Staying In Muskoka For The Holidays with Cats and a Dog

FROM THE TOP:

ANGUS

CHUTNEY

BEASLEY

ZAPPA

BOSKO

THE ULTIMATE STAY-CATION - AT HOME WITH FAMILY AND PETS IN THE EMBRACE OF SOUTH MUSKOKA

I'VE HAD MY YEARS OF RAMBLING, AND I LIKE THE COLD OVER THE SUMMER HEAT-WAVE

     SUZANNE HAD TO WAKE ME UP TO WRITE TODAY'S BLOG. I'M SORRY. IT'LL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. AFTER YET ANOTHER (SPLENDID) DINNER WITH REMNANTS OF CHRISTMAS TURKEY, AND MY DAILY STINT WITH THE ANDERSON COOPER SHOW, (THAT I HAVE STARTED WATCHING……BECAUSE I LIKE HIS FORMAT, AND DINNER-HOUR TIME SLOT), I HAD CURLED UP HERE BY THE HEARTH, AND RECEIVED THREE BLESSINGS THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT BEFORE SLUMBERING-OFF. THIS IS VERY MUCH THE CASE AROUND HERE. YOU START OFF WITH A TINY, ALMOST INAUDIBLE SNORE, AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOU'RE COVERED IN MOVING, PURRING FUR.

     WHEN I AWOKE, I HAD THREE OUT OF FOUR OF OUR FOUNDLING CATS, CURLED UP ON ME…….ONE TUCKED INTO MY FOLDED-ARM, ANOTHER ON MY CHEST, AND THE THIRD ON MY KNEE. THESE ARE SPECIAL LITTLE CATS, BECAUSE THEY SURVIVED AGAINST ALL ODDS, TO BE OUR FIRST HOME-BORN KITTENS. IT HAPPENED FOUR YEARS AGO, WHEN A STRAY CAT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, KEPT VISITING OUR RECYCLING BOX IN THE EARLY EVENING, TRYING TO LICK-OUT ANY FOOD RESIDUE LEFT IN THE TIN BOTTOMS. IT WAS A TERRIBLY THIN LITTLE CREATURE, AND IT MUST HAVE BEEN BEATEN BY A FORMER OWNER, BECAUSE IT WAS TERRIFIED OF HUMAN CONTACT…….AND IF WE LIFTED A HAND IN ITS PRESENCE, YOU'D JUST SEE A GREY STREAK DARTING OFF INTO THE BUSHES. SUZANNE ONCE PICKED UP A BROOM, TO SWEEP OFF THE WALKWAY, AND IT SHOT-UP A TEN FOOT FENCE IN OUR BACKYARD LIKE A FLYING SQUIRREL. IT TOOK US SO LONG TO ENCOURAGE IT TO COME AND HAVE SOME FOOD, AND THEN AN INADVERTENT, SUDDEN MOVE, WOULD SCARE THE POOR LITTLE BEAST OFF. ONCE SHE WAS SCARED, SHE WOULDN'T COME BACK FOR ALMOST TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. WE WORRIED ABOUT WHERE SHE WAS GETTING FOOD AND CLEAN WATER.

     IT TOOK US ABOUT SIX MONTHS, TO WIN ITS CONFIDENCE, ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY STAND IN THE YARD WHILE IT ATE. WE JUST COULDN'T MOVE. ON OCCASION, IF ALL CONDITIONS WERE CALM, SHE WOULD RUB UP AGAINST OUR LEGS, OR SIT AND WATCH US…..WATCHING IT. WE CALLED HER "BEASLEY," BUT WE CAN'T TELL YOU WHY THIS NAME SUITED HER…….BUT IT DID. SHE STARTED TO GAIN SOME WEIGHT AND HER FUR SEEMED TO IMPROVE IN DENSITY AND COLOR, FROM THE RAGGED CAT WE FOUND RUMMAGING IN THE OLD TINS TOSSED INTO RECYCLING.

I REMEMBER ONE DAY, WATCHING HER ROLE AROUND IN THE LIMESTONE IN THE DRIVEWAY…..AND I COULDN'T HELP NOTICING THAT WE HAD SOME MAJOR NIPPLE ENLARGEMENT. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WE THOUGHT SHE WAS NOT MUCH MORE THAN A KITTEN, WHEN SHE FIRST ARRIVED, AND WE HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO ACT ON NEUTERING MATTERS, BECAUSE, DESPITE OUR ASSESSMENT SHE WAS A STRAY…….BEASLEY MIGHT HAVE BELONGED TO SOMEONE ELSE. BUT WE KNEW THERE WAS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM, SOONER OR LATER, AND WE HAD TO THINK ABOUT THE KITTENS AS WELL. SO WE STARTED TO DOUBLE HER STRAY-CAT PORTIONS, WITH LOTS OF FISH ON THE MENU. SHE GAINED WEIGHT, YET SHE DIDN'T LOOK PREGNANT OTHER THAN WHAT WAS SHOWING UP ON HER UNDERSIDE. WE ESTIMATED THAT SHE STILL HAD ABOUT TWO MONTHS TO GO, BEFORE WE'D BE SEEING KITTENS POPPING OUT. BOY OH BOY, DID WE EVER MISCALUCATE ON THAT ONE.

     IT WAS SOMETIME IN AUGUST THAT YEAR, THAT WE CAME HOME AFTER BEING AT A SHOW, QUITE LATE AT NIGHT, AND HEARD A HIGH PITCHED MEOWING, COMING FROM THE SHED WHERE WE KEEP OUR LAWNMOWER. WE HAD IT PRETTY CRAMMED-UP WITH STUFF, AND IN ORDER NOT TO CRUSH MOTHER AND KITTENS, IN CASE SOMETHING HEAVY SHIFTED WHILE MOVING THE LAWN GEAR, ANDREW EMPLOYED SOME OLD STAGE LIGHTS, THROWN OUT BY A THEATRE, WE WERE QUICKLY ABLE TO HOOK-UP ON STANDS, TO GET A BETTER LOOK INTO THE QUAGMIRE OF METAL THIS AND THAT. AFTER ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES, OF MOVING ITEMS OUT OF THE WAY, SLOWLY, AND QUIETLY, SO AS NOT TO STARTLE THEM, WE WERE ABLE TO SEE "WEE CHUTNEY" THE RUNT OF THE LITTER, BY HIS TINY TAIL STICKING OUT FROM BENEATH THE GAS LAWNMOWER (LONG SINCE RETIRED). IT WAS TILTED A BIT, WHICH ALLOWED BEASLEY TO SNEAK UNDERNEATH, AND THERE WAS A PIECE OF CARDBOARD SHE WAS ABLE TO CLAW INTO PLACE, TO MAKE A SATISFACTORY PLATFORM FOR A NEST. SHE HAD ALSO FOUND SOME CLEAN RAGS IN THE SHED, SHE HAD BROUGHT TO THE SPACE, AND THIS IS WHERE IT ALL HAPPENED. SHE HAD THREE KITTENS OUT OF THAT SMALL BODY. THERE WAS "CHUTNEY," NAMED AFTER WHAT SUZANNE WAS CANNING AT THE TIME; "ZAPPA" THE FUZZY ONE, BECAUSE IT REMINDED SON ROBERT OF MUSICIAN FRANK ZAPPA; AND "ANGUS," BECAUSE HE LOOKED A WEE BIT SCOTTISH. BEASLEY SURVIVED, AND ALLOWED SUZANNE TO SCOOP UP THE KITTENS, INTO A MORE SUITABLE BOX WITH PADDING IN THE BOTTOM. AS BEASLEY, WOULDN'T COME INTO THE HOUSE, SUZANNE AND I HAD TO SLEEP OUT ON THE FRONT VERANDAH, WITH THE BOX OF KITTENS, AND THEIR MOTHER. IN FACT, IT TOOK MOST OF A WEEK, OF DOING THIS, TO GET BEASLEY TO COME INDOORS. IF SHE HADN'T COME IN, THE KITTENS WOULDN'T HAVE GOT THEIR MILK, OF COURSE, AND AS THEY WERE TINY TO BEGIN WITH, WE COULDN'T TAKE THE RISK. SEEING AS I'VE JUST TOLD YOU, HOW THEY WERE SLEEPING ON ME THIS EVENING, IT'S OBVIOUS THEY ADAPTED WELL TO LIFE HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW.

AT HOME, IN MUSKOKA, WITH THE CATS AND AN OLD DOG FOR NEW YEARS

     We lost two of our dear old cats this past year. "Fester II" and "Smokey" passed away last spring, after long and adventurous lives. We were heartsick for weeks after. They were family members, without a doubt. "Buddy," is the oldest cat now, and he was also a stray, found as a kitten, after some goof-ball motorist tossed him out of a moving car. This happens a lot in our neighborhood. People think that with the forest, the cats will be able to survive on field mice. There are predators in the woods. Fishers for example, some coyotes, a lone wolf, and a couple of foxes. Chances of survival are poor at best.

    Earlier tonight, at the end of Anderson Cooper, and my dinner, I had Angus curled around my neck, and mother Beasley, and her other two kittens, Chutney and Zappa lodged on my stomach. And Bosko, our canine resident, was laying across my feet. I've got to tell you, it was a warm and settling sojourn, and not just because of my proximity to a crackling remnant of the Yule log (actually known as clog). I can come home here, tired and disgruntled, and sit down here for only a few moments, before my cares drift off into that subtle wash of contentment……as these creatures exhibit and apparently encourage in their companion humans. It is a blustery night out there, with the snow hitting hard agains the livingroom window, and I don't need a sweater, or even another log on the fire, as long as I have these rescued cats cuddling with me on this old chair.

     I have travelled long and hard over many Christmas seasons in the past. I've ventured cross-continent, by plane, train and automobile…..and many thousands of miles on buses, and I know exactly what it's like at customs checks, and waiting for connections from here to there. I have had snowless Christmases in the south, where our family used to vacation yearly, in Florida, and I've had the unpleasant travel experiences, being on the road New Year's Eve, trying to get home before midnight. I huddled in alcoves of bus terminals and airports, missed connecting flights, and eaten my dinners from awful dispensing machines. I have, on most occasions, arrived home from vacations, feeling more exhausted than when I left home in the first place.

     Suzanne and I, and the boys, have always spent our Christmas and New Years holidays in Muskoka……because it's a perfect place for a vacation, any season of the year. Suzanne and the boys were born in Muskoka, and I'm the only city interloper. Sometimes at New Years, we'd hike into the Windermere cottage, across from Florence Island, on Lake Rosseau, and just sit on the boathouse dock, watching the deer graze on the shoreline cedar……and listen to all of the amazing sounds of nature coming together in a giant, all encompassing symphony. Since the cottage was sold, and Suzanne's parents both passed away, the only time we visit the village now, is to attend the quaint little Ufford Cemetery, to pay our respects. We will get up there, weather permitting, before this week is over. Mostly, we just travel around the area of South Muskoka, when we're not working at our family shop, in Gravenhurst……or just lounging here at Birch Hollow, with our furry inmates, enjoying the holiday fare. When I take Bosko out for a little frolic, I am constantly amazed at how beautiful it is here, across from The Bog, on those part moonlit nights, part snowflurries……and honestly, I am so glad I got the travel-crazy urges out of my system at a much younger age. I am so happy to come into the homestead again, and settle down with a cup of hot cider, and await my companions to light on me once again. I am a willing victim of circumstance……a slave of conveniences, and seeker of creature comforts. Now just a few moments ago, I got up from my desk, to see why Suzanne wasn't answering my shrill bellows for assistance. There she was, sound asleep, in her chair, with two cats in her lap. There's something so peaceful about a modest homestead, and a few cats and an old dog, to make you forget about your woes. There's nothing like spending time at home, during the holidays, for the good of the soul.

     I hope you will all have similarly spirit-lifting New Year's events and situations, and an enjoyable New Years Day, wherever you find your happiest circumstance. If you aren't feeling so well, or couldn't travel this holiday season, or you find yourself a little frustrated by current events, our thoughts are with you……and our hope is that things will improve in the New Year as much as possible. Simple pleasures, like fond memories, are pretty good allies……just as these stray cats, and an adopted dog, make life so modestly cheerful here at Birch Hollow. These cats had very little chance of survival. It's what makes it so special today, having them with us, knowing a little kindness made such a difference. If you can, and possibly you might wish to do it in the name of a favorite pet you remember, please consider making a donation to the Humane Society branch near you. They do such wonderful work, to rescue and help these wee creatures, especially finding homes for thousands of pets like ours……who wouldn't survive otherwise. They could really use your help…..and take it from us Curries……rescue animals make ideal pets. Bosko was adopted from the Bracebridge shelter, as were our former dogs, Kramer, and Alf…..all playing a huge part in our family history…..and the photo albums are loaded with their pictures, cuddled with the boys, at all ages, to the present…….and even those now dog-eared precious images, of their grandparents, are partnered with our pets in the picture frames. Yup. It's who we are, pet lovers,…..and we wouldn't change a thing. HELP OUT THE OSPCA IN 2013. WHAT A GREAT NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION1

     Take care driving. Watch out for Fiscal Cliffs. Bundle up. It's cold out there. Have a safe, festive and contenting New Years holiday……from all of us at Birch Hollow, here in Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada.

Wishing Town Council A Happy New Years!

A TOUGH YEAR AHEAD FOR GRAVENHURST…….AND TOWN COUNCIL - AND THEN WHAT ABOUT THE FISCAL CLIFF

A FOUR YEAR TERM FOR THE RECORD BOOK - SOME TOUGH DECISIONS AHEAD

     FIRST OF ALL, AND LET'S BE PERFECTLY HONEST, WE ALL WISH THE COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST, GOOD LUCK IN THE NEW YEAR. SHOW ME A CONSTITUENT WHO WON'T JOIN-IN ON THIS TOAST, AND YOU'LL SEE THE REFLECTION OF A DEVIL-MAY-CARE CITIZEN, WHO LIKES LONG AND PERILOUS JOURNEYS……CROCODILES SNAPPING, RATTLESNAKES STINGING, AND WOULD PURPOSELY STAND IN THE WAY OF AN INCOMING SCUD MISSILE, FOR THE THRILL OF IMMINENT IMPACT. OF COURSE WE WANT OUR COUNCIL TO PROCEED WITH GOOD WILL AND GOOD FORTUNE FOR ALL OF US. NOW WOULDN'T THAT BE THE CROWNING GLORY FOR ANY HOMETOWN. GOOD NEWS ALL ROUND. NOW THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING.

     YOU'D HAVE TO BE CAUGHT IN SOME WHIRLWIND OF TIME TRAVEL, OR IN A WOODSTOCK FLASHBACK, TO HAVE MISSED THE WARNING SIGNS OF IMPENDING DOOM, APPARENTLY TARGETING US ALL, IN THE COMING YEAR. IT'S SHAPING UP TO BE AN INTERESTING TWELVE MONTHS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT STARTS OFF WITH THE AMERICANS FALLING OVER THE FISCAL CLIFF, AS THEY LIKE TO CALL IT. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS IN NEED OF NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENTS. REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN THE UNITED STATES CAN'T NEGOTIATE A DEAL. THE PRESIDENT OF SYRIA AND THE UNITED NATIONS CAN'T BROKER A PEACE DEAL TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THEIR CITIZENS. THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE HAS BEEN SIDELINED, BY A MONEY SHARING IMPASSE, AND THE TEACHERS AND THE PROVINCE CAN'T SORT ANYTHING OUT EITHER, THAT LOOKS LIKE A WORKABLE CONTRACT.

    BEING THE TRUSTING SOULS THAT WE ARE, MOST OF US FIGURED THE FISCAL CLIFF WAS MORE THEATRICS AND RHETORIC THAN SOMETHING THAT COULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN. I'M JUST HOPING ITS NOT A "CLIFF," BUT MORE OF A SLIPPERY SLOPE. AS FOR SYRIA, WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS GUY? HE'S HANGING ON BY A SHORT WHISKER FROM HIS CHINNY-CHIN-CHIN, BUT STILL LIKES LAUNCHING HOURLY MISSILES AT HIS OWN PEOPLE. THE NHL? WHAT CAN YOU SAY, OTHER THAN IT'S A RICH SPORT CONSUMED BY GREED. THE FANS? THE SUPPORT WORKERS? SPIN-OFF BUSINESSES? IT'S THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE, OF INVESTING IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS. TEACHERS AND THE PROVINCE? WHAT A SILLY-ASS DEBACLE, THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE, ESPECIALLY A BILL THAT REVOKES THE RIGHT TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. WHAT WAS THE PREMIER THINKING? IF THE PROVINCE WISHES TO UNION-BUST, THIS WAS NOT THE BEST PLACE, OR METHOD, TO START THE CAMPAIGN.  TAXES IN THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST? GOING UP? JUST WANT TO SET THE STAGE. BUT WE'RE ALL PRETTY SURE THEY WON'T BEING GOING DOWN. IF IT'S REALLY A FISCAL CLIFF, EVEN IN THIS MUNICIPALITY, WE'D BETTER GET A LOT OF SLEDS, CAUSE WE'RE GOING DOWN THE SAME DECLINE. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CASES WHEN WE CAN TEST THE AGE-OLD SAYING, THAT WHEN THE UNITED STATES GETS A COLD, CANADIANS START COUGHING. SO WHAT ABOUT CONSTIPATION. LET'S JUST SAY, WE HOPE IT ALL SHOWS UP AS RHETORIC AND OVER EMBELLISHING OF FISCAL DISASTER……AND NOT THE GENUINE RECESSION CRITICS ARE WARNING ABOUT. TALK ABOUT A SCUD ON THE HEAD. 

     SOME OF MY CONTEMPORARIES IN THE CRITIQUING GAME, PROBABLY THINK I DISLIKE TOWN POLITICIANS. I'M SURE THERE ARE COUNCILLORS WHO FEEL THIS WAY, AND I WOULDN'T BLAME THEM FOR FEELING THIS WAY. IT ISN'T TRUE, BY THE WAY,……THE PART ABOUT ME DISLIKING COUNCILLORS…..WHO ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES TO BLAME FOR SOME OF THE SITUATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING IN AND AROUND TOWN HALL, FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THEIR PRESENT FOUR YEAR TERM OF OFFICE. ADMITTEDLY, THEY HAVE HAD QUITE A NUMBER OF CONTENTIOUS SITUATIONS TO DEAL WITH, ALMOST FROM THE BEGINNING OF THEIR TERM, AND I HAVE TO GIVE THEM ALL CREDIT FOR STICKING IT OUT THIS FAR. I HONESTLY BELIEVED, WE'D LOSE ONE OR TWO AS THE TERM PROGRESSED, BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME NASTY MOMENTS, AND SOME HARD FEELINGS……THAT DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ME. I COME FROM AN OLD SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY, THAT IT IS NEVER GOOD TO QUIT A JOB, MID-STREAM. LIKE THE FLAG BEARER HEADING UP LITTLE ROUND-TOP, AT GETTYSBURG; THE FLAG MUST NOT HIT THE GROUND. IF IT DOES, BY INCIDENT, THEN IT IS PICKED UP BY THE NEXT IN LINE, AND SO ON, AND SO ON, UNTIL THE BATTLE IS FINALLY WON, A RETREAT ORDERED, OR A FULL DEFEAT RECORDED. WHAT I SEE IN GRAVENHURST, IS A WILLINGNESS TO TAKE THE HEAT, FROM THE PUBLIC, AND CARRY ON DOING WHAT THE ELECTORATE WANTED IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO I MUST TIP MY TOP HAT, TO EACH COUNCILLOR AND THE MAYOR, WHO HAVE WITHSTOOD A PRETTY FAIR SHELLACKING, OVER TWO YEARS, AND STILL APPEAR READY FOR THE REST OF THE CHALLENGE. I ADMIRE THIS. THERE ARE A LOT OF CRITICS TAKING POT SHOTS, NOT JUST ME. SO STICKING-IT-OUT SHOWS CONSIDERABLE COURAGE. BUT THE DANCE ISN'T OVER JUST YET.

     I GREW UP THROUGH MY OWN PRESS YEARS, WORKING FOR PUBLISHERS WHO WERE RUTHLESS, IN THEIR OWN PECULIAR WAYS, NEVER LETTING A STORY DIE BECAUSE OF A LESSER WILL TO DO THE REPORTING JOB REQUIRED. IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE AN APPETITE FOR THE ASSIGNMENT, YOU WERE TOLD TO HAND IT OFF TO SOMEONE ELSE, POSSESSING MORE GRIT. NEVER LET A POLITICIAN WIGGLE OFF THE HOOK! ESPECIALLY IF THE SCOOP SMELLS LIKE A WINNER. THE FRONT-PAGE STORY, BENEATH THE DOUBLE-BANKED HEADLINE. WHAT I SEE TODAY, IS A VERY KIND AND DECENT HANDLING OF COUNCILLORS IN THIS TOWN, WHO HAVE NEVER REALLY BEEN FULLY SCRUTINIZED; AS THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, OR FURTHER BACK. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS, OF COURSE, IS THAT COUNCIL ITSELF, GETS USED TO BEING GENTLY, LAZILY ROLLED-OFF STORIES, THEY MAY HAVE WISHED UNDER WRAPS. THIS, INSTEAD OF BEING AGGRESSIVELY, AND FORCEFULLY REMOVED FROM ANY KIND OF CONCEALMENT ACTIVITY. ALL OF US REPORTERS HAD OUR SHARE OF SOURCES, INSIDE TOWN HALL, AND WE FOLLOWED THEM UP WITH GREAT VIGOR AND ENTHUSIASM. WE ALL WANTED FRONT PAGE SCOOPS. IT WAS THE NAME OF THE GAME. IT DIDN'T PUT EXTRA MONEY IN THE PAY PACKET EACH WEEK, BUT IT KEPT US INVIGORATED AND INSPIRED…..AND THESE STORIES WERE USED IN OUR PORTFOLIOS, WHEN WE FINALLY WENT FOR OTHER BIGGER PAYING REPORTING GIGS. POINT IS, AND I KNOW I'VE STATED THIS PREVIOUSLY, BUT THERE ARE A FEW GRAVENHURST COUNCILLORS RIGHT NOW, WHO KNOW WHAT I'M REFERRING TO…….WHEN THE PRESS HAD MUCH SHARPER TEETH, AND DIDN'T FEAR BITING DOWN HARD, AND RIPPING OFF HUNKS OF FLESH. THIS SAME COUNCIL, TIME WARPED BACK TWENTY YEARS, WOULD BE MUCH MORE RAGGED AND DESPERATE FOR GOOD PRESS, THAN THEY ARE IN THE PRESENT TENSE. THERE ARE SOME GREAT REALITIES OF A SHARP PENNED PRESS. CALL IT FORCED TRANSPARENCY, OR ELSE. IT'S CERTAINLY GOOD FOR CITIZENS, WHO WISH AN UNCENSORED ASSESSMENT, OF WHAT IS GOING ON AT TOWN HALL. WHEN IT COMES TO VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE HOWEVER, YOU CAN EXPECT THE PREFERENCE TO BE…."NO, THERE'S NOTHING GOING ON HERE OF INTEREST." THE NEWS SLEUTHING ENVIRONMENT ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE, SO WE HAVE TO COUNT ON COUNCILLORS TO BE HONEST WITH US……..REALLY !

WHAT'S IN STORE FOR THE COMING YEAR

       There are two huge issues facing the Town of Gravenhurst this year, if you want my honest appraisal of the events yet to come. The first will be the annual budget hacking and whacking, which will have to take into consider, the first year (almost) of the newly refurbished Recreation Centre……and how much of a burden it is going to be on the citizens who don't use the facility for any number of reasons…….such as being cottagers, absent for most of the year. And of course, those who won't afford the luxury of attending. There are many residents out there, who simply won't attend the facility, because of their economic circumstance. Even if there are subsidy arrangements, for those of lesser incomes, having to apply for entry, based on economic disadvantage, can be very embarrassing to applicants…..and stop them from attending anything, even if it would prove to their general disadvantage. I'm predicting the town will have to revamp some of their expectations about the facility, and if there is a worsening economic situation, nationally, and then locally, God forbid another whiplash of recession, then a much deeper revamp will be necessary, to keep the taxpayers from marching on town hall.

       The next major issue, of course, will be the proposal being put forth by the local uptown revitalization group, the BIA, to Town Council, later this spring, to back a proposed expansion of the present commercial zone, to include a huge swath of main street commerce, which would likely be close to a tripling of its present size. As I predicted earlier, the seeds of dissension are already sprouting, and it's likely the BIA plan for expansion, will be met with considerable opposition. My hope is that the Town of Gravenhurst will recognize the enormity of the issue, and handle the proposal with the utmost respect for full transparency, and democratic procedure, to allow public debate on the issue….and not just from those immediately affected by the expansion. This is a town issue, not just confined to the BIA. The group has the right to make the proposal, but not to circumnavigate democratic perusal. 

      These two main issues, will be the tests that keep repeating, like garlic and peppers, for the next two years. Count on it. It's going to take some cool heads, the ability to get tough, stay firm, be willing to negotiate, compromise where needed, and to be constantly open, to the will of the people. For our Town Council, it could be a wonderful opportunity, to shake off the problems of the past two years, and finish the next two years of this term, resolved to improve-upon what went so wrong minutes after the swearing-in ceremony. And in case they don't remember, for a while…..it was pretty much a case of everything going wrong, and at once. There were ratepayers calling for resignations of councillors in the first six months of the first term. I'm pleased that councillors hung in there, to fight another day. In the case of the upcoming BIA expansion talks, there are some interesting perspectives yet to be heard, and I believe the BIA, as it exists today, is going to run head-long into formidable opposition. They have a chance to deal with these issues before making a full public presentation. From that point, there will be little going back on this……and a failure to deploy, will only hurt what the BIA believes it has accomplished to this point in its history. They should have been perceptive enough, from the beginning of the expansion talks, to appreciate the prevailing commercial sentiment is not exactly in their favor. It would be a real shame, if they steadfastly refused to look at the negative impact, of getting into a major battle with other commercial areas, not wanting any part of this inclusion. This is a battle that need not happen. The town can stop this now, by making it clear to the BIA, that nothing is imminent…..because some proponents seem to feel it's going to be a community "happening." This is raising tensions needlessly. I'm sure there will be ample discussion time. If not, there is likely to be a court challenge.

     Town Council could ease the situation, by insisting the matter be deferred, until their is full public disclosure, about the impact, such an expansion will have on new member property owners and businesses. What was wrong here, is that the expansion situation wasn't handled by the town as it should have……if they were genuinely interested in a smooth transition. By allowing the BIA to promote this plan, without even having one information meeting, hosted by the town, and for affected property owners and businesses, the horse, as the saying goes, "is long gone"……so closing the barn door now is a little redundant. So it's going to be pretty hard at present, to calm dissenters, when it appears the town is allowing the BIA to call the shots. This is what some folks, in the target area, are feeling, and this isn't right. I hope before it becomes one of the those front page stories, beneath the double or triple banked, bold headlines, that a compromise can be made suitable to all parties…..at least for the negotiations in the future. It doesn't need to get ugly. But it will, if precautions aren't taken now.

     I am still a council supporter. I want them to lead us into the future. I'd just like them to pay a little more attention to democratic protocols for the public……under the terms of transparency, and our rights to know……stuff.

     I wish Town Council, Town Staff, and all constituents of this fine town, a very Happy New Year…..good health, safe journeys…..and future prosperity. And thank you all so much for making this 2012 blog project so successful. I started off with a plan to get a hundred readers a day. I have at times, in the past few days, quadrupled that expectation. So I think I'll stick around for a while longer.  With kindest regards. From Birch Hollow.

Gravenhurst History Items Worth Big Bucks

BUT HERE'S WHERE GRAVENHURST SHINES - AND I BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW IT!

MUSKOKA ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES?  GRAVENHURST HERITAGE ITEMS AMONGST THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER, YEAR IN, YEAR OUT!

     I'M AN "OLD FART OF AN ANTIQUE DEALER." THIS IS WHAT MY LOVELY WIFE AND BUSINESS PARTNER CALLS ME THESE DAYS. WHICH IS BETTER THAN WHEN SHE USED TO REFER TO ME AS……"OLD JOE," IN FOND RESEMBLANCE, AFTER THE DICKENSIAN CHARACTER, FROM "A CHRISTMAS CAROL." OLD JOE OPERATED THE CLUTTERED SECOND HAND SHOP, WHERE SCROOGE'S MAIDS, AND THE UNDERTAKER, TOOK THEIR STOLEN GOODS TO SELL, AFTER THE DEATH OF THE OLD SKIN FLINT.

    I SELL A LOT OF MUSKOKA RELATED COLLECTIBLES, MEMORABILIA AND ANTIQUES WITH PROVENANCE. I BEGAN SELLING OUT-OF-PRINT MUSKOKA BOOKS, ORIGINALLY, BACK IN THE EARLY 1970'S, AND ALTHOUGH THE MARKET FOR VINTAGE REGIONAL HISTORIES HAS DECLINED SOMEWHAT, I ALWAYS HAVE A SUPPLY OF LOCAL HISTORIES IN RESERVE. WHAT HELPED TO SOFTEN THE MARKET, WAS WHEN A NUMBER OF REPRINTS WERE ISSUED OF THE ORIGINAL TEXTS, INCLUDING THE MUSKOKA GUIDEBOOK AND ATLAS. IN THIS CASE, I WAS SELLING SOME EARLY 1970'S HARDCOVER REPRINTS……ONE A NUMBERED VERSION, IN BLACK I BELIEVE, AND A GENERAL CIRCULATION ISSUE, WITH A BLUE COVER. THE SMALL PRINTING KEPT PRICES HIGH UNTIL THE LATE 1990'S, WHEN ANOTHER REPRINT BEGAN DRIVING PRICES LOWER. I OFTEN SOLD THE NUMBERED COPIES FOR $125 EACH, AND THE BLUE COVER, GENERAL PRINTING, FOR $75.00.  GADS, I WAS MAKING SUBSTANTIAL PROFITS BUILDING MUSKOKA REFERENCE LIBRARIES FOR MY COLLECTOR FRIENDS. I EARNED MY PROFITS, BECAUSE I HAD TO TRAVEL THOUSANDS OF MILES BACK THEN, TO GATHER UP MUSKOKA HISTORIES FROM BOOK SHOPS ALL OVER SOUTHERN ONTARIO.

     FROM THE ONSET OF THE 1990'S, A LARGE PART OF OUR DAY TO DAY BUSINESS, WAS THE HUNT FOR RARE MUSKOKA COLLECTIBLES. WE HAD BUYERS FOR BOOKS, EVEN BEFORE WE FOUND THEM. I'VE SOLD SO MUCH STUFF SINCE, I ONLY HAVE A FAINT MEMORY OF ALL THE IMPORTANT RELICS THAT PASSED THROUGH OUR SHOP DOORS…..AND OTHER PIECES THAT WE SOLD ONLINE FOR MORE THAN TEN YEARS. AS I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, SOME OF THE MILESTONE PIECES INCLUDED A SPECIAL INVOICE AND BOAT REPAIR "CARD" FILE CABINET, ONCE IN THE MINETT SHIELDS BOAT WORKS, IN BRACEBRIDGE. IT STILL CONTAINED DOZENS OF MINETT SHIELDS WORK ORDERS, STAMPED WITH THE BOAT-BUILDERS' NAME, WITH INDICATIONS ABOUT THE WORK COMPLETED, AND THE EMPLOYEE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THIS WAS SOLD TO AN ADMIRER OF MINETT-SHIELDS BOATS. THE SECOND GEM, WAS A BENCH FROM THE SAGAMO, WE PURCHASED AT AN AUCTION IN WINDERMERE. WE ALSO PURCHASED A LARGE WHACK OF GLASS SLIDES, DURING THIS SAME SALE, IN THE VILLAGE, WITH MANY PHOTOGRAPHS OF WIGWASSAN LODGE, ON TOBIN'S ISLAND. WE SOLD MOST OF THE COLLECTION OFF, BUT KEPT SEVERAL KEEPSAKE IMAGES OF THE WIGWASSAN DITCHBURNS, WHICH WERE KNOWN AS "WIGGY I," WIGGY 2," AND "WIGGY 3." IN SEVERAL OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS, THERE ARE IMAGES, FEATURING ONE OF THESE BEAUTIFUL DITCHBURNS, PULLING WATER SKIERS.

     I HAVE APPRAISED MUSKOKA RELATED ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES FOR SEVERAL REGIONAL MUSEUMS, AND HAVE BEEN CONSULTED MANY TIMES, PRIVATELY, ABOUT SIGNIFICANT COLLECTIONS OF LOCAL MEMORABILIA…..AND WE'VE PURCHASED A NUMBER OF THEM, INCLUDING A LARGE COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE 1920'S TO 1950'S, FROM A COTTAGER ON BROWNING ISLAND. WE HAVE A LOT OF NEGATIVES, AND MANY IMAGES OF THE MUSKOKA LAKES STEAMSHIPS IN PASSAGE…….AND SOMETIMES MOORED TOGETHER TO EXCHANGE FREIGHT, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LAKE. WE DON'T POSSESS AS MUCH AS WE ONCE DID, BUT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ANTIQUE BUSINESS……ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'VE BEEN WORKING IN THE FIELD SINCE THE LATE 1970'S, WHICH WAS FROM MY FIRST BRACEBRIDGE SHOP, ON MANITOBA STREET, KNOWN AS OLD MILL ANTIQUES.

GRAVENHURST IS A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE OLD MUSKOKA STUFF GAME

     It may surprise some Gravenhurst folks, to know that our town's heritage, is highly sought after by Muskoka collectors. Rabid Muskoka collectors! I've been one myself, and I've met a lot of up and coming collector obsessives, who have found a great deal of enjoyment collecting regional antique and nostalgia items. Right now, Muskoka pieces, with full provenance, are attracting huge prices on the open market. The Toronto market is certainly where it's happening most of all. The demand is larger than I've ever known it, and demand appears to be insatiable.

      It just so happens, that Gravenhurst is amongst the best of the best, when it comes to the most expensive pieces coming for sale these days. In my well tutored experience, the huge increase in marine heritage regionally, has pushed both the Navigation Company, as it existed, and the major boat works, like Ditchburn, into the nose-bleed section of price escalation. The Greavette Boat Works memorabilia is close behind. There are a lot of steamship heritage items out there, and whether it is a Sagamo inscribed spoon, or Navigation Company hotel-ware, the asking prices are staggering……well beyond anything I could have imagined, when I began selling these type of collectibles, in my early years of antique hunting. If you have engraved, stamped, or marked pieces with the Navigation Company crest, you have amongst the most collectible items of all the regional fare. In a parallel, are any items similarly marked or attributed to Ditchburn Boats…..including the launches themselves. Our only claim here is a distant memory now. Suzanne's parents used to own the second longest Ditchburn ever built, known as the Shirl-evon, which was used by staff at the Windermere Marina, when the Stripps owned it, to deliver luggage and cottagers, heading over to Tobin's Island from the mainland. Gravenhurst is definitely in the forefront, in terms of value of collectibles, for these two well known industries from the past.

     Of course, crested items from Windermere House, (Lake Rosseau) the Royal Muskoka, (also Lake Rosseau) and Bigwin Inn, (Lake of Bays), also attract substantial prices from Muskoka collectible dealers. Additionally, other boat works are also in high demand, ongoing, including Minnett-Shields and Duke Boats. Muskoka postcards are a huge and active collecting enterprise, and resorts and steamships are amongst the biggest sellers. Prices for original documents, with key Muskoka businesses, especially the steamships, and boat-works, have escalated annually, over the past ten years, and the sale of original photographs of boats, trains, and resort life, have also gone through the roof. Even items like Windermere Dairy cans, in short supply, and stamped crocks, for local mercantile enterprises, can easily hit from between two hundred to six hundred dollars per item. I have heard stories about crested Muskoka hotel-ware chamber pots, being sold for half a grand, because of their rarity.

     One of the most coveted collectible items, today, is an original Kee Poster, from Bala, from its heyday. The bigger the performer, like Louis Armstrong, the bigger the price. In fact, there are many reprints out there that are basically worthless…..at least in my appraisal. I hate seeing things like this happen, but where there's big money, there's an urge to duplicate for profit. I am careful to avoid all such reproduction situations, and they do happen with increasing regularity these days. It started off with poor blow-up reproductions of area postcards, which I have always refused to have in my shop or possession. We will only deal with original items, that can be authenticated.

     Brown's Beverages was known throughout the District of Muskoka, and its vintage bottles are still highly sought after by collectors. In the last year or so, I sold a good condition seltzer bottle, with a big and beautiful "J.D. Brown," labelled on the front, and engraved on the chrome seltzer top. I have a really neat, 1970's Brown's Beverages ginger ale bottle, with the stretched neck, as they did with 7-Up as a sales gimmick. It's just a great piece that I'll show you in a future blog…..if and when I can get son Robert to take a digital image. I've never seen another one like it, but I'm assuming they did more than one as a company promotion. It will sell eventually for about fifty bucks. I recently sold a Santa's Village collectible, with two carved bears, for forty dollars. It was one that I had never seen before, which as a rabid Muskoka collector, means it's one of only a few available out there on the hustings.

     We currently have a Bigwin Inn, labelled Bird's Blanket, I believe it is……sort of a double blessing, in that it is from a local resort and a local industry at the same time. We usually have four or five Birds Woollen Mill Blankets in, at our shop, as they are still popular amongst the cottagers. The Bird's Mill was in Bracebridge, which dated back to the late 1880's, and the cottage community was a huge economic boost to the industry well into the 1900's. In many of the old family cottages, you can find a collection of Birds wool blankets still in the cupboards. Suzanne and I used to run the Bird's museum in Bracebridge, known as Woodchester Villa, back in our wild days of too much energy…..too few hours in the day.

     There are thousands of significant Muskoka heirloom, heritage pieces out there, yet to be discovered. Maybe you have some you'd like to sell off. We welcome consignments, if we can't afford to buy it outright, and frankly, some of the pieces are so costly, we probably couldn't afford the luxury. But there are lots of buyers out there, who are more than a little desirous, of getting navigation and boat building nostalgia, from chrome decorations, and logos, to old brochures and postcards. In addition, if you have an interesting piece, that isn't marked, but you can prove belonged to a steamship, or that was on a Ditchburn, or Greavette launch, provenance is just as important as an actual crest in most cases. Our Sagamo bench, did not have a name imprinted, or a stamp to identify positively, that it came from this Gravenhurst steamship. But the chap we purchased it from, who was well known for his navigation connections, had the provenance to prove its past use. The bench sold in one day, from our Bracebridge shop.

     There are other significant Muskoka related collectibles, that should be mentioned, including railway memorabilia, that have Muskoka as a destination; or have local stops registered on a schedule….or train station map or poster, showing connections with Navigation Company steamships at Muskoka Wharf. This is the same for Bala and Lake Joseph stations, two highly desirable and valuable poster schedules.

     We have an original fold-up showcase / counter from the former Bush IDA in Gravenhurst, and another cabinet with glass door, that apparently was from one of the oldest hotels in Gravenhurst…..which may have been the Queen's. We do believe it held liquor, as we have seen similar cases, in old photographs of other hotels, in Ontario, from around the same time. We also possess an old showcase from the Windermere Marina, from its earliest days, connected to Windermere House. A few years ago we owned a section of the original Windermere House post boxes…..all brass fixtures with bevelled glass windows in each of the door windows. My prize, was a hand carved battleship, about two feet long, that had been crafted by a solider, in the Calydor German Prisoner of War Camp, here in Gravenhurst. It was traded for a bottle of liquor, through the fence, or at least the story goes. I sold it to an American collector more than a decade ago. One of the pitfalls of being a dealer but also a very obsessed collector. To keep collecting, yup, we have to keep selling.

     The biggest one that got away? The dealer colleague who sold off an original Ditchburn Boat Works company seal, (levered device to make paper imprints), for a hundred bucks. This would be worth from between six hundred and a thousand dollars by today's collecting interest. So if you think you might have something of interest, to my collector friends, well, don't be a stranger. If you want a rough appraisal, feel free to send me an image of the item(s), or description. Or better still, when you're in the vicinity of our main street shop, here in Gravenhurst, bring it in for a free appraisal. The cost to you……that I am at least able to make note of it, in my book of Muskoka collectibles……which is of critical importance for any appraiser…..and author of stories like this.

     Just thought Gravenhurst folks might like to know, just how popular our town and its history is these days, in the steaming hot collectible market…..which has, by the way, traversed through quite a number of economic down-turns, and is still active, and escalating, in values, for the most coveted pieces. As for the treasure remaining? I'm willing to bet, the best finds are yet to come, as more people become aware of the gold-mine their sitting-on here in Gravenhurst. Look around. Maybe it's time to part with that Sagamo silver "sugar and cream set"…… or the Ditchburn sign you've got mounted on the family room wall.

     Hope everything is going well for you, on the cusp of a great New Year. Ours will be a quiet family celebration, with good food and beverage, and this cozy old hearth, where we will spend many winter nights this coming New Year. Thanks for visiting. Wrap-up, because the forecast is for a big chill coming.

The Color of Gravenhurst; Did You Know About Our P.O.W. Camp?

A SKETCH OF GRAVENHURST FROM THE YEAR 1871 - BY THOMAS MCMURRAY

FIRST CREDIT BESTOWED ON GRAVENHURST FOR ITS EARLY SIGNS OF PROGRESS

     "TEN YEARS AGO (1861), THE PRESENT SITE OF THE VILLAGE OF GRAVENHURST, WAS A WILDERNESS OF PINES, WHICH FLOURISHED IN ALL THEIR PRIMEVAL GRANDEUR. BUT, AS THE RESOURCES AND ADVANTAGES OF THE COUNTRY BECAME GRADUALLY KNOWN TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD, EAGER IMMIGRANTS FROM THE MOTHER COUNTRY AND LAND SEEKERS FROM THE OLDER SETTLEMENTS, CAME HERE; AMONGST THOSE, MESSRS. JAS. SHARP, SENIOR; DAVID WRIGHT, JOSEPH BROCK, EDWARD AND JAMES HEWITT, AND JAS. MCCABE, THE LAST NAMED PARTY ALSO BEING PROPRIETOR OF THE 'FREE MASONS ARMS,' HOTEL. THE PROGRESS OF GRAVENHURST AND VICINITY WAS NECESSARILY SLOW FOR A FEW YEARS," WRITES MCMURRAY, IN HIS SETTLERS' GUIDEBOOK, ENTITLED "MUSKOKA AND PARRY SOUND."

     I'M WORKING TONIGHT, FROM AN ORIGINAL PRINTING OF MCMURRAY'S BOOK, THAT ONCE BELONGED TO THE SHEA FAMILY OF UFFORD; FOLKS COUNTED AMONGST THE FIRST HOMESTEADERS IN THE VICINITY OF THREE MILE LAKE, NEAR WINDERMERE. THE BOOK WAS GIVEN TO ME BY MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, HARRIETT STRIPP, DAUGHTER OF JOHN SHEA, A FORMER MUNICIPAL CLERK IN THE PRESENT TOWNSHIP OF MUSKOKA LAKES. HER BROTHER, BERT SHEA, WAS A WELL KNOWN REGIONAL HISTORIAN, WHO PUBLISHED TWO OUTSTANDING BOOKS OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY HISTORY, THAT I HAVE OFTEN USED IN MY MUSKOKA RESEARCH PROJECTS.

     "MESSRS. P. COCKBURN & SON, COMMENCING LUMBERING OPERATIONS IN THE COUNTRY DURING THE WINTER OF 1865-66, GAVE AN IMPETUS TO INDUSTRY AND ADVANCEMENT PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN; THEY PURCHASED LOGS FROM THE SETTLERS AND GAVE THEM EMPLOYMENT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, SOON CONVINCING THE INHABITANTS THAT PINE TREES WERE USEFUL FOR OTHER PURPOSES THAN BEING BURNT INTO ASHES. MR. A.P. COCKBURN, M.P.P., CONTRIBUTED VERY MATERIALLY ABOUT THIS TIME, TO THE WELFARE AND PROGRESS OF THE SETTLEMENT, BY PLACING A STEAMER ON MUSKOKA LAKE, BUILT NEAR GRAVEHURST WHARF, AND KNOWN AS THE 'WENONAH; HE ALSO OPENED A GENERAL STORE DISTINGUISHED AS THE 'MONTREAL STORE,' - SINCE THAT THE COUNTRY HAS STEADILY PROGRESSED."

     MCMURRAY WRITES THAT, "GRAVENHURST IS PLEASANTLY SITUATED ON A GENTLE DECLIVITY BETWEEN MUSKOKA BAY AND GULL LAKE; IT IS DISTANT FROM TORONTO, 106 MILES; FROM ORILLIA, 26 MILES; FROM SEVERN BRIDGE, 12 MILES; AND FROM BRACEBRIDGE, 11 MILES. IT IS CONNECTED WITH LAKE COUCHICHING BY A NEW PLANK AND GRAVEL ROAD CONSTRUCTED DURING THE PAST SUMMER. THE PRINCIPAL BUILDINGS ARE BROWN'S HOTEL, MR. COOPER'S NEW BUILDING, THE QUEEN'S HOTEL, THE STORES OF MESSRS. COCKBURN AND CO., A STEAM SAWMILL; A PLANING MACHINE AND SASH AND DOOR FACTORY, ARE ALSO TO BE RUN IN CONNECTION WITH THE SAW-MILL."

     "A.P. COCKBURN, ESQ., IS CONSTRUCTING A FINE NEW STEAMER ON MUSKOKA BAY, WHICH HE EXPECTS TO LAUNCH IN THE MONTH OF APRIL NEXT. I MIGHT MENTION THAT JAMES SHARPE, SENIOR, IS GENERAL AGENT FOR THE DIFFERENT STEAMERS AND THE 'UNION LINE' AT GRAVENHURST," RECORDED MCMURRAY IN HIS TEXT. "THE LUMBERING FIRM OF HOTCHKISS, HUGHSON & CO., HAVE AN OFFICE AT THIS POINT. THE ONLY PLACES OF WORSHIP, AT PRESENT, ARE THE ENGLISH CHURCH, AND SCHOOL HOUSE. TWO NEW CHURCHES AND A PUBLIC HALL ARE IN CONTEMPLATION. THE MEDICAL PROFESSION IS REPRESENTED BY DR. J. ADAMS, OF NOVA SCOTIA. AMONGST THE EXPECTATIONS ARE THE TORONTO, SIMCOE AND MUSKOKA JUNCTION RAILWAY, AND A BRANCH OF THE MONTREAL TELEGRAPH LINE (COMING SOON). BEING SITUATED AT THE FOOT OF NAVIGATION, GRAVENHURST DOES A LARGE AND INCREASING TRADE. THE STEAMER WENONAH CALLS AT THE WHARF TWICE EACH DAY. THE VILLAGE IS FAVORED WITH A DAILY MAIL, WITH A THROUGH MAIL FROM TORONTO DURING THE SEASON OF NAVIGATION."

SO WHY ARE THERE SO FEW EARLY GRAVENHURST OBSERVATIONS - ABOUT WHAT KIND OF TOWN WAS BUDDING IN SOUTH MUSKOKA

     I have thought about this a lot, frankly, and I have some untested, unchallenged theories. First of all, particularly after the announcement of the Free Land Grants program, from about 1868 onward, Gravenhurst became a significant arrival and departure location. It was a conduit to the rest of the District of Muskoka. When exhausted settlers arrived in Gravenhurst, especially those who had come from Europe in the weeks before, and who had few provisions and resources, but big hopes, Gravenhurst was just another stop on a monstrously long and difficult journey to the homestead acreage. For many years to follow, passengers, whether by stage-coach, roughly appointed cart, or later by train, wanted to get on with their land-seeking adventures…..and didn't wish to dawdle here. I have read more than thirty outstanding accounts, referencing their passage to the Muskoka interior, and on most occasions, mention of the stop in Gravenhurst is particularly thin and unremarkable….yet from what McMurray indicates, in 1871, and the Guidebook and Atlas (quoted in my last blog), profiled at some length, of the local commerce and industry, thriving in 1879, there must have been something worth writing about, in a personal journal…..other than "arrived in Gravenhurst, then departed by steamship." Yet this is the most often quoted observation, but it is known Gravenhurst was a bustling, noisy, industrious place in those formative years, of a District-wide settlement boom. Whether it was the case, Gravenhurst was too noisy, and too industrious, to wax poetic about, I can only surmise……but there is no question a lot was happening here during those years, that would have suggested to the voyeur, money was being made by some enterprising folks at least.

     The connection with the logging industry could also be a factor. It was an aggressive, sprawling, intrusive, and noisy enterprise, and in Muskoka Bay, there are a lot of stories, and photographs in existence, about the crowding of the waterway with logs. It may not have been the kind of attractive vista sportsmen, early tourists, settlers and commuters in general, were interested in writing about…..and artists didn't wish to sketch, as it was a rather stark scene, with a lot of the white pine clear-cut from the shoreline. It certainly was in very stark contrast, to the scene a few miles out of Muskoka Bay, and into the wider Muskoka Lake, where journal writers I've studied, do begin making scenery references, especially on the approach to the mouth of the Muskoka River, and the route up to Bracebridge, to the north.

     The characters connected to the lumbering and logging enterprise were a rough lot, and there are many stories told, about the aggressive behavior of these workers, after the spring drive, coming into Gravenhurst to enjoy what was left of their money, after paying the camp store. One such story, I believe, was published in the journal entitled "From Logging Camp to the Ministry." Seeing as we had lumbering employees for a good chunk of the year, and they worked and lived hard, it's a characteristic we may have downplayed over the decades. And yes, they were often guilty of over consumption of alcohol. The influences of the lumber industry are difficult to prove, without corroborating evidence……such as private journals and stories written by reporters, indicating just how rough it could get between the work places and the local hotels. It certainly isn't to imply Gravenhurst was cursed by the evil side of the lumbering industry, but it did possess an industrial character that many of the other Muskoka communities didn't, at the same time in their development. From a passerby's point of view, Gravenhurst had huge industrial capabilities, from logging, lumbering, transportation, rail and steamship, to assorted large and small boat building. Visually, and for quite a few decades, the village looked like a small city neighborhood, with residences only a short distance from major industrial operations. This was likely not what the settlers expected, when they heard or read about the opening of free grant lands. Gravenhurst was the place to arrive and depart, and the journey for a majority of travelers, didn't end in our town. There were many anxious miles to yet to travel.

     Gravenhurst would very early, in its history, earn a reputation as a hub of industry and transportation for the entire region; of critical importance to both the province and the federal government, watching the progress and success of the incoming settlers, carving out those hundred acre plus homesteads across the massive district. Both levels of government gambled on the successes they hoped to achieve, even before launching the land grant program. Many settlers did fail. But enough survived and turned forests into working homesteads, that both governments, in the 1880's, as is recorded in Agricultural Commission minutes, were declaring the effort a profitable venture, and full of future potential for the adverse landscape to the north. This was especially the case, when the governments would look at extending the grants even further across Canada, to foster settlement……justifying the future construction of the ribbon of rail, to bind the regions together. This was based, in part, on the success of the Muskoka experiment.

     When the clean air and healthy climate later, in the town's history, inspired the interest of the medical community, to establish Tubercular Sanatoriums in Gravenhurst, there was unspecified trepidation, as you might expect, bringing an aggressive, contagious disease close to the populated areas of the fledgling community. It may not have generated great protests in the streets, but it was a whispered about situation, none the less. Many settlers and inhabitants generally, of our fair little burg, would have understood what it meant to be diagnosed with tuberculosis, and have heard embellished stories about how the sickness ravaged the lungs…..unto a painful death. Tubercular patients from outside the area were being brought to Gravenhurst for treatment. To my knowledge, Bracebridge did not have even one Sanatorium, at a time when Gravenhurst was becoming a booming treatment centre, with multiple locations……a trend and characteristic that would reach into the modern era. But the early success rate treating tuberculosis was not great. So it's understandable that some folks visiting or passing through Gravenhurst, wondered about such things…..and may have even wished a speedy meeting and departure.

     Consider also, how many communities in the entire country…..in North America, played host to German Prisoners of War, from 1940 to 1946, and all the connotations and realities that stirs up. It must have been pretty significant, because the stigma has lasted all these years. You will definitely find a book on the Calydor Prisoner of War camp (which was in my neighborhood here in town), written by Gravenhurst Historian, Cecil Porter, but you won't find an historical plaque anywhere on the former camp property……despite the efforts of some in this community, to influence the town to apply for a suitable heritage marker. I suppose it is considered a politically incorrect thing to do……to erect a marker acknowledging a former POW camp, but not to the German tourists who visit…..who often ask us, at our main street shop, how they can get to it, for a little visit.

      I don't think there is any conclusive answer, to why there aren't more observational profiles of Gravenhurst, certainly written in the period from the late 1850's though to the 1950's. Honest, no holds barred opinions, such as the ones that would have been written in personal journals or in letters to loved ones and family. I'd like to know what these casual visitors, and even dawdlers, thought about Gravenhurst…..and reasons why. If they attended an event, I'd love to know what they felt about the day….the people, the accommodations, the food, services, and friends made along the way. This may seem trivial to some, but to historians, looking for the color, to impose upon the present black and white images……it's worth all the work to dig these untutored, honest, naive observation out of reims of paper heritage. Canadian author, Wayland "Buster" Drew, used to tell me about steaming on the Sagamo, as a youngster, past the Prisoner of War Camp, at Calydor…..abutting Muskoka Bay, and the bandmaster, Charlie Musgrave, I believe it was, playing "There Will Always Be An England," to taunt the German soldiers, swimming in the barbed wire enclosure. Wayland was on his way to the Muskoka Beach Resort, which of course became the Muskoka Sands and then, the present "Taboo," Resort on Muskoka Beach Road.

     All these little gems of personal observation are important to possess, in conjunction with the hard facts of real history. One needs the other to form the true dynamic of heritage conserved.

     Once again, I wish to thank everyone who has taken the time to visit this blog over the past month, which has at times, boosted the number per day, to well over 600 readers. The number has dropped somewhat, as we approach New Years, but I'm happy to say, my audience is still hovering between 400 and 500 each day…..which, honestly, makes me blush. I hope I can continue to earn your trust, as a local Muskoka historian and writer……..hoping to continue my blogs well into the New Year. Thanks again for you support. I do not take it for granted. That's why I'm working on some exciting new stuff for the coming year.  Better bundle up. It's going to get pretty chilly by the turn of the year. I need to get out there and hustle-up some firewood. My indoor supply is getting pretty low. Farewell for now!

The Historical Legacy We Deserve In Gravenhurst

THE OBVIOUS NEGLECT OF GRAVENHURST IN THE FIRST BOOKS WRITTEN ON MUSKOKA

DID THE "JUMPING-OFF" ASPECT, HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT

     NO MATTER WHERE I DROVE THIS MORNING, IN GRAVENHURST,  IT WAS BRIGHT AND CHEERFUL. SURE, THERE WERE A FEW CARS OFF THE ROAD, ON THE COUNTRY LANES, AND I SAW A COUPLE OF SMALL FENDER-BENDERS, ONE RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. BUT THERE WERE MORE SLEDDERS AND SNOW-BALLERS, IN EVIDENCE, THAN SAD FACED MOTORISTS, WITH BURIED CARS. AFTER THE EVENING'S SNOWFALL, IT LOOKED LIKE EITHER A GROUP OF SEVEN LANDSCAPE, OR A PAINTING NORMAN ROCKWELL MIGHT HAVE COMPOSED, LOOKING AT THE FOLKS, PARCELS UNDER THEIR ARMS, PARKA HOODS PULLED-UP TIGHT, WALKING AND SLIPPING ALONG THE SNOWY MAIN STREET. I HAD REASON TO STOP THE CAR IN NUMEROUS LOCATIONS, EARLIER IN THE DAY, WHILE FAMILY MEMBERS TENDED BUSINESS; AND MADE VARIOUS POST CHRISTMAS PURCHASES. NO RETURNS THIS YEAR! I WAS SITTING THERE, LISTENING TO THE CLASSICAL MUSIC ON CBC 2, AND HONESTLY, THE SCENES I WAS WATCHING OUT OVER, LOOKED MAGNIFICENT ON THEIR OWN….BUT WITH MOZART, AS A BACKDROP, WELL, WITHOUT EMBELLISHMENT……THE SCENES WITH ALL THE CHARACTERISTIC HUMAN INTRUSIONS, AND NON-STOP VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, INCLUDING THE ADORNMENTS OF THE STREET SCAPE, MADE THE PANORAMA SEEM SO INCREDIBLY NOSTALGIC AND SENTIMENTAL OF MANY WINTERS' PAST……BUT I REALLY WANT TO USE WORDS LIKE "MAGICAL" AND "ENCHANTED," TO CAPTION EACH MEMORY OF THE DAY THAT WAS. THE LANDSCAPE OF SOUTH MUSKOKA WAS PERFECTLY PICTURESQUE, AND SO WAS OUR MAIN STREET, SO BRILLIANTLY ADORNED BY THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. BUT IT WASN'T A QUIET OR INACTIVE TOWN. QUITE THE CONTRARY. IT WAS ON THE MOVE AND COMMERCE LOOKED TO BE PRETTY BRISK ALL AROUND THE URBAN AREA OF THE TOWN; AT LEAST WHERE WE TRAVELLED.

     IN THE YEAR 1879, THE MUSKOKA GUIDEBOOK AND ATLAS WAS PUBLISHED. IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A FOR-PROFIT PUBLICATION, AT A TIME WHEN SETTLERS DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO BE THROWING AROUND FOR READING MATERIAL. THE IDEA OF THE BOOK, WAS THAT IT WOULD BE SOLD ON A SUBSCRIPTION BASIS, SUCH THAT IF YOUR NAME WAS TO APPEAR, OR BUSINESS, YOU WOULD BE OF COURSE, INTERESTED IN ACQUIRING A COPY. THE MUNICIPAL MAPS CONTAINED LANDOWNERS' NAMES. THE IDEA WAS TO SELL THESE EARLY HOMESTEADERS A BOOK WITH THEIR OWNERS' ACREAGES DULY NOTED, IMPRESSED IN THE ATTRACTIVE HARDCOVER COPIES. SOME, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY, WERE ACTUALLY HAND-COLORED. TWO IMPORTANT INDIVIDUALS TO MUSKOKA, WERE HIRED-ON FOR THE PROJECT. ONE BEING CAPTAIN ROGERS AND THE OTHER SEYMOUR PENSON, AN ACCOMPLISHED ARTIST, WHO WAS WELL KNOWN FOR HIS HUGE MURAL BACKGROUNDS, FOR FIREWORKS MUSICALS. IN THE VERY EARLY YEARS OF THE CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION, IN TORONTO. THESE GENTLEMAN MADE THE BOOK POPULAR ALMOST FROM THE BEGINNING, AND IN FACT, TO THIS DAY, AS THE BOOK IS STILL AVAILABLE IN REPRINT.

     THE PROBLEM WITH THE BOOK, IS THAT IT ALMOST IGNORES THE FIRST SETTLEMENT OF MUSKOKA. BRACEBRIDGE AND THE MUSKOKA LAKES GENERALLY, ARE WELL REPRESENTED, BUT AS FAR AS OUR FAIR TOWN, IT SEEMS ALMOST AN ANNOYANCE, TO HAVE TO EXPEND EVEN A FEW INCHES OF EDITORIAL SPACE. HOW SMALL IS THE DESCRIPTION, AS COMPARED TO THE PAGES PROFILING BRACEBRIDGE? HERE GOES:

     "1879, MUSKOKA GUIDEBOOK AND ATLAS, PG 22-23: "GRAVENHURST, THE PRESENT MUSKOKA TERMINUS OF THE NORTHERN RAILWAY, LIES IN THE TOWNSHIP, (MUSKOKA) AND CONTAINS (AS OF DEC. 1878), ABOUT 200 HOUSES, ONE HARDWARE STORE, EIGHT DRY GOODS STORES, ELEVEN SHINGLE MILLS, TWO SHOEMAKERS, ONE TAILOR, TWO WATCHMAKERS, THREE DRESSMAKERS, TWO SADDLERS, ONE ATTORNEY-AT-LAW, FOUR HOTELS, TWO BAKERS, ONE BUTCHER, ONE BOOK STORE, ONE FLOUR AND FEED STORE, ONE DOCTOR, ONE DRUG STORE, ONE FOUNDRY, BOARDING HOUSES, THREE TELEGRAPH OFFICES, EXPRESS OFFICE, GRAVENHURST AND MUSKOKA WHARF, RAILWAY STATIONS WITH WAITING ROOMS, TICKET OFFICES, FREIGHT SHEDS, WIND MILL, PUMPS ETC. IT POSSESSES A TOWN HALL, (WITH LOCK-UP UNDERNEATH), PUBLIC SCHOOL, FOUR CHURCHES, AND CLAIMS 1,200 INHABITANTS. SOME IDEA OF THE IMPORTANCE OF GRAVENHURST AS A DISTRIBUTING STATION, ON THE NORTHERN, MAY BE GATHERED FROM THE FACT THAT 2,881 TONS, 1,219 POUNDS OF FREIGHT (MUCH OF IT OF A MOST COSTLY NATURE), LEFT THE RAILWAY FREIGHT HOUSE IN 1878 FOR VARIOUS PARTS OF MUSKOKA. NATURE HAS GIVEN TO EACH OF OUR INCORPORATED VILLAGES SPECIAL ADVANTAGES."

      THAT'S IT! BUT KEEP IN MIND THE USE OF THE WORDS "DISTRIBUTING STATION." EVEN THOUGH GRAVENHURST, WHICH BEGAN AS "MCCABE'S LANDING," WAS OF ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL IMPORTANCE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENTIRE MUSKOKA REGION, AND BEYOND, THE VILLAGE WARRANTED NEXT TO NOTHING, IN THE WAY OF EDITORIAL RECOGNITION, IN THIS WIDELY CIRCULATED BOOK. IT WAS THE SAME IN MANY OTHER BOOKS, THEN AND ONWARD, WHERE THE HISTORY OF MUSKOKA, AS MUCH AS WE LOCALS MIGHT HATE IT, BEGAN IN AND AROUND BRACEBRIDGE. WE AREN'T EVEN CONSIDERED AS "THE AROUND BRACEBRIDGE," IN MOST OF THE BOOKS. AS CLOSE AS GRAVENHURST GETS TO BEING SIGNIFICANT BEYOND THE OBVIOUS LOCALE OF ITS RAILWAY AND STEAMSHIP CONNECTIONS, WAS ITS PROXIMITY TO THE "GREAT FALLS" AT MUSKOKA FALLS, WHICH WAS ON WHAT HAD BEEN CALLED, THE GRAVENHURST ROAD. IN FACT, THE GREAT FALLS WAS PRETTY IMPORTANT TO GRAVENHURST, AS IT IS WHERE IT WOULD EVENTUALLY RECEIVE ITS POWER GENERATION.

     WHILE THERE ARE OBSCURE RARE BOOKS OUT THERE, WITH LONGER AND MORE SIGNIFICANT PASSAGES, ABOUT GRAVENHURST, IT IS OBVIOUS TO THE HISTORIAN, THAT BRACEBRIDGE WAS THE CHOSEN COMMUNITY FROM THE EARLY GOING……AND THAT HASN'T CHANGED A LOT SINCE THE EARLY 1870'S.

     "PROMINENT AMONGST THE EARLY SETTLERS STAND THE NAMES OF MR. AND MRS. MCCABE; THEY OPENED A TAVERN AT GRAVENHURST IN 1861, AND MANY A WORN-OUT TRAVELLER HAS BEEN GLAD TO SEE THEIR UNPRETENTIOUS LOG CABIN, WHERE THEY MIGHT REST THEIR WEARY LIMBS AND GET SOME REFRESHMENT TO SUSTAIN NATURE," WROTE PIONEER HISTORIAN, THOMAS MCMURRAY, IN HIS 1871 SETTLERS' GUIDEBOOK. "NEVER SHALL THE WRITER FORGET HIS FIRST INTERVIEW WITH 'MOTHER MCCABE.' WHEN HE ARRIVED THERE, HE WAS HUNGRY AND FOOTSORE; BUT HE MET WITH AN IRISH WELCOME, AND A DINNER WAS SERVED UP BY MOTHER MCCABE, WHICH WOULD NOT HAVE DISGRACED ANY HOTEL NORTH OF TORONTO. THE OLD LOG SHANTY LOOKED DULL OUTSIDE, BUT WITHIN, ALL WAS CLEANLINESS AND ORDER; HER CLEAN WHITE CURTAINS KEPT OUT THE MOSQUITOES IN SUMMER AND COLD IN THE WINTER, WHILE HER FEATHER BEDS AFFORDED SWEET REST TO MANY A WEARY LAND-SEEKER. HOW WELCOME WAS THE SIGHT OF THE DIM LOW LIGHT THROUGH THE BUSH, TO THE WEARY TRAVELLER, CAN ONLY BE FULLY APPRECIATED BY THE EARLY PEDESTRIANS WHEN NO HORSES OR VEHICLES WERE ON THE ROAD; THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SETTLERS WHO REMEMBER THEM, AND SOME OF THEM HAVE CAUSE TO BLESS MOTHER MCCABE FOR HER GENEROSITY.

     THE FIRST DEATH IN THE SETTLEMENT WAS THAT OF POOR JOHNSTON; HE WAS DROWNED AT THE SEVERN BRIDGE, ONE SUNDAY WHILST FISHING. THE POOR WIDOW STRUGGLED HARD WITH HER TWO LITTLE BOYS - THE ELDER NOT MORE THAN NINE YEARS - AND, WITH THEIR HELP, SHE MANAGED BEFORE SHE DIED, TO CLEAR ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE ACRES; BUT ALAS, FELL IN THE HARNESS (DECEASED WHILE WORKING THE FIELDS)."

     THE ABOVE PASSAGES WRITTEN BY MCMURRAY, ARE PRECIOUS TO THE HISTORY OF GRAVENHURST. THEY MAY BE THE MOST PROFOUNDLY SIGNIFICANT OBSERVATIONS, WE POSSESS, IN THE MODERN ERA, TO KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE IN THOSE VERY EARLY DAYS, OF NOT ONLY OUR PRESENT TOWN, BUT THE OPENING OF THE ENTIRE DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA.

THE 1970'S POINT OF VIEW - BENEATH THE ART WORK OF WATERCOLORIST, FRANK JOHNSTON

     (CAVALCADE OF COLOR PROMOTION) "Color your world and, yes, you're in Gravenhurst, Muskoka. The time is late September or early October. There, before your very eyes, is nature's magic, painting a scene of unexcelled beauty. If a picture tells a thousand words, then being here at Cavalcade of Color-time, is a whole story-book. One million acres of lush green countryside gradually blazes into every color of the rainbow - and more. With Gravenhurst as your headquarters, you can tour the countless side roads. Hike through the bush. Throw a pebble in a creek and watch a mirror of color dance on the water as you click your camera. Breath-taking. Yes. Just as invigorating as a brisk winter's day on your snowmobile venturing down a frozen lake. Or cutting the swells with your boat on a balmy summer's day. And there's nothing quite like a deep breath of fresh Muskoka air in spring time. Mother nature has been good to Gravenhurst and Muskoka. It can be good for you. Vacationing is always in season here."

     The most significant aspect of this brochure, is not the editorial content, but rather the outstanding illustrations made by Frank Johnston, who I believe, for even his short time working here, was the town's definitive artist. He may not have been home-grown, but he knew the cultural heritage of this town, better than some local long-time residents. And it's true he did carry a grudge at the end, understandable after his paintings were sold and moved from Gravenhurst, contrary to an original agreement for his major art pieces, which had been on display at Sloans Restaurant….. It sure would have been nice for all of us, if the paintings had remained here, on display at the new town hall. In light of the fact, the observational, anecdotal history of Gravenhurst is a little thin, compared to other towns in the district, we can fall back on the work of artists like Frank Johnston, who found no shortage of inspiration, for his historical watercolors…..which of course included the Gravenhurst Train Station in the winter, illustrating the "Northlander" picking up passengers.

     Another artist, I have begun researching, may have been our first serious artistic interpreter. His name was G. (presumably George) Harlow White, born in London, England in 1817, and later died in Chatterhouse, London, England, in 1888. White was an accomplished painter. His mother was also an competent artist, as was his uncle George A. Harlow, also a known painter in England.

     In the book, "Early Painters and Engravers in Canada," by J. Russell Harper, 1970, it is recorded, that the younger White, was educated at Chatterhouse School, and "commenced painting in 1830. Thereafter, an artist. Emigrated to Canada in 1870 or 1871, buying a bush farm in Oro Township, near Lake Simcoe, where he lived for five years. During this time he made innumerable small pencil and watercolor sketches of pioneer Canadian life. Probably lived briefly in the Toronto district. He returned to England in 1879 where he painted thereafter." One of the early Canadian painters, to travel to the western provinces to sketch the scenery, White was in good company, in the budding national art community….including well known painters, such as Lucius O'Brien, Bell-Smith, and Mower-Martin. So why bring up the name George Harlow White? Well, because he happened to have loved the scenery in an around Gravenhurst, and painted many well known locations on Lake Muskoka, Gull Lake, and Sparrow Lake, to name a few. I have a book in my archives, from the well known "Robertson" collection, listing hundreds of his sketches in this part of Ontario, a goodly number in Muskoka, and specifically in Gravenhurst. You can check out George Harlow White on the internet for additional information. I am currently working on this, to be able to identify more of the places around our township, this highly acclaimed artist painted…..in the years from 1870 to 1879, which captured much of our pioneer period, which is of enormous importance to local heritage. This, for me, is a work in progress, and I will continue to bring you updates, when more precise information is uncovered.

A WORD OR TWO ABOUT WILLIAM HENRY SMITH AND THE NAMING OF GRAVENHURST AFTER THE TITLE OF A BOOK

     Most readers know, and maybe even read, about the writer / philosophers responsible for the name of our community. That's right. Not just one philosopher / writer but two. William Dawson LeSueur, a civil servant with the federal postal authority, by day, was a literary critic, historian and noted philosopher after hours. He was responsible for naming new post offices in hamlets across Canada. In our neck of the woods, LeSueur turned down the tribute to the McCabe's, by refusing to name the new post office, "McCabe's Landing," and instead borrowed the name of a book, written by a British poet / philosopher, by the name of William Henry Smith, that he happened to approve of, and newly published, entitled "Gravenhurst; or Thoughts on Good and Evil." This year, without acknowledgement by the town or the committee of historians, I celebrated…..with only a few balloons, the 150th anniversary of the controversial naming. The town decided it was more important to celebrate the 125th year of the town's incorporation instead. Point is, and let me be clear about this……the main reason for working on the naming project in the first place, which commenced back in the 1990's, was my deep seeded discontent, that Bracebridge had actually taken credit for the historical record……that instead….the Town of Gravenhurst, had been named after a book by American author, Washington Irving…..entitled "Bracebridge Hall." Their hamlet post office, was indeed, named after the book by Irving. The claim, by historians in that town, that Gravenhurst was also a name used by Irving, was proven wrong by Irving scholars, on my request for validation, that this was either fact or fiction. It was a big fiction. LeSueur named Gravenhurst two years before Bracebridge, but just months after the release of William Henry Smith's book. You will find this error in many books now, on community names in Canada, and other regional histories, and it makes me nuts. I've been trying to correct this error for the past twelve years or more.

     We have a lot to be proud of in this town, especially its heritage. It has been compromised somewhat over the centuries, by other communities in Muskoka. Of this, there is ample evidence, and it is what inspired me to set the record straight about the origins of the name "Gravenhurst," which by the way, is a huge honor for the town……whether residents appreciate it or not. Smith's book can be viewed, online, through Google books, where it is reprinted. The book is still being studied in many universities. I even purchased the town's Heritage Committee a second edition of the book, for the town archives, as well as a book and archival photograph of William Dawson LeSueur, who was responsible for the town's naming.

     For more information on this, you can archive back to the first part of August this year, when I began publishing a lengthy series of articles on the author, and LeSueur, in recognition of the 150th anniversary of the naming. Since then, and a brief newspaper article on Smith, published in the Gravenhurst Banner, there hasn't been another word mentioned on the subject…..which tells me, pretty clearly, I should have let sleeping dogs lie. But then I'm well known for sticking my oar in, where it is least desired. Point is, it is an honor to the Town of Gravenhurst; and probably long after I'm deceased, town leadership will come to appreciate the provenance more fully. I'm good with that.

     Thank you for joining today's blog. I am a boastful, aggressive, loyal hometowner, and I hope it shows. Please continue dropping by……to share some Muskoka stories…..about the great place in which we reside, or wish to…….

Gravenhurst History Yet To Discover And Promote

WHEN LOOKING FOR IDENTITY - WHERE IS IT - WHAT DOES IT SAY - WHERE HAS IT BEEN HIDING - GRAVENHURST

LOOKING FOR HISTORICAL OVERVIEWS ABOUT GRAVENHURST

     MAYBE YOU WON'T BELIEVE ME, WHEN I SAY, GRAVENHURST IS MISSING PART OF ITS HISTORICAL RECORD. YET, EVEN AS THIS PUZZLE IS SPRAWLED OUT IN FRONT, I CAN'T EXPLAIN EXACTLY, WHAT PIECES ARE MISSING…..EXCEPT IN THE MOST GENERAL OF TERMS. HISTORIANS ARE ALL A LITTLE OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE ABOUT MISSING ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY PUZZLE PIECES, THAT CAN AFFECT THE WHOLE APPEARANCE OF WHAT WE THOUGHT WE KNEW ABOUT THE LOCAL "BIG PICTURE."

     BACK WHEN I WAS WRITING ACTIVELY FOR THE COMMUNITY PRESS, AND THE MUSKOKA SUN, THE SUMMER SEASON FREE PAPER PRODUCED BY MUSKOKA PUBLICATIONS, EDITOR ROBERT BOYER, ALSO A PROMINENT REGIONAL HISTORIAN, KEPT HIS MAIN STAFF WRITER, (THAT WOULD BE ME) PUMPING OUT FEATURE AND FILL COPY AT A HECTIC PACE. EVEN THOUGH THE MUSKOKA SUN, BACK IN THE 1980'S, WASN'T A HUGE PAPER, IT RAN AT A MUCH LOWER AD PERCENTAGE THAN A LOT OF PUBLICATIONS TODAY. BUSINESS PROSPERING NEWSPAPERS, ESPECIALLY GIVE-AWAYS, MIGHT NOW HIT EIGHTY PERCENT ADS, VERSUS EDITORIAL COPY NEEDED TO FILL THE REMAINING WHITE SPACE. THE HIGHER THE AD COPY, THE LESS EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS ARE REQUIRED. THIS WILL INCLUDE PHOTOGRAPHS. I BELIEVE THE MUSKOKA SUN, UNDER BOB'S DIRECTION, RAN MOST WEEKS, AT ABOUT SIXTY PERCENT AD COPY, AND ON OCCASIONS, THIS MAY HAVE BEEN LOWER. IT'S ENOUGH FOR THE COMPANY TO MAKE MONEY, BUT IT WAS A REAL DRAG FOR US WRITERS, BECAUSE BOB INSISTED ON ORIGINAL EDITORIAL MATERIAL. ALL THE TIME. IN OTHER WORDS, HE HATED TO USE WHAT WE CALLED "CANNED COPY," WHICH WAS ANY PRESS MATERIAL FROM THE GOVERNMENT, THAT WAS "CAMERA READY," AND ALL THAT WAS REQUIRED, WAS IT TO BE CUT TO COLUMN SIZE, WAXED AND SLAPPED ONTO THE FLATS WITH THE REST OF THE TYPESET COPY. BOB PRIDED HIMSELF ON BEING ABLE TO PRESENT A MAY TO OCTOBER PUBLICATION THAT SHOWED-OFF MUSKOKA TALENT, AND PARTICULARLY HERITAGE. SO I WAS BURIED IN BOOKS AND OLD PAPER FOR MOST OF THOSE YEARS AS BOB'S FEATURE EDITOR. I LIKED IT BUT WRITING THE STORIES UP, WAS A HUGE EFFORT AND HARD ON THE EYES AND BODY…….IF YOU CAN IMAGINE BEING HUNCHED OVER AN OLD TYPEWRITER FOR FOUR TO FIVE HOURS A DAY.

     THE POINT OF TODAY'S BLOG IS NOT TO RE-HASH MY OLD WRITING DAYS, BUT TO MAKE AN OBSERVATION, GARNERED OVER MANY YEARS CRANKING OUT HERITAGE EDITORIAL COPY, AND JUST ABOUT ANY OTHER ORIGINAL MATERIAL BOB WOULD APPROVE FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION. WHAT I DISCOVERED, AFTER A FEW YEARS WORKING ON THE MUSKOKA SUN, WAS JUST HOW LITTLE I COULD WRITE ABOUT MY PRESENT HOMETOWN, OF GRAVENHURST. THIS MAY SEEM PREPOSTEROUS, EVEN TO MY HISTORICAL COLLEAGUES, BUT WHILE I WAS WRITING REIMS OF REGIONAL HISTORY, I FOUND VERY FEW EARLY REFERENCES TO GRAVENHURST, THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR, AS OBSERVATIONAL AND OBJECTIVE OPINIONS, ABOUT WHAT THE COMMUNITY WAS LIKE, DURING THE VARIOUS STAGES OF ITS DEVELOPMENT…..HAMLET TO VILLAGE AND ON TO TOWN INCORPORATION.

     I FREQUENTLY USED BOB'S EXTENSIVE LIBRARY, OF MUSKOKA BOOKS, AND THE HUGE ARCHIVES COLLECTION, OF OLD NEWSPAPERS, WE KEPT DOWNSTAIRS AT THE FORMER HERALD-GAZETTE OFFICE, ON DOMINION STREET, IN BRACEBRIDGE. I COULD BE DOWN THERE FOR HOURS AND HOURS, TRYING TO FIND INTERESTING STORIES ABOUT ALL OUR MUSKOKA COMMUNITIES, AND OBSERVATIONAL OVERVIEWS ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO SEE IT FOR THE FIRST TIME……OR WHAT IT HAD BEEN LIKE TO LIVE HERE FOR HALF A CENTURY. IT DIDN'T MATTER. I COLLECTED THESE GENERALIZATIONS, WHICH COULD EVEN GET SPECIFIC, IF IT WAS A STORY OR INTERVIEW GIVEN BY AN OLDTIMER, ABOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, WORKING IN A LOGGING CAMP, OR ON THE RAILWAY. (STEAMSHIPS INCLUDED, LIKE CAPTAIN FRASER'S FAMOUS BOOK OF MUSKOKA HISTORY). AS I AM VERY MUCH A SOCIAL / CULTURAL HISTORIAN, THIS IS WHAT INTERESTED ME MORE, THAN JUST THE HISTORY OF EVENTS, BUILDING, POLITICS, GOVERNANCE, CRIME, NATURAL CATASTROPHES, FIRES, ACCIDENTS ETC. I WANTED TO KNOW HOW THE COMMUNITY REACTED TO THESE EVENTS, THROUGH THE CENTURIES OF COMMUNITY BUILDING, AND HOW THEY CAME TOGETHER AND RECOVERED, REBUILT, AND CARRIED-ON IMPROVING THE LIVES OF ITS RESIDENTS. OVER AT LEAST THIRTY YEARS OF HUSTLING-UP THESE OBSERVATION, FROM THOUSANDS OF DIFFERENT SOURCES, GRAVENHURST, IN MY OPINION, HAS THE FEWEST NUMBER OF EDITORIAL, AND HISTORIC OVERVIEWS, AS COMPARED TO THE OTHER TWO MAJOR MUSKOKA TOWNS. IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE BOTHERED EVEN THE MAINSTAY COMMUNITY HISTORIANS, BUT IT DOES AMAZE ME. BUT I THINK I KNOW WHY WE HAVE FEWER ACCOUNTS TO DRAW FROM. IT LIKELY COMES FROM OUR POSITIONING ON THE MUSKOKA LAKES.

OBSERVATIONS WERE MADE BY VISITORS AND NEW SETTLERS - SOME CONTAINED IN JOURNALS, AND ACCOUNTS OF VACATIONS

     We know a lot about Orillia, because Stephen Leacock had a summer home on Brewery Bay of Lake Couchiching. He wrote "Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town," using Orillia loosely, as a literary template for the stories about its early life and times. While I realize it's not the best overview, to follow the work of the fiction writer, to get an historical perspective on any place, at any time, taken with other historical information, it can certainly infill…..particularly something like the description and characters of Leacock's fictional "Mariposa." Gravenhurst has had fictional pieces written about it, including a book back in the 1980's, by former Gravenhurst resident, Martin Avery, entitled "Cottage Gothic." Another book, of juvenile fiction, written by internationally known author, John Ibbitson, also used Gravenhurst as a backdrop for the story, which by the way won the Governor General's award. The book was entitled "The Landing." But for an historical scrounger like me, who writes about Muskoka and its towns, on an ongoing basis, there isn't too much I can extract from either book, that fits the measure, when I begin patching together feature stories for a variety of non-fiction publications, including this blog. Both books are well written by highly competent and acclaimed writers, that Gravenhurst should be proud of, but I haven't written anything to date, about our mutual hometown, where anything they penned, could be simply quoted, to fit the theme I'm working on at the time. I do have it planned out, that I want to do this in the future, but it has to be something devoted to fiction, and hometown influences. My work deals mostly with non-fiction, except of course, when referencing historic poetry, for example, as I did last evening, when referring to work by pioneer Muskoka historian, Thomas McMurray, in his 1871 settlers; guidebook.

     As a book collector myself, with a huge passion for rare Muskoka books, I have possessed or viewed most of them in the past, and this is where I have gathered my objective overviews, of what it was like in our community, ranging from the earliest days of settlement, in the late 1850's, as a hamlet, through the village years, on to the present. They are, as a collection, "slim pickings." Unless there are pioneer journals yet to come to light, some of the most important observations we could have, as historical record of our social / cultural past, are of only a minor consideration. It may be that some of these journals have been locked away for conservation's sake; but what editorials of the past, helped explain who we were, and how we developed as a South Muskoka community, are not in the kind of abundance, to afford us a significant dimension of historical understanding. Our heritage isn't just about buildings, boats, railways, politics and current events. I want to know what visitors and residents thought about Gravenhurst throughout its history…..not just about when fires occurred, or fire engines were purchased, bells erected, bells withdrawn, and all the other cornerstone histories, that have been preserved and published in highly regarded local books……which have served the purpose of basic historical coverage. We need them. But if we want to know about our social / cultural heritage, we really need to do more research, and reading between the lines won't help too much. In a contemporary sense, there is much more available to satisfy the curious historian, because of newspaper columns and opinion pieces, particularly community news from country correspondents. If you have a shortfall in these personal observations of the prevailing day, week, month and year, (or actuality), a lot of important history becomes diffused and watered-down by the counter-measure of those hard realities of historical record. In other words, hard historical fact out performs everything else.

     One of my theories, based on years of rummaging through archives material, is that because Gravenhurst was a well known "jumping off place," where the roads, and then railway line, led to the steamship fleet, there wasn't the same necessity of making notes for posterity, on what our town looked and sounded like; and what interesting scenes and characters were encountered. There are hundreds of accounts of visitors to Muskoka, writing about the difficult passage north, from Washago to Gravenhurst, and then the stories usually shift, to what it was like steaming on Muskoka Bay, to the larger Lake Muskoka, with lots of notes about the trip up the Muskoka River to take passengers to Bracebridge. It's awfully frustrating to find a competent writer, who details so much of the trip north, and then abruptly stops at the words, "arrived at Gravenhurst where we met the steamship, to continue the trip." Now the truth is, Gravenhurst was an abundantly interesting locale, and I have come across quite a few overviews that suggest as much……and in some cases, how rough it was, when the loggers left the camps in the spring, and had lots of money to spend, in villages like our town. I believe there is a description in the book, "From the Logging Camp to the Ministry," that points out just how badly behaved these loggers were, when visiting the local hotels in Gravenhurst. There are many other examples, including some great and insightful observations, but they are one to ten line passages, that always leave one begging for more. I will take what I can get, of course, and even from some obscure books, many other historians have never heard about; but still not enough to satisfy my interests. As for the "jumping off," reality, I think there's a lot of truth to the situation, that many journal writers were either too exhausted to write anything more about the trip, or because of conditions and time restraints, just made capturing the local actuality a lesser concern……than cleaning up from one trip, and making the connection to the other mode of transportation.

     When you consider the great writers of this country, and artists, who travelled through our community, from the earliest years of inhabitation, it's not possible, for this historian, to ignore the slight possibility some of these folks penned a little note or two that has remained obscure or unpublished; that may be contained in private papers stuffed into a national or provincial archives. Consider all the amazing talents who passed through Gravenhurst, even in the 1920's and 30's, to attend the Muskoka Assembly, on Tobin's Island, part of the annual writer's colony near Windermere, Lake Rosseau. Writer's like Charles G.D. Roberts, Wilson MacDonald, Bliss Carmen, and Sir Gilbert Parker, who may have arrived here by train, to take steamship passage to the island. Consider the fact the Group of Seven artists and legendary landscape painter, Tom Thomson, spent time in Gravenhurst…….not enough time possibly to write a book, but long enough to make a note on a piece of paper for posterity. Boy oh boy would that be a great thing then, to possess and exploit. A.Y. Jackson, of the Group of Seven, wrote about a canoe misadventure in the Moon River, and having to buy more provisions in Bala. A.J. Casson sketched a rural Gravenhurst school building, which is still standing on the Doe Lake Road. (Different use today, of course) There have been thousands upon thousands of situations, where writers and artists found themselves anchored for a period in our town, but there is so little gleaned from their visits. Even Norman Bethune, while at the Calydor Sanatorium, (later to become the Calydor Prisoner of War Camp), actually wrote material in his journal while a patient…..before being transferred to an American sanatorium.

     We have been more than competent in this town, recording and preserving our historical records and photographs. And while you must have this material to make sense of it all, about where we have grown from, and the stages of development, it can have a hollow ring to it, without the true human side, as offered by first person observers of history in the making. When looking at Gravenhurst's identity, we rely on all the books that have been written here, and all the historic site markers, and look up with casual interest, at the old buildings that tell us something of our founding values and fortitude. When looking for the social / cultural identity of the community, it isn't quite as defined and basic, as one would judge historic architecture, or feel about steamships and railway tracks, that played such an important role in our advancement, from those few log shanties, once occupying the bailiwick of McCabe's Landing.

THE 1970'S ART, FOR US, BY ARTIST FRANK JOHNSTON

     I have just recently come upon a well preserved copy of a 1970's Gravenhurst Board of Trade tourism brochure, entirely illustrated by one of Canada's finest watercolorists, and print-makers……Frank Johnston. Even without the accompanying editorial copy, Johnston makes this town appear fabulously appointed by nature and architecture…..an exceptional place to visit and a finer place to reside. Frank was a commercial artist, who had a printing press in his Gravenhurst house, but these art pieces, I've got tell you, are the result of an artist who took pride in his place of residence. Like the many paintings he had on loan, at the former Sloans Restaurant, on Muskoka Road, depicting the heritage scenes at the old Muskoka Wharf, the paintings he did for the Board of Trade were not just art pieces for profit. He put heart and soul into his work, and if you study them closely, you'll realize, what a considerable talent we had….and lost in this town……somewhat the result of neglect, and a failure to repay loyalty. Frank left the town, disenchanted, after his paintings weren't acquired by the town, for display in the municipal offices, which according to a handshake agreement, was supposed to happen. Point is, and with much water under the bridge, his work on our behalf, speaks volumes about the social / cultural / recreational / historical character of Gravenhurst…..that he so kindly gave us……..as one of these important overviews of our community.

     I will offer up some of the editorial information included on the historic brochure, in my next blog. In addition, I will introduce you to one of our earliest painters, most residents in our community have never heard of…., but should come to know, for history's sake. In the meantime, if you know of any pioneer (or later period) personal journals, that might contain insightful and historically significant observations about Gravenhurst…….please, please let me know. I would love to be the one to make these observations public, as it is long overdue as historical record.

     Thanks again for visiting, and sharing this local heritage. You are always welcome. It's nice to have company on these cold pre-storm winter evenings. Are you ready for the coming storm. Better throw another log on the fire. It could be a long and blustery night.