Reflections. Muskoka. Membership Muskoka Heritage & Heroes Family Events Cruises. Collector s Edition: RMS Segwun Celebrates 130th Year

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1 Collector s Edition: RMS Segwun Celebrates 130th Year Muskoka Summer 2017 Reflections In the lake s placid reflections are mirrored past, present and even glimpses of the future. Membership Muskoka Heritage & Heroes Family Events Cruises Issue 101

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3 Muskoka Reflections About Us Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society Muskoka Steamships 185 Cherokee Lane, Gravenhurst, ON P1P 1Z Muskoka Discovery Centre 275 Steamship Bay Road, Gravenhurst, ON P1P 1T Charity Registration # RR0001 President: John Miller Operations Manager/Curator (MDC): Ann Curley Comptroller: Molly Rivers Sales Manager: Inguna Ramina-Potter Marketing and Fundraising Manager: Prisca Campbell Ship Operations Manager: Jordan Waines Membership: Pat Young & Lawton Osler Board of Directors: Gary Getson Chair of the Board Dan Cornacchia, Randy Cooper, Al Manchee, Rick McGraw, Blair McMurchy, Mary Storey, Rick Terry, Jake Thomas, Pat Young Editor & Publisher: Mary Storey Advertising: Mary Jean Cline Features Events On the Horizon Celebrations, Meetings and Milestones Full Steam Ahead! Family Aarrgghhh There are Pirates! Building the Future of Museum Education Children s Programs at Discovery Centre Membership Society Archives Volunteering at the Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre The Benefits of MSHS Membership Membership Application Fundraising Cruises Sightseeing Cruises with a Modern Twist Themed Cruises Muskoka Heritage & Heroes One of Canada s First Airlines Hubert C. Bert Minett Women and Their Hotels Segwun Celebrates 130 Years ColuMNs Chairs Messages President s Message Photo Credits: Front Cover: RMS Segwun by Riley Lake Productions. Unless otherwise noted, all historical photos appear courtesy of the Society s Archives Department. Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society Vision: We are the leader in preserving, promoting and celebrating the culture and heritage of Canada s Muskoka District. Mission: To present dynamic, entertaining and educational experiences through our iconic steamships and the Muskoka Discovery Centre. Summer

4 We are proud for the first time ever to present to the residents of Muskoka a collection of articles and photographs that communicate some of the historical culture that we celebrate, and the new cultures that are being created every day by your organization, the Muskoka Steamship and Historical Society (MSHS). We say your organization because as a not for profit charity it is owned by each and everyone of you in the community. This is the 130th anniversary of the RMS Segwun and we are reaching out to as many people as possible to tell them how we operate, and explain the exhibits and programs we offer at The Muskoka Discovery Centre. 4 Issue 101 Gary Getson Rick Terry Muskoka Reflections HELLO MUSKOKA If you read this magazine cover to cover, you will find out how rewarding it can be to be a member of the MSHS. You can learn a lot more about our events, both ashore and afloat, including our ever-popular pirate cruises that we operate on Sundays that thrill both kids and their parents. You will learn from a local teacher the children s programming that we have added in the last few years to become more of a family friendly operation. There is also a story about a real Canadian hero, Billy Bishop, and his connection to Muskoka. We have an active Board of Directors and full time management that are guided by a consensus-driven vision and strategy statements. We are continuously improving and working hard to adjust to the changing wants of our patrons. Renewal is never easy, and is often expensive so you will find information about what gets funded by operations and what sometimes requires special fund raising. Volunteers are an essential part of our organization, and so we explain who they are and what they do. Thousands of hours are contributed every year by residents to keep things humming. Our operations are based in Outgoing Chair s Message Gravenhurst and supported financially by the Town, but our mission is to be relevant to the whole Muskoka region. Our ships carry passengers and wedding guests on all three of the big lakes, and we try to make our programming appeal to everyone in the region. We hope when you finish reading this publication that if you are not already a member or Friend of MSHS that you will consider joining and supporting the Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society. Have a great summer!! A new member of the Society Gary Getson Board Chair Following our Annual General Meeting on May 27th, your Board of Directors elected Gary Getson to succeed me as its Chair. Gary is going to do a terrific job and I know he will enjoy our best wishes and support in his new role. While I will continue on the board as Past Chair, I want to take this opportunity to thank the board and our membership for their support and commitment to the Society during my tenure. The Society is blessed to have a large, talented and dedicated group of volunteers and financial supporters, which is the proof that this organization and its offerings are meaningful to the Muskoka community. The Society is also very fortunate to have a strong and committed staff and management team, led by John Miller, who make things happen day to day and season to season. Thank you and I hope to see you at the Muskoka Discovery Centre and on the ships. Rick Terry

5 John Miller This edition of our magazine marks the first time we have extended the circulation beyond the membership of our Society. 15,000 collector s editions will Muskoka Reflections President s Message be distributed throughout Muskoka to celebrate Segwun s 130th anniversary. Our objective is to demonstrate to our community the work that we do in preserving the history of Muskoka, our vision for the future and why you, the reader, are vital to our success. We celebrate Muskoka, a world class destination, with the attraction of our ships, the RMS Segwun and Wenonah II, and the Muskoka Discovery Centre. Our challenge is to be the destination of choice by combining the rich culture and heritage of Muskoka with the natural beauty surrounding us. In the past three years, our organization has undergone significant change, with expanded family-oriented programming, enhanced technology to enrich experiences and organizational growth to delight our customers. We need your help to continue this journey. Join us this summer to commemorate Segwun s birthday! Take a Sunset Cruise, visit the Muskoka Discovery Centre, book an event or become a member of our organization your participation ensures our sustainability, and in doing so, celebrates the history of life on the water in Muskoka. See you at Muskoka Wharf this summer! John Miller Grace and Speed Boathouse at Muskoka Discovery Centre: Largest in-water display of wooden boats in North America Summer

6 Events On The Horizon Muskoka Discovery Centre Events Summer 2017 July 1: Canada Day Celebrations at Muskoka Discovery Centre: Enjoy cake, lemonade & crafts. July 8: Birchbark Highway Outdoor Exhibit: Celebrate the Canoe, a national icon. This outdoor exhibit features traditional storytelling and ceremonies including a smudge ceremony, 5 canoes on exhibit, demonstration of a birch bark canoe being built and exploration of the traditional travel routes. Free admission all day during the Antique and Class Boat Show. For information: Visit: Call: July 12 14: The KEEPERS Interactive Animal Show: Come and meet the animals presented by an organization committed to educating the public about the importance of wildlife conservancy, responsible pet ownership and re-releasing animals into their natural habitat. This is a fun, interactive, educational show. August 11: Sonshine & Broccoli Childrens Performance: 2:00 p.m. Lisa Sonshine & Brock (Broccoli) Burford have been entertaining children and their parents for over a decade to rave reviews. Sonshine & Broccoli are celebrating the response to their just released third album It s a Beautiful Day, a collection of upbeat Pop Rock originals for children. August 19: BOATLOADS OF FUN Show: Captain Corbin entertains at Muskoka Discovery Centre at 2:00 p.m. This adventurefilled performance has pirate themed magic and mystery. August 23 24: The KEEPERS Interactive Animal Show: New animals this visit! The KEEPERS travel across North America performing for people in a fun interactive and educational way. Year-Round FALL/WINTER History Speaker Series One Sunday a month during October, November, January, February, March, April & May we bring to you a variety of guest speakers who will speak about new books and topics that support our mandate of steamships, wooden boats, resort hotels, early settlers, First Nations and more. Family Workshops A variety of topics related to families will be held at Muskoka Discovery Centre throughout the year. All family members are invited to attend. Science Speaker Series Our working relationship with the Friends of Muskoka Watershed provide us the opportunity to bring a series of science talks throughout the year. YOUTH Workshops Saturday YOUTH Workshops Saturday mornings during the spring, fall and winter YOUTH Workshops will be held from 10:00 to 12:00. Workshops are based around the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) learning principles. Ann Curley 6 Issue 101

7 Events Celebrations, Meetings and Milestones Ashore and Afloat Have you seen any of our archival photographs: The ones of ladies in feathered hats and men in suit jackets standing on steamer docks and resort decks? What a time they must have had, because they returned summer after summer to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays and mark milestones. Steamers like RMS Segwun transported them from the train station in Gravenhurst up the lakes to the farthest reaches of Lake Rosseau and Lake Joseph. Continue the tradition in a contemporary way Over a century later, it is still possible to celebrate special events, hold meetings and mark milestones on a Muskoka steamer and ashore at the Muskoka Discovery Centre. Our ships, RMS Segwun and Wenonah II, can be chartered for private meetings and events. Group bookings are possible for 20 to 97 people aboard Segwun, and 10 to 216 people aboard Wenonah II. The Discovery Centre is available for meetings, events and special occasions 12 months of the year. It has all the modern conveniences microphones, monitors, digital projectors, breakout rooms and catering facilities. Let us help you entertain your small group or large event Wedding Show: January is a fine time for special events For six years, we have hosted Gravenhurst s finest wedding show in January at the Muskoka Discovery Centre. Yes, you read that correctly in January. Winter is no longer a deterrent. The highway from the GTA is four-lane. Muskoka Wharf is well groomed when the snow falls. There is lots of free parking. Hotel accommodation is plentiful, and local residents have time on their hands to attend events, unlike the summer months. Consider January or February the next time you are planning an event in Muskoka. Planning a Celebration of Life Service Muskoka Discovery Centre is a unique venue for a Celebration of Life service as it allows family and friends to honour their deceased loved one in a personal and nontraditional approach. Your guests will be surrounded by rare heritage artifacts that tell our stories as you and your family share your family stories in a truly unmatched setting. Our experienced Muskoka Discovery Centre staff will help guide you through this process as family and friends come together to celebrate the joy he or she brought into everyday living. Summer

8 Promotional cruises and fundraisers for groups up to 200+ As a not-for-profit ourselves, we have a real appreciation for fundraisers and promotional events that build awareness among constituents. Our sales team is To book your celebration: For Ships: For Discovery Centre: comprised of experienced event coordinators who will help organizers get the most out of our wide variety of venues. Sittin on the dock of the bay...or...lake Imagine the RMS Segwun approaching your dock, her deckhands making ready to step off to secure her. Your guests watch while the captain brings her alongside with barely a ripple. Perhaps the sun is setting, painting the ship and the dock in pastel hues. Or, in your imagination, the sky may be bright blue with just a few clouds floating on the horizon. These scenarios do not have to remain in the imagination. It is possible for our ships to collect travelers at either private cottage docks or public steamer docks anywhere on the Muskoka Lakes. Some conditions apply, of course, but our team can answer all your questions and provide alternate docking options so that you can turn your special occasion into a memory that lasts a lifetime. Inguna Ramina-Potter & Prisca Campbell Boat Works Limited Michael R. P. Windsor Wooden Boat Restoration, Design & Custom Building 280 Caroline st. Gravenhurst, Ont. (705) windsor@muskoka.com web page: Windsor Boat Works 8 Issue 101 Limited Restoration, Design & Custom Boat Building web page: BUILDING? COME TO THE EXPERTS 1111 hwy GRAVENHURST

9 Events Full Steam Ahead! An account of our lovely wedding aboard The Segwun Little did we know, as 17 year olds enjoying a summer romance in cottage country, that 38 years later we would be getting married aboard the Segwun steamship cruising Lake Muskoka! Our first taste of the Segwun was celebrating Blair s birthday on a sunny September afternoon. We were awe-struck by the beauty of the Canadian Shield and the majesty of the historical ship. During our four-hour cruise, we were served a delicious lunch in the dining room of the bow which is rich in texture, colours and polished original wood on this 130-year-old beauty. We explored the ol girl from bottom to top, coal room to the Captain s helm, where we met Captain Phil. Here we learned much of the Segwun s story and of the possibility to rent her for special occasions. Blair still claims it was Captain Phil s wink and nudge, suggesting Well, you ve got the girl, we ve got the venue; what s stopping you? that led to a proposal three months later. We couldn t think of a more fitting wedding location than aboard North America s oldest steamship on a cruise in God s Country to showcase our love of Muskoka (and each other!) to our guests from across Canada. In looking back, the planning process for our wedding was smooth sailing! Communication with the Steamship Sales representative was excellent, with promptly returned phone calls and s and clear explanation of details. A complimentary pre-wedding cruise gave us peace of mind regarding logistics and allowed us the opportunity to scout out optimal photo locations. Our photographer Francy Forte joined us on the trip and our resulting pictures were stunning and unique, fully capturing the intimacy and carefreeness of our wedding while hi-lighting the setting of rocks, lake and steamship eloquence. Summer

10 GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE Birthplace of Canadian Summer Theatre. Great live theatre and concerts all Summer long. Unique Getaway Packages available! June 13 th - July 14 th Old Wives Tales June 30 th Arrogant Worms July 15 th Liona Boyd July 19 th - August 25 th Swing! August 4 th - 6 th Sawdust City Music Festival August 26 th Soulsville: Music of STAX Records MUSIC ON THE BARGE Sunday Nights at 7:30 PM Gull Lake Rotary Park Tribute to Roy Orbison & The Everly Brothers July 2 nd Pauly & The Goodfellas July 9 th Tribute to Johnny Cash & Tammy Wynette July 16 th The Liverpool 4 July 23 rd Freddy Vette & The Flames July 30 th Sawdust City Music Festival August 6 th The Good Brothers August 13 th CINEMA UNDER THE STARS Bring a blanket, lawn chair, friends & family to enjoy full length features Thursday nights at Gull Lake Rotary Park. July 6 th 7:30 PM Secret Life of Pets July 13 th 7:30 PM Honey, I Shrunk The Kids July 20 th 7:30 PM Smurf s The Lost Village July 27 th 7:30 PM A Dog s Purpose August 3 rd 8:00 PM UP August 10 th 8:00 PM Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 August 17 th 8:00 PM Beauty and the Beast (2017) August 24 th 8:00 PM JAWS (1975)

11 Our August 6th wedding day was perfect! Mother Nature blessed us with blue skies as excited guests were greeted by the Captain upon boarding. Staff directed people to the aft of the ship where there was ample outdoor covered seating. No need for decorations or flowers; the Segwun has plenty of natural beauty and charm! She was sparkling clean, and brass and wood were polished to gleaming splendour. Details had been taken care of, such as a space for our guitarist, sound system for our minister and comfortable seating for our elderly guests. The professional and friendly staff have this routine down pat! They happily accommodated special requests including signature drinks, using our own caterer for the hors d oeuvres cocktail reception and the flying of the Scottish flag to go along with the Scottish traditions we incorporated into our Muskoka Reflections ceremony as we joined our two clans. The Captain kept the ship in a sheltered bay during our ceremony and timed the steam blast with the pronouncement of our marriage! He blasted it again when we had wedding crashers in a boat full of friends in decorative attire zipping around the ship during our I Do s! Good times! All in all, our wedding aboard the Segwun was a worry-free process to organize and our special day went off without a hitch. The historical charm of the ship, being on the water and experiencing a lovely cruise, made our wedding a memorable experience for all. Patty & Blair Brodie, married August 6th, 2016 aboard RMS Segwun Summer

12 Family Muskoka Reflections Aarrgghhh There are Pirates! 12 Issue 101 Of course everyone knows there are pirates in these here Muskoka Lakes! For over twelve years, pirates have been known to appear at the Muskoka Wharf on Sunday mornings. Dressed in outlandish garb, they enthusiastically take the Wenonah II ship to sail into danger on the big lake. Trained and commanded by Capt. Corbin, the surly mob sails out of the bay and to meet its nemesis, Captain Hook, at the Narrows. His mates attack but are driven off by the young pirates aboard. However, the battles continue with activities at Regina, Crawford and Beechgrove Islands. Be prepared to sight the lost boys or mermaids on the rocks. Anything can happen! Once again, Corbin has taken his crew into danger and returned them safely home. Another raid has been completed and the crew returns triumphant. A great time has been enjoyed by all! In order to make all of this happen, Captain Corbin (Mike Fisher) has assembled a magnificent crew. Little Johnny (John Miller) mans the cannon while Captain Hook (Ron Sclater) awaits downwind. Brett and Derek Punchard attack, board the ship, meet the defense provided by the newly formed crew, and then are defeated and thrown overboard to boot. But the Islanders are our real heroes. The Purdy family of Regina Island provide the first of the islanders response to the shipboard pirates. Although few in number, they turn their tiny retreat into a lively target. Meanwhile, just ahead, the Braziers of Crawford have never, in over twelve years, missed a Sunday battle. When asked originally, Sharron Brazier said, We might do it once or twice a summer. Jim, the senior gunner, mans the brass cannon while Dan and Barb prepare the assembled mob to defend the island and its treasure. On the water, a flotilla of up to 30 small craft gather to watch the show, while the pirates defend their treasure with much enthusiasm. The Wenonah II crew loads the ship s cannon on the wheelhouse and fires a warning. However, the Islanders are prepared and fire their brass cannon in return. Each Sunday, cottagers and friends join in, some from as far away as New York City. The costumes, swords and outfits are then kept securely in the pirate cupboard awaiting the next Pirate attack. Meanwhile, the Denison descendants including the Fedderly and Wright families of Beechgrove Island gather members from far and wide to appear in their shenanigans. Beechgrove Islanders, famous for their acting abilities, force the ships cannon to fire again while enacting their hijinks on shore. When Segwun began sailing in the 1980s, the ship was often greeted by the family on the island wharf. Today, the tradition of acting and costume dress continues with much enthusiasm. Watch for the revenge of the female pirates and for the protection of the fresh water mermaids. Muskoka Steamships thank each and everyone on these islands for their enthusiastic performances summer after summer. Shiver me Timbers! Ye had better be ready! Pirates will be sailin soon! Ron Sclater, Volunteer Pirate Cruises for Pirates, Ice Queens & Snow Princesses and Space Cadets Costumes are encouraged for youngsters and the young of heart. In addition to Pirate Cruises, we offer two additional family-friendly themed cruises: Ice Queen & Snow Princess Cruises intergalactic Adventure Cruise for Space Cadets Ice Queen and Snow Princess Cruise Saturdays, July 22 and August 12, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Intergalactic Adventure Cruise for Space Cadets Saturday, July 29 and Saturday August 19, 2017 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pirate Cruises Sunday, July 16, 2017 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Sundays, July 23, 30 and August 6, 13, 20, 27, 2017 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Details are online at kids-cruises/

13 Family Building the Future of Museum Education Our world is changing every hour, with hundreds of new and innovative ideas being discovered and challenged every minute, and it is our duty to give the future generations the tools they will need to succeed in the fast-paced, never static future ahead. But how do we prepare a generation for a future we can t even begin to imagine. The answer nurture life-long learners. The method by immersing them in creative, experiential, hands-on, open-ended learning environments. Museums are educational hearts, pumping knowledge and inspiration throughout their buildings and programs. They are a key puzzle piece to the large network of learning environments students need. Muskoka Discovery Centre is no ordinary museum. It is the home to over 10 thousand artifacts, caretaker of North America s largest collection of antique wooden boats, inventor of KidZone a family interactive play and learning space, storyteller of Muskoka s past, and creator of over 40 educational programs for grades Kindergarten to 12. Our goal is to provide students with transforming experiences through a new and unique learning landscape, one that will challenge what they already know, and inspire them to know more. With limitless possibilities, educators can offer their students personalized programs at an affordable price. Over the past 12 years Muskoka Discovery Centre has welcomed through its doors thousands of students not only from Muskoka, but from across Summer

14 Ontario; we have also been welcomed into classrooms across Muskoka with our extensive list of outreach programs. As learning facilitators, we believe in providing students with inquiry-based learning opportunities that connect students to their community, history, and culture. Our long list of education programs offer a broad range of cross-curricular experiences which stem across all areas of the Ontario Curriculum. From outdoor education and boat building courses, to travelling suitcase exhibits and resource rentals, and everything in-between. With each of our education programs, students and educators are learning much more than meets the eye. A boat building course rooted in learning math concepts gives students a chance to learn workshop etiquette, how to operate and clean tools/ For more information: Visit: to download a copy of the current Education Guide Muskoka Reflections equipment, history about boat builders and the origin of a boat style, water safety, communication, confidence, and more. Some of the Education Programs offered by Muskoka Discovery Centre Boat Building Courses Travelling Suitcases Outdoor Education Play-based Learning Kindergarten Programs Pit Stop Programs Resource Rentals Here at Muskoka Discovery Centre we give Edutainment a whole new meaning. With every program, students and educators are left feeling entertained and inspired. Our ongoing partnerships with local educators and schools, like Gravenhurst High School, Gravenhurst Public School, K.P. Manson Public School, and so many more, have offered students learning opportunities that bring them closer to their community. There is also the opportunity for members of the public to benefit from our education programs outside of the traditional classroom and school setting. We offer home school programming, weekend programs, and day camps, all of which are teeming with educational benefits. We take our role in advancing education across the Muskoka Region very seriously and challenge formal learning to open its doors and make way for innovative learning and its limitless possibilities. Olivia Simpson 14 Issue 101

15 Children s Programs at Discovery Centre Family As a parent of young children and a teacher at Gravenhurst High School, I ve been able to take advantage of every aspect of programming available at the Muskoka Discovery Centre. Our family has had an annual season s pass to the Discovery Centre since they became available, and it has got to be the best deal in Muskoka. We have access to the amazing play available at the Muskoka Discovery Centre, including the interactive sand tables, super-fun imaginative play spaces, and engaging-whilst-educational activity centres. Whenever our schedule allows it, we make sure to get in on the weekend programming (free with a seasons pass, or only $5/kid for non-members), where kids can be dropped off at the Centre to hone their arts and crafts skills, dabble in scientific inquiry, and even test out their culinary prowess. My kiddos always come home with a cool, and sometimes tasty, new project that they are excited to teach me about. We ve even attended a super-cool pirate-themed birthday party at the facility! My children also love the PD day and day camp experiences, where there is structured programming that keeps them moving and learning. The staff at these camps are caring and enthusiastic, catering the experience to the needs of each child and really trying to make their day the best it can be. The program is always learning-based, so it s not just filler. The day-campers are treated to lakeside expeditions to check out wildlife, fishing excursions to the docks (or in the boathouse if it s rainy), and even presentations from guest speakers from local environmental organizations. These camps are high-value experience, yet they are the most affordable option in Muskoka, which means that this incredible programming is also accessible programming for anyone interested in getting their kids involved. Finally, Olivia Simpson, the Education Programming Coordinator, has done an incredible job of building educational programming that supports local schools. She can connect the programming available at the Muskoka Discovery Centre to the Ontario curriculum expectations in any subject. In fact, she s visited my grade 10 English class a few times to lead activities that motivate student s writing tasks. They warm to her instantly, though some are already familiar with her because they participate in the fantastic Youth Night events she offers to our students. Some of the students even have the luck of being able to work with her through the coolest volunteer and summer job placements in the region. We are so fortunate to have this incredible place, with its incredible staff, as a part of the Muskoka community! Jacqui McPherson, Local Parent, Season s Pass Holder Summer

16 Membership Muskoka Reflections Society Archives My grandmother got engaged at the Royal Muskoka Hotel, do you have any pictures of the hotel? asked a visitor to Muskoka Discovery Centre. Will you look in the Wood Boat Database and find the list of 1924 Minett boats? queries a local boat builder. I need a scan of the Canadian postage stamp created for RMS Segwun in 1987, written in an from Britain. These are typical of the many research requests received by the Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society Archives Department. To Reach An Archivist: Visit: discovery-centre/ archives/ The Muskoka Steamship and Historical Society is proud of its large collection of artifacts. Collected over the last 25 years, it includes 6000 photographs, 2000 post cards, 1200 objects and many other items such as maps, posters, books, clothing, flags, etc. One of the most important collections is that of the photos of the steamships that plied the Muskoka Lakes and all adjacent waterways in Ontario. Resorts, whether large or small, whether situated on large or small lakes, all have a folder of information such as photos, brochures and articles. Items used by pioneers or lumbermen or boat builders are part of the collection. Items brought into the Centre are catalogued, preserved if necessary and then stored or put on display if they are pertinent to a current exhibit. Historical items can be donated to the Society, some- 16 Issue 101 times with an Income Tax receipt given. The archives room is on the second floor of the Muskoka Discovery Centre and is staffed by volunteers. A team of volunteers works on Thursdays, organizing and cataloguing, answering research questions, and writing articles for this and other magazines. There is an incredible wealth of knowledge in this group of historians. The collection consists of over 400 books, mainly about Muskoka. However, there are also a number of general steamship, railway, and wooden boat books. All books are catalogued, and searches for the name of a book, the author and/or a subject can be done electronically. Most books, except for rare and very old ones, can be borrowed by Members of the Society at no cost. Research requests are usually answered within a week, often with both factual and photographic information provided. This is a free service for members, but others pay a fee for research time and scans of photos. Three databases are available for searches: The wooden boat database, which has been built up over the past five years. This catalogue contains over 7200 boats, with up to 41 pieces of information on each boat; A listing of all artifacts in the archives room; and A catalogue of all photos and text items in the collection. The room also houses the archives of the Antique and Classic Boat Society Toronto and the Dispro Owners Association. Next time you are visiting Muskoka Wharf, come for a visit to the Archives Room at Muskoka Discovery Centre and see what old thing is new this week. Mary Storey, Volunteer Archivist

17 Membership Volunteering at the Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre I am one of many volunteers at the Muskoka Discovery Centre, and a junior one at that. When my wife and I moved to Gravenhurst almost three years ago, we chose a condo across the parking lot from the Muskoka Discovery Centre. After touring the Centre a few times, and taking a couple of cruises on the Segwun and Wenonah II, I volunteered to help on the Wednesday Work Gang, each Wednesday morning, 9:00 a.m. to noon, including a coffee break. To Volunteer: Visit: discovery-centre/volunteers/ Call: I learned how to mop, sweep, stack and unstack chairs, roll round tables from one room to another, roll them back again later, and other odd jobs on a list generated every Wednesday morning by Anne Curley, Operations Manager. I have met many of the other volunteers, learned all sorts of things I probably wouldn t otherwise have in this short time. I couldn t spell boat, much less wooden boat, when we arrived here. I also take readings with a light meter throughout the Centre once a month. This assures that artifacts are not being damaged by too much light. The Work Gang gets the summer off, June to October, so we can enjoy the Muskoka sun and water, and we don t get in the way of the summer visitor crowds. In the fall, we re back to work. There are lots of other Volunteer Positions available in the organization. Some require skills I don t have. Some take more time than others. The Heritage Boat Works gang does a tremendous amount of construction and repair work on any boat made of wood, including canoes. They also repair parts for our loved ships and build and repair items for the Discovery Centre. There is always a need for Volunteer Guides at the Discovery Centre. Pat Durrant, Volunteer Coordinator, is always looking for people to act as tour guides to help visitors by explaining the history of our ships, boats, resorts and Muskoka and its history. Current guides provide any training required. Volunteering is a rewarding experience. Guy Campbell, Volunteer Summer

18 Membership Muskoka Reflections Benefits of MS&HS Membership The Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society s membership brochure proclaims, We keep history alive! But it s more than that. Membership routinely and innovatively helps me better understand Muskoka s history. In the early 1960s, working at vibrant Wigwassan Lodge on Lake Rosseau, I first sensed that we were losing the essence of Muskoka s unique history. The Royal Muskoka hotel had burned in Sagamo and Segwun ships had quit cruising in The old Ditchburn boats we used as livery boats were dowagers amongst new fiberglass boats. Then Wigwassan closed for good in The loss of connection to those good old days made me sad. Came the 70s and Segwun s restoration gained momentum driven by determined leaders in the newly formed Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society (MS&HS). Prime Minister Trudeau (the first one) officiated at the launching of the rebuilt ship in But the truly momentous occasion for me was November 10, It was a gloriously sunny but chilly day as the To join the Society: Visit: crowds gathered beside Segwun at the wharf. The Gravenhurst town band played while we waited to hear the ship s whistle blow, after 21 years of silence. It didn t matter at that moment that it was compressed air and not steam we wanted to hear her breathe again, to talk to us. She did and the crowd went wild. By 1982 her whistle and propellers were powered by steam as the ship entered proudly into her second era of service (or third if you count her hull s first era as Nipissing II). That I can still connect with the romance and reality of the past via the Society s ships is a dividend of membership. In the mid-1980s Richard Tatley s superb two-volume history of the steamboat era made clear Segwun s significance as the only authentic operating steamship artifact from those early years in Muskoka. So, in 1987, I leapt at the chance to volunteer with MS&HS in finding the best means for drydocking Segwun. That s when another benefit of Society membership became clear the opportunity to work with so many good people for a worthy cause. Then, and now, Board members and management prove adept at problem solving and thinking big. The dynamics are fun and the gains measurable. Volunteering is rewarding. For decades the Society has delivered to members a steady stream of initiatives that deliver on its mission. Wanda III joined the fleet. Segwun s success led to the building of Wenonah II. The Muskoka Wharf project brought the Discovery Centre with the Grace & Speed boathouse and Archives, feathers in the Society s cap. Collectively, the elements of the attraction bring to life and comprehensively document the real Muskoka story of settlement, ships, tourism, wooden boats, railways and hotels. The crowning benefit of membership for me is the satisfaction of being associated with a good news story, whether working as a volunteer in the myriad of ways possible or donating cash. The Society thrives by being bold, constantly improving, respecting partnerships, engaging stakeholders. It all makes me happy. Ian Turnbull, Member 18 Issue 101

19 The Benefits of Joining Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society Basic membership in our not-for-profit, registered Charity (# RR0001) includes: An invitation to the annual Member s Cruise and Reception Free admission all year round to Muskoka Discovery Centre (Admission for 2 adults and 2 children for Family membership) One gift certificate for admission to Muskoka Discovery Centre to share with friends or family 10% discount on member tickets for all public cruises on Wenonah II and RMS Segwun 10% discount on the purchase of regularly priced items in the gift shops A subscription to the quarterly magazine Muskoka Reflections Monthly subscription to the Member s e-newsletter Advance notice and invitations to special Members only events Membership in the Last Minute Club, with updates, including special pricing on cruises and events Monthly Member Days at the Discovery Centre special Member events and sales One vote at the Annual General Meeting (2 votes for Family Members) Wallpaper for your mobile device in the form of an historic photo from our archive Pride in knowing that you are preserving and celebrating the culture and heritage of Canada s Muskoka District Your membership dues fund our mission to present dynamic, entertaining and educational experiences through our iconic steamships and the Muskoka Discovery Centre. Yes, I would like to become a member of the Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society First Name: Last Name: Name of Spouse: Address: City: Province: Postal Code: Phone Number: Address: Mail to: 185 Cherokee Lane Gravenhurst, ON, P1P 1Z9 Or scan and to: Prisca@realmuskoka.com Or fax to: Membership Category (Circle your choice): Single: 1 adult Family: 2 adults, 2 children Captain: Family plus tax receipt for $140 Corporate: Family plus a business card ad Friend of the Society: Family plus tax receipt for $1,000 Donation: A one-time gift for which we thank you Total payable: Join online realmuskoka.com/membership Credit Card Number: Expiry Date: CVV: By checking the box to the right you grant Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre permission to information about their products and programs, as well as information about membership. You may unsubscribe at any time. Dues $58 $75 $200 $150 $1,000 Summer

20 Membership Muskoka Reflections Community Financial Support is Crucial The Muskoka Steamship and Historical Society (MSHS) does an excellent job of generating operating funds by operating RMS Segwun, Wenonah II and the Muskoka Discovery Centre. It also receives a special annual operating grant from the Town of Gravenhurst. While the Ships generate a surplus, the organization would not be able to keep progressing without the financial support for special projects from the community. The vision of MSHS is to be the leader in preserving, promoting and celebrating the culture and heritage of Canada s Muskoka District. This involves a wide variety of programming at the Muskoka Discovery Centre and providing exciting experiences aboard the RMS Segwun and Wenonah II. Every effort is being made to accommodate the interests of all ages and be a true family destination. At the same time, we want the organization to be financially strong and viable. To achieve these aspirations with world class standards we To Donate: Visit: need more investment capital than our operations can generate. The ships do very well as a commercial enterprise, but a high percentage of the annual net proceeds are reinvested to maintain them and fund the Transport Canada inspection every 5 years. We are moving closer to a breakeven operation with the Muskoka Discovery Centre, but we cannot generate enough investment capital to purchase world class interactive exhibition technology! 20 Issue 101 MSHS does not do annual capital campaigns, but rather makes an appeal when the need arises. Two years ago, we did a major refit to parts of RMS Segwun that had not been touched in over 50 years. The general public responded promptly to an appeal led by our Board of Directors and contributed the necessary $200,000. The ship has never been in better condition. For a number of years, we have been working on a revitalization of the Muskoka Discovery Centre. It will re-energize the core themes of wooden boats, steamships and resorts and add new ones such as water and aboriginal history. All will be presented with interactive technology which will make the visitor experience exciting and relevant for all ages. We are currently applying for $2.0 Mil in government grants, and their funding formulas require support from the community. We will be appealing to you! So while management works tirelessly at improving operations there will never be enough surplus to cover all our capital requirements. We will continue to need the critical community support for specific projects that has always been there when needed. As a result, the very historic RMS Segwun (oldest operating steamship in North America) and Wenonah II continue to tour thousands of people on the lakes and deliver postcard images to those on shore. And the Muskoka Discovery Centre continues to grow and offer interesting programs and historical exhibits that appeal to all ages. The support from the public since inception 44 years ago has been critical and made the difference from just existing to a vibrancy that makes our offering known and respected throughout Canada. Rick McGraw, Director

21 Cruises Sightseeing Cruises with a Modern Twist Muskoka Steamships offer many different cruises to appeal to many different requests. The 1-hour cruise is designed for the time-crunched vacationer. Everyone on board will enjoy lake breezes and magnificent skies while sailing quiet channels lined by trees reaching to the heavens and rocky outcrops. Guests will enjoy the camaraderie that comes when cruising with relaxed, like-minded travellers. The 2-hour cruise is an afternoon delight narrated by an amusing and knowledgeable historian. Modern and historic landmarks on the shoreline are put in context for guests. A 2-hour cruise can be as active or relaxed as desired. Explore the multiple decks or sip a glass of wine in the lounge. Share the optional High Tea with travelling companions. At the time of booking, we recommend reserving the sweets, scones and sandwiches that comprise High Tea. Guests pay for the meal on board, not when they reserve. The additional 30 minutes of the 2.5-hour cruise provides time for two lunch seatings. The two-course meal, with a choice To Book a Cruise: Visit: Steamship Office 185 Cherokee Lane Gravenhurst Call: Visit: of main course, is optional. The dining rooms recall the elegance of another time, yet the menu, wine list and style of service is upto-date and relaxed. The 3.5-hour Sunset Cruise resonates with the romantic in anyone. Long shadows and pale pastel skies are the exquisite backdrop for this cruise into the heart of Lake Muskoka. We recommend that guests reserving the optional 3-course dinner accompany the meal with one of Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre s distinctive private label wines. The 4-hour Millionaire s Row Cruise takes guests back to the golden age of resorts and steamships on Lake Muskoka. Designated by Destination Canada as a Canadian Signature Experience, RMS Segwun s route takes her past magnificent summer homes, some more than 100 years old. Many are still in the hands of the family that built them generations ago. Optional High Tea is served on board. This cruise sails Wednesdays only, from July 10 to September 3, Both ships in the fleet have covered decks, as well as interior seating in the lounges, so they cruise rain or shine. The most up-to-date sailing schedule is found on our website realmuskoka.com. Inguna Ramina-Potter & Prisca Campbell Summer

22 Themed Cruises 22 Issue 101

23 Cruises Canada Day cruising is made even better this year by the addition of a Pizza Party Cruise for families from 5:00 7:30 p.m., July 1, Again this year, we will be cruising to Walker s Point to observe the fireworks from 8:30 p.m. to Midnight. We are anticipating a spectacular display to mark Canada s 150th birthday. Every steamship ticket grants the holder to free admission to Muskoka Discovery Centre. Located in Gravenhurst at the opposite end of Muskoka Wharf from the steamship dock, the Discovery Centre depicts the history of the steamships, grand resorts and wooden boats of the Muskoka Lakes. Craft beer is a modern Muskoka tradition. Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre is partnering with local breweries for a Craft Beer Cruise, August 12, Embarking in Gravenhurst, guests will cruise aboard Wenonah II from 2:00 4:00 p.m. An expert will lead a tasting of local beers. This will be a tasty opportunity to introduce the palate to some of Muskoka s finest brews. Author Andrew Hind (Ghost Towns of Muskoka) will be telling Ghost Tales aboard RMS Segwun on a rare one-way cruise from Gravenhurst to Port Carling, July 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A bus will collect travellers in Port Carling for the return journey to Gravenhurst. Parking is free for visitors to Muskoka Wharf. Once again, we will be operating Fall Colours cruises during the autumn season. Lake Muskoka is breathtaking when the shoreline turns to red and gold. Geese preparing to wing south may call overhead as they fly in a V-formation. Special fall cruises sail Saturdays from September 23 to October 7; Sundays from September 24 to October 8; and Monday, October 9, Our Thanksgiving Day Cruise aboard RMS Segwun will occur Monday, October 9th. This six-hour cruise from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. is also her longest cruise in 2017, which allows the Captain to follow a unique route. A Thanksgiving lunch of hot turkey, stuffing, seasonal vegetables including maple syrup glazed carrots, mashed potatoes with gravy and cranberry sauce is accompanied by a piece of pumpkin pie. A morning and an afternoon coffee break with sweet pastries, a family tradition for many is included. Inguna Ramina-Potter & Prisca Campbell Photo by My Muskoka Publications Summer

24 Muskoka Heritage & Heroes One of Canada s First Airlines Photo: Bishop Barker in Muskoka Bay What we take for granted today as being a three-hour car journey to Muskoka took a day or two by train and steamboat back before the 1920s. Thus, with the arrival of Bishop Barker Aeroplanes Limited to Muskoka Bay at Gravenhurst, Rosseau Village, and Royal Muskoka Island, arrival times were shortened considerably and passenger airline history was made. Arrive at the lavish Royal Muskoka Hotel on Lake Rosseau rested and invigorated and it only takes a short time to get there. Let us fly you from Toronto Harbour to your favourite spot on the Muskoka Lakes. Our fine and safe aircraft will get you to your destination in the same amount of time it takes you to get your ticket, secure your luggage and board the train. This might have been the advertising line for the new innovative airlines serving our Muskoka. In 1919 William Avery (Billy) Bishop was nicknamed Hell s Handmaiden by the Germans, no doubt because of the 170 missions that he flew over the German Lines during WWI, as well as the destruction and chaos that he created against them. Bishop was credited 72 kills, and joined with fellow WWI flying ace William (Billy) Barker, both Victoria Cross recipients, to start one of Canada s first airlines long before Trans Canada Airlines was in service. Bishop Barker created a company to fly cottagers and resort goers from Toronto s waterfront north to the summer retreats of Muskoka. Bishop Barker offered quick and comfortable, safe and sane flights to the serenity of Muskoka s resorts and lodges, as opposed to the more traditional and much more tedious journey which took a full day or a little more by train and steamship. In the past to get to Muskoka you had to make your 24 Issue 101 way by train from Toronto s Union Station to Muskoka s Wharf at Gravenhurst and then from there you would proceed by one of the Muskoka Lakes Navigation and Hotel Company steamboats to your destination or the other option from the wharf was to charter a private launch or livery. Some of the more affluent would have their yachts complete with staff standing by to whisk them off to their summer homes. When Bishop and Barker joined forces to create their commercial passenger airline they purchased surplus WWI Martinsyde or Curtiss HS2L flying boats to get vacationers quickly to their destination so holidayers had more time to enjoy their rest and relaxation and less time travelling. There is also reference to Bishop having another partner by the name of Henry Burden and they also launched an air service. Henry was the brother of Bishop s future wife Margaret Eaton Burden. He was also a war ace with 13 confirmed enemy aircraft destroyed. It is unknown whether this partnership was before, during or after Bishop s business venture with Barker. The passenger list for Bishop Barker Airlines was impressive for the times, including Sir John and Lady Eaton and many, many others. Margaret Eaton at the age of 78 was among the first passengers. One day in 1919 Sir John showed up at Ravenscrag (the Eaton s Muskoka summer home) and asked, Mother, will you fly with me? Her reply was immediate. Of course I will. I have wanted to fly all my life. And so Billy Bishop flew them high over the Muskoka lakes. When she landed, Margaret said, From heights I discovered unknown lakes hidden in the woods, and realized for the first time what a bird s eye view meant. (From The Eatons by Rod McQueen, Stoddard Publishing 1998.)

25 Muskoka Heritage & Heroes Bishop Barker made flights to magnificent resorts like the Royal Muskoka and to fine lodges like Shamrock Lodge. As well, they also provided sightseeing tours and flights for photographers including Anderson who produced a large number of Muskoka postcards. During that period of time Philip Garratt, who had family ties to Lake of Bays, flew with Bishop Barker Airlines doing barn storming from farmer s fields. (Taken from My Happy Years on Lake of Bays, Jessie Garratt 1988.) An advertisement for Bishop Barker Aeroplanes showed their business was called Split Air. In their ad they promoted the fact that they have been in business since September of 1919 with a capital of $300,000. The Bishop Barker Aeroplanes Limited met with extraordinary success in the inauguration of aerial transportation and geographical survey. Our Machines have carried 5,000 passengers over 56,000 miles. Our stuntpilots have flown at numerous public fairs including the Canadian National Exhibit. Over 4,000 photographs have been taken for industrial and educational bodies, and all without a single mishap. Timber Cruising Aerial Photography and Aerial Timber Cruising is now the only modern method of determining the timber wealth and topography of large properties. Every acre of your limit can be examined in a remarkably short time. We have dozens of machines and the most capable pilots ready to assist you. Their main office was on Spadina Ave. in Toronto but they also maintained representation at the Royal Muskoka and Armour Heights. Unfortunately, the airline was a little premature for the type of aircraft available at that time. The passenger capacity was low and there were financial difficulties. As well, there were legal problems and a crash that created difficulties and complications. Adding to their downfall was an incident that took place at the waterfront of the Canadian National Exhibition where Bishop and Barker were hired to do stunt flying. (This was the early forerunner of today s CNE Air Show.) They decided to give the audience a real thrill and buzzed the stands. The crowd panicked and stampeded out Above: Bishop, Eaton s Wedding Below: Bishop plane at Eatons, Windermere Summer

26 The Wooden Boat Centre of Muskoka WOODEN BOAT RESTORATIONS SALES, SERVICE & STORAGE Jeremy Fowler c p f jeremy@dukeboats.com 2 James Bartleman Way Port Carling ON P0B 1J0 Right Place. Right Time. Right Realtor Handmade by - Dean Rivett Gravenhurst, Ontario Gunnel, Transom, Dispro & Custom Curved Fenders drivett@cogeco.ca ellen@ellencarnahan.com n Ellen M Carnahan fine digital artwork Gravenhurst, Muskoka Ontario P1P 1H3 YOUR STORE FOR LOW PRICES Terry & Susan Candow Owner/Operators 290 First Street North (705) (705) GRAVENHURST FURNITURE SERVING MUSKOKA SINCE PH: MUSKOKA RD. S. APPLIANCES SIMMONS Sleep Centre 26 Issue 101

27 Muskoka Heritage & Heroes of the stands and one woman apparently miscarried her unborn child. They were forced to forgo their fee to pay damages. The famous aviators and war heroes airline did not survive for long, lasting just a few years. Barker returned to the Canadian Air Force in 1922 as a Wing Commander and Station Commander at Base Borden. He lost his life in 1930 while performing a demonstration flight when his Fairchild biplane trainer went out of control and crashed at Air Station Rockcliffe, Ottawa. Bishop went on to live in England for a number of years with his family. Returning to Canada he became the Vice-President of McColl Frontenac Oil Company. By 1936 he was back in the Air Force as Air Vice Marshal and at the beginning of WWII he was Air Marshal. Bishop died at the age of 62, in 1956 in Palm Beach, Florida. Larry Wright & Gerry Tanner, Archives Volunteers Above: Billy Bishop aircraft Below: Barker and Bishop Summer

28 MARC THIBODEAU Sales Representative Managing Partner muskokacottagerealestate.com BALA DORSET PORT CARLING PORT SANDFIELD ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF MY COTTAGE LISTINGS SOLD IN 2016 LAKE ROSSEAU...$2,795,000 LAKE MUSKOKA...$949,000 SKELETON LAKE...$849,000 LAKE MUSKOKA...$399,000 SKELETON LAKE...$400,000 LAKE MUSKOKA...$1,995,000 LAKE MUSKOKA...$649,000 SAMPLE OF 2016 SOLDS! REPRESENTING BUYERS & SELLERS THROUGHOUT MUSKOKA LAKE MUSKOKA $3,900,000 LAKE ROSSEAU $949,000

29 Muskoka Heritage & Heroes Hubert C. Bert Minett ( ) In 1867 Charles J. Minett and his wife, Fanny White, immigrated to Canada. After two years in Toronto, they settled on Free Grant land on the peninsula northwest of Port Carling. Though trained as a carpenter, Charles tried farming the rocky terrain, but like many newcomers to Muskoka, he soon discovered that opening his home to paying guests was more lucrative. By 1883 the Minetts had enlarged their house and built a separate hotel next to it, which through a printer s error became known as Clevelands House. In the spring of 1892, Charles died after being injured in a fall and his family was left to carry on without him. Bert Minett was born on June 2, 1881, the third of four boys: Ernest, Arthur, Hubert and Cecil. All of them were skilled canoeists, with Ernie having great success as a racer. In his teens, Bert began building his own boats in a small barn behind the hotel, often with the help of his brother Arthur. These early efforts culminated in 1903 with the construction of a large 45-foot launch named Mineta, which the hotel used for transporting guests. Following this, Bert entered an apprenticeship period during which he made frequent trips to the US to work for other boat builders, developing his woodand metal-working skills. Most notably, he spent two years working in Michigan for the famous boat designer John L. Hacker. He also travelled to Boston, Philadelphia and Oxford, Maryland, where he worked in a foundry. In 1910 Bert Minett opened his own business in Bracebridge, located in a former chair factory. The H.C. Minett Motor Boat Works produced many fine boats over the next twelve years and Bert became known for the quality of his work, rooted in an uncompromising perfectionism. His boats were custom designed and Bert Minett 1913 Top: Original Clevelands House painstakingly manufactured, right down to the metal fittings and deck hardware. Some of these designs, such as his folding windscreens, were even patented. The largest of the boats built during this period was the 50-foot cruiser named Rita, which still survives today. Summer

30 Muskoka Heritage & Heroes In 1923 the business was expanded and relocated to a former foundry building on the river below the falls. Within a couple of years, however, bankruptcy loomed and Bert was forced to take on a partner-investor, Bryson Shields. Although Minett s insistence on high standards of construction was a virtue for a craftsman, this trait also made it hard to turn a profit and it needed to be balanced by Shields financial management. The renamed SCREENEZE Bringing indoor living to the great outdoors Available in White, Bronze, Clay or Sand available at SCREENEZE BENEFITS 10 Year Limited Warranty No staples No splines System stretches screen for you Can span openings up to 150 sq. ft. (3x the norm) Eliminate posts Screws included Simple to install Installs using variety of screen fabrics 1091 Chamberlain Dr. Gravenhurst, ON Tel: (705) Fax: (705) lumber@muskoka.com Muskoka s Building Centre 30 Issue 101 Photo: Rita Minett-Shields company prospered in the boom of the late 1920s, producing up to 15 custom boats a year and employing about 20 people. But when the Depression came, the demand for new boats quickly dried up and left the company struggling. Little is known of Bert s short-lived marriage, which took place about this time. Wed in Boston in 1930, Bert s new bride, Marjorie Walker, was a 24-year-old nurse from that city. How the two met is something of a mystery. Bert brought her back to live in Bracebridge and the following December they had a daughter, Marjorie Ernestine. The marriage didn t last, however, and the mother and child soon went back to Massachusetts. Due to the distance, Bert didn t get to see his daughter often, but Little Marjorie returned to Muskoka every summer to spend time with her father at his cottage on Ennis Bay. In 1934 Bert Minett sold out his financial stake in the company, though he continued to work at the shop and oversee production as before. The timing suggests that this decision may have been motivated by his divorce, not just the bad economy. In fact, sales were starting to pick up again by this point, with increasing demand for the new style of planing hulls. No longer the owner of the business he started, Bert was also losing his role as designer. Although Minett-Shields continued to build boats of the finest quality during the 30s and 40s, most of their models were coming from other designers, particularly American ones like Hacker, Apel (Ventnor) and Van Patten. During WWII Bert Minett moved to Hamilton to work on the construction of military vessels. He remained there for a few years after the war doing conversions of Fairmile patrol boats. He finally retired and returned to Muskoka in the early 1950s. Bert Minett died on July 15, 1966, at the age of 85. He was given a Masonic funeral service and buried in Port Carling Cemetery. Gerry Hatherley, Archives Volunteer

31 Muskoka Heritage & Heroes Women and Their Hotels While doing research on Muskoka hotels and resorts built before 1940, I was amazed to find that many of the hotel proprietors were women. In fact, by 1917, one hundred years ago, 15% of the hotels on the big lakes were operated by women. This is an amazing fact considering that most women were homemakers. In the census of 1941, less than 4% of women worked outside the home. Operating hotels involved arranging meals, housekeeping, maintenance, advertising and managing and controlling finances, which were all onerous tasks. The fact that women oversaw the hotels was somewhat logical. Tourism was a summer-only business and the local people needed to make money in the summer. The tourists, fishermen and hunters needed places to stay and it was an easy way for women to make some extra cash by opening their homes to these tourists by giving them both a bed and meals. The husband was often the guide or worked at another job such as lumbering, so the women were in charge. A perfect example of women hoteliers was at the Moon Chute Lodge on the Moon River, near Bala. It opened as a small hotel in 1888 and was run by Annie Renshaw. Her husband, Frank Tooke, was captain of the Firefly and he ferried people down the Moon River, offering sightseeing rides and delivering staples to those who lived on the river. Later, he ran a garage repairing cars and boats. Annie Renshaw, and later her daughter, ran the lodge until 1938, when the water level was raised in the Moon River and the house was flooded. Minnie Cookson, who started Muskoka Grandview Resort, was a very independent business woman. She begged her husband, who was a farmer, to give her some land on the shores of Fairy Lake. She designed and built a thirty-room hotel with no money or support from her husband. Starting in 1910, she managed this hotel, adding electricity and indoor plumbing, until her daughter Rose took over management in Minnie continued to supervise meals until her death in Rose ran the hotel until it was sold in The hotel still operates today. Windermere House was built in 1870 by Thomas Aitken. He married his second wife, Elizabeth Boyer, in 1883 and she helped manage the hotel. She forbid any card playing or alcohol. Her granddaughter, Mary Elizabeth Aitken, took over running the hotel with the help of her Aunt Gertrude, making it her life s work until it was sold in She was active in local politics, and was instrumental in changing the liquor laws of the district so she could have a bar in her hotel. Three of the 15 hotels that are over 100 years old and still operating, were started by women. They are Muskoka Grandview Resort, Bristlecone Lodge (formerly Norloch Lodge) and Trillium Lake Resort (formerly Divine Lake Lodge). It is very probable that many of the smaller hotels and resorts were also run by women, but the public record of the day would record the husband s name as the proprietor or manager. Mary Patterson, Archives Volunteer Summer

32 Muskoka Heritage & Heroes Segwun Celebrates 130 Years Nipissing As Canada celebrates 150 years as a united country, a local steamship is also celebrating 130 years on the far-famed Muskoka lakes, including 96 years in active service: a record matched only Homemade Goodness on the Go Well Fed Deli Take Home Meals Home Baking Corporate and Custom Catering Annette Gillan 150 Hotchkiss Street Gravenhurst, Ontario P1P 1H WELL (9355) eat@wellfedinc.com Like Us on Facebook by a very few vessels in the world, past or present. It reads like a compendium of miracles. The ship, of course, is the Royal Mail Steamer Segwun, last of her kind in active operation in North America and now a national Canadian institution. Segwun was hardly considered very remarkable when she was imported in six sections from the Glasgow shipyards in Scotland and assembled at Gravenhurst in Then, she was just another sidewheel passenger steamboat with a walking-beam engine, joining an existing fleet of four vessels in an age that had more steamship lines than railways. True, she had the distinction of being the flagship of the fleet for a time and also the first ironhulled ship in Muskoka, but no one could have foreseen that she would eventually outlast almost all other ships in history by a margin of more than five to one. In four more years she will set a world record of a century of service. How s that for durability? Segwun s amazing career falls into five segments. First was her service as Nipissing (II) from 1887 to The second was her conversion to a twin-propeller steamer in , at which time she was renamed Segwun, an Ojibwa word meaning springtime. This phase lasted until August 1958, when she was ignominiously put out of service by being driven onto the Gull Rock Shoal in central Lake Muskoka as a result of a navigating error. The third phase began in 1962, when she was rescued from the scrapper s torch by the Town of Gravenhurst and turned into a floating but static marine museum, commemorating the proud era of steam on the Muskoka lakes an era that began in early pioneer times, in 1866, a year before Confederation. The fourth phase, overlapping the third by four years, consisted of her 32 Issue 101

33 Muskoka Heritage & Heroes gradual restoration and conversion into a daytime cruise ship by the Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society. The fifth and final stage began with the ship s successful re-entry into active service on the Muskoka lakes in The Segwun s continued existence today is almost miraculous. When, as the Nipissing, she was laid up at Gravenhurst following an engine breakdown at Milford Bay, it seemed unlikely that she would ever sail again. After ten years of sitting derelict, her machinery had become scrap metal and the First World War had put a severe damper on steamship travel. But business revived in the Roaring Twenties and the Muskoka Navigation Company found it needed another ship. Similarly, by the time she shattered her propellers on the rock in 1958, passenger steamships had all but disappeared in Canada, thanks to the competition of automobiles and motorboats. It seemed impossible that she would ever cruise again and in 1960 she was offered for sale to the Town of Gravenhurst for a mere dollar, and the Town had the good sense to accept the gift. Though her stint as a museum kept Segwun going for another decade, to some it just looked like delaying the inevitable. Corrosion and wood rot were taking their toll. Only a massive refit could save her and that would be extremely costly. Then came another miracle. Suddenly in 1969 a young marine engineer, John Coulter, appeared out of nowhere and announced that he believed Segwun could be restored to take passengers under steam again, that he believed he knew how this could be accomplished and also that he was prepared to lead the project through to completion. The hour had found the man. Coulter s enthusiasm proved contagious and soon a bevy of steam buffs and historians rallied behind him, resolved that the Segwun s glory days were not a thing of the past. But others did not share the vision and raised objections. Then came another miracle. The Town of Gravenhurst, relieved to find someone willing to assume the burden posed by the old ship, agreed to let the restoration proceed. Another hurdle surmounted. But though the restorationists managed to raise a little money and do a few repairs, by 1973 it was clear that time was running out: pinhole leaks were appearing in the ship s hull. Then, another miracle occurred. The Ontario Road Builders Association (ORBA), which represented an industry largely responsible for the disappearance of Canada s passenger steamships, heard about the Segwun s plight and came to her rescue by offering to act as patron sponsors to the refit. The offer was eagerly accepted and with the ORBA s backing, things really began to happen. The ship was drydocked, her hull replated, new propellers installed and she was triumphantly relaunched on June 1, A few more miracles followed. Despite rising costs and red tape, work on the ship s engines and superstructure continued and in 1976 the Province of Ontario became interested and provided $250,000 to help the cause. But the Segwun could not meet modern safety standards for taking passengers. Amongst other things, the Ministry of Transport objected to her low freeboard, her narrow beam and her wooden superstructure. The catastrophe of the Noronic, a ship that had burned in Toronto harbour in 1949, had not been forgotten. It was doubtful Segwun could ever be Segwun Summer

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35 Muskoka Heritage & Heroes certified. But fortunately the authorities took a reasonable attitude and, after issuing many difficult demands, most notably about fire safety, they reluctantly agreed to let the old ship sail again with paying passengers in Even now, the Segwun s troubles were not over. Critics argued that it was impossible to operate a 19th Century ship under 20th Century conditions, especially when she now required a double crew. They also said that she was a hopeless anachronism. Who in the modern age would want to travel on an old dowager averaging eight miles per hour? Indeed, for the first four years the ship ran at a loss. But the old lady was loved and the deficits began to diminish and today, 37 years later, she is still operating in the old-time style. Nothing like this has ever happened in Canadian history. Perhaps that has been the greatest miracle of all. Richard Tatley, Archives Volunteer Top: Segwun at Beaumaris Yesteryear and Segwun Below: Segwun 1981 present Facing: Segwun Restoration Summer

36 Maggie Tomlinson has a simple goal: To give the very best in service to all of her clients. She understands the Luxury Muskoka Real Estate market, and she provides the guidance and support needed for a positive outcome, for both buyers and sellers. All Realtors are not created equal. Experience the difference Contact Maggie today. MuskokaCottageForSale.ca Call today to arrange for an obligation-free confidential consultation. Maggie Tomlinson ASA, ABR, SRS, Broker Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited, Brokerage 110 Medora Street, Port Carling, ON // ext 240