to Maple Grove
Grandview from the grove near the Lake probably not long after it was built in 1923. As yet there is no railing on the long narrow verandah. Part of the 'Annex (Roehl Hall) built in 1921 is visible on the far right of the postcard.
A classic view of Grandview as it looked in the 19305. The sender said that Grandview was a "lovely spot, nice big beach . . . you would have enjoyed the corn roast last night/'
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Grandview with the dining room extension and the new screened verandah replacing the old narrow verandah which was collapsed under heavy snow during the winter 0/1944-45.
Postmarked July 15, 1924 and looking toward the front entrance of Roehl Hall, Grandview now has several recently built cottages, but as a legacy of the past the large tent in the foreground proves that there is still the odd camper. The view is from near the shore of the Severn River.
From Port Stanton to Maple Grove
A side view of the Annex (Roehl Hall) as it looked in the 19305 until it was replaced in the early 19805. The end room on the kft with a separate entrance was reserved for Otto Roehl for life after he sold Grandview to his daughter Mildred (Darker) in 1943. Otto remained a familiar figure around Grandview until he died in 1955.
Two of the cottages as they looked in the 19305 be/ore being screened in. These are facing the beach and looking out onto the Lake,
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Screened cabins m the 19505 facing the bay in front of the main lodge. Before the era of fibre glass and aluminum boats, the ones docked here are 'cedar strip' or cedar lapstrake. Cottages now had showers attached.
Grandview beach in the late 19205. Note the youngsters on the raft. As there were lots of old boards and logs around, building a raft was a common amusement for the younger set.
From Port Stanton to Maple Grove
The beach about 1960 probably shortly after the retaining wall was built. 'Rocky Point' the last of the old style cottages is visible in the background. It has been moved behind the lodge where it became a staff cabin.
The path to Deep Dock, facing the River, with Snake Island in the background,the exact date unknown, but as there are hydro poles on Snake Island, no doubt shortly after 1929 when electricity reached Grandview. The woman in the foreground is passing a large oak tree that still stands today.
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The Grandview launch at Deep Dock loading up for a sightseeing trip or possibly for the folks on the way to church, a service provided by the Lodge. The man on the left is E.K. Allen of Pittsburgh who stayed at Grandview all summer (and smoked White Owl cigars), Jim Morris of Toronto a long-time guest is next to him and Cecil Darker co-proprietor is leaning on the canopy of the launch. The date would be about 1947 or 1948,
MAPLE GROVE
One day in July 1990 a car came down the long road leading to our cottage which looked onto Duck Bay* A lady got out of the car and said that her father just wanted to have a look at the bay* I approached the car and the elderly gentleman sitting in the front seat said his name was Cox. Knowing that name around Sparrow Lake, I asked if he were related to Abby Cox* With a strong voice he answered, "I am Abby Cox/'
From Port Stanton to Maple Grove
Abby (Albert) Cox owned and operated Maple Grove* In 1903 Otto Roehl sold land north of his farm and a camp site to Albert Cox (Sr*), who moved his family from their log house at Heidman's Corners in Morrison Township.21 Otto is said to have sold the property because he wanted a neighbour he knew and liked living nearby*22 Albert Cox (Sr*) built a home and farmed for several years and, about 1910, Abby helped his father build an addition to their house. Now there was room for tourists and, like so many other resorts on Sparrow Lake, Maple Grove began by taking in summer guests* As Abby's resort was not large, he catered to families and fisherfolk, as did the nearby RoehPs Hotel* When I had the good fortune to talk to Abby Cox in July 1990 he had many interesting stories of Sparrow Lake* One was that originally there was no wild rice in Sparrow Lake* He said it was put there years ago by a merchant from Gravenhurst because he wanted to hunt ducks (Duck Bay?). Abby also recalled building cottages for Otto Roehl, cutting ice for the ice house at Grandview and of being well acquainted with Cecil Wesley, a local Indian* During the summer Cecil was a special game warden* One day in the late 19305 when Deep Bay was a fish sanctuary and closed to fishing, Cecil, paddling swiftly in his canoe, waved me down at the entrance to Deep Bay. He wanted to be sure that I did not go in there with my boat and fishing rod, a temptation hard for a young teenager to resist* About 1940 Abby sold Maple Grove back to Otto Roehl and approximately five years later it was purchased by Margaret Van Kralingen* When she married Jack Sykes, he joined her in running the resort* Up until at least 1958 Maple Grove was still operating on the American plan* No longer in operation today, what was Maple Grove is now privately owned by the Patava family.
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Abby went on to manage a resort in Haliburton owned by a former guest at Grandview Lodge* In later life he lived at Hawkin's Corners on Highway n* Abby died on August 29, 1990, aged 95, about a month after I was fortunate to have been able to talk to him* He was one of the last local residents whose life and clear memory could reach back to the early years of Sparrow Lake* Beyond Maple Grove, on the way to Deep Bay, the remnants of a foundation can be seen near Sunset Rock* This was the spectacular site of Newell's Hotel, which in 1924 was included on the sign listing the hotels of Sparrow Lake at Martin's Store*23 The hotel's proprietor was Walter Newell, a stepson of Otto Roehl* Little more is known about the building which burned not long after it was erected* For many years children would find it a spooky experience to come across bits of broken china and old cutlery on the rocks where this hotel once stood* Mapk Grove as viewed from Cox's Bay on a quiet day in the late 19305. The folks appear to have been assembled for a posed picture in front of what was the original Cox home. Maple Grove was a few hundred feet below Torpitt on the lower Severn River.
From Port Stanton to Maple Grove A home^ view of Maple Grove from the south east side with what looks like a belfry for the dinner bell on the extension.
Cabins and dance hall probably taken about the same time as the first postcard shown of Maple Grove. One wonders if the guests haven t just been moved from the front of Maple Grove for another posed picture. The cottages in the background are typical of those built in the 19205. Today the dance hall would probably be referred to as the recreation hall; it is a reminder of how popular dancing was in the 19305.
Maple Gro
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From Port Stanton to Vanomi
B E N N E T T S P E N I N S U L A FARM HOTEL Haemon Bennett of Bennett's Peninsular Farm Hotel is an enduring folk legend around Sparrow Lake*1 Even today examples of his Irish wit and tales about him are recounted regularly at meetings of the Sparrow Lake Historical Society* Bennett's was both a farm and a resort - hence the name* Ideally situated on the long narrow peninsula between the Severn River and Welch Bay at the south end of Sparrow Lake, it was probably on some of the best farm land in the area* Beginning in 1920, Haemon ran the resort for 45 years, though when his son left for service in WWII, it was no longer possible to continue operating the dairy farm as well*2 Haemon's father, Norman Bennett, was industrious and enterprising* The old homestead burned in 1899 and in rebuilding, necessity being 58
From Port Stanton to Vanomi
the mother of invention, he allowed for room to take in tourists* This was the beginning of the resort.3 Not long after, he also acquired and operated a post office until 1910 when rural delivery routes were established* In addition he began selling tobacco and basic food items and soon had a store.4 Earlier in 1882 when a wooden bridge was built across the Severn River near the homestead, Norman became its official caretaker until it was replaced by a steel bridge in 1905^ He expanded his activities further by acquiring a steam launch to carry supplies and guests from Severn Bridge to his resort* The small steamer, the Rob Roy remained in service until about 1910. Over the years Norman Bennett's Hotel is variously named on postcards as Peninsular House, Peninsular Farm Resort, Bennett's Peninsula Farm Hotel and more recently Bennett's Hotel It was run by Norman Bennett until his son Haemon took over. A 1949 brochure lists the weekly rates at 28 dollars single and 25 dollars double. Children under nine with parents were half rate. Boats were one dollar a day and five dollars a week. Like many other resorts on Sparrow Lake the various guests hailed from Toronto, Ohio and Pennsylvania. When the hotel was sold in 1965 it became a fast-food pizza outlet for one year. The land was subdivided and today the peninsula has become a pleasant rural community of mostly year-round homes*
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An early postcard of Bennett's 'Peninsular House' and nearby Bennett's Bridge over the Severn. It was common to embellish early postcards showing two smaller views like this with art nouveau decorated details. The original wooden bridge over the Severn River was replaced in 1905 by the new steel bridge shown here.6 The cement abutment on the west side of the river still exists and close to it is the sunken hull of the G-Whiz, a steamer built and operated by Norman Bennett and James Whiteside ofldylwild Lodge.
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A view of Peninsular Farm Resort from the opposite shore of the river. It shows the accommodation as well as the farm buildings in keeping with its name. The well dressed gentleman in the canoe near shore would appear to be fishing in water too shallow to yield anything but a perch or sunfish. The postcard dated August 10, 1908 is surprisingly enough addressed to Leicester, England and is also written in an elegant script. The postcard was beautifully tinted resembling a modern color photograph.
Judging by the style of the station wagon in the background as well as the guests attire, this would be a view of Bennett's from the 19505 showing modern cabin accommodation.
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IDYLWILD LODGE Idylwild, like Bennett's, is on the upper Severn River not far from the entrance to Sparrow Lake and close to the present day Hamlet swing bridge. The resort had its beginning in the early 19008 on the Whiteside farm which reached the shore of the river In the early years Idylwild, and probably Bennett's Hotel as well, were served by Captain Tom Wood's steamer, the Champion which ran to Severn Bridge for supplies and guests* However, James Whiteside and Norman Bennett decided to build their own steamer, the G, Whiz, to look after the needs of their resorts* At 85 feet in length, it was the largest of the Sparrow Lake steamers*7 Launched in 1911, Norman Bennett as captain and James Whiteside as purser looked after the passengers* It operated until 1916 and the sunken hull can still be seen next to the cement abutment of the former Bennett's bridge on the west side of the Severn River*8 In addition to its size, the G. Whiz was distinguished by having two flush toilets on board*9 Local connections were further extended when Gordon Whiteside married Albert Stanton's daughter, Pearl, and together they operated Idylwild* From the earliest times relations with the Indians from Rama were friendly and Pearl recalled that one of them would always stop by on his way to Sparrow Lake and also promise her blueberries when he returned*10 Gordon and Pearl continued to operate Idylwild until the 19505* At the time of writing Pearl is in her early nineties and lives in Orillia* After the Whitesides ceased running Idylwild it was sold several times* With the main lodge having burned and been rebuilt, today it is a modern housekeeping resort operated by John and Kelly Jeffreys*
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Idylwild with Captain Tom Wood's steamer Champion moored nearby. It appears that an addition was built extending from the rear of the original farm house. Idylwild was the home base for the Champion which met trains at Severn Bridge as well as Port Stanton. Like the Stanton steamer Lakefield it also carried newly arrived guests to resorts around the lake," Postmarked August loth 1910, the sender said, "Come on up the weather is fine and we are having a dandy time* The boys are catching regular whales!" The fishing was obviously good in 1910.
A view of a modern Idylwild cottage from the early 19505. Given its name "Hook *n Line/' fishing is still important. From between the trees there appear to be fisherfolk in the middle of the river.
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A guest writing about the Idylwild of the 19505 in this postcard, said the picture really didn't do justice to the place. She thought it was lovely, the food excellent and "except for mosquitoes" an ideal setup/
A winter scene near Id^yiwild with the swing bridge over the Severn River in the background. The postcard is unusual because few Sparrow Lake winter scenes were produced.
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L A K E V I E W HOUSE A grand hotel, well-known as a fun-place and with a dancing pavilion that boasted an orchestra in attendance every night, Lakeview House was built in the early 19008* Advertised in the 1928 Province of Ontario Tourist's Guide as the tourist's headquarters on Sparrow Lake, it was owned and operated by Anthony (Tony) Miller* He also was said to have the fastest speedboat on the Lake, Baseball games at Lakeview were legendary as Dick Dalzell a long-time Grandview guest recently recalled* Lakeview also had some unique features* Horseback riding, a recreational activity well ahead of its time on Sparrow Lake, was offered to the guests, Lakeview's nine hole 60 acre golf course was likely the first on the Lake. Catering to two-hundred and sixty guests in the summer, the resort must have had some winter accommodation too, as the message on one of the postcards from there mentions lots of snow and skiing* This incidentally is the only early reference found of winter resort operation on Sparrow Lake* The style and tone of Lakeview were very much in keeping with the Roaring Twenties* Sadly, like that era, the hotel did not survive; it burned to the ground in September 1931* Stan Clipsham (Clipsham Lodge) recalls as a young man watching the building burn and being amazed that the heat of the fire was so intense it melted the glass in the windows. Tony Miller then went on to build another hotel, the Champlain in Orillia*
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• 66 * SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER Lakeview House is generally believed to have been built in 1910, however, the postmark on this postcard is August 7, 1908, The card shows a side view of Lakeview, with a clear view of guests relaxing on the veranda.
The front of Lakeview House with the name prominently displayed between the second and third floors. The address is given as Hamlet. Its rail station was one mile south of Port Stanton and the Canadian Northern Ontario Railway would have stopped there at that time. Lakeview boasted a "long distance phone" no doubt connected to the Severn Bridge exchange via the J.W. Clipsham family phone company established in 1908 on the southeast side of Sparrow Lake. The postmark on the card is July 14 ,1909, again earlier than 1910.
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Two front views ofLakeview. The one above is obviously an earlier one taken before the Swift Rapids Dam and Powerhouse on the lower Severn River was completed in 1918, raising the water level in Sparrow Lake. The postal cancellation is August 31, 1913. The lake is also seen in the background in the centre-left between the trees, suggesting that Lakeview was located on a point. In the lower view, several late 19205 cars are parked under the trees and the water level is much higher.
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A rear view of the side veranda of Lakeview looking out towards Sparrow Lake. This postcard emphasizes how much of the lake could be seen from Lakeview House. Obviously, it was well named.
Dated July 6, 1925, this postcard is interesting because of its international flavour. It was written (in French) to Edouard Tervaes in Brussels, Belgium. The translation would be, "The weather is excellent and we are enjoying ourselves very much." The very tall pines are reminiscent of pioneer times.
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WENONA LODGE Wenona Lodge, like so many others on Sparrow Lake, was a family business and in this case was originally operated by a brother and sister, James and Hannah Maguire* Their farm and the site of their resort was on the original grant of land awarded in the i86os to their parents, John and Ellen, who were of Irish, Scottish and United Empire Loyalist stock* James and Hannah entered the tourist business in the boom years of the early 1900$. The impetus for building Wenona was apparently to handle the overflow of guests from Tony Miller's nearby and very successful Lakeview Hotel/ 2 The Maguires were known for their wit and humour James also played the violin and there were many evenings of dancing and fun at their resort. One remarkable occasion took place after the return of the soldiers from the first World Wan The Women's Institute provided an oyster supper, popular fare in those days and the famed Plunketts of the 'Dumbells' provided the entertainment/ 3 When James and Hannah gave up the business, their nephew Frank bought the resort. Frank and Muriel Maguire restored Wenona and operated it for many years. In 1970 James Maguire Jr. (Jim) and his wife Maureen took over Wenona and rebuilt it after a fire destroyed the main lodge in 1982. The resort has been closed for several years and today there are no buildings standing on the property to remind us of Wenona's happy days. 14
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The main building ofWenona Lodge was constructed in 1911-12. The large screened-in verandah in this 19505 postcard was probably a later addition. Guests no doubt would have enjoyed relaxing there as well as on the locallycrafted benches under the trees.
The pleasant grounds ofWenona with large stately trees almost dwarfing the children walking hand-in-hand near the lake.
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CLIPSHAM LODGE While Clipsham Lodge was the last lodge to be built on Sparrow Lake, the Clipsham family came to the Sparrow Lake-Gravenhurst area in 1865. Stanley Clipsham built his resort in 1947 near the mouth of the Kashe River on land obtained when the family moved from the Muskoka Road (Highway n) area in 1875.15 Another Clipsham resort, nearby Uneeda Rest was built by Stanley's Uncle Wesley in 1898* Lumber for the resort was cut near Swift Rapids in late November 1945* Frank Stanton delayed putting his boat up for the winter so he could tow the logs to Marshall's Mill in Washago* Tom LeQuyer, who was lockmaster at that time, kept the lock open late enough so that the lumber could be brought back down the Severn River before winter set in. It was also necessary for Stanley and his wife Jean to have power and telephone lines installed at their own expense. This intimate resort, on the east shore of Sparrow Lake, is at the end of a mile-long road which winds its way beside the historic Kashe River from Muskoka Road 13. With its charming hostess, Jean Clipsham, also of local pioneer roots, the lodge could accommodate forty guests. Fred Lutz, a relative of Jean's from Rochester N.Y, helped to promote the resort with ads in the local newspaper, the Democrat Chronicle and by encouraging friends to come to the Lodge. The firecrackers available in Ontario but not in New York State were no doubt an added attraction to visiting American children who enjoyed setting them off* The meals, prepared for seventeen years by the cook Margaret Langman, were a further attraction for adults and children alike. In addition Margaret had a great skill as a whistler and could imitate many birds which would return her calls - the sounds of nature were perhaps more easily heard
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then* But the key joys of summer life on Sparrow Lake were captured in a CBC film featuring scenes of Stanley fishing from a canoe on the bay near the Kashe River/6 Stanley and Jean operated the resort for twenty-five years* Now retired, they still spend time at their summer residence near the original homestead* The Lodge and property were sold in 1973 and became the Canadette Sports Camp and later Camp Winston, both facilities for children/7
A delightful view of Clipsham Lodge with its log cabin style siding which became popular in the 19405. The Lodge was located in a picturesque setting on the east side of Sparrow Lake, near the mouth of the historic Kashe River where the first mill in Muskoka is said to have been established.
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The attractively appointed lounge ofClipsham Lodge. Stan Clipsham's mounted deer over the handsome fireplace, which his wife Jean insisted be pink granite, the comfortable chairs, the table in the corner for the card players, all make the room very inviting.
A cluster of tidy cabins arranged in a neighbourly fashion.
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U N E E D A REST HOTEL One of the first guests at Uneeda Rest was a salesman for the National Biscuit Company who was selling "Uneeda-Biscuits*" According to Esmond D* Clipsham, the son of the founder this is how the name of the hotel originated* It was built in 1898 by John Wesley (Wes) and Ella (Wiancko) Clipsham, and along with Lakeshore House at Port Stanton, it ranks as the second oldest hotel on Sparrow Lake* The first guests arrived on July i6th, iSpp/8 Uneeda Rest was operated continuously by the Clipsham family for sixty-five years, and latterly by Orma and Esmond Clipsham who purchased it from Wes Clipsham in 1927*^ Even today the hotel is a landmark on Sparrow Lake and, as a reminder of the past, the name "Uneeda Rest" still stands out clearly above the verandah* Very early in its life the hotel saw several additions, including the 'Bungalo' with twelve rooms in 1903, later the 'Cottage/ also with twelve rooms, and the 'Boathouse*' Also there were features which were not common to resorts at that time* For example, water was supplied by a steam pump, later by a gasoline pump* In addition there was a steam laundry which operated until the hotel closed in 196^^° The ingenious Wes Clipsham installed gas lights in the hotel that utilized acetylene gas produced in a carbide generator*21 When Esmond and Orma took over from their father they made a number of improvements to the hotel and, as well, added a concrete tennis court in 1938.22 Working during the tourist season, Esmond's son Robert E* Clipsham, recalls his many chores; sweeping the long hotel verandah before breakfast, cleaning fish, - bass, pickerel and pike to be served to the guests at mealtime* Like other resorts on Sparrow Lake many of the guests came from the United States, Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio as well as Toronto*23
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An old brochure provided by Robert E* Clipsham advertised weekly rates of $14 and $15 depending on whether single or twin beds were desired. Boats were $3 or $4 a week* These rates would be consistent with the late 19205 or early 19308* Rooms were plaster finished, decorated and had "high grade Simmons inner spring beds*" Other features included "modern plumbing and sanitary fixtures" (outhouses were generally common then) as well as numerous recreational facilities* Meals were described as being served "without stint" (Sparrow Lake air made one very hungry) with fresh vegetables and eggs from the hotel farm* Somewhat ahead of its time, the brochure also advertised pasteurized milk although it wasn't until 1938 that province-wide pasteurization was required by law.
A postcard of Uneeda Rest, probably from 1905 and embellished in an elegant (green and gold) frame occasionally found in early postcards. Judging from the height of the bridge, the water level appears to be low. This view would be before the Swift Rapids powerhouse and dam helped to stabilize the water level.
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In this closer view of Uneeda Rest its architectural features stand out more ckarly, in particular the unusual three-sided dormer on the right end of the hotel. The logs on the rocks in the foreground are a remnant of late iSoos logging days, driven on shore by ice and the prevailing west winds. The picture for this postcard was taken about 1899 or 1900. Note the folks sitting on the verandah.
While Uneeda Rest is perched high above the lake, this view from behind the hotel shows that it is actually nestled among the rocks with a sheltered and landscaped area surrounded by a beautiful rock garden.
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The swimmers are enjoying the sandy bottom at the south end of the island where the dock was moored until the early 19405. The^i were identified in 1995 by Lois Clipsham and confirmed by viewing the hotel register for July 4 and 7,1923 as the Whitwell and Stettenben? families from Buffalo and New York City.
The verandah of Uneeda Rest commanded a panoramic view of Sparrow Lake from Duck Bay to Vanomi Hotel. The launch is moored in the boat shed attached to the dock and electric lights have been installed along the bridge.
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W I A N C K O HOUSE Wiancko House was built in the early 19005 by Harold Wiancko, the son of Adolphus and Meta Wiancko. Adolphus emigrated from Prussia and settled in Morrison Township where he later became Reeve and Justice of the Peace/4 In 1865 he bought property on the east side of Sparrow Lake and by 1875 the Wianckos were renting rooms in their home to summer visitors/5 Over the years the resort's Canadian clientele included a number of professional people* Among them was Dr. G. L Christie, President of the Ontario Agricultural College, possibly accounting for the number of Ontario Agricultural College graduates from the Sparrow Lake area. In addition, a former Wiancko House waitress during the 19308 told of a University of Toronto Sociology professor who liked to listen to soap operas on her radio (for research purposes?). That same waitress recounted how the staff would sneak into the kitchen at night for a snack. When the Chinese chef discovered that some of the dishes he had prepared for the next day were missing, he left signs saying "nobody no touch." Except for the Chinese chef, unusual for Sparrow Lake, most of the staff were from nearby. The waitresses slept in rooms over the kitchen which at the end of a warm summer day were often quite hot. In the late 19305 waitresses earned $25 a month plus tips. While there was no minimum wage at that time, they did receive room and board as well. Summer help at resorts had to work hard, but the staff at Wiancko House clearly had time for fun too. In their time off they would often have a party on Long Island near Wiancko House. In the 19305 and '405 Mrs. Wiancko would also drive the staff to Gravenhurst for a weekly movie and, afterwards, for cake at Sloan's Restaurant.26
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The guests obviously had a great time as well. In addition to rented movies and hired entertainment, there were regular baseball games with other hotels, wiener and corn roasts on Thursday nights, dances and masquerade nights, square dances on Saturday nights, along with shuffleboard and sing-songs on Sunday, The first post office on Sparrow Lake was also located at the Wiancko residence* It was opened by Adolphus Wiancko in 1878* Upon his death in 1907, his wife, Meta, became postmistress and served until her death in 1929. Harold and later his son, Maurice, operated the post office until 1972 when Maurice retired and sold the hotel/7 In the early 19805, although no longer operating as a resort, the hotel became the realistic set for the horror movie "Humungous*" Sadly, Wiancko House has since been demolished*
Wiancko House was built in igi2 by Joe Jackson, but this postcard labelled "Wiancko House' bears a cancellation of January 7, 1911, indicating that the resort was in operation before the main lodge was built. Outlined by a distinctive frame, the postcard was published byH.W (Harold) Wiancko, and the note written on it is signed by "Mrs. M.Wi" no doubt Mrs. (Meta) Wiancko who would have been postmistress at that time.
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Another early postcard dated August 1910 showing the Champion at the Wiancko House dock. The photograph is striking with the clear reflection of the steamer on the water. The Champion was built by Captain Tom Wood of Orillia and worked out ofldylwild resort. A rival of the Lakefield, it was built about 1905, It too met trains and circled the lake dropping off tourists at such resorts as Lakeview, Uneeda Rest, Wiancko House and Delmonte.
From Port Stanton to Vanomi A clear view of Wiancko House from a photograph probably taken not long after the lodge was built. The water level is evidently low as the dock is high and there is a lot of exposed shoreline.
Wiancko House as seen later considerably obscured by foliage. Part of the verandah of the main lodge has been closed in to make room for table tennis. The shore has now been made more accessible by the addition of a wooden stairway.
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In this rear view the kitchen is on the lower level of the extension on the right, with the staff quarters above. Leading down from the verandah, well trimmed evergreens flank the wide stone steps which were constructed by Bill Schell, Schell being a familiar local pioneer name.
A second and closer rear view of the main building. The flower beds, cedars and hanging planters on the verandah make this an inviting entrance. The style of attire of the mature, well-dressed guests suggests that they were assembled for this group picture in the mid to late 19405,
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The recreation area at Wiancko House with lots of activity at the shuffleboard visible in the background. Note as well the tall gas pump, so typical of the 19305. Around Sparrow Lake gas would not have been readily available at that time so this would have been a great convenience for the guests.
Guests would have enjoyed their meals in the Wiancko House dining room with the slip covers on the plain wooden chairs, the white tablecloths and the attractive tapestries on the walls. On hot days they would have been cooled by the several fans on the centre pillars.
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• 84 • SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER A classic lodge lounge with a large precambrian stone fireplace, built by Archie McKinnon. The McKmnons were also early settlers in the area. The bookcases by the fireplace and the ornaments on the mantel give the lounge a homey atmosphere. The wicker and rattan chairs would be the envy of collectors today.
The Wiancko House Annex which was built in 1931. Like many resorts there were additional units to accommodate guests who took their meals at the main lodge. The group seen chatting on the right includes Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Wiancko and their daughter Meta.
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DELMONTE-IN-THE-PINES It is nearly a mile-long drive from Muskoka Road 13 to Delmonte, but a pleasant shoreline lodge in a setting of tall pines awaits the tourist* These trees are typical of several small pockets of aged pines around or near Sparrow Lake - the stately pines in Hamlet and at Hawkin's Corners are other examples. While David Sanderson built Delmonte in 1906, C*E* House was its proprietor by 1924. It is his name that is included in a directory sign of local resorts seen in the background of a photograph of Stanton Bros* Store (Martin's) taken at that time* Delmonte was also operated for many years by Fred and Bill Kimpton of Toronto* The resort's name was eventually changed to 'Delmonte-in-the-Pines1 the name that continues today* The major buildings of the resort are spaced along two thousand feet of shoreline, providing a spectacular view of the Lake's famous sunsets and a cool breeze on hot nights. There is also a sandy beach, ideal for children, on a small protected bay on the north end of the property* In bygone years Delmonte was well known for its siren which awakened guests in the morning, called them to meals and signalled the beginning of ball games often held with neighbouring resorts around the Lake* Tuesday or Wednesday evening was usually dance night at Delmonte and Jack Tresidder (Sr) would take the folks from Torpitt and nearby Grandview across the lake in the Torpitt launch for an evening of fun* By about 11 :oo pm the call was out for the return trip and those missing it often had tales to tell of their adventurous journeys home in the wee small hours of the morning. On Saturday night the dance was at Torpitt with the launches plying the reverse route*
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In recent years Delmonte has been operated by Mary and Terry Skalosky. Originally offering only the American plan, in 1994 it became a housekeeping resort.
The main lodge with the waterfront dance pavillion on the right. A postcard probably from the late 19405.
An earlier view of the dance pavillion which had steps leading down to a small dock. The name on the bottom of the postcard is "Delmonte Summer Resort."
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The southeast side of Delmonte shaded by tall pines and a few white birch. The Lake is visible in the background on the left.
A dock scene at Delmonte with a typical strong northwest wind blowing on Sparrow Lake. The white launch with the roof hatch probably belongs to the Lodge. The design of the outboard motor suggests the date to be in the 19205.
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A panorama of the spectacular long shoreline ofDelmonte outlined with whitewashed rocks, clearly visible from the west shore of Sparrow Lake. Note the backdrop of tall pines. This double-sized postcard is dated August i2th, 1953*
The Delmonte shoreline boardwalk looking north towards the dance pavillion.
From Port Stanton to Vanomi
VERNON LODGE There couldn't be a better description and testimony for Vernon Lodge than the following message on a postcard written by a guest at the resort in July 1958, - "we are having a wonderful time* No place for you tho\ . . noisy and party every nite . . . dancing to juke box . * . Herbie fishing all the time. Wonderful and loads of food. Everything very informal . . . wonderful people (40) and 14 children. Ours behaving beautifully . . * no trouble. I'm getting real brown and will probably be fat before long , * . all Roch (Rochester, N.Y.) couples. . . young . . , we're the oldest/' North of Delmonte and near Franklin House/Silver Pines, Vernon is
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one of the later hotels built on Sparrow Lake, likely postwar* In 1969 it was sold to the Mitchells who renamed it Kilworthy Lodge, Unfortunately it burned in 1971 during the off-season. The building was never replaced, but the property is still owned by the Mitchell family.
There are not many postcards of Vernon Lodge and even this one does not reveal much about it. Named after its original owner, it had 33 rooms and a dining room seating fifty people. Bold letters identifying it as Vernon Lodge were displayed on the rear roof of the section joining the two main wings of this unpretentious H-shaped building.
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F R A N K L I N H O U S E / S I L V E R PINES Some early history of Franklin House was revealed when the present owners of Silver Pines began to renovate the 1890 farm house* The original post and beam construction and solid wooden floors are now attractive features of their restaurant with its screened-in patio, where diners enjoy the southwestern view and spectacular sunsets of Sparrow Lake. Beginning in 1905, Franklin House, a small resort with accommodation for about 40 guests was operated for close to 35 years by William and Elizabeth Franklin, a son and daughter of the pioneer, John Franklin/8 The message written by a guest on an early postcard suggests that it must have been a popular place " * * * let me know if you are coming so that I can make arrangements with Miss Franklin* The house is crowded* People are lying in the halL" The card was mailed to Buffalo, N*Y* Miss Franklin, was of course, Elizabeth or Lizzie as she was called* Lizzie was much loved and also admired for her efficient ways* One of the colorful guests in the 19208 was Dr* Frank Schofield, a long time professor at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, known for his discovery of sweet clover poisoning in cattle* John Franklin was born in England on December 25, 1828* He married Annie Kellam and came to Canada in 1863* They had eleven children, eight born in England and three in Canada* They first settled in Orillia where he practised his trade as a stone mason* In 1876 he then purchased property on the north end of Sparrow Lake, between present day Delmonte and Balmoral (nursing home), from Gustav Lehman, another early pioneer of Sparrow Lake*29 He farmed for many years raising sheep and keeping horses. In winter he would take a team into a logging camp,30 very likely one of the W*P Christie lumber company
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camps, for which he is known to have worked for about twenty years at the time when there was major cutting in the Sparrow Lake and Severn River area*31 John Franklin died in 1917, aged 89 years, but the property remained in Franklin hands until about 1940 when it was sold to George Robertshaw of Oshawa.32 Later the property was bought in 1985 by Andy and Jutta Fisher and is known today as Silver Pines Resort, with year round cottage accommodation. In the 19505, preceding the increased popularity of camping, housekeeping resorts were an emerging trend* Brigadoon, close to Franklin House, is an example of that development* Frank and Claire Crane bought a ten room house and four and a half acres close to the waterfront. They cleared the land of bush, built four housekeeping cottages and opened in the spring of 1959, adding six more cottages the following year* The resort was open from May to Thanksgiving. Facilities included a playground, baseball diamond, a small store and a snack bar* Although no longer operating Brigadoon, the Cranes remained on the Lake, as Torpitt Lodge staff members*33
Pioneer John Franklin (1828-1917) was very fond of animals and pictures of him often include his beloved sheep. A sepia postcard, the picture probably dates from about 1910.
From Port Stanton to Vanomi
The sender of this postcard wrote that she had gone for an evening boat ride and that the lights (from oil lamps) " . . . are beautiful around the lake . . . it was mesmerizing." The postmark is Aug. 1910. Quite possibly this trip was arranged by Lizzie s brother William who loved boats and tinkering with them.
The appealing story-book-like setting of Franklin House. The card is an actual photograph with a postcard back (for message and address), and is known as a photocard. This postcard likely dates from the 19305, about the time this technique began to be common.
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B A L M O R A L HOTEL Spending an entire summer at a cottage on Sparrow Lake would seem like heaven to most of us, but teenagers are often looking for something to do* It also happens that summer resorts have many odd jobs to match a teenager's energy and interests* Jack Shand, a lifelong Sparrow Lake cottager, related how in his middle teens his weekly chore was to push a hand lawnmower around the front lawn of Balmoral Hotel For the three hours it took he was paid a 'whole dollar' and given a free lunch in the hotel kitchen*34 Balmoral is in the centre of a string of cottages, including the Shand's, at the very north end of Sparrow Lake, not far from Franklin House* The property was originally owned by Laughton McLean (McLean's Bay) and later by John Franklin Jr., the son of the pioneer35 Built by Roy Mortimore in 1922, Balmoral was operated by the Mortimore family for many years*36 A unique feature at Balmoral was a small portable 18708 vintage steam engine, previously used by Hinds Beverages in Orillia* At Balmoral it provided power for the laundry* It was later purchased by George Hutchinson, a local collector of steam engines, who restored it and had a brass plate with his wife's name, 'Nellie/ put on the front of the engine*37 Like Lakeview Hotel, Balmoral had a dance hall for the pleasure of the guests and cottagers, close to the lakeshore at the far end of a sandy beach* It has now become a three-storey residence as part of the transformation of Balmoral into a nursing home*
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Balmoral was probably the longest hotel on Sparrow Lake. There appear to be 28 rooms on the second floor, fourteen on each side. The hotel management evidently allowed for some camping arrangements. The sender of this postcard was staying at Balmoral because she said a rented cottage wasn't worth the expense and work of housekeeping.
A winter scene of Balmoral, while novel is hardly an inviting advertising for a summer hotel. The large dog is standing in nearly a foot of snow.
The hotel launch moored at the dock extending far out from shore because of the shallowness of the water off Balmoral.
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M O U N T ROYAL H O T E L / R O Y A L STUART AND H A M Y R T H LODGE These resorts, next to one another and between Balmoral and Vanomi, share a pioneer Schulz/Roehl family lineage* Bertha Roehl married August Schulz in 1874, her parents William and Elvina Roehl having settled where Torpitt Lodge is today in about 1860* She had Mount Royal built in 1906 and operated it until 1920 at which time her youngest son Harry and his wife Myrtle took oven38 They continued to operate the hotel until 1938 when it was sold to Harry Stuart of Cleveland, Ohio* The Stuarts had been tourists on Sparrow Lake in the 19205 and 305 and knew the area welL They renamed the resort Royal Stuart. The Royal Stuart was sold and resold, being named Cliff House and finally Sunscape*39 An early 1920*5 Mount Royal brochure refers to Sparrow Lake as "all clean and clear" The hotel had a "sandy beach for bathers and children/' Guests were encouraged to make use of the piano in the Music Hall and "to bring their music/' For American visitors the brochure advertised a single fare from Pittsburg to Severn Bridge as "approximately $16*37*" Guests for Mount Royal travelling by train were met at both Severn Bridge and Port Stanton* For those driving, the road from Hamilton to Toronto was a "splendid concrete highway" but there is no mention of the road from Toronto to Mount Royal40 Hamyrth Lodge had its beginnings when Harry Schultz (he added a V to Schulz) built a two-storey home in 1937* The house was rented in the summers until 1940, but because Harry and Myrtle had made so many friends from their years in the resort business they built some cabins* Now they had a small resort which they named Hamyrth Lodge* An old Hamyrth brochure advertised "wholesome food and home-
From Port Stanton to Vanorm
cooked chicken dinners every Sunday." The lodge was named "Hamyrth" by borrowing the 'Ha' from Harry, 'myr' from Myrtle and the l th' from Thelma, Harry and Myrtle's daughter/1 The lodge, operated for nearly thirty years, was sold to Doris and Archie Allison who in turn sold it to Clive and Christine Harding. With the Hardings the America plan was abandoned/42 Mount Ro^ai probably in the late 19205 or early 19305. Mairy a large muskellunge has been caught trolling in the waters near Mount Royal, a well known haunt for these big fish,
The dock and the Mount Royal launch for sightseeing and meeting guests arriving at Sparrow Lake station, Port Stanton.
* 97 *
8
When Harry and Myrtle Schultz re-entered the resort business, their home was enlarged to become Hamyrth Lodge. This building faced the lake and the surrounding area was well treed.
Comfortable cabins such as these accommodated most of the guests at this small resort. Shuffleboard was but one of many activities advertized on their postcards.
From Port Stanton to Vanomi
VANOMI HOTEL / SPARROW BEACH LODGE Set high above the steep north shoreline, Vanomi commands one of the most magnificent views of Sparrow Lake* Years ago it was believed that a tall building set high above ground level would benefit hay fever sufferers by being well away from pollen irritation. Unquestionably the tallest hotel on the lake, it is said that due to prohibitive insurance costs the top floor was not used.43 Nevertheless, it must have been the view that inspired one of the guests, as the story goes, to serenade others regularly by playing his trumpet from his room. The channel in front of Vanomi originally was relatively fast flowing, but this changed with the stabilization of the water level and the dredging of RoehPs Channel in front of Grandview Hotel and Torpitt. The Vanomi channel was always a popular spot to catch pickerel and bass. The launch was important for guests wishing to reach Vanomi and this need continued even after a passable road was built. The extremely hilly terrain made many drivers choose to continue to come to Vanomi by train and boat. While the hotel was at the end of the Lake, it had even from the early days, the only phone in the vicinity. It is probably not a coincidence that Vanomi's original developer, Joe Jackson, was a brother of Jim Jackson who had the first telephone exchange at the hotel in Severn Bridge. Today this hotel is the Severn River Inn. Vanomi, built in 1910, could accommodate 160 guests and was originally owned and operated by Joe Jackson who continued for some years. The hotel's ownership changed several times during its history. In the 19305 it was run by W.H.O.(Pop) Mercer, with sons Wally and Dalton. After Otto Roehl sold Grandview to his daughter Mildred and son-
• 99 •
• zoo • SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER
in-law Cecil Darker in 1938, he purchased Vanomi from the Mercers and operated it until 1948, when he finally retired for good* Otto was fortunate to have Eleanore McKay fill the role of Grandview's legendary Flossie Robinson, as dining room supervisor and housekeeper* When Stanley Socha and his wife became the next owners, Vanomi then became known as Sparrow Beach Lodge* The name continues to be in use although the present owners now operate it only with housekeeping arrangements* The imposing building still stands today, an amazing reminder of an earlier era and the beginnings of tourism on Sparrow Lake*
A very early postcard of Vanomi, advertising J.H. Jackson as proprietor. It is written in fine elegant script from one Jackson to another. "Jan* 21, 1914 * * , Dear Billie (Jackson) * * * Does this picture on the other side look familiar? * * * Think our famous hockey boys are going to G* Hurst (Gravenhurst) tonight if no* 43 gets in on time*" No* 43 would have been the evening Grand Trunk passenger train from Toronto.
From Port Stanton to Vanomi
A very peaceful view of Vanomi, but from the message on the back it would seem that it was not that quiet. The sender said " , . . the people here don't do much else but eat and dance . . . you should see the white ducks (slacks made of a heavy white sail cloth) . . . everybody in the place has autographed them . . . there's hardly an empty spot on them . . . the boys are kidding . * * I've put on 10 Ibs." Note the Vanomi launch under the canopy.
A view from the verandah of Vanomi looking southeast. Vanomi Point was known for the ladyslippers that grew on the Point and bloomed in early summer.
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Winter scenes of resorts on Sparrow Lake are very rare. This one ofVanomi looking north is well out from shore, apparently prepared as a sample as the title is pasted on the bottom of this mock-up postcard. I have never seen another one like it, and it is questionable whether it was ever selected for use. No other such scene is part of this collection.
The rugged shore stands out in this closer view of the hotel before the verandah was closed in. This is one of the few photo-cards of the area. It was printed in British Columbia and probably dates from the 1930$. This closer view of the hotel shows the change of name from Vanomi to Sparrow Beach Lodge. In a disconnected and amusing message, the sender of this postcard said, " . * . I want you to write me and tell me about the housing situation, I met a real estate broker * . . I am meeting all kinds of people * * . The boy that hit Ruth in the neck with a dart is here . . * To-night I dance , * . wish me luck! There is a pro. tap dancer here* Love . .. "
The T h i n g s We Did T o g e t h e r
While each resort on the lake has its individual origins and loyalties, it would be difficult to distinguish among them when it comes to the activities enjoyed by their guests. Fishing is the first common denominator, but originally it was primarily a male pursuit* When the men brought their families with them, their wives and children wanted to do more than just fish. The lake, being not too challenging, was a natural playground for them. As well the casual social aspect of their days began to be more organized. The men too joined in the competitions, tournaments and regattas at both their resort and between the resorts* Sunday was a day of rest. Some people would not fish then and guests, owners and staff attended the services held at the resorts or nearby churches* The friendships forged by these simple pleasures and pursuits bring people together and draw them back to their resort, year after year*
103
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FISHING Sparrow Lake is probably most famous for its excellent fishing, especially for muskellunge* For a long time fishing was done only from canoe or skiff, but by the 19205 the outboard motor appeared. My father wanted to troll for muskellunge, so he bought an Elto outboard motor which was advertised to start 'with three fingers' on the knob of the flywheel (not always true)* Unlike today with sophisticated equipment, trolling then was done with a heavy cord-like line unwound from a bobbin usually carved from a flat board* Lunge often weighed 20 or 25 Ibs and I can recall being told to sit in the bow seat of the boat instead of the middle, after the line snapped tight from a strong strike* As the fish was gradually pulled in, it would 'break water' sometimes jumping almost clear into the air* The struggle would go on for twenty minutes or half an hour until the beast was finally gaffed to thrash violently in the bottom of the boat* When someone caught a large fish, - a muskie, northern pike, pickerel or bass, - it became a candidate for a trophy* Having it weighed and measured was a social event as many guests gathered to observe and comment on the prize, and stories of the catch would persist long after the fish was photographed* 'Minnowing' for shiners near rice weeds so one could bait-fish was an almost daily ritual after breakfast* A net about three feet square was pasted with sticky oatmeal porridge to attract shiners and gently lowered into the water* Sometimes it was easy to get 50 or 60 shiners and other days it was difficult - the shiners were 'skittish*' When this occurred it sometimes meant a large fish was nearby, often a big catfish* With a good supply of bait, still-fishing mainly for pickerel, was carried on in
The Things We Did Together
the evening until near darkness in the deeper water opposite Duck Bay or near Long Island, Catching a channel catfish was considered the signal to retire and return to shore. "Trying their luck on the Severn River, Sparrow Lake." A very early postcard of men and boys fishing the lower Severn, likely near its outlet from Sparrow Lake (McLeans Bay). The lumberman s axe or fire are probably responsible for the barren background. Groups like this of men and boys might have come from the family-oriented Iron City Fishing Club from Pittsburgh, Pa.
Below 'Ragid Rapids on the lower Severn River. Evidently a fishing outing with an Indian guide in the canoe on the left. The Ragged Rapids dam and powerhouse seen in the background were demolished in 1917 and replaced by the newly completed Swift Rapids power plant a little over a mile downstream. Bass and pickerel would have been plentiful in the early 1900$.
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6
A string of fish caught by guests at Grandview Hotel. The RoehVs Channel section of the Severn Ri^er is visible in the background. In the early years these fish could have been caught by guests in one day. The larger fish on either side of the centre pole are muskellunge or northern pike. If fish could not be cleaned in time for dinner on the day caught, they were stored over night in a sawdust-filled ice house. There are many memories of clearing the sawdust for ice and then placing the fish flat on the ice surface which was covered again with sawdust so the ice wouldn't melt. One of the hazards of the job was the sawdust that collected in shoes.
The Things We Did Together A novelty postcard advertising the excellent fishing in Sparrow Lake. Postcards with cartoon-like fish superimposed on a typical lake scene were commonly sold at many fishing resorts.
As a part of the Trent Canal system, a lighthouse was located at the entrance of Sparrow Lake, near Port Stanton, and the outlet opposite Grandview Point. Quite different from the two small illuminated markers of today, in the early years these lighthouses were mounted on anchored log rafts. This lighthouse opposite Grandview Point sometimes provided a convenient anchorage for fisherman. The postcard dates from the 19305.
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* io8 * SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER
BOATING The plethora of present-day pleasure craft ranging from paddleboats and kayaks to tubes and personal watercraft is a far cry from earlier times* At first there were just a few canoes and skiffs for recreation, many of which were made locally* Wes Clipsham of Uneeda Rest made his own boats during the winter months and, when outboard motors were introduced, he built square stern boats as well* The early outboards, although not complicated, were temperamental and often required frequent tinkering. It was a common sight to see a group of male guests gathered around a motor, all giving advice on why the motor, which was mounted a board between two adjacent trees, wouldn't start* Gasoline delivered by the red, green and white BA gas boat was sold at resorts for outboard motors* While the initial motor launches were owned and operated by the resorts, pleasure launches mainly owned by cottagers soon appeared* Today the various resort launches which took guests on sightseeing trips have been replaced by the Lady Belle, a tour boat operating out of Port Stanton. Sailing also has been popular on Sparrow Lake because the lake is open, not too large and usually has a good wind* For many years the Sparrow Lake Association has held regular races*
The Things We Did Together
Canoeing on the Upper Severn River with the old Bennett's Bridge in the background. The sender said she came up on the "new CNR (Canadian National Railway) - on an excursion from Beaverton." The cancellation on the postcard is Hamlet, July 2, 1908.
Early motorized launches and a sail-rigged canoe on Sparrow Lake near Lakeview House. The date on the postcard July 26, 1915.
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* u o * SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER A postcard mailed from Franklin House on August 6, 1912. The sender said she would sta^y "10 days anyway" and she commented that her father caught a muskellunge the day before. Note the rudder which was often found on skiffs in the early ipoos.
An Orillia War Canoe with fourteen canoeists on board. They came all the way up through Lake Couchiching to Sparrow Lake and usually went down the lower Severn River, a long trip for a one-day journey. Orillia War canoeists were seen on Sparrow Lake until about the mid 19305.
The Things We Did Together
George Hershbergers pleasure launch on Sparrow Lake in the 19205, easily recognized by its size and the fact that it rode bow high at full speed. George Hershberger was a well-known cottager on the east side of Sparrow Lake. There were also a number of disappearing propeller boats - affectionately known today as dippys owned by other cottagers as well as by Ernest Stanton who acquired several from Tony Miller after Lakeview Hotel burned.1
The sunset cruise of the Crusader from Port Stanton, piloted by Frank Stanton, was a common sight in the 19305 and 19405.
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* ii2 • SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER
BATHING AND BEACHES It may seem surprising to us today, but in the early 19005 there were probably very few people who knew how to swim* No doubt on hot days paddling in shallow water was a welcome relief from the summer heat* The protected coves and sandy beaches of Sparrow Lake were ideal spots for this pastime. As swimming became popular they were also well suited for children learning how to swim*
The expansive beach and shallow water at Grandview as it was in the 19505. The postcard is another example of a photo-card and on the back it says "this is a real photograph."
t
Bathing attire on Sparrow Lake in the early igoos. The ladies bathing at LJneeda Rest were encumbered with a bathing costume that included long black stockings, bathing shoes, bloomers, a dress, bathing cap and even the occasional corset. Even if they could, its doubtful that they would be able to swim, certainly not with any ease.
• ii4 • SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER
FRIENDLY COMPETITION AND GET-TOGETHERS Before the days of convenient road access to Sparrow Lake, guests were largely confined to their resorts for the duration of their vacation* They made their own fun, organizing outdoor sports and indoor games for rainy days* Today they are assisted by activity directors on the staff of the resorts and the children's programs especially are welcomed by parents* Competitions, particularly regattas, remain the highlight of the midsummer Civic Holiday weekend* The Hanna Cup which somehow ended up for many years on the fireplace mantel at Grandview Lodge (now in the archives of the Sparrow Lake Historical Society) was awarded annually for the day's highest total aggregate score* This graceful silver trophy, now in the archives of the Sparrow Lake Historical Society, was donated by D.C* Hanna, a senior executive of the Ontario Canadian Northern Railway at the time the Sparrow Lake Station was established* The names of the cup recipients are engraved on plaques around the base and the last one is for Vanomi in 1920. It was probably D*C* Hanna that Captain Tom Stanton persuaded to have the railway right-of-way moved from its inland route closer to Sparrow Lake* Captain Tom deeded the land to the Canadian Northern for the station, now long gone* In its heyday the station became a major destination point on the line, greatly increasing business for the railway, the Sparrow Lake Steamer Line and Port Stanton itself As well, folks would congregate on the station platform to watch the trains come and go even if they weren't meeting or seeing someone off*
The Things We Did Together
Two views of the folks watching the Regatta at Port Stanton. In the upper view an early Lakeshore House, before an addition was made, is seen in the background. Postmarked September 24, 1912, the postcard was sent to Gravenhurst to Mrs. George Clipsham, a family name well known around Sparrow Lake. The '1991' on the lower left of the postcard is a printer's serial number. In the second postcard, dated September 2, 1913, a large crowd is seen taking in the Sparrow Lake Association Regatta from the Post Stanton dock.
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• n6 * SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER Watching the Grandview Lodge Civic Holiday Regatta from just above the beach. This event is still a tradition at Grandview. The date would be the late 19305 or early 19405.
"Quoits at Hotel Torpitt" in the 19305. Quoits is defined in Webster's Dictionary as a game played with flattened iron rings. In this instance it is almost certainty old-fashioned horseshoes. The postmark on the card is July 12, 1927.
Probably every resort on Sparrow Lake had a shuffleboard like this one at Wildwood, Port Stanton.
The Things We Did Together
A serious game of tennis at Torpitt Lodge with a judge high up on a step ladder. The sender of this postcard said that " . . . we are going to a dance across the lake tonite" possibly to the regular weekly dance at Delmonte-in-the-Pines.
Off to the ball game from Torpitt for a game with one of the lodges in the late 19205.
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* n8 * SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER
A ball game in the 19405 likely between Tarpitt Lodge and nearby Grandview Lodge with guests cheering their respective teams. The rivalry between these resorts continues today with weekly games, a regular feature of the organized recreational programs.
Shore outings were a common form of amusement especially in the early tourist years on Sparrow Lake. Postmarked August 26, 1917 this postcard may well have been made during World War I if the absence of men of military age is any indication. While there are stables at BayviewWildwood today, Lakeview Hotel (Lakeview House) was unusual, if not ahead of its time, by having riding horses available far its clientele. In addition, Lakeview was apparently open during the winter months with accommodation in the 'Annex' behind the horses shown in the postcard. The postmark is March 7, 1931. The sender reports " . . . piles of snow, lots of skiing and eating."
The Things We Did Together
C H U R C H ON SUNDAY For many years Sunday mornings meant that the resort launches were pressed into service taking guests to church; Grandview and Torpitt shared these duties with the launch for mass near Balmoral leaving first. The campers from Sparrow Lake Camp were also transported by launch, swelling the congregation of the Church of the Good Samaritan at Port Stanton. This summer church, built in 1910, came about through the efforts of resort owners, cottagers and local residents* It was spearheaded by Ellen Stanton of Stanton House and Jane Musson, wife of Toronto publisher Charles Musson/ Prior to the tourist era some year-round churches had been established* It is reported that the first service in the area was held in 1863 on the present site of Torpitt. This was conducted by Mr* William Roehl, a Lutheran minister who was also the first settler on the northwest side of the Lake*3 By the mid 18705 additional churches were being built and were served by circuit preachers and student ministers* Those of Protestant persuasion tended to be multifaith* They continue meeting the spiritual needs of their congregations while at the same time bringing the various sectors of their community together on a seasonal or year-round basis* For clergy vacationing in the area, Sundays could still be regular workdays* They would be prevailed upon to take the morning service in one of the nearby churches as well as participating in the Sunday Evening Hour programs at the resorts* With many excellent musicians in the area - Mary Lou Stanton is the third generation of her family to play the organ at Sparrow Lake United Church - music has also always been a significant aspect of local worship* Other religious activities
* 119 •
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include church related gatherings at some of the resorts*4 The Walther League, an American and Canadian Lutheran young peoples organization came to Grandview Lodge for many years* During their annual stay at Stanton House, the Beaver Bible Class, a longtime group associated with the United Church in West Toronto, look after a Good Samaritan service*5
'Our Girls' are undoubtedly from Sparrow Lake Camp where, with its Methodist roots, church attendance was a required part of camp life. The young girl in the front row stands out from all the others. With her long dark hair and the confident tilt to her wide brimmed hat, she portrays a sense of style beyond her years. The dresses and hats worn by the giris and women suggest a date of about 1920. Moreover, the photograph for the postcard would have to been taken prior to the 1922 alterations to the Church of the Good Samaritan seen in the background.
The Things We Did Together
This more recent view of the Church of the Good Samaritan shows its picturesque Port Stanton setting. It is not surprising that this church is often chosen for weddings and christenings. Situated on a shady hedge-lined road, its English style blends with its village-like location. Similarly, the straightforward design of Sparrow Lake United Church, another summer church near Kilworthy, is perfectly suited to its rural crossroads site.
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Epilogue
In the course of writing this book I visited Stanton House and noticed on their bulletin board an account of a vacation at this resort that put into words what makes Sparrow Lake a 'place to come back to/ This delightful piece I learned was written by an eleven year old boy, Richard Hymans, as a Grade 5 class assignment at Sheridan Park Public School, Mississauga, Ontario in 1996. I was eager to include this straight-fromthe-heart description as the conclusion for this book and was grateful to be granted permission to reproduce it in its entirety*
Stanton House The only night 1 ever go to bed at 6:00 is the night before the big trip. I find it very hard to sleep because I'm too excited. I get up for the 2Oth
• 122 •
Epilogue
time that night to see the time and ya-hoo it's time to go. I'm the first one out of the house and in the car. The ride is an hour and a half- ya right - it feels like a day and half. As we drive past Orillia we know were getting closer. Then we stop for breakfast at the place we have had breakfast for the past 7 years. We talk about how much fun were going to have that week. Anxiously we charge into the car and back on the road again. Were looking for the sign that says uWelcome to Stanton House Resort - Sparrow Lake". Finally we arrive and we are so early our room isnt even ready yet. We decide to go to the beach to swim. While we are at the beach we see some familiar faces also there early, some of them we met last year and some of them we met 6 years ago. The room is now ready and it's time to unpack. The room has two beds and one washroom, there's no TV. I know that sounds horrible but this is the one week that we don't need a T.V. The faster we unpack the faster we can play a game of mini-golf. I think I'll sign up for tubing and water skiing because I want to be first on the list. Ding, Ding, Ding — oh there's the dinner bell. After dinner our resort leader tells us what we will be doing for the rest of the week, starting with a bonfire tonight. The whole week is full of fun things to do, such as tournaments like ping pong,
shuffleboard,
horseshoe, miniature golf, fishing derby, sand castles, scavenger hunts and tennis games. Some of the activities we do in the evenings are baseball games, karaoke — which is a lot of fun, we have a pajama party followed by a movie, a live play is performed - we've seen Joseph and the Amazing Technicoloured Dreamcoat and the Ten Little Indians. One of my favourite nights is talent show night. One of the funniest talent nights was 5 years ago when my brother and I sang "Alice The Camel" and we got into a pushing match on stage. Since then weve
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done acts such as: Achy Breaky Heart, Sonny and Cher and last year 1 was the King - Elvis Presley, thank you, thank you very much. There is one dinner called "switch-a-roo" where males dress as females and females dress as males. Not only do my feet hurt from high heels and my ears hurt from clip-on earrings but I dont know which washroom to go into. This place is special to me, not because of all the tournaments, not because of the games, not because of the great food and fishing but because my family is there and all the people in the resort are great. I have wonderful memories of the past 7 years at Stanton House and I never want to give it up. Richard Hymans Sheridan Park Public School Mississauga, Ontario
NOTES Section One - From The Beginning 1
Stanton, Susan. Still Smiling at the Front Desk: The History of Port Stanton. Gravenhurst Printing. (1984). p. 9. 2
Murray, Florence B. Ed. Muskoka and Haliburton 1615-1875. A collection of documents with an Introduction by Florence B. Murray. The Champlain Society for the Government of Ontario. University of Toronto Press* (1963). Introduction p, xxxix, 3
Ibid. Documents, p. 17.
4
Ibid. Introduction p. Ixxxi-lxxxii.
^ Ibid. Introduction p. xciii. 6
Ibid. Section 63, p. 300; Section G6, p. 303.
7
Stanton, Susan. Still Smiling at the Front Desk: The History of Port Stanton, (1984)* pp. 40-41. 8
A Legacy Almost Lost: An Anthology of Kilworthy Country. "Early Life at Sparrow Lake." Kilworthy Historical Committee* (Cliff Graphics Inc., 1991). p. 49.
9
Ibid. "The Means of Travelling in 1860," Hugo Stein, p. 42.
10
Ibid. "Pioneer Days/' author unknown, p. 83.
11
Stanton, Susan. Still Smiling at the Front Desk: The History of Port Stanton. (1984)* p. 23,
12
A Legacy Almost Lost, An Anthology of Kilworthy Country. "Speers Island" Earl Speer, interviewed by Muriel Maguire (1991). p. 344. 13
Stanton, W. Thomas. The Story of Stanton House 1884-1984. Privately published, (1984). pp. 3-4 14
A Legacy Almost Lost. An Anthology of Kilworthy Country. "Sparrow Lake Hotels Over the Years." (1991). p 37. 15
Ibid.
16
Stanton, Susan. Still Smiling at the Front Desk: The History of Port Stanton. (1984). p. 43,44 and 48. 17
Conversation with David E. Stanton, 1994.
18
Stanton, Susan. Still Smiling at the Front Desk. The History of Port Stanton. (1984). p. 45,46 and 57. 19
A Legacy Almost Lost. An Anthology of Kilworthy Country. "Sparrow Lake Post Office," Lois Clipsham (1991). p. 357. 20
Conversation with Jack Tresidder (Jr.), 1996. * 125 •
* 126 * SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER 21
Conversation with James R. Stanton, 1996.
22
Stanton, Susan. Still Smiling at the Front Desk: The History of Port Stanton. (1984). pp. 43, 44, 48. 23
Conversation with David E. Stanton, 1994*
24
Stanton, W. Thomas. The Story of Stanton House 1884-1984. (1984). p. 6.
25
Ibid. p. 7.
26
Stanton, Susan. Still Smiling at the Front Desk: The History of Port Stanton. (1984). pp. 45, 46, 57. 27
Conversation with David E. Stanton, 1994*
28
T1
. J
Ibid.
Section Two - Resorts of Port Stanton 1
A Legacy Almost Lost. An Anthology of Kilworthy Country. "Women's Institute History Book Excerpt." (1991) p. 51. 22
"Muckle Family Album." Unpublished scrapbook of family history. Courtesy of Doris Muckle. 3
Ibid.
4
Stanton, W. Thomas. The Story of Stanton House: 1884-1984. Privately published (1984). p.i4.
5
Conversation with James R. Stanton, 1996.
6
Conversation with David E* Stanton, 1995*
7
Conversation with James R. Stanton, 1996.
8
Ibid.
9
Ibid.
10
Conversation with David E. Stanton, 1994.
11
Ibid.
12
Ibid.
13
Ibid.
14
Ibid.
15
Stanton, Susan. Still Smiling at the Front Desk: The History of Port Stanton. (1984) p. 37, 8716
Conversation with David E. Stanton, 1994.
Notes 17
Stanton, Susan. Still Smilingat the Front Desk: The History of Port Stanton* (1984) p, 91,
18
Ibid
19
Stanton, Susan. Still Smiling at the Front Desk: The History of Port Stanton. (1984) p. 37.
20
Conversation with David E. Stanton, 1994*
21
Stanton, Susan. Still Smiling at the Front Desk: The History of Port Stanton, (1984) p. 82,83,87; and conversations with David E. Stanton in 1994 and 1996* 22
Stanton, Susan. Stiff Smiting at the Front Desk: The History of Port Stanton. (1984) p* 88,89. 23
Ibid. p. 82,83,87; and conversations with David E. Stanton in 1994 and 1996.
24
Conversation with David E. Stanton, i994and 1996,
' 5 Conversation with James R. Stanton, in 1996. 6 6
Stanton, Susan. Stiff Smiting at the Front Desk: The History of Port Stanton. (1984) p, 86.
Section Three - From Port Stanton to Mapk Grove 1
"A Brief History of Sparrow Lake Camp." Author unknown. Undated. Not paginated. Sparrow Lake Historical Archives. " Sparrow Lake Collection. United Church Archives, Victoria University, Toronto. ' Massey, Vincent. The Memoirs of Vincent Masse^. The MacMillan Company of Canada Limited. Toronto (1963) p. 6. 4
"A Brief History of Sparrow Lake Camp." Sparrow Lake Historical Archives.
* Ibid. 6
Sparrow Lake Collection. United Church Archives
7
"A Brief History of Sparrow Lake Camp." Sparrow Lake Historical Archives.
* "A Brief History of Sparrow Lake Camp" and The Sparrow Lake Collection. y
"A Brief History of Sparrow Lake Camp." Sparrow Lake Historical Archives.
10
Conversation with David E. Stanton, 1994*
11
"A Brief History of Sparrow Lake Camp." Sparrow Lake Historical Archives*
12
Conversation with David E. Stanton, 1994.
13
"A Brief History of Sparrow Lake Camp." Sparrow Lake Historical Archives.
14
Conversation with David E. Stanton, 1994.
* 127 •
• 128 • SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER 15
Ibid.
16
Conversation with William Roehn Darker, 1996.
17
The author's remembrances of Harmony Lodge in the 19305*
18
Letter from Jack Tresidder (Jr.), 1997.
19
Darker, William RoehL Personal communication* 1996*
20
Ibid*
21
A Legacy Almost Lost: An Anthology of Kilworthy Country* "A Story/* Albert Cox, (1991). pp. 49* 22
Conversation with William Roehl Darker, 1996*
23
Conversation with Ted Martin, 1997.
Section Four - From Port Stanton to Vanomi 1
Conversation with Hazel Carney, 1996*
2
Ibid*
3
Ibid.
4
Stanton, Susan. Stili Smiling at the Front Desk: The History of Part Stanton, (1984)* PP* 54'55* 5 Ibid. 6
Ibid.
7
Stanton, Susan. StiZi Smiiingat the Front Desk: The History of Port Stanton* (1984)* p* 8.
8
Conversation with Hazel Carney, 1996*
9
Stanton, Susan. Still Smiling at the Front Desk: The History of Port Stanton. (1984)* p* 57*
10
Ibid, p* 8*
11
Ibid* p* 44*
12
Letter from David Long, 1997.
13
A Legacy Aimost Lost; An Anthology of Kilworthy Country. "The Maguire Family History." Author unknown. (1991)* pp 339-342* 14
Letter from David Long, 1997*
15
Information provided with the assistance of Mary Lou Stanton, 1996.
16
Ibid*
Notes 17
Sparrow Lake Historical Society Newsletter. Vol. 11., No. i, January, 1995.
s
" A Legacy Almost Lost: An Anthology ofKilworthy Country. "Uneeda Rest Hotel on Sparrow Lake." Robert E. Clipsham. (1991). pp. 348-349. '" Ibid. 20 21
22 2
Ibid. "Esmond D. Ciipsham 1901 - 1985." Allan Clipsham, p. 347. Ibid. "Uneeda Rest Hotel on Sparrow Lake/' pp. 348-349. Ibid. "Esmund D. Clipsham 1901 - 1985." p. 347*
* Ibid. "Uneeda Rest Hotel on Sparrow Lake." pp. 348-9.
24
A Legacy Almost Lost: An Anthology ofKilworthy Country. "Notes." Lois Clipsham. (1991). p. 347.
21
Sparrow Lake Historical Society, Newsletter, Vol. 7, No., 3, September, 1991*
21
Letter from Leanore Wiancko, 1996.
27
A Legacy Almost Lost: An Anthology ofKilworthy Country. "Notes." Lois Clipsham. (1991). p. 357.
28
"Muckle Family Album."
2g
A Legacy Almost Lost: An Anthology ofKilworthy Country. "The Franklin Family." Harvey Franklin. (1991). pp. 407-408. '° Ibid. * f MacArthur, Frankie. The Story ofWashago, Green and Sparkling. Privately published, 1974). p. 9* '2 "Muckle Family Album/ 1 33
A Legacy Almost Lost: An Anthology ofKilworthy Country. "Brigadoon." Frank Crane. (1991). p. 375. H
A Legacy Almost Lost: An Anthology ofKilworthy Country. "Kilworthy and Sparrow Lake — North Shore/1 Jack Shand, (1991). p. 383. ^ Ibid. "The Franklin Family" Harvey Franklin, p. 407. ^ 6 Sparrow Lake Historical Society Newsletter. Vol. 7., No. 3, September, 1991* ^ A Legacy Almost Lost: An Anthology ofKilworthy Country. "Steam in my Blood," George Hutchinson. (1991). p. 86. *8 A Legacy Almost Lost: An Anthology ofKilworthy Country. "Two Hotels in my Family - Mount Royal/Hamyrth Lodge," Thelma McFarland. (1991). pp. 386-387. *9 Ibid. "The Pridmore Family," Lois Beiers, p. 436. 40
Ibid, pp 392-395-
• 129 •
• i3o • SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER 41
Ibid pp. 387-389.
42
Ibid. p. 391.
43
Conversation with William Roehl Darker, 1996.
Section Fife - The Things We Did Together 1
Conversation with David E. Stanton, 1997.
2
"The Church of the Good Samaritan," Sparrow Lake Historical Society. Occasional Papers. (1993). Not paginated. 3
Conversation with David E. Stanton, 1997.
4
"The Church of the Good Samaritan, Port Stanton, Ontario." (1993).
5
A Legacy Almost Lost: An Anthology ofKilworthy Country. "Early Life at Sparrow Lake." Author unknown* (1991). pp. 48-50.
INDEX Adams, Fred, 25, 93 Allen, E.K. (Pittsburg PA), 54 Allison, Archie, 97 Allison, Doris, 97 Allandale(BarrieON), 3 Annex (see Grandview Lodge) Beaver Bible Class, 120 Beaver ton (ON), 108 Balmoral Hotel (Nursing Home), 91, 94-96, 119 Barrie (ON), Bauman, Bill, 6 Bayshore (see Stan ton House) Bayview Lodge, 24, 28, 29 Bayview-Wildwood Resort, 24, 25, 29, 31, 32, 118 Bennett, Haemon, 58, 59 Bennett, Norman, 5, 58-60, 62 Bennett's Peninsula Farm Hotel, 4, 58, 61, 62 Bennett's bridge, 58, 60, 62, 108 Peninsual Farm Resort, 59,61 Penninsual House, 59, 60 post office, 59 steamer (Rob Ro;y), 16, 59 store, 59 Black River, 2 Bonheur, 28 Bonheur Lodge (see Bayview Lodge), Brigadoon, 92
British Columbia, 102 Brussels, Belgium, 68 Buffalo (NY), 91 Butler family, 31 CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), 72 CNR (Canadian National Railway), 108 CNOR (see Canadian Northern Ontario Railway) Camp Winston, 72 Canadette Sports Camp, 72 Canadian Northern Ontario Railway (CNOR), 4, 5, 9, 12, 66, 114 Canadian Northern Railway, Canadian Shield, i Champion (steamer), 4, 10, 62, 63, 80 Champlain Hotel (Orillia), 65 Chippewa, 38 Christie, Dr. G.I., 78 Christie, Peter, 2 Christie, W.R, 2 Cliff House, 96 Church of the Good Samaritan, 25, 119, 120, 121 Church Union, 34, 36 Clifford (steam yacht), 8 Clipsham: 2 Ella (Wiancko), (Mrs. John Wesley), 74 Esmond D., 74 131
Jean (Mrs. Stanley), 7i'73 John Wesley (Wes), 71, 74, 108 Lois, 77 Marion (Stanton) (Mrs. William), 19 — , — , Mrs. George, 115 Orma, 74 Stanley (Stan), 65, 7173 Robert E., 74, 75 William, 19 Clipsham Lodge, 65, 7173 Cox, (Albert) Abby, 37, 54-56 Cox, Albert (Sr*), 55 Cox home, 56 Cox's Bay, 56, 57 Crane, Claire, 92 Crane, Frank, 92 Crusader (launch), in Dalzell (Richard A.) Dick, 6, 65 Darker: William (Bill), 48 Cecil, 48, 54, 100 David, 48 Gayla (Hunter) (Mrs. William), 48 Mildred (Roehl) (Mrs. Cecil), 48, 51*98 Dawson, Tommy, 25 Deep Bay, 37, 56 Deep Dock (see Grandview Lodge) Delmonte-in-the-Pines (Hotel), xiii, 43, 80,
* 132 • SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER 85-88, 91, 117 Del-Van-Tor trophy, 43 Democrat Chronicle, 71 Duck Bay, 37, 54, 77, 105 Dumbells (Plunketts), 69 East Aurora (NY), 38 Eberhart, J.A., 19 Elto outboard motors, 104 England, 43, 61 Erhardt, Fred (Pittsburg PA), 37 Erhardt, Leonard (Pittsburg PA), 37 Fisher, Andy, 92 Fisher, Jutta, 92 Fitzpatrick, Rev* John D., 34 Franklin: 2 Annie (Kellam), 91 Elizabeth (Lizzie), 91, 93 Ellen (see Ellen Stanton) John, 18, 91, 92 John Jr., 94 William, 91, 93 Franklin House/Silver Pines, 89, 91-94, no Fred Victor Mission, 34 Front Row (see Stanton House) G. Whiz, (steamer), 5, 60, 62 Georgian Bay, 2 Germany, 37 Glympse (steamer), 4, 40 Grand Trunk Railway (GTR), 5, 7, 100 Grandview Lodge (Hotel) (Resort), 6, 7, 17,37, 38, 43-54> 56, 65, 85,
98, 100, 106, 112, 114, 116, 118, 119, 120 Annex, 46, 49, 51, 118 Deep Dock, 53, 54 Rocky Point, 53 Grandview Point, 46, 107 Gravenhurst (ON), 3, 71, 79, 100, 115 Sloan's Restaurant, 79 Guelph (ON), 22, 91
H.W. Wiancko Publishing, 40, 80 Haliburton (ON), 56 Hamilton (ON), 96 Hamlet (ON), 62, 66, 85, 108 Hamyrth Lodge, 96-98 Hanna, David Clyde, 114 Hanna Cup, 114 Harding, Christine, 97 Harding, dive, 97 Harmony Lodge, 38 Hawkins, Phyllis (see Phyllis Stanton) Hawkin's Corners, 56, 85 Heidman's Corners, 55 Helen's Island, 31 Hershberger, George, in High Island, page of last visual Highway n, 56, 71 Hinds Beverages (Orillia), 94 Hollingshead, Rick, 48 Hotel Torpitt, 42-45, 56, 85, 98, 116, 119 dance hall, 45 Keystone Cottage, 44 Hotel Vanomi (see Vanomi Point Hotel), House, C.E., 85 Humungous (movie), 79 Hunnisett, Rev, Westley
A., 36 Hutchison, George, 94 Hymans, Richard, 121
Idylwood Lodge, 4, 60, 62-64, 80 Iron City Fishing Club (Pittsburg PA), 3, 105 J.W. Clipsham Phone Company, 66 Jackson, Billie, 100 Jackson, Jim, 98 Jackson, J.H. (Joe), 79, 98, 100 Jeffery, John, 62 Jeffery, Kelly, 62 Jesuit (i?th century), 2 Johns, Edgar, 18, 19 Johnston, Eva (see Eva Stanton) Kashe River, 71, 72 Kellam, Annie (see Annie Franklin) Keystone Cottage (see Hotel Torpitt) Kilworthy (Lethbridge ON), 3, 48, 98, 121 Kilworthy Lodge, 90 Kimpton, Bill, 85 Kimpton, Fred, 85 Kinser, Mart, 17 Lady Belle (tour boat), 108 Lady Franklin (steamer), 4 Lake Couchiching, no Lake St. George, 2 Lakeshore House, 4, n, 14, 24, 26, 27, in, 115 Lakefield (steamer), 4, 8, 63,80 Lakeview House (Hotel),
Index 42, 65-69, 74, 80, 94, 108,118 golf course, 65 Langman, Margaret, 71 Langmuir family, 33, 34 Langmuir's Point, 36 Lasalle, Sieur de, i Lawson, Vern, 90 Lehman, Gustav, 91 Leicester (England), 61 LeQuyer, Tom, 71 Lethbridge (see Kilworthy) Linton, Al, 43 Logan, Oscar (Pittsburg PA), 37 Long Island, 79, 105 Low Net Score Trophy, 43 Lutz, Fred (Rochester
NY), 71 Maguire: 2 Ellen (Mrs. John), 69 Frank, 69 Hannah (Mrs. James),
69
James, 69 James Jr. (Jim), 69 John, 69 Maureen (Mrs. James Jn), 69 Muriel (Mrs. Frank),
69
Maple Grove Hotel (Lodge), 10, 33, 37, 46, 54'57 "Maples" (see Stanton House) Margaret and Jack Tresidder Memorial Trophy, 43 Martin, Beulah (Stanton) (Mrs. Jim), 2 Martin, Ted, 6
Martin's Store, 3, 5, 6, 12, 15, 25, 56,85 Marshall's Mill (see Washago), Massey family, 33-35 Massey, Chester, 35 Massey, Vincent, 33 Massey Camp (see Sparrow Lake Camp), Massey Lodge, 35 McCraw, Donald Frederick Fraser, 137 McKay, Eleanore, 100 McKinnon family, 84 McKinnon, Archie, 84 McLean, Laughton, 94 McLeans Bay, 94, 105 McMaster, Violet (see Violet Stanton), Mercer, Dalton, 98 Mercer, W.H.O. Top/ 98, TOO
Mercer, Wally, 98 Methodist Boys' Camp,
36
Methodist Union of Toronto, 34, 36 Methodist Young People's Camp, 36 Miller, Anthony (Tony), 65, 66, 69, in Mississauga (ON), 122, 124 Mitchell family, 90 Morris (James) Jim, 54 Morrison Township, 2, 55, 78 Mortimore family, 94 Mortimore, Roy, 94 Mount Royal Hotel, 96, 97 Muskoka District, i, 72, 76, 81, 93, 113 Muskoka (Colonization)
Road, 2, 71 Muskoka Road #13, 71,
85
Musson, Charles, 31, 119 Musson, Jane, 119 Mustang (launch), 31 National Biscuit Company, 74 Neal, Rev. Thomas W., 34 Neilsons Co. Ltd., 48 New York State, 71, 75 Newell, Walter, 56 Newell's Hotel, 56 Northern Extension Railway, 3 Ohio, 75 Ontario Agricultural College, 78 Ontario Veterinary College, 91 Orillia (ON), 15, 16, 38, 62,65, 80, 91,94, 123 Orillia War Canoe, no Oshawa (ON), 92 Parkers (Orillia ON), 38 Parry Sound (ON), 4, u Peninsular House (see Bennett's Peninsular Farm Resort) Pennsylvania, 59, 75, 105 Pioneer (steamer), 3 Pittsburgh (PA), 3, 37, 40, 42, 54, 96, 105 Pocahontas, (tow boat), 3 Port Stanton (ON), xiii, 2-5,8, 12-14, 17-20, 22-26, 33, 42, 57, 58, 63, 66, 74, 96, 97, 107, 108, in, 114-116, 119, 121
Government Dock, 6,
• 133 •
• 134 • SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER
12-14 Sparrow Lake Station, 5,8-10, 12, 13,97, H4 Prussia, 78 R.O. Smith Co. (Orillia), 16 Ragged Rapids, 15, 16, 105 Ragged Rapids Power House, 105 Rama Reserve, 38, 62 Rob Roy (steamer, see Bennett's) Robertshaw, George, 92 Robinson, Flossie, 48, 100 Rochester (NY), 71,89 Rocky Point (see Grandview Lodge) Roehl: 7, 37, 96 Annie (Mrs. Otto), 41,
48
Bertha (see Bertha Schulz) Elvina (Mrs. William),
96
Mildred (see Mildred Darke) Otto, 37, 39-42, 46-48, 5 I > 5 5 > 5 6 , 99, 100 Otto (Sr.), 37 William, 37, 96, 119 Roehl's camp site, xiii Roehl's Channel, 98, 106 Roehl's farm, 37, 38, 41 Roehl Hall, 46, 49, 50 Roehl's Hotel, 37-42, 55 Rosenbergs (East Aurora NY), 38 Rosenberg, Floyd, 38 Rosenberg, Fred, 38 Royal Stuart (Hotel), 96 Sanderson, David, 85
Schell, Bill, 82 Schofield, Dr. Frank, 91 Schultz (Schulz): 96 August, 96 Bertha (Roehl) (Mrs. August), 96 Harry, 96-98 Myrtle (Mrs. Harry), 96-98 Thelma, 97 Scotland, 41 Seabrook (James) Jim, 48 Seabrook, Susan, 48 Severn Bridge (ON), xiii, 3, 5, 7, 19, 62, 63, 66, 70, 96, 98 telephone exchange, 66,98 GTR station, 3 Severn River, i, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 15, 37'39, 50, 53> 56, 58-60, 62, 64, 67, 71, 92, 105, 106, 108, no Severn River Inn, 98 Shand, Jack, 94 Sheridan Park Public School (Mississauga ON), 122, 124 Silver Pines Resort, 92 Simcoe, John Graves (Lieutenant Governor), 2 Simcoe County, i Simcoe (tow boat) (later Pocahontos), 3 Skalosky, Mary, 86 Skalosky, Terry, 86 Sloan's Restaurant (see Gravenhurst) Socha, Stanley, 100 Snake Island, 53 Sparrow Beach Lodge, 98, 100, 102
Sparrow Cottage, 22, 23 Sparrow Lake Association of Cottage and Resort Owners, 108, 115 Sparrow Lake Historical Society, 58 Sparrow Lake (Massey) Camp, 4, 19, 22, 33-36, 119 Sparrow Lake Regatta, 115 Sparrow Lake Steamer Line, 4, 8, 9, 22, 40, 114 Sparrow Lake Station (see Port Stanton) Sparrow Lake United Church, 119, 121 Spartan (steamer), 4 St. George, Quenton, 2 Stanton: 2, 25 (Albert) Bert, 4, 8, 26, 40 Alice, 19 Clara (Mrs. Ernest), 28 David, 24 (Douglas) Doug, 25 Edwin (Ed), 24, 28 Eleanore (Fosdick) (Mrs. Walter), 24 Ellen (Franlin) (Mrs. Capt, Tom), 18, 19, 20, 26, 119 Ernest, 5, 24, 25, 28, 29, in Eva (Johnston), 19 Flora, 28 Frank, 5, 8, 22-24, 4°» 71, ii George (Capt.), 19 John, 5 Marion (see Marion Clipsham) Martha (Mrs. Albert), 26
Index Mary Lou (Mrs. James), 119 Pearl (see Pearl Whiteside), Phyllis (Hawkins) (Mrs, Tom), 19 Ron, 25, 28 Tom, 19, 21, 32 Tomas (Tom) (Capt.)> 3, 4, 5, 18, 19, 22, 28, 29> 33> 36, 114 Violet (McMaster) (Mrs. Frank), 22 Walter, 23-25, 29, 30 Stanton Airways, 5 Stanton Bros., 9 Stanton Bros. Store, 5, 12, 15, 28, 85
Stanton House, xiii, 4, 19-22, 26, 119, 120, 122-124 Bayshore, 21 Front Row, 20, 21 Maples, 21 Stanton sawmill, 25, 29 Stein, Hugo, 3 Stettenbenz, Carl (New York NY), Stettenbenz family, 77 Stuart, Harry (Cleveland OH), 96 "Summer Life on Sparrow Lake" (CBCfilm), 72 Sundown Lodge/Wild Echo, 24, 25, 31, 32 Sunset Rock, 56 Sunscape, 96 Swift Rapids (ON), 15, 16, 71, 75 Swift Rapids Damand Power House, 16, 67, 105 Sykes, Jack, 55 Ticket of Location, 2
Torpitt Lodge, 6, 7, 13, i7»37. 38, 4i-45» 47» 92,96, 117-119 Golf Course, xiii, 37, 39>4i>43 House of Friendship, 42,44 Keystone Cottage, launch, 42 Torpitt Lodge Labour Day Tournament, 43 Torpitt Road, 6 Toronto (ON), 5, 12, 17, 31, 42, 54, 75,96, 100, 119 Toronto Home Missions Council, 34, 36 "Tourist Guide, 1928" (Province of Ontario),
65
Trent-Severn System, 6, 15, 107 Tresidder: Faye (Mrs, Jack Jr.), 44 Jack (Sr.), 6, 44 Jack (Jr.), 6, 42-44, 46, 47.85 Margaret, 44 Tervaes, Edovard (Brussels, Belgium), 68 Uneeda Rest Hotel, 4, 71, 74-76, 80, 108,113 United Church of Canada, 34, 36, 120 United Empire Loyalists,
69
United States, 75 University of Toronto, 78 Upper Canada, 2 Van Kralingen, Margaret (Mrs. Jack Sykes), Vanomi Hotel, 43, 58, 77,
96, 98, 100-102, 114 Vanomi Point, 101 Vernon Lodge, 89, 90 W.R Christie Lumber Company, 2, 29, 91 Walther League, 120 Washago (ON), 3, 7, 71 Marshall's Mill, 71 Welch Bay, 58 Wenona Lodge, 34, 69, 70 Whiteside: 2 Gordon, 62 James, 5, 60, 62 Pearl (Stanton) (Mrs. Gordon), 62 Whiteside farm, 62 Whitwell family, 77 Wiancko: 2 Aldolphus, 5, 78, 79 Harold W., 78, 79 Maurice, 79 Meta, 84 Meta (Mrs. Adolphus), 78, 79 — (Mrs. H.W.), 84 Winacko House, 40, 7882 -post office, 79 Wild Echo (see Sundown Lodge) Wildwood Inn, 24, 29-31, 116 Williams (Chippewa family from Rama Reserve), 38 Wood, (Thomas) Captain Tom, 4, 62, 63, 80 World War I (WWI), 42, 43,69, 118 World War II (WWII), 58
• 135 •
CREDITS FOR VISUALS All postcards and other visuals are the property of the author, Bruce ML McCraw and are used with his permission, with the exception of those listed below: Page 9 - Letter and ticket of the Sparrow Lake Steamer Line. Courtesy: David E. Stanton. Page 50 - Grandview with the dining room extension* Courtesy: Mrs* Betty Niro. Page 52 - Screened cabins in the i95os-Grandview Lodge. Courtesy: Mrs. Betty Niro. Page 76 - Uneeda Rest perched high above the lake. Courtesy: Robert E. Clipshatn* Page 77 - The swimmers are enjoying the sandy bottom at the south end of the lake* Courtesy: Robert E* Clipsham* Page 77 - The verandah of Uneeda Rest. Courtesy: Robert E. Clipsham* Page 102 - The rugged shore stands out.*. Courtesy: Robert R. Darker. Concluding page. High Island, probably the most well-known island on Sparrow Lake, a popular picnic spot. Courtesy: Bruce McCraw* Outside front cover. A view of Delmonte-in-the-Pines from the waterfront* Outside back cover* • An early view of the platform at Sparrow Lake Station and the gangway to the Port Stanton dock. The building in the centre background is Stanton Bros* store, todays* Martin's Store* It is difficult to tell whether the folks are waiting for the baggage to be sorted after getting off the train or whether the train for Toronto will soon arrive* One thing is certain, with the many large steamer trunks on the platform, tourists did not travel lightly in the early 19005. The postmark on the postcard is September 5, 1910* Courtesy: Bruce McCraw* • The 40 foot steamer Glympse, built in 1907, and along with the Lakefield comprised the 'Sparrow Lake Steamer Line' operated by Albert and Frank Stanton* The Sparrow Lake Steamer Line carried most of the commercial traffic for the railway from the Port Stanton wharf from 1907 on. The photograph for this unusually clear postcard, post-marked August 30, 1909, appears to have been taken from the wharf. A tractor engine that burned kerosene replaced steam power about 1911. Courtesy Bruce McCraw* • An outing in the early 1920*5 at DeLaporte's Point between Uneeda Rest and Wiancko House. Orma Clipsham (1898-1978) is at the stern and a guest, Carl Stettenbenz, is at the oars of a double-ender skiff built by Wes Clipsham. Courtesy: Robert E* Clipsham*
136
ABOUT THE A U T H O R
The author fishing for bass from the Grandview Lodge "big" dock, July, 1935. Note the partial view of the dog on the left. The photograph was taken by the author's father, Donald Frederick Fraser McCraw.
Bruce McCraw, retired professor from the University of Guelph, first experienced Sparrow Lake as a toddler with his family* There his father is reputed to have caught one of the largest muskies ever taken from the lake. Today Bruce continues his research, but now the focus in on the resorts of Sparrow Lake and on matching his father's prowess as a fisherman.
i37