Bobcaygeon
Ontario, Canada
the town
The origin of the name Bobcaygeon can be traced back to as
early as 1615, when Champlain traveled through this area. In his diary, he
noted that the forests around this area were the finest he had observed in all
his travels, and described it as ‘beaubocage’ (beaubeautiful, bocage=hedged
farmland). Two centuries later, the first white settlers arrived to hear the
Mississauga Indians calling it ‘Bobcajewonunk’, their version of the name
Champlain had used. This word developed into meaning “narrow place between two
rocks, where water rushes through”. It aptly described this site before a wooden dam and lock were
built, altering though not erasing its beauty. Built on three islands where
Sturgeon Lake flows into Pigeon Lake, Bobcaygeon is divided by the Trent
Canal, and flanked on either side by the Big Bob and Little Bob rivers, with
7 bridges joining everything
together. The original lock at Bobcaygeon was the first
lock to be built on the Trent-Severn Waterway. The wooden lock was initiated
by Lieutenant Governor Sir John
Colborne in 1832, and financed by the provincial government. In 1833, shortly after the settlement of the region began,
Thomas Need (Author of Six Years in the Bush, or Extracts
from the Journal of a Settler in Upper Canada 1832-1838)
settled here at Bobcaygeon, the
narrows between Sturgeon and Pigeon Lakes. He later
opened a store and erected a sawmill and a gristmill. Where we are
tied up for the night is just below
where this first gristmill was located. The sawmill
and lumberyard were across the canal on the lower end of Centre Island.
"Wild Palm" food shop
Need later sold his mills to Mossum Boyd in 1849, which is when
Bobcaygeon is said to have been founded. As well as being known as the
founding father of Bobcaygeon, Boyd would later be known as the ‘Lumber King
of the Trent Valley’.
In addition to his lumber empire, Boyd also founded the Trent
Valley Navigation Company (1883 —
1915), which operated freight and passenger steamers between Lindsay,
Coboconk, Sturgeon Point, Fenelon Falls, and Bobcaygeon. His ships
included the Esturion, Manita,
and the Ogemah.
During this period, Boyd brought much tourist
business to the Kawartha Lakes region, through extensive advertising in
newspapers and brochures. A 5800 word essay prepared for publication in 1902
had the ambitious title —
“Play-Ground of the Continent: Kawartha Lakes means Bright
Water and Happy Lands, Where Nature Lies in Sweet Abandonment and Laughing
Waters Kiss a Hundred Shores.” Boyd’s extensive home and gardens could be seen behind a
stonewall, across the road from our dock. Although there were plans to restore
and convert the house into condominiums, fire regulations made it cost
prohibitive. By 1857 the community contained only 150 inhabitants but
subsequently its growth was stimulated by the construction of the Bobcaygeon
Colonization Road. This road was a means to encourage settlement of the north.
The Public Lands Act of 1853 permitted free grants of 100 acres on or near the
colonization road. In Peterborough County, 2 were made; the Bobcaygeon and
Burleigh Roads. Their modern routes are highways 649 & 28 respectively.
vintage house
Bobcaygeon, with a population of about 1000 was incorporated as
a village by a Victoria County By-law in 1876. In 1933 a dairy opened, incorporating the new pasteurization
plant technology, and was known as Kawartha Dairy. As other smaller dairy
establishments went out of business, they sold their licences to Kawartha
Dairy. This dairy is still growing, and their trucks can be seen all over this
area of Ontario, with stores in Lindsay, Bancroft and Minden. Oh, and they
make really good ice cream too! The present, modern lock with its drop of ten
feet is a popular spot for both boaters and land visitors. It is situated
right downtown, with the main street passing over he swing bridge before us
and the main part of town to our right. You will notice many similarities
between Bobcaygeon and Fenelon Falls, both being lumbering owns, settled in
the same period. Downtown Bobcaygeon (popu1ation 2800) boasts, a number of
interesting boutiques and gift shops, as well as many historic buildings, and
a holiday atmosphere. The horticultural Society is responsible for the many
beautiful hanging baskets and window boxes, which decorate Main Street. Bobcaygeon is home to Ontario’s oldest fall fair (1858), and is
known for hosting Canada’s premier Open Fiddle and Step Dance Contest. It has
also been the host for the past 23 years to the Annual Canada/US Walleye
Fishing Tournament. Up to 150 teams from all over North America set out to
Sturgeon and Pigeon Lakes to catch “the big one” on the last weekend in May.
Text by Ontario Waterway Cruises
nearby
Sturgeon Point
lake front
one of the summer homes
The octagonal church was constructed in 1915 to replace the
church that burnt in 1888. A Toronto woman, Lady Flavelle, with a summer home
at the point, was visiting relatives in Georgia when she came upon an unique
church. She was so taken with it that
she convinced her husband, an architect, to go to Georgia to study it. Plans
were made, and materials shipped from Georgia so that an exact replica could
be constructed at Sturgeon Point.
octagonal church
The octagonal building, constructed of Georgia pine, has
windows on seven sides, and is supported by a centre pillar with beams
branching out to the sloping ceiling. Small dormer windows admit light from
above, and a belfry holding the bell to call the people to its
non-denominational service, surmounts the structure.
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