UniqueMuskoka - July2019 Issue18
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JULY 2019 CELEBRATING TRADITIONS A Century of Boating Getting all fired up about wood fired pizza EARLY POSTAL SERVICE ENABLED MUSKOKA S GROWTH
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66 telling the Muskoka story Departments Features 11 22 You ll need lots of room in your calendar for all the activities available in the month of July Starting the month off with a bang will be Canada Day celebrations in a number of communities From that rousing start you ll find there are events for foodies boat shows outdoor activities historic re enactments concerts and much much more Article by Meghan Smith Photography by Andy Zeltkalns When artistic energy is based in colour and texture inspiration is endless For Janice Feist local Muskoka artist the journey to painter has been a lifelong development Incorporating techniques and style of painting from one medium to another continues to create new energy for Feist Muskoka Calendar Changing Mediums Provides Energy to an Evolving Artistry 64 28 The District of Muskoka wants to position itself as a leader in environmental protection and is turning its attention to waste reduction efforts A summer mainstay The Artful Garden is presenting for the final season A Lake of Bays group is adding a new feature to its conservation efforts A local boat builder takes environmental action Government officials continue the work of determining a way forward after the flood of 2019 Article by John Challis Photography by Eleanor Kee Wellman Bird enthusiasts have recorded 35 species of ducks swans and geese in Muskoka Even in the bleakest hours of late winter and early spring there are waterfowl around to brighten the view By autumn most will have vanished But that s a signal for one more spectacle migration 66 Article and Photography by Tim DuVernet Launched a century ago or more the boats that can celebrate turning 100 years old are on a growing list It takes commitment to keep a boat running for 100 years and likely through several families of ownership each with their own perspective of value and care What s Happened Cottage Country Cuisine For those wanting to experience the wafting of warmth of comfort of the outdoors of things natural and simple and beautiful of Muskoka itself there are wood fired pizza ovens tucked away in a number of corners of the district that are serving up some extraordinary tastes 2 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019 Muskoka s Dapper Ducks A Pageant of Feathered Beauty 38 Boating Traditions and Craftsmanship Turn a Century 28
CREATE YOUR DREAM SPACE All About Kitchens The possibilities are endless BRACEBRIDGE 3 Gray Road 705 646 0347 HUNTSVILLE 4 Centre St N 705 789 6161 www allaboutkitchens ca
60 52 Features Early Postal Service Enabled Muskoka s Growth and Prosperity 44 Fibre Art The Evolution of Funk Fun and Creativity Article by Meghan Smith Photography by Kelly Holinshead Fibre art refers to art made of materials consisting of natural or synthetic fibre such as fabric yarn or felt When Karen Thorn contributes her creativity to these fibres the material becomes a beautiful composition that is practical but fun and funky Article by J Patrick Boyer Among the most dynamic pioneers boosting Muskoka s settlement and economic development were postmasters who established postal services at some 200 communities across the District Post offices provided social hubs in scattered rural areas and a connection to the outside world 60 Oxtongue Craft Cabin and Gallery A Tradition for 40 Years Article by Dawn Huddlestone Photography by Kelly Holinshead When they first had the idea to build a log cabin studio in the woods near Dwight John McConnell and Geraldine Slater couldn t possibly have known what it would become Today Karen Piovaty continues the tradition of connecting artists with the community JULY 2019 CELEBRATING TRADITIONS A Century of Boating Getting all fired up about wood fired pizza EARLY POSTAL SERVICE ENABLED MUSKOKA S GROWTH Our Cover Photograph by Tim Du Vernet The iconic Rambler has drawn attention for decades as one of the most recognizable yachts on the Muskoka lakes Like all craft surviving more than 100 years it connects Muskokans to the district s early days as a retreat for summer visitors 44 Opinion 9 72 By Don Smith By Rob Purves Muskoka Insights Muskoka Moments July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 5
JUST ARRIVED THE ALL NEW 2020 BUILT FOR THE MODERN FAMILY telling the Muskoka story Unique Muskoka is published six times per year by Unique Publishing Inc Donald Smith Publisher and Editor Donna Ansley Sales Lisa Brazier Design Susan Smith Administration 21 Robert Dollar Dr Bracebridge ON P1L 1P9 705 645 6575 P O Box 330 Bracebridge ON P1L 1T7 Phone 705 645 4874 E mail mcnairelectric muskoka com www chuckmcnairelectric com ECRA ESA Licence No 7001083 J Patrick Boyer John Challis Tim Du Vernet Kelly Holinshead Dawn Huddlestone Eleanor Kee Wellman Meghan Smith Tomasz Szumski Rob Purves Karen Wehrstein Andy Zeltkalns Contributors Annual Subscription Rates including HST where applicable In Ontario 30 00 All Other Provinces 36 00 U S 60 00 All Other Countries 72 00 HST 773172721 Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement Number 43268016 Copyright 2018 Unique Publishing Inc No content published in Unique Muskoka can be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher Mailing Address Box 616 Bracebridge ON P1L 1T9 Rotary Centre for Youth 131 Wellington St Bracebridge Street Address 28 Manitoba St Bracebridge ON P1L 1S1 www clubrunner ca bracebridge www uniquemuskoka com info uniquemuskoka com 705 637 0204 705 644 2712 6 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019
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Muskoka Insights promoting events or sharing the work of artists we ve found there s never a shortage of material that reflects the great depth of talent that resides in Muskoka In this issue of Unique Muskoka there s plenty of reading for those who are supporters of the arts Painter Janice Feist tells the story of her route to creativity and the impact her life experiences have had on her work Karen Thorn s creations as a fibre artist explode with colour and fun and are a reflection of her inner self The vibrancy of her art form is distinctive but as clothing it s wearable and practical For those who want to enjoy the lasting relationships that have developed between the community and artists there s the story of the Oxtongue Craft Cabin and Art Gallery that has been a meeting place for creators and buyers for 40 years If you enjoy outdoor creativity you must be sure to put The Artful Garden on you must do list After 22 years of sharing their gardens and the work of many artists Suzann and Jon Partridge have decided this season will be the last for this labour of love Don t forget to scan our Muskoka Calendar for many events featuring the performing arts However this isn t just an arts issue You can learn about early postal service and how it helped Muskoka to prosper some of the many ducks that can be seen in Muskoka and a celebration of antique boats that are more than a century old Happy reading Photograph Susan Smith Creativity abounds in Muskoka While it might be difficult to identify one specific date or event that serves as a milestone for the coming of age of our creative community it is safe to say Muskoka has been blessed with its share of gifted individuals for many generations Looking back to the early days of the district there were signs Muskoka s natural environment was the ideal inspiration for those who pursued the arts Performing arts visual arts and literature all forms of human expression have always had a home in Muskoka The Muskoka Chautauqua tradition with a focus on the arts and education is rooted in a past that had its beginnings over 100 years ago Or one might consider the formation of the famed Anglo Canadian Leather Company Band in the early days of the last century It was a fine example of what could happen when a small community comes together Fast forward a few decades and it had become clear visual arts had found a place in the life of Muskokans with the launch of the Muskoka Arts Crafts Summer Show Now marking its 57th presentation it attracts 200 visual artists from a wide array of disciplines It is backed by an association that boasts a membership of 400 artists and arts supporters Look back even further in Muskoka s history and one will find records of stage performances as long ago as the 1870s Performed in local hotels resorts or town halls newly arrived locals and visitors were able to experience plays and readings of the day Followed by summer stock theatre Muskoka now is home to many performing arts groups providing presentations in fine facilities throughout the year Without fail in every issue of Unique Muskoka we consider it part of our mandate to share the stories of the local arts community Profiling individuals Our local team is here to provide you with personalized insurance solutions For the coverage your family deserves call us today 46 Ann Street Bracebridge 705 646 9995 877 877 3929 www LesBell ca TRUST INTEGRITY SERVICE Your Home and Cottage Mattress Centre THE LARGEST SELECTION OF IN STOCK MATTRESSES IN MUSKOKA Premier Supreme by Marshall Mattress 6 MonicaMARSHALL Lane MATTRESS CO Bracebridge M 1 800 682 6861 705 646 2557 Or i gi na l P ock et S pr i ng TO LEARN MORE www mattressesofmuskoka com July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 9
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Photograph Tomasz Szumski Muskoka Calendar Canada Day celebrations in Muskoka include fireworks in a number of locations throughout the district We know you are or you wouldn t be reading this but Crazy About Muskoka is also an art show at the Eclipse Gallery at Deerhurst Resort running June 21 to Sept 16 Themed on nature water and cottage life this show features new artists Joe Sampson Jennifer Woodburn and Katherine Muir Miller By the way aspiring artists can visit Deerhurst every Friday evening at 7 00 for Wine and Paint Night led by local artists Gerry Lantaigne famed for his Group of Seven tribute murals throughout Huntsville and Helena Renwick eclipseartgallery ca events All Muskoka celebrates Canada Day Here s what s happening on Monday July 1 Gravenhurst It s a fun filled family day with hot dogs cake live entertainment and more at Gull Lake Rotary Park Dress code red and white At 2 p m The Bi Focals Concert Band plays at the Rotary Pavilion gravenhurst ca Bracebridge Festivities start on Manitoba St with cake and flag giveaway barbecue live entertainment for adults and kids both and more then shift to Bracebridge Bay with a beer tent food vendors live entertainment the traditional Duck Derby and a spectacular laser and fireworks show at 10 p m bracebridgefireworks com Port Carling The Muskoka Lakes Museum will hold its traditional Canada Day celebration with free cake commemorating the birthday of your favourite country plus other refreshments and a new interactive display and exhibit entitled Winter in Muskoka mlmuseum com special events Then in the evening grab your dancing shoes and head to the Port Carling Community Centre for a Canada Day Concert and Dance with the Toronto All Star Big Band presented by Muskoka Chautauqua huntsville ca en living CanadaDay asp muskokaheritageplace org en whileYouAreHere annualevents asp Strawberry 20Social Happy Canada Day Flavours of Muskoka Chautauqua is the region s best graze On July 4 sample gourmet food by local chefs sip local wines and beers enjoy a silent auction and sample some Muskoka Chautauqua experiences all for a good cause The 19th annual Flavours fundraiser supports new creative programs for children and youth in Muskoka muskokachautauqua com event flavours of muskokachautauqua 2 Summer Vintage Boat Show features century old craft muskokachautauqua com event canada day family The theme for the 39th Annual Summer Vintage Boat Show happening July 6 at Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst is A Celebration of 100 Year Old Boats The centenarian beauties will be accompanied by fibreglass craft from the 50s to the 80s and there will be boat rides a fashion show flea market vendors and much more celebrations acbs ca index php boat show boat show registration link muskokachautauqua com event canada day concert dance Minett Muskoka Chautauqua hosts hands on arts activities for the entire family art by Brittany Johnston performance by Jam Sandwich and a drum circle led by Basa Huntsville Multiple venues and activities include bacon on a bun breakfast Canada Day cupcakes served up by Huntsville Town Council and a chance to meet Mayor Scott Aitchsion Photograph Muskoka Chautauqua Crazy about Muskoka Who isn t MP Tony Clement and MPP Norm Miller as well as Huntsville s namesake Captain Hunt Muskoka Heritage Place brings its Pioneer Village alive with period costumes historical demonstrations strawberry scones strolling musicians and the annual steamup of the Portage Flyer Train starting at 10 a m The grand finale is fireworks at 10 p m over Hunter s Bay Flavours of Muskoka July 4 is a gourmand s delight featuring local chefs wine and beer July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 11
Photograph Ontario Tourism Young swashbucklers can enjoy a pirate experience aboard the Wenonah II Limberlost Challenge offers a truly wild and natural run The Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve is a privately owned 10 000 acre wilderness property near Huntsville with trails the public is welcome to use On July 6 it will be the gorgeous setting for the Limberlost Challenge an opportunity to run a race through the most beautiful scenery imaginable because it is untouched See pictures and videos on the website thelimberlostchallenge com Bathtubs battle for glory again at Rotary Dockfest Captain Ron Hook Dress code your finest pirate duds matey Rotary Dockfest which takes place July 6 at River Mill Park is the home of the Bathtub Derby a long loved Huntsville event in which local businesspersons test their bathtub navigation skills against each other on a waterborne obstacle course drawing thousands of spectators There will also be quality food a beer tent arts and crafts for the kids and more Subaru IRONMAN Triathlon circles Lake of Bays rotarydockfest com Avast ye swabs sail the pirate infested waters of Lake Muskoka On July 7 and 14 and Sundays in August you and your young swashbuckler s can board the good ship Wenonah II for high adventure on the high seas as the crew attempt to wrest the coveted Golden Hook Award from perpetual winner realmuskoka com muskoka steamships kids cruises The 2019 Subaru IRONMAN 70 3 Triathlon happening on July 7 will be based at the Canada Summit Centre in Huntsville with a 1 2 mile swim in Fairy Lake a 56 mile bike ride that encircles Lake of Bays and a 13 1 mile run culminating in a home stretch through downtown Huntsville Race spots are sold out but spectators are more than welcome ironman com triathlon events americas ironman 70 3 muskoka aspx axzz5q5HGd3UE Brand new Huntsville Ribfest lasts all weekend The inaugural Huntsville Ribfest will take place at River Mill Park in Huntsville Three of North America s best rib teams from MUSKOKA AUTUMN STUDIO TOUR 41st ANNUAL MARK KULAS CATHERINE O MARA PAM CARNOCHAN MARNI MARTIN MARY RUTH NEWELL RHONI CLARKE ED NOVAK TOM DIETRICH MIRANDA BRITTON CLINTON JAMMER ELIZABETH MCMILLAN D A DUNFORD WENDY MOSES JON SUZANN PARTRIDGE JANICE FEIST BONNIE BEWS CONEL O REGAN TONY PENNY VARNEY JOHNATHAN BULLOCK SEPT 28 29 OCT 5 6 10AM 6PM muskokaautumnstudiotour com 12 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019
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https ontariofestivalgroup com event huntsvilleribfest Muskoka Pioneer Power Show 2019 lauds all things Ford Described as a gathering of antique buffs interested in the preservation and operation of historically valuable machinery and memorabilia the Muskoka Pioneer Power Show happens on July 12 14 in the Bracebridge Fairgrounds This year s theme is Henry Ford and all that his company produced cars trucks tractors and more There ll be live music antique tractor pulls a pancake breakfast a roast beef dinner and a country dance muskokapioneerpower ca annual show Of course the butter tart deserves a festival Photograph Mark Flinders Photography Alabama Oklahoma and Ontario respectively will serve you up mouthwatering barbecued smoked ribs There ll be other foods beer and live music by some choice acts plus a kids zone vendors including artisans parasailing tours and more It happens July 12 14 running noon into evening on all three days Which is why the Muskoka Butter Tart Festival will take place on July 13 at the Muskoka Lakes Museum in Port Carling featuring the Huntsville will present its inaugural ribfest weekend July 12 productions of Muskoka s to 14 finest butter tart creators and with Michael Benton and Muskoka displays about the history of the Chautauqua artists It s on July 13 at butter tart in Muskoka More food related Windermere House right on the shore of displays will be added this year The festival beautiful Lake Rosseau starting at noon runs 10 a m to noon and leftover tarts are muskokachautauqua com event windermere fun day highly unlikely http mlmuseum com special events Huntsville and its history as a musical You bet Windermere Fun Day offers artsy enjoyment Another great event from Muskoka Chautauqua Windermere Fun Day offers hands on arts and crafts for the entire family The brainchild of Ian Crowley the founder and director of the Muskoka Rock Choir and Mad Raven Dinner Theatre Huntsville A Choral History takes you on a 100 Canadian Artists Large original paintings Sculpture wood bowls pottery jewelry 111 Medora St Hwy 118 West Port Carling Muskoka 705 765 7474 www redcanoegallery com Celebrating 26 years in Muskoka parking at rear Cosmic Canoes 70x40 acrylic on wood artist Carola Grimm Painting by Paul Garbett 72 x 48 July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 15
musical journey of Huntsville s past starting at the beginning of time It features 12 original songs by Crowley and Ian Clyne performed by local artists including Sean Cotton and Mike Phillips and accompanied by narration and projected images Evening performance on July 13 matinee July 14 at the Algonquin Theatre in Huntsville huntsvillefestival ca event huntsville a choral history Triathlon starts with a dive off the Seguin D O W N T O W N BRACEBRIDGE www VERANDACOLLECTION ca FURNISHINGS ART ACCESSORIES OUTDOOR FURNITURE DECORATING SERVICES RUGS LIGHTING FINE LINENS 24 MANITOBA STREET BRACEBRIDGE ON 705 645 6451 Yes that s how triathletes participating in the Gravenhurst Triathlon on July 13 and 14 enter the water for the swim leg at the start of the race There will be triathlons of differing lengths over the two days and also duathlons combining just running and cycling instead of swimming cycling and running Some races still have spots open at time of writing and there are always spots for spectators multisportcanada com gravenhurst Huntsville goes mad at midnight on July 19 Actually the madness starts earlier than that but whenever you show up there will be fun for the whole family at Huntsville s annual Midnight Madness and Street Dance Main St is closed to vehicular traffic and the stores stay open bring their wares right out onto the street and offer insane deals There ll be food vendors and live music too and added this year a beer garden and a dance CALL FOR ALL YOUR BUILDING AND RENOVATION NEEDS 705 645 8881 admin cedarbeachgroup ca P O Box 330 Bracebridge ON P1L 1T7 downtownhuntsvilleadventures ca calendar 2017 7 21 Beautiful Floors Naturally midnight madness in downtown huntsville wxp26 HARDWOOD HARDWOOD LUXURY LUXURY VINYL VINYL CARPET CARPET CERAMIC CERAMIC TILE TILE NATURAL NATURAL STONE STONE LAMINATE LAMINATE AREA AREA RUGS RUGS WINDOW WINDOW COVERINGS COVERINGS MORE MORE This year the Muskoka Yoga Festival scheduled for July 19 21 will take place at the Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Preserve a 10 000 acre privately owned wilderness property The program includes various types of yoga including on stand up paddleboards as well as meditation a 10 or 6 kilometre forest run and other fitness and mindfulness Celebrating Our 70th Anniversary 350 ECCLESTONE DRIVE BRACEBRIDGE ON 705 645 2443 carpetonebracebridge ca 16 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019 Muskoka Yoga Festival 2019 includes a forest run
activities There will also be live music and dancing for a total experience to satisfy body mind and spirit Camping onsite is available muskokayogafestival com Muskoka Arts Crafts Summer Show has all things beautiful Taking place July 19 21 in Annie Williams Park in Bracebridge MAC s Summer Show is Muskoka s oldest and largest outdoor art show enjoying its 57th year showcasing about 200 artists and artisans from across Canada and welcoming about 20 000 people Offerings include clothing adults and children s jewelry furniture woodcarving hot and stained glass fibre metal leather painting drawing photography pottery sculpture toys and more Atmosphere is smoke free and a food court is provided muskokaartsandcrafts com Summer_Show summer_ show htm Paddle On for stand up that doesn t involve paddleboards Docks in Huntsville If you don t have a canoe Algonquin Outfitters will rent you one You paddle along the Muskoka River to a venue right on the water where some of Toronto s biggest up and coming comedians hosted by Dan Galea will get you laughing so hard you almost capsize If that s not enough Kevin The Happy Camper Callan will recount his hilarious paddling adventures in Algonquin Park in Algonquin Theatre at eight 106 Manitoba Street Bracebridge ON Since 1949 With you over ov the generations 8 Main Street West Huntsville ON Since 19 48 huntsvillefestival ca event paddle on comedy festival The Artful Garden mixes horticultural and artistic creativity If you ve never visited The Artful Garden have you got a treat in store It s a magical place of colours textures and fragrances in which the beauty of flowers and plants mixes with the beauty of human creativity More than 40 artists have contributed sculptures ironwork stone carving jewellery birdhouses pottery and wall hangings amidst the garden greenery to intrigue delight and inspire you Runs from July 20 to Aug 11 at Jon and Suzann Partridge s property in Bracebridge theartfulgarden ca Photograph Dan Galea How the Algonquin Outfitters Paddle On Comedy Festival works on July 20 at 3 p m you get into your canoe at the Town Experience comedy on the water at Algonquin Outfitters Paddle On Comedy Festival Photograph Kelly Holinshead Muskoka Arts Crafts Summer Show showcases 200 artisans and craftspeople Dog Fest Muskoka welcomes dogs and their humans The third annual Dog Fest Muskoka takes place July 20 and 21 at the Bracebridge Fairgrounds and guests are welcome to bring their humans so long as they re holding a leash There ll be contests the Doglovers Days Lure Course BestDressed Dog Contest and the Aqua Dogs Sue Tupy Acrylic Rural Roots Janine Marson June 29 July 14 In the Back 40 Ann Shier Sue Tupy July 27 August 11 Opening reception Saturday July 27 1 4 pm 40th Anniversary Party Saturday August 3 11 am 4 pm 1073 Fox Point Road Dwight 705 635 1602 Ann Shier Encaustic oxtonguecraftcabin com July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 17
16 295 Wellington Street 110 North Kinton Avenue 189 Ontario Street Bracebridge Huntsville Burk s Falls 705 645 9405 705 789 7378 705 382 2364 18 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019
Journey into Muskoka s past at Bivouac re enaction Experience living history during A Bivouac On The Island at Muskoka Lakes Museum Ontario Dock Diving Championships Finals The Doggie Play Zone is fenced in allowing leash free fun There will be vendors also But mostly it s about you and your pooch having fun together with other pups and their peeps dogfestmuskoka ca It s a day in heaven for Anne of Green Gables fans Everything Anne of Green Gables Day happens at the Bala Museum on July 24 delighting fans of the legendary book series of all ages There s a re enactment of author Lucy Maud Montgomery s 1922 visit to Muskoka plus old fashioned fun like egg on spoon races three legged races sack races and character look alike contests Diana Matthew Marilla Gilbert Josie Pye and of course Anne herself Lemonade cake and freckles are free balasmuseum com Shop for boats and savour ribs all in one place The Muskoka In Water Boat and Cottage Show and Muskoka Rib Fest both happen July 26 28 at Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst More than 100 boat and cottage related exhibits will display boats cars decks docks boating accessories wireless communication services foods sporting goods and other related items There ll be live entertainment and thousands of dollars in prizes and giveaways As if that s not enough you get to feast on succulent ribs as well muskokashows com On July 27 Muskoka Lakes Museum presents A Bivouac on the Island in which the whole family can experience living history Re enactors in full historical costume as British redcoat soldiers and other people of pioneer days will share their knowledge and stories as well as demonstrate musket volleys and the operation of a working cannon mlmuseum com special events Baysville Walkabout Festival features art crafts and goodies The whole family will have a great time at the 31st Annual Baysville Walkabout Festival on July 27 in downtown Baysville More than 100 artists and artisans will offer their creative works plus antique sellers and bakers will show what they ve got too The Lions will host a pancake breakfast vendors will provide food and there will be live entertainment and face painting for the kids baysvillewalkabout com 2019 s Nuit Blanche North theme is All Together Now On the night of July 27 thousands of people will flood downtown Huntsville to experience art installations in every location possible and a few impossible This year the works will explore the notion of the collective what connects and what divides and the opportunities and challenges collectivity creates You really just never know what image or concept or performance you will experience at this mind expanding event and that s the joy of it nuitblanchenorthhuntsville wordpress com Loggers Day gives a taste of Muskoka s first great industry The Algonquin Logging Museum in Algonquin Provincial Park invites you and the family to a day both educational and entertaining on July 27 Enjoy the loggingrelated demonstrations along the Museum Algonquin Outfitters Outdoor Adventure Store Rentals Day Trips Canoe Trips Guided Canoe Trips and Day Trips Info Reservations 1 800 469 4948 www algonquinoutfitters com July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 19
algonquinpark on ca news loggers_day php Muskoka Antique and Vintage Show has something for everyone You name it and if it s antique vintage or retro this July 27 28 show at the Port Carling Community Centre will have it For example Canadiana pine furniture vintage art glass Canadian pressed glass early advertising jewelry Native artifacts European decorative arts folk art vintage clothing quilts and textiles rare books vintage Muskoka maps and prints Persian rugs architectural pieces and lots more offered by 40 dealers including top names in the business and up and coming stars antiqueshowscanada com portfolio muskoka antique andvintage show 2019 Muskoka Pride Parade and Picnic celebrates sexual and gender diversity Early logging techniques will be featured at Loggers Day in Algonquin Park culminating in a free community barbecue in Memorial Park where there will be kids games and activities live local music and local vendors muskokapride com guide html Great July Shows and Concerts Around Muskoka They are far too many to list so visit the venue websites for acts artists and dates Algonquin Theatre Huntsville algonquintheatre ca en Rene Caisse Theatre Bracebridge thecaisse com Gravenhurst Opera House gravenhurst ca en opera opera asp Peter s Players Gravenhurst petersplayers com Music on the Barge Gravenhurst gravenhurst ca en explore and play music on the barge aspx The Kee to Bala thekee com Photograph Shawn Forth The Muskoka Pride Festival actually runs from July 19 to July 28 with assorted events around Muskoka throughout the 10 days check the website for the schedule But the biggest day is July 28 when the Second Annual Pride Parade will make its colourful way down Manitoba St in Bracebridge Photograph The Friends of Algonquin Park trail sample a typical old time logger s lunch served up by the Sawlog Cookery and listen to the live music of the Wakami Wailers throughout the day Runs 10 a m to 3 p m 705 645 4294 TF 866 645 4294 STORE 228 TAYLOR RD BRACEBRIDGE OFFICE 1646 WINHARA RD GRAVENHURST The second annual Muskoka Pride Parade will be held July 28 concluding with a barbecue in Memorial Park Bracebridge 20 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019
SUMMER 2019 TICKETS ON SALE NOW July 3 4 July 5 July 6 July 11 July 12 July 13 July 14 July 18 July 20 July 20 July 21 July 24 July 25 July 26 July 27 July 31 Aug 1 Aug 3 Aug 4 Aug 7 Aug 8 Aug 9 Aug 10 Bahamas Multiple 2019 Juno award winning artist makes a special stop in Huntsville Broadway After Dark A Revue of Musicals on the edge from Huntsville Theatre Company Kyung A Lee Acclaimed local pianist returns with new classical works full of harmony and flair Bruce Cockburn Canadian music legend returns with powerful songs of romance protest Taktikz Hip Hop A killer night of hip hop Huntsville A Choral History Huntsville A Choral History A joyous and heartfelt musical telling of the history and heritage of Huntsville Danny Michel An intimate solo performance with one of Canada s most talented folk rockers Algonquin Outfitters Paddle On Comedy Travel by boat for an afternoon of stand up comedy on the Muskoka River Algonquin Outfitters Paddle On Comedy A night of storytelling comedy about blisters bruises and the great outdoors Unforgettable The Music of Nat King Cole A celebration of the life and music of one of North America s Greatest Icons Jim Cuddy Band A sure sell out Queer Songbook Orchestra Exploring 2SLGBTQ narratives through stortelling pop music Movie on the Docks A FREE screening of JAWS on floating docks in the Muskoka River Nuit Blanche North A Bold Interactive Multi Arts Street Festival Jill Barber One of Canada s brightest stars sings songs of a bygone era Lighthouse Celebrate the 50th anniversary with this classic rock band Jeremy Dutcher Award winning operatic Indigenous artist Remembering Ed Bickert A tribute to one of Canada s giants of Jazz Soulsville The Music of Stax Records A special concert honouring the music of this legendary record label Dancing on the Docks Bring your dancing shoes and groove to the sounds a 10 piece band playing on the town docks Natalie MacMaster Donnell Leahy Two of the world s most celebrated fiddlers create a whirlwind performance of dance and song Royal Wood Singer Songwriter brings a deeply personal and poignant performance Aug 12 13 More Barn The Music of Neil Young DID YOU KNOW WHEN YOU BUY TICKETS TO 3 SHOWS YOU GET 10 OFF AND TO 4 SHOWS 15 OFF huntsvillefestival ca Box Office 705 789 4975 Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Sept 20 HFA Etwell Concerts team up to bring you a songbook night celebrating the music of Neil Young s Harvest album Canadian Jazz All Stars Guido Basso Dave Young Robi Botos Mike Murley Davide DiRenzo Heather Bambrick Jesse Cook A night of lively and intoxicating flamenco rhythms will have you dancing Colin James Up Close and Personal George Canyon Charlie Major Can t miss country music triple bill Award winning modern blues master
22 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019
Article by Meghan Smith Photography by Andy Zeltkalns W hen artistic energy is based in colour and texture inspiration is endless For Janice Feist local Muskoka artist the journey to painter has been a lifelong development At the age of 16 Feist began taking part in theatre and eventually met her husband Paul through theatre Theatre experience and exposure led to work as an extra in film including background work standin work even the lead role in a made for television movie I m very drawn to colour and texture shares Feist There s something about colour and texture in theatre that translates into the art world That s been in my life all along After moving to Muskoka in 1989 Feist and her husband purchased a busy store at the iconic one lane swing bridge in Port Sandfield The store included a ladies wear boutique grocery store butcher counter bakery and ice cream shop all in one We had a ball there shares Feist It was such hard work but we had the nicest clientele and neighbours Really the best people Although we had no fun in the summer time because we worked our buns off literally we always considered our years there as our charmed life After 10 years Feist and her husband decided the time might be right to sell the store and move onto their next adventure That spring somebody picked up an old copy of the Muskoka Sun saw the ad we d run for a month knocked on our door and asked if the place was for sale says Feist We decided very quickly that yes it was From there we basically had to pack and move in three weeks The purchase of a two acre property on Muskoka Beach Road in Gravenhurst the previous year gave the couple a landing place following the sale Their new home located just out of town with rolling hills lots of wildlife and even its own pond provided the backdrop for a change of lifestyle The setting is kind of what put things in motion for me to maybe accept painting as an addition to my life explains Feist It s so picturesque All of Muskoka is very inspiring but we feel very lucky to have this spot After a career as a secretary work in film and theatre and operating a general store Feist felt her artistic inspirations coming to the surface in a new way All my life I wanted to be a painter says Feist I always thought I was never going to be good enough I doodled and did different things but I always kind of held back Eleven years ago I decided it was my turn To begin learning Feist arranged lessons with local artist Elke Scholz Their first sessions began with Scholz reviewing Feist s sketches before even beginning to work with paints Feist recalls fondly Scholz reviewing her sketchbook with no expression at all shutting the booking and commenting I see you have tools in your toolbox That was a shocker explains Feist It just made me so happy I wasn t expecting that A self professed life long lover of watercolour painting Feist worked in watercolour for six years before beginning to work with acrylic Changing and testing new mediums such as acrylic skins or oil sticks defines Feist s creative July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 23
Janice Feist uses a palette knife to add texture to her paintings Feist s fast energy when painting allows her to fully express her impression of the subject matter process Exploration into a new medium generates critical thinking on artistic techniques Incorporating techniques and style of painting from one medium to another continues to create new energy for Feist Working in acrylics the canvas can be fully painted to start with a base colour or the canvas can be blank Typically the paint is left to dry completely and then additional layers and colours are added For Feist she prefers to paint while the initial layer of acrylic is still tacky or slightly wet fueling her style of painting quickly With a pallette knife paint catching on wet paint gives a beautiful texture and I love colour and texture says Feist It gives me extra excitement when I m painting I think that really shows in my work It seems like a good combination Feist s fast energy when painting allows her to fully express her impression of the subject matter The process 24 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019 for any painting or series takes a similar path but not always exactly A work may start with a sketch or photo and sometimes both Most often Feist works from her own photos although on a few occasions she has used photos taken by her father an avid photographer I know my experience in the moment says Feist If I use someone else s photo I don t have that experience I use my photos because I ve been there and experienced the sounds and the smells the way the light bounces Photos don t always capture that Feist s expression of colour and texture is less about the exact detail and much more about the emotional connection and feelings Incorporating contrasting colours and shades she layers paint to create both visual and physical texture as key features in her work Through her time painting Feist has honed her skills to convey the essence of the experience rather than having every single
line perfectly replicated If I have a colour that represents something it s ok that I don t have all the detail says Feist I don t have to have perfect trees or leaves It s taken a long time for me to reach that Feist s paintings have been likened to and considered impressionistic in their composition Impressionism s emphasis on the depiction of light inclusion of movement and unusual visual angles are evident in much of her work Feist s journey in art is to express emotion with colour and texture and to evoke a response in the audience I want the emotion to be there says Feist What I would really hope is that when someone looks at my painting they actually feel something positive or negative That they don t just say it s a pretty picture Always open to trying new things a few years ago Feist and three other artists presented a show with paintings featuring acrylic skins The technique involved painting onto a releasable backing not necessarily in any specific colour or pattern When peeled from the backing the patterns and textures on one side differ from those on the other Then Feist cut and broke the pieces of the skins and incorporated them into different paintings creating a series of works of art It was like a collage of paint shares Feist It was very textured and a bit abstract because you have all these different patterns going on It was very difficult to do It took a lot of thinking a lot of sitting and fitting pieces together Her work in acrylic skins was noticed by people as the resulting artwork was full of texture and pattern For Feist that show was simply a first foray into the style and something she ll revisit in time It pushed me to a different level in a way comments Feist It was a good experience It certainly was a different way of thinking Every spring the pond on Feist s property fills with water The pine needles from autumn float to the surface and create patterns At the same time spring buds and leaves explode tingeing the pond water various shades of green Feist s Pond Surface in Spring collection is another unusual For Janice Feist local Muskoka artist the journey to painter has been a lifelong development Changing and testing new mediums such as acrylic skins or oil sticks defines Feist s creative process perspective on subject matter I was looking at the trees upside down in the pond and all these pine needles and the patterning just captured me shares Feist I couldn t get enough of it I started and I just kept painting I did 16 pieces in three weeks on all different canvas sizes For a year Feist kept the paintings at her studio to absorb them and live with them After that year she began offering them for people to see The abstract perspective was not what many were used to seeing with the view being from the top of the water reflecting trees in the patterns of the floating pine needles I find I need to have my own inspirations to keep that little spark that happens for me to keep it fresh says Feist If I did the same thing over and over again it would look tired I constantly move from thing to thing Continually learning and evolving Feist holds onto the sketches and paintings she has in progress even when she hates them After being shelved they often pop back into her mind and she brings in a different perspective to complete them I ll take the piece back to the easel and add a few more things and it s just what it needed shares Feist That s pretty cool I love that part Back and forth between new work and past projects Feist swears that she makes no mistakes She simply learns from continuing on Feist has framed a number of her first watercolours in her bedroom which she freely admits are not her best work However those were her first critical steps into painting and she is reminded of her evolution July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 25
It s enlightening to see where you stand in your progression says Feist I m happy to have those paintings there so I can see where I ve come from Like a painting a theatre production requires significant rehearsing and a lot of study Influence from theatre has always been in Feist s life Theatre and film continue to feature prominently among her artistic endeavours Theatre as opposed to a static piece of painted art is moving art to me says Feist Over the years Feist and her husband have been heavily involved in numerous community theatre productions More recently Feist has also taken part in set decorating for movies being filmed in Bracebridge I put my all into theatre when I m involved with it as I do with my painting when I m involved with it shares Feist It s almost like I have to decide between theatre and art because theatre acting performing takes a lot of mental physical time as does my art Reigniting Feist s need to paint and experiment is her participation in this year s Janice Feist works from her home based studio located on Muskoka Beach Road between Bracebridge and Gravenhurst Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour She is also a member of the newly created ARTrail Muskoka an initiative for a year round selfguided experience of Muskoka artists studios and galleries Feist is also working toward her first solo show Currently Feist is working on a series of paintings that focus on Huckleberry Rock in Milford Bay while she also wants to explore a series on horses structural pieces and perhaps another foray into acrylic skins I have all of these paintings sitting in my soul waiting to get out says Feist When the time is right the vision will come to life 1 70 5 6 4 5 751 1 DAV L I N CA Canadian Distributor of High Quality 3 Season Sunroom Windows and Doors Available through your contractor or directly through Davlin 26 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019
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Article by John Challis Photography by Eleanor Kee Wellman T hink birds of Muskoka s lakes and you likely conjure up loons and warm summer nights It s an icon no doubt about it but there are more than loons out there There is an entire pageant of feathered beauty on the water Bird enthusiasts have recorded 35 species of ducks swans and geese in Muskoka Even in the bleakest hours of late winter and early spring there are waterfowl around to brighten the view Look carefully and you ll see little blackand white balls of feather bobbing on open water then vanishing in a ripple They re our version of penguins two species at ease diving for fish in the threatening cold of Muskoka s winter lakes and rivers Common goldeneyes show up in the dead of winter As the ice gives way a bit more they re joined by buffleheads our smallest divers The species are similarly formal in attire white tie and tails in essence A white eye spot helps distinguish them with goldeneyes the white patch is in front of the eyes while on buffleheads it s behind And as the name implies the goldeneye has a radiant yellow eye Not only are these birds at ease in the bonechilling water they re in full courtship mode oblivious to the credo that it s spring when a young drake s fancy turns The goldeneye males put on a complex show of bravado creating noise like a windup toy as they swing their heads back to touch their rumps then crane forward flapping their feet in the water Later in spring it s the bufflehead shift and they have their own equally elaborate dance full of grunting head bobbing and noisy flights over the females Large flotillas of common mergansers are becoming a more familiar sight on waterways in Muskoka
Call Mike Morrow 705 765 3195 www morrow electric com Serving Muskoka Lakes since 1952 ESA License 7000286 rewiring alterations heating NEVER be left in the DARK or COLD get a quality home standby generator by GENERAC MUSKOKA MADE CAPTURE THE SCENTS OF MUSKOKA Experience You Can Trust Better Blasting Drilling We Know the Drill Experienced drilling blasting for roads ditches foundations and septic systems Exceptional service and top quality results Crimson Yard CANDLES Available at CONTACT US NOW FOR A FREE ESTIMATE 705 645 4098 contact muskokadrillingandblasting ca 30 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019 28 Manitoba Street Bracebridge It s a delightful diversion However neither of these ducks stays here by May they re winging to the far north for nesting Meanwhile another diver has joined the courtship hijinks and will stay here to nest the hooded merganser Like the bufflehead it s quite small with a white patch behind the eye The hoodie is more flamboyant though with an extravagant crest fanning from the back of its head Rich cinnamon coloured flanks add to its flair Once they re nesting it s only good fortune and persistence that will allow you to see a hooded merganser They are secretive seeking out tree hollows in secluded woodland waterways sometimes a distance from water As soon as the nest is established and eggs are laid the male leaves And no he s not a deadbeat dad It s a strategy that helps keep the nest location from being identified by predators The female will sit tight on the nest for four to six weeks until the eggs have hatched Within a day the young will climb from the cavity and drop to the ground a daring feat since some nests are more than 50 feet above the ground to follow their mom to the water where they will spend most of the rest of their lives In eight days they ll have learned to dive for food starting on worms and other invertebrates The word merganser is drawn from a Latin term meaning plunging goose It s an apt descriptive Hoodies and their larger relative the common merganser have serrated bills As divers their main food supply is fish and crayfish and the teeth help secure wriggling prey Their eyes have an extra lid called a nictitating membrane that acts like goggles hoodies can actually adjust the refractive qualities of their lenses to improve depth perception under water In contrast to the hoodie common mergansers are substantially larger quite at ease on open waterways near cottages and will often be seen through the summer in long flotillas of up to 30 chicks being guided by a few governesses If you are familiar with that sight you might consider the merganser a fairly plain grey bird with a rusty head and a bit of a ratty crest Females don t waste their energy on finery they devote it to egg production But the male blows the budget
Thanks to a ban on hunting and the work of naturalists to assist nesting the wood duck has rebounded to become one of Ontario s most common waterfowl on a bright red bill British racing green head black back and brilliant white underside and flanks From a distance you could mistake him for a loon since they re both the same size and are both efficient divers Males will gather to guy bond while the females are brooding Mergansers are beautiful but one duck beats them all The wood duck isn t a diver but it is like the others a cavity nester It s worth noting for two things the male s plumage and its unique habit of perching in trees They re equally at home swimming or up in the trees alongside the marshy areas they prefer When flushed the female calls out a plaintive rising wweek wweek As for that plumage it s a riot of colour The breast is chestnut white borders divide a semicircle of rippling grey along the flank and iridescent plumage along the back The head is shining dark green interspersed with wild arcs of white and accented with a bright red eye and a flame accent on the bill All that brilliance made the duck a favourite of hunters in the last century to the point that the wood duck was almost extirpated from Ontario They were saved when Canada and the U S began negotiating the first migratory birds legislation A moratorium on the hunt was established and some clever naturalist came up with a design for a nesting box Thanks to both measures the wood duck has rebounded to become one of Ontario s most common waterfowl The duck nesting box was a boon not just for wood ducks but for pretty much all of Muskoka s cavity nesting ducks helping their populations grow at a time when many bird populations are in alarming decline Bill Dickinson has been tending duck boxes at the Muskoka Conservancy s Upjohn Reserve outside Bracebridge This 114 acre reserve has a spring fed pond and a mix of woodland and wetland ideal for wood ducks and is open to public access We ve had two boxes for about six years at Upjohn he says In the first year there was no success but every year since he s found evidence in the form of eggshells and down feathers of nesting success With other volunteers he cleans and tends the boxes in winter when the volunteers can get out over the frozen surface They re confident from The common goldeneye males put on a complex show of bravado during courtship creating noise like a windup toy as they swing their heads back to touch their rumps
Within a day young hooded merganser chicks will climb from their nesting spots to follow their mother to the water where they will spend most of the rest of their lives In eight days they ll have learned to dive for food starting on worms and other invertebrates finding occasional unhatched eggs that it s wood ducks using the boxes One year though an observer reported a family of tree swallows had occupied one box Dickinson says he s learned a lot about situating artificial nesting sites for ducks The ducks don t seem to like seeing other 32 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019 duck boxes so we face them away from each other he says Conventional wisdom calls for the boxes to face south to catch warmth from the sun At Upjohn they re facing north to prevent the boxes from overheating Bill s been tending other boxes as well in a pond between Santa s Village Road and Highway 118 and at the mouth of the Muskoka River The popularity of the nesting boxes has created some intriguing mixes of eggs in some boxes Several species in this list are prone to what s called brood parasitism laying eggs in other birds nests Mostly they will stick to
their own species and hooded merganser nests have been found with 44 eggs from several females Common mergansers will do the same Sometimes though there can be multiple species using the same nest box possibly because large duck populations will generate competition for nest sites Barry Peyton has seen it first hand in nest boxes he set up in the Severn Black Green river complex on Muskoka s southern edge Common mergansers prefer box openings about an inch wider than hoodies he says but he has seen boxes that contained eggs from both species It doesn t work out well for the young hoodies they usually hatch a day or so earlier than the common and often leave the nest too soon The female common merganser will not follow them so they often perish That sad little consequence aside nesting boxes may play a supporting role in ecosystem health The diving ducks that use them keep a natural balance in the aquatic realm by controlling crustacean and fish populations A duck box is a simple design six sides of wood with an oblong hole in the front and The hooded merganser is quite small with a white patch behind its eye The hoodie is flamboyant with an extravagant crest fanning from the back of its head Rich cinnamon coloured flanks add to its flair July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 33
THERE S A TILLEY FOR EVERY OCCASION LARGEST SELECTION OF TILLEY CLOTHING HATS IN MUSKOKA The strangest calls of all come from the long tailed duck It s a falsetto four or five part ow oweh luh nasal half comical half mystical cries These waterfowl are on a non stop flight south from their nesting ground on the Arctic tundra 28 MANITOBA STREET BRACEBRIDGE 705 637 0204 34 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019 some saw kerfs inside under the hole so the chicks can climb out Ducks Unlimited has some easy plans and advice on how and where to set one up if you d like to try your hand at being midwife to a family of ducks Copies of plans are also at the Muskoka Conservancy office in Bracebridge Once the young are grown Muskoka s ducks begin to dwindle By autumn most will have vanished But that s a signal for one more spectacle migration Most songbirds and many waterfowl migrate by night When the days shorten there will be birds flying overhead millions of them invisible but sometimes giving away their presence with peeps and calls to each other If you re lucky you ll catch the strangest calls of all from one more diver the longtailed duck It s a falsetto four or five part ow oweh luh nasal half comical halfmystical cries trickling down out of the night They ll be on a non stop flight south from their nesting ground on the Arctic tundra So when the frost starts building at night and the stars are out bundle up and get outside Bid farewell and safe journey to the birds until they come back next year
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The Traveller an 1894 Swartman cabin launch is the poster boat for the Antique and Classic Boat Society Toronto show being held in Gravenhurst
Article and Photography by Tim Du Vernet L aunched a century ago or more the boats that can celebrate turning 100 years old are on a growing list Did the builders of these craft ever expect they would survive continue to be preserved and enjoyed for several generations Discussions of originality authenticity and actual age can get heated over a few boats on the list but there are others that have been part of a family or community from their first launch It takes commitment to keep a boat running for 100 years and likely through several families of ownership each with their own perspective of value and care The organic nature of wood is both a benefit and a challenge for restoration and long term maintenance Wood is relatively easily shaped and formed On the other hand in some circumstances it can decay relatively quickly and repairs quickly become costly Through the decades and cycles of wooden boat heritage the 1950s through to early 1970s was a period of great risk for wooden boats Fibreglass was emerging and new designs and styles of boats were making owners of wooden boats reconsider the cost of repairs vs a new fibreglass boat capable of far greater speed and performance There are stories of wooden boats being sunk burned or carted off to fields rather than being repaired There are stories of remarkable resurrections sunken boats floated back to the surface to be completely restored living a new life with a new generation The Ditchburn Wa Chee We We is a wonderful example of rediscovery It was the sister ship to Rainbow I I a champion race boat from 1921 A displacement hull from the design of George Crouch this craft is now powered by an exotic engine that again puts this sister to Rainbow I on the edge of the circle of vintage champions Boating traditions and craftsmanship July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 39
Little One shares distinctive Minett features with its contemporaries The wood framed windscreen hinges forward and the slightly curved side panels are removable and typically stay off the boat most of the time It is a long deck launch with an open cockpit Realizing the collection of century old Peter Breen remembers this craft well fire pump running all the time I retrieved boats is no longer an exclusive and limited She was owned by the King Family of her out of the boathouse just before the old group the Antique and Classic Boat Society Gloucester Pool just north of Port Severn house and farm were subdivided and new Toronto chose this concept as the theme for They used her heavily as a workboat taxi cottages were built I used her for six to eight the 2019 summer boat show in Gravenhurst material supplier and whatever else they years before selling her on Saturday July 6 could make a living at The Traveller s current owners Scott and The show s poster boat is The Traveller an When the last King died she spent a Derra Dunsmoor can fill in the era prior to 1894 Swartman cabin launch The cabin long time hanging in the original boathouse Peter Breen because Dunsmoor s family had launch was one of the most common designs Breen explains with the help of a three inch moved to this area in 1919 and the craft of early powered wooden boats became an intimate aspect of They are the picture of elegance seasonal life This included a and peaceful cruising With 60th anniversary party of the sweeping gunwales rounded family site in 1979 where transom and its period flag The Traveller was called upon flying off the stern time moves to shuttle guests during the at a slower pace when on board weekend s festivities Sitting in the comfort of the Jake and Andrew Swartshelter of the cabin passengers man of Swartman Boats in enjoy the scenery free of the Waubaushene built Traveller buffeting wind or spray and The Swartmans built boats beating sun Also typical of from around the 1890s to these older designs they like to the early teens of the next roll and the seats could be a bit century deeper to fit the bigger butts of Traveller was originally the 21st century Don t plan on powered by steam but its making time but do plan on It is believed Little One a 1919 Minett launch of only 21 feet was originally power was converted to enjoying it gasoline in 1905 intended to be a small livery boat 40 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019
Current owner Scott Dunsmoor explained Herb and Fred King discovered the abandoned Traveller and in the process of restoration Herb added six feet to the midships extending it from its original 25 feet length Herb King was a bachelor with no children to accept ownership of The Traveller and ultimately it was left abandoned in the boathouse until Peter Breen bought it from the King estate in the fall of 1986 The return of this memorable craft to Gloucester Pool by the Dunsmoor family was very emotional worthy of a champagne celebration A new tradition emerged the Sunday coffee cruise with friends and family piling into Traveller for the weekly event Turning 100 years old this summer is a favourite Muskoka built launch Little One There simply isn t anything like it in Muskoka for family connections to the builder and a continuous link of heritage Little One a 1919 Minett launch of only 21 feet is more than a scaled down version of 36 foot boats like Mineta or Eaglet II A custom ordered launch just as most Minett launches were Jim Minett grand nephew of the builder and owner of this small launch believes it was originally intended to be a small livery boat Little One shares distinctive Minett features with its contemporaries Its windscreen is very similar to that of Mineta built in 1918 and Marie a 1917 Minett The wood framed windscreen hinges forward and the slightly curved side panels are removable and typically stay off the boat most of the time And so it was that Little One was built In every way it is a long deck launch with an open cockpit and straight windscreen just like its siblings but only 21 feet long In all respects a scaled down version Little One performs with the stability of a much bigger launch than its wee transom and delicate foredeck would suggest A few years ago Little One underwent a complete restoration A boat of this significance was certainly too special not to preserve with the best possible care Acquired by his father Bill Minett who acquired it from his uncle Bert s daughter Marjorie this is a boat well treasured by now three generations Little One had Sitting in the comfort of the shelter of the cabin of The Traveller passengers enjoy the scenery free of the buffeting wind or spray and beating sun survived six owners and 90 years in admirable condition but its bottom had developed serious problems and its engine was suffering too Paul Brackley s boat shop supervised the restoration by completing the wood work while PAL Engineering did the mechanical It had been repowered at some point and new stringers were made to properly accommodate the current power a Buchannan Bulldog engine After Little One was launched from freshly being restored Jim stepped into the craft like a person putting on a favourite shoe It just fit He turned the windscreens forward as usual set all the gear in place and then readied himself to fire it up With Brackley s crew fending Little One off and keeping an eye on the construction loading crew it was time to get underway Jim and Eileen Minett who summer in Minett Muskoka enjoy regular cruising in Little One Despite the narrow beam at only five feet Little One is surprisingly stable Paul Brackley who completed the restoration noted I have never seen a boat this small be so stable I have not seen another one like it It may be because Little One is slightly broader near the bow to accommodate the engine despite its beam Its top speed is around 18 mph Anything more and it just digs in at the July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 41
Lucelle another launch that is 100 years old is now powered by an motor It was resurrected and restored by Jack Law transom This is similar to other boats of this length such as the very common Duke Playmate Concerning the craft s original construction Minett explained that his great uncle was very particular about the wood he used Little One was constructed and restored with Spanish cedar for the hull oak ribs and mahogany topsides The brightwork was nickel plated not chrome Except for the horn Little One retains its original flagpole light globe which could never be replaced along with the original Minett plaque and gauges including an operating wind up clock The Traveller and Little One are not alone in the world of century old boats The Disappearing Propeller Boat celebrated 100 years since the patent was registered about four years ago and many other century old examples are bobbing around The original Port Carling built Dispros were built from cypress wood which is very durable and resistant to rot In some cases old growth cypress is being hauled out of swamps to be used in the restoration of vintage boats It is becoming more common to repower 100 year old craft with electric motors which are quieter and more space efficient especially since speed isn t a big priority in these launches This year s boat show will be a great reminder of just how long the span of wooden boating history is in Muskoka as well as the variety of designs that have survived the generations excelrailings ca 705 646 2508 42 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019
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Article by Meghan Smith Photography by Kelly Holinshead P eople will ask what the hell is fibre art laughs Karen Thorn fibre artist and owner of Frockful of Funk It s hard to describe It brings all sorts of elements together Fibre art refers to art made of materials consisting of natural or synthetic fibre such as fabric yarn or felt The materials and the labour contributed by the artist are both focal points in the art work s significance With my style of working you get all sorts of mixtures of colour and fabric says Thorn It s very bohemian in a lot of ways but it speaks to me It makes me happy so that s the way I do it Frockful of Funk has been around for a number of years but Thorn has kept things relatively under the radar She began making tunic style tops with the help of her mother and selling them at craft shows More recently Thorn has explored coats dresses pillows and other home d cor Over the past six months most of her time has been spent making prototypes and appropriately sizing her creations The response to Thorn s creations has been positive although this will be her first summer of sharing her apparel more widely specifically at the Huntsville Farmer s Market I finally have the pattern down and I ve just gone through two weeks of sizing the coats says Thorn Now it s ready I can go and start working and make more The majority of the investment of time rests in creating the pattern When a pattern is optimized Thorn can create a coat over the course of a few days a dress in a few hours and pillows in a little over an hour It s not a huge production at this point but ultimately I m focusing on sewing right now says Thorn For all of her life Thorn has been inspired by fibre Growing up with a mother and grandmother who were accomplished seamstresses and avid knitters set the tone for her life long love of textiles Thorn credits her mother with incredible feedback and assistance during her journey
July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 45
My mom is so encouraging to me and I wouldn t have the love I have of fibre if it weren t for her says Thorn I cannot thank her and my grandmother enough Thorn s creative genius combined with her mother s exceptional patterning and sewing capabilities fostered the beginning of Frockful of Funk Previously Thorn owned and operated Sheepstrings Yarn Art Studio in Huntsville from 2003 to 2009 Her fondness for fibre arts has always been evident in her life from custom dying yarn to knitting her own sweaters to being a published knitwear designer I am a diehard fibre person and I have been since I was four says Thorn It was always around me I grew up with homemade clothing with homemade pretty much everything Not because we had to but because it was what we liked to do Born in Toronto Thorn had recently been accepted to a level six arts enrichment program at her high school when her family relocated to Huntsville Their purchase of the local Ford dealership meant she attended the program for only three months before moving north Colourful screen printed fabrics cannot be ignored as an art form We moved to Muskoka the winter that I turned 15 and I seriously thought my life had ended recalls Thorn Eventually that washed away but I lost that creative person for a while Maybe that s why it s taken so long for me to get to this point For post secondary Thorn did not take the artistic route but pursued more traditional options such as hospitality and tourism and sociology However she consistently found it difficult to stay focused on the end result I always ended up going back to the things I loved to do explains Thorn I ve held a number of different kinds of jobs but I always wanted to go back and prove that I could do this At long last after her kids were grown up and years of maintaining her creativity as a hobby Thorn decided to attend Fleming College s Haliburton School of Art Design for a certificate in Fibre Arts in 2016 At the very last minute a few years ago it was time shares stoneway marble granite inc Les and Renata Partyka 1295 Muskoka Rd 118 West Bracebridge Ontario 705 645 3380 stoneway inc gmail com 46 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019
For all of her life Karen Thorn has been inspired by fibre Thorn s Frockful of Funk is an ode to the multitude of beautiful composition opportunities presented by fibre art THE RIOBEL MOMENTI COLLECTION AVAILABLE AT KNOWLES PLUMBING Thorn My kids were old enough and it was surface design and embellishments The culminating two weeks were to produce a time to do something for me material could be paper to wood to yarn to portfolio and come up with a major project The 16 week program is an intense fabric Each week of study in a different encompassing the individual s growth and workload covering all aspects of fibre art artistic matter concluded with creating development through the course including dye pigments something Rising to the top of the class at the end of BATH and KI TC H E needlework N SH OW R O OforMa mark for that week The DESIGN INSTALLATION REPAIR S E RVING ALL OF MUS KOKA 279 MANI TOBA ST BR AC EBR ID G E 70 5 6 45 2 67 1 K NOWLESP LUMBI N G COM MUSKOKA BATH BATH KITCHEN SHOWROOM SALES INSTALLATION REPAIR SERVING ALL OF MUSKOKA 279 Manitoba Street Bracebridge 705 645 2671 muskokabath knowlesplumbing com July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 47
semester Thorn was nominated to submit her final project to the BMO 1st Art Competition The competition celebrates the creativity of art school students from over 100 post secondary institutions across Canada I didn t win but that was OK says Thorn My final project was a coat of many colours which was something I d wanted to do for quite a long time While on a field trip to Toronto as part of her studies a fabric caught Thorn s eye and she knew that was the beginning of her final project All of the elements that Thorn had learned during her time at school she brought into her final project Screen printing a needle panel sewing and other techniques are all reflected in various panels of the textile Full of ideas and creative energy Karen Thorn turns her patterns into a wide artwork array of original products From my experience and maybe to some advantage I had things in the back of my head prior to attending school says Thorn I was able to look at the big picture and say okay I want to bring these things together There were certain things along the way I wanted to incorporate Although full of ideas and creative energy following the completion of her certificate Thorn put things on the backburner through the winter At the time her living situation did not include a space where she could work artistically Her solution was the purchase of a 12 by 16 cabin and relocating it onto her property It s not huge but it s a space I can call my own that I can be creative in says Thorn It took me about six months to find it and get it situated That OPEN STUDIO WEEKEND August 17 and 18 2019 10 am to 5 pm Meet 17 artists at 6 studios featuring painting woodturning metal and wood sculpture glass fibre pottery photography and jewellery by artists from Muskoka and beyond Limberlost Road is Muskoka Road 8 just 10 minutes east of Huntsville on Hwy 60 Studios open other times by apppointment See website for map and details or call 705 635 2093 Join us on facebook com artistsofthelimberlost1 a r t is t s o f t h eli m berlos t c a 48 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019
whole year after school was getting the space getting it ready and then finding time Conscious of being off the beaten path Thorn dreams of an artistic space that is more easily accessible for the public to view her work An artisan type studio scenario where there are set hours for drop in fit the vision but she is not in a rush to make big changes It s just about finding things at the right time shares Thorn I m that kind of person If something speaks to me I m there More than just exploring her own creative pursuits Thorn enjoys challenging herself and pushing beyond her comfort zone An expert at knitting her time at school pushed her to work in other mediums and hone new skills In particular Thorn knew sewing would be her least favourite and yet used sewing as a major component of her final piece She has even spent time teaching sewing at the Haliburton School of Art and Design over the past two years I have all the expertise in the world in knitting and last year I get a call from the school to teach sewing laughs Thorn It was a great experience and I enjoyed Karen Thorn creates tunics coats dresses pillows and other home d cor 1 70 5 6 4 5 751 1 DAV L I N CA Custom Boat Awnings Protect your investment mba July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 49
it so much because I spinning wheel knew what they were Not content to going through purchase fabric Thorn s Thorn s experiences inventive nature has her attending school as well yearning to weave her as teaching have only own fabrics dye her fostered a deeper underown custom pieces and standing of and love for even creating composite fibre art Always feeling as works of art though she was holding If I actually create herself back from truly the fabric they are one forging ahead into her of a kind and that is a calling a theme became market that is truly apparent during her unique says Thorn course That s your mark Whether sketching That s where my head is ideas on paper she had now made or needle felting a The beauty of trapanel for her culminating ditional tapestries handGrowing up with a mother and grandmother who were accomplished seamstresses and avid project there was a face knitters set the tone for Karen Thorn s love of textiles made quilts hand dyed emerging through flowers apparel and rich colourand bushes in Thorn s creations Unafraid to dive all in for the sake of her ful screen printed fabrics cannot be ignored I sort of saw that as me coming out from art Thorn sees no doors of opportunity that as an art form behind all of the things I ve ever done says she would close In her cabin she s acquired Thorn s Frockful of Funk is an ode to the Thorn This is me This is who I am and this not only a second hand sewing machine in multitude of beautiful composition opporis what I want to do perfect condition but also a floor loom and tunities presented by fibre art Hospice Muskoka Buy a Brick Build a Future ANDY S HOUSE OPENING IN FALL OF 2019 BUY YOUR VIRTUAL BRICK FOR 300 TODAY An acute care bed in hospital costs 1200 day A palliative bed at Andy s House will cost 300 day 1 brick will keep one bed OPEN for 1 day 2500 bricks will keep three beds OPEN for 3 years WHERE WOULD YOU AND YOUR FAMILY RATHER BE Create Better Choices for Better End of Life Care and Build a Better Future Donate online at www hospicemuskoka com Phone 705 646 1697 In person at 15 Depot Drive or by mail to P O Box 156 Bracebridge ON P1L 1T6 CHARITABLE REGISTRATION NUMBER 89033 3263 RR0001 50 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019
Article by J Patrick Boyer A mong the most dynamic pioneers boosting Muskoka s settlement and economic development were postmasters who established postal services at some 200 communities across the District from A Alport to Z Ziska 52 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019 Colonization began in the 1850s and ramped up with construction of development roads the government giving away land and inland water transport enabling settlers to arrive However the full portrait of what was involved in carving homes farms and settlements out of wilderness must include equal prominence for postal service Settlers able to exchange letters with families and friends led to increased migration Post offices provided social hubs in scattered rural areas Their notice boards
Photograph Muskoka Discover Centre Archives Gravenhurst From 1875 when the first train reached Muskoka Wharf at Gravenhurst the steam age revolutionized speedy mail service as well as changing Muskoka s entire economy The trains and ships exchanged two way flow of letters and packages between summer residents resort guests and those in southern Ontario and the United States Muskoka s First Post Office In the 1850s getting or sending mail required long hikes down to Orillia and back By 1860 however James H Jackson and his wife had settled with their family on a sizeable acreage where a bridge crossed the Severn River into Muskoka They farmed operated a store and soon saw how adding postal service to their business would boost prosperity and convenience settlers in Muskoka s southern townships Jackson s application to the government of Canada West was approved The perfunctory name Severn Bridge at least left no doubt about its location when on January 1 1861 Postmaster J H Jackson opened Muskoka District s first post office That same year he conducted Muskoka s first census enumerating how the settler population comprised Scottish Irish German and English families Photograph Gravenhurst Book Committee Cecil Porter gave public information before Muskoka got its first newspaper in 1870 Postal communication fed prosperity through business correspondence and mail orders Larger post offices offered essential banking services years before Alfred Hunt opened Muskoka s first bank at Bracebridge in 1884 An eminent Canadian man of letters William Dawson LeSeuer was the Post Office Department official who recast various Muskoka locales by giving them names unrelated to their identities His postal monopoly lasted a year not because it failed but because Richard Hanna opened a second post office further north on January 1 1862 Hanna had run a crew building the western extension of the Peterson Road into Muskoka from the east To stimulate immigration and development the government was creating a network of two dozen colonization roads through the province s unsettled interior The east west Peterson Road formed a junction with the Muskoka Road coming north from Severn River at scenic South Falls on the Muskoka River s south branch Hanna saw a future for the projected Muskokaville settlement acquired good land built his homestead fetched his wife Christina and their children and applied for a post office It was given an improved name Muskoka Falls His bright future in central Muskoka seemed assured However with the United States in its first year of civil war the issue of ending slavery called him more than farming local July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 53
government or other people s mail He bid solemn farewell to Christina their sons William James Richard Peter Joseph Francis and daughter Rachel and headed south to enlist in the Union Army They never saw him again Richard Hanna died in his blue uniform fighting as a volunteer Muskoka Barging Family run construction company with over 35 years experience operating in the Muskoka Lakes area No job is too small or too big 705 764 0765 muskokabarging com 1163 Milford Bay Rd Milford Bay ON BARGING STEEL CRIB DOCKS SEPTIC SYSTEMS LANDSCAPING BRACEBRIDGE GENERATION LTD Water Power Generating a Cleaner Environment Interested in more information or a free tour www bracebridgegeneration com ElleZed Handbags Contemporary style Crafted from Harris Tweed one of the most desirable textiles in the world 28 Manitoba Street Bracebridge ON 705 637 0204 54 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019 What is a Gravenhurst On July 1 that same year James McCabe opened Muskoka s third post office at his inn The locale near Muskoka Bay at the southeast corner of Lake Muskoka was known as McCabe s Landing after pioneer Letitia McCabe and her husband Mickey opened a hostelry here around 1860 beside the Muskoka Road colonization track Dubbing it The Freemason s Arms they offered wayfarers boats fishing tackle meals liquor cigars and survival tips In 1862 when McCabe applied for a post office he was duly appointed postmaster but then got stuck with the improbable and irrelevant community name Gravenhurst Where had that come from William Dawson LeSueur a senior player in the Post Office Department had selected it LeSueur s discretionary power to rename communities when awarding them a post office was meant to eliminate confusion if different places had the same name Duplication was never an issue with McCabe s Landing LeSueur brazenly exceeded his powers and saddled the South Muskoka settlement with an identity disconnected from its own provenance just because Gravenhurst appealed to him for esoteric reasons This official born in Quebec City in 1840 had progressed to Toronto entered civil service work with that era s vital Post Office Department earned a university degree and become departmental secretary making numerous administrative decisions In addition W D LeSueur was the most important Canadian man of letters of his generation He wrote widely on religion science and social philosophy in Canadian American and British journals He reviewed books He had abiding interest in ethics LeSueur had just read a review copy of Gravenhurst or Thoughts on Good and Evil a book published in 1862 the fated year Mickey McCabe applied for postal service
Photograph Gravenhurst Book Committee Gravenhurst Archives A Post Office Gave Status and Economic Stimulus Getting a post office in a settlement was a major status symbol a milestone of official recognition It benefitted locals with a means of communication It became an economic stimulus for all in the vicinity The economic benefits most directly accrued to the leading light of the settlement often someone like the first innkeeper or mill operator whose leadership was implicitly recognized When such an individual proposed applying to the Post Office Department all around cheered his initiative Once the postal authorities replied to the application the community knew by what official name it would be henceforth known by such as Muskoka Falls or Alport or Gravenhurst When the applicant was appointed postmaster and authorized to open a post office business to nobody s surprise it was located in his own commercial premises or Photograph Boyer Family Archives Muskoka s First Postmistress 1865 The following summer on August 1 1863 William Holditch a Macaulay Township councillor inaugurated postal service at Falkenburg The village was a busy hub in Macaulay Township at the junction of Muskoka Road heading north and Parry Sound colonization road branching west In 1865 Holditch relocated to Bracebridge operating a store and developing properties He was succeeded as Falkenburg s postmaster by Robert George Holditch got a Bracebridge street named for him though more people would cheer his patriotic action naming Bracebridge streets Ontario Manitoba Quebec and Dominion in conjunction with the July 1 1867 launch of Confederation At the end of 1863 Muskoka s fifth post office opened at Alport in Monck Township near the mouth of the Muskoka River with Postmaster Andrew H Browning conducting postal business in a store he operated there Nearby Big Island in Lake Muskoka was renamed Browning Island for his family In 1865 Susannah Alport member of the family operating the fertile Alport Farm succeeded Browning gaining in the bargain the distinction of becoming Muskoka s first postmistress Top Bracebridge s first postmaster Alexander Bailey operating in his hotel where he also opened a Post Office Savings Bank branch in 1867 In 1870 Robert E Perry became postmaster The District Exchange on the main street now housed the post office in the small addition at right where in 1874 it became Muskoka s first post office with mailbox lock drawers Below In 1874 John T May opened Barkway Post Office to serve Draper and Ryde townships By 1900 Ira Davey was postmaster and the post office operated in the Post family s general store above By this date Muskoka s several hundred post offices included small centres seasonal resorts and summer camps Barkway s post office closed in the mid 1950s replaced by rural mail delivery service sometimes his own home The early Muskoka post offices were in tiny settlements without separate dedicated buildings When one postmaster replaced another the venue of the local post office was accordingly generally relocated too Settlement was picking up following opening of the Muskoka Road in 1861 and by 1864 three more post offices bore testimony to heightened activity On June 1 Postmaster James F Hanes opened the doors of his new post office in Utterson while Postmaster Andrew Thompson followed suit in Uffington on October 1 In between in the pattern of dynamic local leaders becoming postmasters Alexander Bailey was front and centre the dynamo of North Falls On the Muskoka River s North Branch this watershed plunge corresponded with South Falls three miles away In 1863 Bailey built a sawmill that could cut 1 000 feet of lumber a day Next he built and operated the Victoria Hotel Then he added a store that busily transacted July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 55
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A P Cockburn s mail steamer Wenonah publicized her routes and service including designation as The Royal Mail Steamer In time North Falls would become designated Muskoka District s capital town and depend economically on attracting visitors For both reasons its unique North Falls designation was ideal No other place in the world has that name To vacationers and tourists from the south just the name alone evoked all needed appeal But Alex Bailey was so chuffed about adding postal service to his diversified interests that he didn t protest or appeal LeSueur s inexplicable decision adversely impacting the community Folks residing in North Falls forfeited their ideal name for one that seemed a lame joke as the price for getting postal service A Mushrooming of Muskoka Communities The pace of getting postal service picked Photograph Gravenhurst Book Committee Gravenhurst Archives LeSueur Strikes a Second Bizarre Time In Toronto at the Canada West Post Office Department W D LeSueur considered his application and saw no objection to naming Bailey postmaster He d demonstrated enterprise and appeared to have the sense of responsibility required for such a position But then LeSueur gave life to another bizarre name again from a book he d read This one by American author Washington Irving was entitled Bracebridge Hall Irving lived in England awhile hoping to improve British U S relations by writing about people and custom so Americans could see what they shared in common In Bracebridge Hall he described the pleasant country home of the Bracebridge family and in a sequel Sketch Book portrayed pleasant Christmas merriments at the family s estate home Bracebridge Hall LeSueur s headstrong tendency to rename emerging villages after weird names plucked from foreign books had already been demonstrated with Gravenhurst To that blot he now added Bracebridge Photograph Gravenhurst Book Committee Cecil Porter a lot of business In 1864 he sought a post office for North Falls Rather than insisting the world s most perfectly named community retain its identity he just assumed it would A train steaming across south Muskoka countryside passes through Kilworthy whose station and post office roof rises above the cars at the right The railway reached this part of Morrison Township in 1875 and the station on William Lethbridge s farm was designated Lethbridge Postal mix ups with Alberta s Lethbridge resulted in the Muskoka settlement being inexplicably renamed Kilworthy by the Post Office Department July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 57
Photograph Boyer Family Library In 1822 famed short story author Washington Irving wrote 29 stories about Bracebridge Hall in this book up in tandem with more homesteaders reaching Muskoka s central and northern townships Also in the 1860s post offices opened in Port Severn for Baxter and Tay townships and Raymond for Watt Township Throughout the 1870s 46 more Muskoka post offices put new communities on the official map Allensville Aspdin Bala Bardsville Barkway Baysville Beatrice Brackenrig Cripplegate Deebank Dorset Dwight Emberson Glen Orchard Grassmere Hekkla Hillside Hoodstown Housey s Rapids Huntsville Ilfracombe Juddhaven Keatsville Lancelot Lethbridge Malta Mary Lake Menomonee Muskoka Mills Newholm Point Kaye Port Sydney Port Vernon Ravenscliffe Reay Seely Sparrow Lake Stanleydale Stoneleigh Torrance Ufford Ullswater Vankoughnet Walker s Point West Gravenhurst and of course Ziska Many more places would get postal service during the 1880s and 1890s as well as through the 20th century serving permanent Muskokans But what underscores just how vital postal service was for Muskoka s emerging vacation economy is how the numerous resorts developing around the district were authorized to operate summer time post offices and how dozens of Muskoka summer camps also got seasonal post offices You ve got mail 58 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019
www muskokaconservancy org You cannot protect the environment unless you empower people you inform them and you help them understand that these resources are their own that they must protect them Wangari Maathai Thank you to our trail building partners July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 59
Article by Dawn Huddlestone Photography by Kelly Holinshead W hen they first had the idea to build a log cabin studio in the woods near Dwight John McConnell and Geraldine Slater couldn t possibly have known what it would become He was and still is a painter she was a weaver at the time As they were building the cabin on Fox Point Road it became quite the attraction with people stopping to watch the 60 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019 construction McConnell decided to hang some of his paintings outside and as they began to sell the idea for a craft and art cabin began to form We had a very small budget for it but it was top quality work said McConnell adding that what seemed to strike visitors the most was the high quality of work they could find in a woodsy setting People were really surprised and excited It was an upward swing right from the word go From that start in 1979 the couple would eventually have more than 100 craftspeople represented at the Oxtongue Craft Cabin and Gallery McConnell painted and Slater ran the
business Both enjoyed the contact they had with artists and customers The most memorable aspect was our ability to visit artists in their studios and develop relationships with them said McConnell The relationships with local cottagers were equally special It was tremendously satisfying to know that over the years we became a part of their cottage experience It was special to see young people who came in holding the hands of their parents later coming in on their own as adults Also a skilled gardener Slater created beautiful grounds that remain a feature on the property today Although they loved the cabin another beautiful part of the world called to them McConnell had started going to Ireland to paint where his career took off in tremendous fashion They bought an old abandoned Irish cottage in 1990 and travelled there for part of each year for seven years When it became increasingly difficult to leave Ireland they decided to follow a new dream and sold the Oxtongue Craft Cabin and Gallery in 1997 In an echo of what they began in Dwight they turned that cottage into what was voted one of the best craft shops in Ireland by the Irish Crafts Council Adrigole Arts a business that continues to thrive today McConnell said they are proud to think the Oxtongue Craft Cabin and Gallery has had such longevity We have a great appreciation for the people who have taken over since we sold and the customers who have remained loyal They have kept it going with the same spirit that we started out with that s why they ve lasted 40 years A big part of our heart is still there It s all terribly special to us Jim Mitchell who purchased the gallery from McConnell and Slater in 1997 and owned it through 2012 knew how special it was from the start The first time I viewed the property and stood behind the sales desk I was overwhelmed by the energy of the place he said I knew that I had to be there Mitchell was cautious about putting his own stamp on the business though one early change he made was bringing the road signs into line with the stickers that adorned each gift box Karen Piovaty current owner of Oxtongue Craft Cabin and Gallery like her predecessors enjoys the relationships she has developed with both artisans and her customers July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 61
He too enjoyed the the future But without the vast connection he had with both number of faithful and loyal artists and visitors customers who brought so From the artist perspective much life to a quiet little log the best memories would have cabin there would be little to to be the bond we shared with talk about I miss them all and their work It wasn t just a it is their business more than product it was their heart and any of us owners The soul poured in and beauty and community that serves the functionality emanating out Oxtongue Craft Cabin deserve from it entrusted to me to pass to have it there on to the world said Mitchell It s Karen Piovaty who He often heard customers say currently ensures they do This is the most beautiful store She learned of the business I have ever been in by accident while visiting Like McConnell and Slater friends in the area they went to he is humbled and proud to Some of the artists represented at Oxtongue Craft Cabin and Gallery have been an art show at Annie Williams have been a part of such a there during the tenure of all three owners Park in Bracebridge and she beautiful tradition It was said to her husband Gary arguably the best period of my life It was a And he is grateful to both the owners who Mitchell Oh why can t I be surrounded by place where I could express my own tastes and preceded and followed him as well as the art all day and socialize One of their hosts abilities and deal with people in a magical customers who returned time and again who was just in the process of getting her real setting surrounded by nature My gratitude John and Geraldine for having the vision to estate license mentioned the Craft Cabin extends out to all those who assisted me along recognize the possibilities and nurture the We drove into that driveway and it was the way those who added to the beauty and business into what it could be to Karen for love at first sight said Karen For years she success of the business coming along at the right time to guide it into had been collecting business cards of the KEEP YOUR POWER ON EVEN WHEN THE POWER IS OUT Whenever there s an outage KOHLER generators keep your lights on your fridge cold and your house cozy And they can power your entire house No matter the weather we re with you From engines to generators we give the world power MUSKOKA PARRY SOUND Your Source For All Your Electrical Backup Power And Home Automation Needs 705 765 0600 www sifftelectric com Port Carling Based on generator and load size 62 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019
telling the Muskoka story The grounds of Oxtongue Craft Cabin and Gallery which feature outdoor artistic displays have been a feature enjoyed by visitors since its earliest days artists she saw at various studio tours and shows Owning a gallery was a dream come true and she understood the trust she was receiving with the purchase I understood that this place is a tradition as much as going to a cottage is a tradition she said I felt like a steward almost of this iconic place that everyone so loves She and Gary a builder and owner of Mitchell s Custom Building were mindful about not changing that narrative Gary cut back the loft in the cabin to open up the space a change that many longtime customers couldn t quite put their finger on when they came in Two seasons ago they also added a lower gallery that mainly showcases paintings As with the owners that came before her Piovaty enjoys the relationships She is as thrilled as the artists when their work sells she says I m on the phone or emailing the artist before the piece leaves the parking lot I love to share in that excitement And at least once a week in the summer she ll have three generations of a family come in the oldest of who has been coming every year for decades Some of the artists represented at the gallery have been there during the tenure of all three owners others are newer but all about 110 in total are organic in nature says Piovaty That s always been my beacon and thankfully so because there are so many wonderful artists out there you need something to winnow it down She also inherited fantastic employees says Piovaty They helped guide her as she learned the business as did the gallery s loyal customers It s been a real pleasure to get to know so many of the people It s lovely it s a real community The Oxtongue Craft Cabin and Gallery features a variety of beautifully crafted original art from jewelry and greeting cards to pottery paintings and sculptures at a wide range of price points Hopefully there is a little something for everyone says Piovaty The Oxtongue Craft Cabin and Gallery is open daily in the summer months every day but Wednesday in the early fall and weekends in the spring and late fall There are many events planned throughout the summer including a new show by local artist Janine Marson called Rural Roots and a big 40th birthday bash on Saturday August 3 If you ve never made a visit there it s worth the drive It is off the beaten track for sure says Piovaty The fact it s been 40 years it attests to the loyalty of our guests and also that we try and have something special for them to come to KEEPING YOU INFORMED with MUSKOKA CONTENT ALL YEAR For regular updates visit www uniquemuskoka com July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 63
Whats Happened the idea for a group show at the Chapel Gallery in Bracebridge In early spring that year ten artists displayed their work in a garden like setting inside the gallery complete with pathways arbours and recorded songbird music The District of Muskoka wants to After the show she suggested to the position itself as a leader for artists they display their sculptures environmental responsibility says Fred outdoors on the grounds at Jon Jahn commissioner of Engineering Partridge Pottery since she would be and Public Works and its waste there to oversee the showrooms reduction efforts are a big part of that anyhow Jahn has been visiting the region s Since then The Artful Garden has municipal councils to present the need grown to include more than 40 artists for change over the next three to five and works of all sizes It s been wildly years including a reduction in bag successful sometimes too much so limits by one per household increased They tried an opening night one year diversion of organics from landfills and but such a large crowd showed up they the eventual elimination of bin sites decided not to do it again They ve had We are trying to preserve the life of to discourage tour buses our landfill by reducing the amount of It s a tremendous amount of work to waste that s going into it and diverting co ordinate each year but the people it to other streams says Jahn have made it worth it It s really neat Bin sites in particular are to have the response we ve had says problematic They ve become dumping Suzann grounds in many cases with staff Despite its continuing popularity repeatedly having to clean up the mess the Partridges feel it s time to end on a And although many people recycle high note and open up time to do properly the recycling bins are other things in the summer The contaminated with waste up to 80 per showrooms will still be there and they The Artful Garden features the work of local artists such as cent of the time All of the material in may do some smaller shows but Hilary Clark Cole After 22 years this is its last season a contaminated bin gets sent to the Suzann says it s time for younger landfill challenged to dispose of all that waste says people to carry the torch What we know is that any staffed waste Jahn This is Muskoka and we want to be a The 22nd annual and final The Artful depot or transfer station or curbside leader in waste diversion and environmental Garden will run July 20 to August 11 2019 collection works very very well We can responsibility and we know that our from 10 a m to 5 p m at 1016 Partridge ensure that waste diversion takes place we residents would expect no less Lane Bracebridge For more information have good outcomes from that but we don t visit theartfulgarden ca have good outcomes for bin sites says Jahn And the other motivator for eliminating Photograph Suzann Partridge District waste reduction strategy includes elimination of bin sites bin sites is frankly they are illegal The Ministry of Environment does not grant approvals to operate bin sites and we are expected to act lawfully and we have to phase them out The District is proposing alternatives like waste depots instead of bin sites This is a global issue Something has to change with waste management Fundamentally there is too much waste being produced to start with and so we re 64 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019 The Artful Garden enters its final season For 22 years Suzann and Jon Partridge have opened their beautiful property near Bracebridge to the public for an annual outdoor gallery The Artful Garden is a beloved summer tradition for many and one that will be missed after its final season ends this summer It began in an unlikely place for an outdoor gallery indoors Suzann dreamt up Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation creating a songbird and pollinator meadow at Marsh s Falls The Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation LBHF is committed to conserving and preserving Muskoka s unique natural heritage for future generations to enjoy Over the next several years it will be adding a unique natural feature to a
Photograph Andy Zeltkalns Boat builder Stan Hunter has added an EV charging station for people driving from Port Carling to Bracebridge very much and the early adapters ought to be commended The service has been used already electric vehicle owners can find his location on both the ChargeHub and PlugShare apps Other public charging stations in the area can also be found on those apps Hunter is hoping to take his environmental efforts one step further by becoming a collection depot for wood ash for the ASHMuskoka wood ash recycling program a Friends of the Muskoka Watershed initiative to replenish calcium in Muskoka s soil and water ASHMuskoka held its first ash drive on June 1 to collect wood ash from residents registered for the program It plans to hold more in the future Flood 2019 update Port Carling boat builder offers free EV charging station Stan Hunter wasn t happy to learn the provincial government had cancelled the Electric Vehicle Charging Incentive Program in July 2018 So he decided to do something about it I was dismayed when our province rescinded support for charging infrastructure at a time when all the other provinces are going the other way he said I was incensed enough to go it alone Hunter installed a level 2 charging station at his business on Highway 118W east of Port Carling available 24 hours a day free of charge Really it doesn t cost me Lakes of Bays Heritage Foundation is converting two acres into a songbird and pollinator meadow Photograph Brian Simpson property it manages Last fall after nesting birds had flown south for the winter the foundation began work to convert two acres of overgrown lawns and pastures into a songbird and pollinator meadow at Marsh s Falls near Dwight Planting will occur over several years to provide sufficient time to assess the resiliency and sustainability of the introduced indigenous plants A tangle of saplings was brush hogged last fall to prepare the area for spring planting to attract pollinators On Thanksgiving weekend this year seeds will be sown with indigenous flowering plants to attract songbirds The foundation is grateful for the help of community volunteers as well as students at Irwin Memorial Public School This June 39 species of birds were counted at Marsh s Falls and annual butterfly counts indicate a growing potential for attracting pollinators to these gardens The meadows offer a peaceful retreat with many ephemeral ponds from winter snow melt to create a rich biodiversity to the larger landscape said Brian Simpson LBHF Marsh s Falls Property Manager The planned development will incorporate winding corridors of open land bordered by stands of mature white pines and maple trees The foundation plans to incorporate hiking trails with digital guides and markers to optimize the educational value for future generations of visitors and student groups said Simpson The states of emergency have been lifted and officials have begun to discuss how municipalities can better prepare for future flood events On May 17 a provincial task force met with local mayors to hear how flooding impacted their communities with the goal of mitigating the effects of extreme weather events in the future The provincial government has also promised to conduct a provincial impact assessment to identify where and how climate change is likely to impact Ontario s communities The province has also activated the Disaster Recovery for Ontarians DRAO program for Muskoka Residents small businesses and not for profits that were impacted by the 2019 flooding can apply for financial assistance through the program until August 29 2019 More information is available at Ontario ca disasterassistance And local officials have praised the community for its response to the flooding Bracebridge Mayor Graydon Smith in particular recognized the citizens of his municipality with the Mayor s Award of Excellence Our community came together with extraordinary kindness and generosity Smith said We have truly shown our strength as a town To everyone who helped a little or a lot you are all remarkable July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 65
Getting all red up about pizza baked beside Muskoka hardwood Article by Karen Wehrstein Photography by Tomasz Szumski The first thing you notice approaching Pizza on Earth in Dorset is the delicious smell of woodsmoke wafting its thoughts of warmth of comfort of the outdoors of things natural and simple and beautiful of Muskoka itself into your mind But the smoke isn t coming from a campfire or basement fireplace it s coming from a giant oven shaped like a somewhatflattened eight foot diameter beehive with foot thick walls and floor under an elegant post and beam shelter A svelte young woman armed with a spatula not much shorter than she is tall and a gadget that looks like a tiny gun that shoots a red laser beam deftly works it I studied music Sarah Jane Johnson founder co owner and head pizza chef says When I was in second year university I came home and wanted to apply for a company summer grant I wanted to open a caf But a cousin of mine said What Dorset needs is a pizza place My father said We might as well do it right I ll build you an oven The grant came in the oven was built and as of 2010 Johnson s career was set at least in the summer months In winter she plays cello for the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra Unlike her music her culinary training was all on the job I was 21 years old and had no idea she recounts The night before we opened I still didn t know how to make dough My mom said Just look at the Canadian Living Cookbook it s on page 76 When the first car drove in I said Mom make them go away I m not ready She said yes you are I gave away most of the first ones They had Muskoka s wood fired pizzerias keep their massive ovens hot from May to September using wood fired heat that s still there each morning to cook other baked goods or slow roast toppings in preparation for the day 66 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019 gaping holes and were shaped like amoebas But people were patient and liked free pizzas she learned fast and Pizza on Earth which occupied just a corner of her father Brad s post and beam construction shop at first now takes up the whole building and employs 10 to 12 people We re a very entrepreneurial family says Elizabeth Johnson mother to Sarah Jane and a painter good enough to be part of the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour Her bright bold canvases line the pizzeria s walls Her brothers sometimes work there Her partner got involved When her sister is here she jumps in her aunt we had a niece one year Sarah Jane s partner Daniel Alacoque got involved enough that they ll be wed in October The first oven nicknamed Vesuvius was built based on plans found on the Internet from a 2 000 year old design They found the same model under the ashes in Pompeii Elizabeth says The current oven nicknamed Etna was also built by Brad Johnson and is along the same lines but larger and better There s no touch of a button to fire up
one of these babies You build a literal hardwood fire inside the big opening at the front of it Then when it s been going awhile you shove the burning logs back sweep the ashes off the floor and place the raw pizzas right on the surface when its temperature is right To find that out you jump from ancient to space age technology using a laser thermometer All three of the wood fired pizzerias we visited keep the massive thermal masses that are their ovens hot from May to September using the 300 degree F heat that s still there each morning to cook other baked goods or slow roast toppings in preparation for the day Johnson cooks her pizzas at about 680 700 F a relatively low wood firing temperature in the tradition of the city of Rome It takes about three minutes with constant watching and turning The result is a traditionally Italian thin crusted pie with a subtly barbecued flavour which in my case was topped with pre fried bacon crumbled sausage mushrooms and peppers The bits of sausage with their startling multiplicity of flavours were to die for so I begged the recipe If you follow the Neapolitan tradition as does Chef David Friesen owner of The Experience everything Muskoka has to offer in a refreshingly affordable and revitalized environment Pine Lodge Muskoka offers 10 guest rooms and 4 suites with over 2 000 sq ft of dining and lounge space that caters to a variety of unique meetings events retreats and weddings pinelodgemuskoka com 705 385 2271 Located in Port Sydney ON Canada 484 Muskoka Road 10 MONDAY WING NIGHTS 8 95 lb bestwingsinmuskoka Sarah Jane Johnson is founder co owner and head pizza chef at Pizza on Earth in Dorset July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 67
Italian Crumbled Fennel Sausage Sarah Jane Johnson Pizza on Earth Ingredients Enjoy the authentic avours of Mexico in Muskoka 5 lbs ground medium lean pork 5 tsp table salt 1 Tbsp fennel seeds whole 2 tsp fennel seeds ground 1 Tbsp red pepper flakes Tbsp black pepper ground 1 tsp coriander ground 2 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp lemon juice 1 cup ice cold water Instructions 155 Manitoba Street Bracebridge or Call us for Takeout 705 645 1935 Muskoka Ad_F pdf FI NDBTL_Unique OUR ME NU ON FAC EBO O K1 I N S I D E A L G O N Q U I N PA R K C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Near Perfect We ll carry you by boat to fine dining in the heart of Algonquin at Bartlett Lodge bartlettlodge com 1 866 614 5355 68 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019 In a large electric mixer mix dry spices Add lemon juice water and pork Mix on medium speed for 7 10 minutes If you don t have a big enough mixer halve or quarter the amounts Or go old fashioned and dive in with a big bowl and your hands 2019 03 18 12 32 out PM about half an inch thick on Spread a large pan or one or more cookie sheets and cook until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 165 Celsius in a 700 F oven about 10 minutes more Oven Wood Fired Cuisine formerly Ronnie s near Bracebridge you heat the oven to more like 750 850 and cooking takes 90 seconds Friesen has owned the Bracebridge restaurant Riverwalk for 19 years and his other Bracebridge restaurant The Pasta Tree and Smokehouse for four When Ronnie Karson of Ronnie s Woodfire Pizza near Bracebridge decided to retire from restaurant ownership Friesen bought in Ron was a friend of mine first of all Friesen recounts I d consistently go over and get learning experiences borrow wood from him for my smoker Here he learned about the health benefits of sourdough a tastily tart dough created through fermentation for people who are glutenintolerant The enzymes break down the gluten and digest it Sourdough is a living breathing eating like 15 minutes at 450 F check with thermometer Crumble cooked pork into small pieces to use as topping on pizza or get a sausage maker if you want actual sausages Chef s Tips Let the dough sit 24 48 hours before cooking Do not use a rolling pin to flatten it You squish the air bubbles Sarah Jane says You want it to be crispy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside She likes to use rice flour rather than corn meal on the bottoms of her pies as it s less chewy Use room temperature dough and sauce A regular 500 degree oven is fine if you have two pre heated pizza stones mid cooking transfer the pie from one to other Buy yourself a peel that giant spatula Use high fat mozzarella so it melts nicely rather than just browning Finally open a caf in Dorset There s still no caf there Sarah Jane says entity Friesen says It requires patient tending to nurture from scratch to finished pizza is two weeks Then you have to marry it together with the fire which is also alive It needs to breathe needs air needs fuel In his 30 plus years in the culinary industry Friesen had never worked with live fire before For the first month it was this is so hard he recalls You have to keep your eye on it all the time Friesen s oven was built by Karson who is also a master stonemason and has thermometers built in It is fueled with a mix of local hardwoods maple apple wild cherry birch and oak Cooking at a lower temperature and with instant yeast Friesen notes creates a brown caramelized pizza crust his crusts on the other hand come out white with black caramelized bubbles It s not burned he says It s the caramelizing of natural sugars
Above The sour dough used by chef David Friesen at The Oven Wood Fired Cuisine in Bracebridge requires patient tending to nurture From scratch to finished pizza it s two weeks Below Friesen produces pizza in an oven fueled with local hardwoods The Oven offers a plethora of interesting toppings eight cheeses including goat blue and smoked mozzarella eight meats including double smoked bacon and Italian style sausages both mild and spicy and a range of vegetables and fruit including local wild leeks Kalamata olives asparagus beets roasted zucchini roasted grapes and cinnamon roasted pear Just as Friesen offers wood fired baked goods at his other two restaurants he brings items from them to The Oven future plans included braised beef and braised lamb shank as toppings It gets our creativity going he says In the future look for The Oven to offer more wood fired proteins such as Dutch ovenroasted chicken David Friesen s creativity won t fail you Ready for a recipe that takes two weeks How to create a sourdough mother PIE Muskoka Wood fired Pizza Joint in Torrance is one of a chain of seven restaurants the first of which was founded in the south end of Barrie in 2010 Over the years a second Barrie location was added then ones in Collingwood Woodbridge Torrance Cleveland s House and Midland The two Muskoka locations are both seasonal open from Victoria Day weekend to the weekend after Thanksgiving The Torrance PIE resides in an old de insulated building decorated with a strong emphasis on warm red It s like a sports bar with big screens multiple brews on tap and a party atmosphere except there s also a huge round oven adorned with heat proof tiles in white except for the PIE logo imported from Italy We try to position our oven to the front door so people can see what they re walking into in seconds explains Martin Giles whose title really is Mr Brand Standards When PIE had but one location he was taking business marketing at Georgian College in Barrie and a friend working July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 69
there asked if he d like to help In nine years he has never looked back having worked every position front or back of the house What s special about PIE It s fresh it s real food Giles enthuses We don t have a freezer or a microwave That right there is the difference between us and other places Oven temperature tends to the Napolitan 850 F for dinner time the morning s gentler heat is used for other things PIE offers such as chicken wings and sliders as well as topping prep Other offerings include sandwiches and salads Wood fired pizza by the way has become very popular in the GTA where Giles estimates there are about 100 outlets offering it A couple of years ago Giles and his colleagues wanted to add something to the menu that was exclusive to Muskoka and represented Muskoka Thus PIE Muskoka s Muskoka Pie was born It s clean simple and representational of the area says Giles The combination just reminds Martin Giles of PIE Muskoka Wood fired Pizza Joint says it s fresh ingredients and the Napolitan 850 F temperatures that are responsible for the quality of the offerings at the popular Torrance location 70 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019 me of being outside It s a very simplistic easy going kind of pizza not too complicated not too busy a you re onvacation pizza The pepperoni mushroom onionbocconcini topped creation was such a big hit in Muskoka in 2017 that for 2018 PIE offered it in all seven locations and it has become one of the chain s top three pizzas Personally I think the caramelized onions are key but the mushrooms are crucial too and the basil leaves may be for garnish but they make for added zing if you eat them I have to say I am tempted to make Giles s pizza with Friesen s sourdough based dough Enjoy
How to create a sourdough mother Sourdough Pizza DAY 1 1 cup organic rye flour cup room temperature water Mix together in a non reactive container glass works well Cover with cheesecloth and let sit for 24 hours at room temperature Ingredients DAYS 2 5 cup previous day s starter discarding the remainder 1 cup organic all purpose flour cup room temperature water Mix together in a non reactive container Cover with cheesecloth and let sit for 24 hours at room temperature Repeat DAYS 5 7 At this point start feeding the starter every 12 hours using the same procedure as above AFTER 1 WEEK The mother can now be kept in the fridge feeding by the same procedure as above it once a week and you can begin using the discarded half cup as your sourdough starter Muskoka Pie Martin Giles PIE Muskoka Ingredients 1 9 oz ball of pizza dough make your own or purchase from Pie 4 oz pizza sauce make your own or purchase Sliced pepperoni 2 oz approx 2 3 cups mushrooms previously slow cooked with olive oil salt and pepper small onion diced cup fresh bocconcini cheese Fresh basil for garnish Preparation Preheat oven as hot as it will go Saut onions in a pan until caramelized Remove from heat David Friesen The Oven Wood Fired Cuisine cup sourdough starter cup room temperature water 1 cups all purpose organic flour 1 teaspoon salt Instructions Mix all ingredients except salt together in a strong mixer with a dough hook for approximately three minutes Leaving the dough in the mixer bowl cover with a cloth for one hour Add salt and mix for six minutes Remove from the bowl onto a lightly floured surface cover with plastic wrap and let rest for two hours Shape dough into ball place on lightly oiled sheet pan oil the top of dough ball cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge for 2 4 days Remove from the fridge and flatten into a disk Add desired toppings and bake in a preheated wood fired oven ideally with a temperature of 750 850 F for ninety seconds turning frequently In regular oven use a pizza stone and bake at 500 F Bake until cooked through Over 40 Kawartha Dairy Ice Cream Flavours Chocolates Candies and Retro Sweets Rick s Buttertarts Muskoka Roastery Coffee Vegan and Kosher Treats ES D T 1 9 37 A I R Y 705 646 9079 chocolatemargaret bell net 1 95 Manitoba Street Downtown Bracebridge Across from the Post Office www mommabears biz THERE S A TILLEY FOR EVERY OCCASION Spread dough on a pan and top with sauce Arrange pepperoni slices on pizza Sprinkle mushrooms and caramelized onions on pizza Top with slices of fresh bocconcini Bake in oven until top is golden Remove from heat Garnish with basil leaf and serve Chef s tips Add fresh basil Giles uses it both in the sauce and as garnish It wakes up the taste buds says Pay attention something good is coming he explains Choose type of mushrooms to taste Giles uses equal portions of portabella and button When shaping the dough don t touch the edge to let it rise 28 MANITOBA STREET BRACEBRIDGE 705 637 0204 July 2019 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 71
Muskoka Moments Memories of arriving in Muskoka By Rob Purves 72 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2019 old style Country and Western conjures up memories of sawdust and fresh varnish in Herb s shop and a fulsome lunch Next along the way was the glorious view out to Lake Muskoka very near the roadway by Church Dock Road which was the first panoramic view of a Muskoka lake on the entire trip If it was still light you could develop a weather forecast by seeing the lake condition and sky at sunset and whether or not the boathouse doors were open on the point The final milestone was Brandy Creek and Lake and then the Buttler farms and the red barn that has remained unchanged forever In early spring the field behind the red barn would flood while in fall it would be golden with the stubs of harvested hay Just to the north of Brandy Lake was where we cottage so we were so close Today with all of the modern conveniences and comfortable vehicles the trip to Muskoka isn t as unique as it was but remembering the high points of the trip in one s formative years is to be cherished especially while the helicopters rattle your windows during your afternoon nap Photograph When is that moment you know you have finally made it up from the city and arrived in Muskoka regardless of where your cottage might be or how much further you have to go For many who drive up Highway 11 it s the crossing of the Severn River and the immediate appearance of stands of white pines atop granite outcroppings For some it s earlier a stop at Weber s just to the south For others it s the bridge over the South Muskoka River or the iconic silver bridge in Bracebridge For me whose first recollections of the trip up from the city began seven decades ago it occurs at various points along Highway Muskoka 118 long before all of the straightening and widening and rock cuts at points between Bracebridge and the Brackenrig Road formerly The Port Carling Road the Windermere Road and supremely bureaucratically once labeled Muskoka 25 when the District was formed It wasn t very close to Bracebridge a fairly mundane trip through some pretty good farm country not unlike the countryside of the south It sometime happened at the curved approach to Aston Villa the wonderful resort built by Jack Kaye where we had stayed a number of times before we became cottagers So smitten with the architecture was my father that the family cottage was built by Jack s brother and used the same Taliesinian style and the ovolo identical redwood window frames Next it sometimes came at Greer s B A Garage and diner which was located across from the current post office in Milford Bay Greer s stayed open late on Fridays for the cottagers to fuel up after the three hour trip north and more often than not to dine on the best hamburgers anywhere at the time Sometimes it was as we passed the driveways to Riley s Marina and Herb Budd s just south of the Butter and Egg Road Riley s was where our 1935 MinettShields Fancy Lady received its first engine tune up as a member of the Purves Family Herb Budd was the most esteemed wooden boat refinisher at the time for upper Lake Muskoka and lower Lake Rosseau and refinished her a number of times before his retirement Beside his home Herb had a brick workshop up at the at the top of a short marine railway coming from the lake behind Tondern Island The shop had a wonderful coal fired furnace in the back His assistant was his son Aud and his woodworker was Bob Pridday who eventually opened a shop of his own which is continued by his son Bayliss It was here that I first heard country music which was played on a massive RCA radio on a workbench Many a time in the 50s when we would drop in for a visit we would be invited into the house for a wonderful noon meal prepared by Mrs Budd for Herb and whomever was around the shop the music continued in the house and for me today The Purves family are in the fourth generation of cottaging at Brackenrig Lake Rosseau Rob is Honorary Commodore of the Muskoka Lakes Association as was his father Bob When he was immediate Past President of the MLA Rob was a founder of The Muskoka Conservancy having been its president for its first 10 years and remains an interested honorary director As well as Muskoka environment and classic boats he enjoys the game of golf and is eagerly anticipating shooting his age sometime
