The Cottages On Main Street - Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation

The Cottages
On
Main Street
Dorset, Ontario
Compiled and edited by
Paul Dillenberger
The Cottages on Main Street
Dorset, Ontario
INTRODUCTION
Heading south, the road that passes by the Dorset Community
Center and Robinsonǯs General Store, goes over the old bridge,
–Š‡’ƒ••‡•„›ƒ‡‘ˆƒ›•ƒ”‹‡—•‡—ǡ‰‘‡•—’Dz‹ŽŽ‹ŽŽǡdz
a†…‘–‹—‡•’ƒ•––Š‡‘”•‡–
ƒ”ƒ‰‡‹•‘™ƒ•Dzƒ‹–”‡‡–Ǥdz
It is also known as Rte. 39. It used to be the only road that went
through Dorset (before the Hwy. 35 bypass). At that time, Main
Street consisted of the end of Hwy. 118 (renamed Hwy. 117)
and part of the Bobcaygeon Road (later the old Hwy. 35). At the
southern most part of Main Street (past the Dorset Garage), is a
string of cottages along the shore of Trading Bay just outside
the village of Dorset. Many of those cottages, due to their
proš‹‹–› –‘ Dz†‘™–‘™dz ‘”•‡–ǡ ƒ”‡ ƒ‘‰ –Š‡ ˜‡”› ˆ‹”•–
cottages on Lake of Bays. This booklet is about those cottages.
First you will be introduced to
the history of the village of
Dorset,
many
of
whose
businesses operated on Main
Street. Then four cottages on
Main Street will be featured,
each with a unique story, related
in a unique style. Throughout
the booklet, you will notice
common references to places
and people. It is hoped that you
will enjoy learning about this
‡Ž‡‡–‘ˆ‘”•‡–ǯ•”‹…ŠŠ‹•–‘ry.
HISTORY OF DORSET
- Written by Michael Woodside
‘”•‡– Šƒ• „‡‡ ƒ”‘—† ˆ‘” “—‹–‡ •‘‡–‹‡Ǥ – ™ƒ•ǯ–
always called Dorset, nor were many of the local Dz•’‘–•dz around
the village called what they are called today. In the days of
Zachariah Cole, back in the mid-nineteenth century, Dorset was
called Cedar Narrows, so-called because squirrels could jump
from one side of the narrows to the other by way of the dense
stands of cedars lining the shallow waters. Carts and horses
could easily ford the narrows, and planks were placed down for
pedestrians. When the dam went in at Baysville early in the
20th century, Cedar Narrows became much wider and deeper,
more like the narrows are today.
Across Trading Bay was Bummers Roost, which is now part of
the ƒ””‘™•‘ƒ†ǤŠ‹ŽŽ‹’ǯ•ƒ›™ƒ•–Š‡•ƒŽŽ‡”„ƒ›–‘–Š‡‡ƒ•–
named after the first Postmaster, George Phillips, but gradually
„‡…ƒ‡ ‘™ ƒ• ‘Š›…ƒ‡ ƒ› —–‹Ž –Š‡ ͳͻͷͲǯ•Ǥ Š‹• ™ƒ•
apparently as a result of the impoverished first settlers who
could only grow corn in the Muskoka soil. Down at the end of
this bay, ‘™ …ƒŽŽ‡† ‹––Ž‡ ”ƒ†‹‰ ƒ›ǡ ™ƒ• Š”‹‰Ž‡›ǯ• ”‹†‰‡
spanning the Hollow River, and named after J. B. Shrigley, who
ran the first lumber mill in 1874. At the corner of the bay was
Red-Eyed Wiggler Corner, named so because an elderly settler,
who had a deep love for strong drink, kept his whisky bottles in
earth or snow banks and wiggled them out when required.
Zach Cole changed the name of Cedar Narrows to Colebridge in
1879, but it was discovered that there was already a Colebridge
in Ontario; so to accommodate the installation of a Post Office,
Colebridge was changed to Dorset in 1883. Dorset is an
abbreviation of Dorsetshire, England, in which there is the town
of Sherbourne, the name of one of the Dorset area townships.
Zach had a 17-ƒ…”‡ ’”‘’‡”–› ™Š‡”‡ ‘„‹•‘ǯ• ‡‡”ƒŽ –‘”‡
and the LCBO are today. Part of the Bobcaygeon Road ran
through his property, and he named it Cole Street. As well as
building his home here, he built a small hotel named The
Colebridge. It is sometimes conjectured that the LCBO did not
arrive in Dorset until the mid 1960s as a result of what might
have transpired on a Saturday night at The Colebridge, not to
mention what the Dzgoings-ondz might have been across the
ƒ””‘™• ƒ– –Š‡ ‘–Š‡” –™‘ Š‘–‡Ž•Ǥ —•– —’ –Š‡ •–”‡‡–ǡ ƒ •–‘‡ǯ•
throw from the Colebridge, was the village jail, which remained
–Š‡”‡—–‹Ž–Š‡ͳͻʹͲ•Ǥ
‡‘”‰‡—––‘’‡‡†‘”•‡–ǯ•ˆ‹”•–‰‡‡”ƒŽ
store b›Š‡‘Ž‡„”‹†‰‡‘ƒ…Š‘Ž‡ǯ•’”‘’‡”–›„‡Š‹†–‘†ƒ›ǯ•
LCBO. While farming was a major activity in the summer
months, trapping and logging were the occupations in the
winter months. In areas to the north, logs would come down
the Oxtongue River from Algonquin Park and floated down Lake
of Bays to Baysville and the South Muskoka River. Otherwise,
logs would come down from Kawagama Lake to Raven Lake and
the Black River and then on to Washago and the Severn River
system. In 1894, Angus McKay built a second lumber mill on
Harvey Avenue. The Gilmour Tramway was built in order to
send lumber directly to south-central Ontario; it was gradually
abandoned as the age of logging slowly came to an end and
tourism began to take over.
In 1871 Charles Drake built a second hotel on the south side of
the narrows where the Trading Bay Dining Company now
resides. This early hotel evolved into the red-brick, three-story
Hotel Dorset, after burning down in 1907. It had wooden
balconies on three sides of the first two floors. Since then it has
gone through several transformations, including going from
hotel to restaurant. Another hotel was erected across the street
from the Hotel Dorset. It was originally called the Alvira House
ƒˆ–‡” –Š‡ ‘™‡”ǯ• ™‹ˆ‡ǡ —‹…‡ Ž˜‹”ƒǤ Later, it was called the
ƒ‘•‡›‘ ‘–‡Ž ȋDz‰‘‘† Š‘—•‡dzȌ „—– —ˆ‘”–—ƒ–‡Ž›ǡ ‹– „—”‡†
down in 1927.
‡”‡‹ƒŠ Žƒ›–‘ „‘—‰Š– ‡‘”‰‡ —––ǯ• •–‘”‡ ƒ…”‘•• –Š‡ „”‹†‰‡
on the north side in 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Fred McKey also built a
•–‘”‡‘ƒ…Šƒ”‹ƒŠ‘Ž‡ǯ•’”‘’erty (after his death). However,
when Fred McKey died, his wife married Harry Robinson, and in
1921, the McKey store became the now famous Robinsonǯs
General Store.
Dorset in the early days
Hotel Dorset (center left) Ȃ The Alvira (center right) Ȃ Žƒ›–‘ǯ•ƒ”‹ƒ
(center) Ȃ Burk & Avery (right of Hotel Dorset) - The Iroquois Steamboat is
docked in front of the Alvira.
There were many stores that came and went on the south side,
‹…Ž—†‹‰ ƒ †”—‰ •–‘”‡ ‘ ƒ Š‹ŽŽ Œ—•– —’ ˆ”‘ –‘†ƒ›ǯ• Ž† ‹ŽŽ
ƒ”‹ƒǤ Š‡ •ƒŽŽ ”‹•‡ ‹ –Š‡ ”‘ƒ† …ƒ‡ –‘ „‡ ‘™ ƒ• Dz‹ŽŽ
‹ŽŽǤdzŠ‡Žƒ›–‘•–‘”‡™ƒ•’—”…Šƒ•‡†‹ͳͻʹʹƒ†Šƒ†•‡˜‡”ƒŽ
previous owners dating back to 1879 when Tomas Ball owned
it. Jack Clayton (and later, his son John Clayton) operated
Claytonǯs General Store until 1995. The Post Office was located
in this store until 1964 when a new Post Office was built across
the street. Rafters and Oh Buoy! Take Out are now located in
the old Žƒ›–‘ǯ• –‘”‡Ǥ There were other stores as well.
’ƒ”ǯ• –‘”‡ was established in 1899, where the Trading Bay
Dining Company parking lot is located today. It became the
Cassidy & Sparks store, which burned down in 1907, was
rebuilt, then sold to Charles Burk and became the Burk & Avery
store; it burned down in 1944.
The Dock in Dorset - 1985
Pictured: Jack Clayton (center right), Robert McLaughlin (lower right) and
Paul Dillenberger and his son, Timothy (walking toward the steamboat)
There are several other structures of note, which add to
‘”•‡–ǯ• ”‹…Š ƒ† ˜ƒ”‹‡† Š‹•–‘”›Ǥ Š‡ ‘”•‡– ‹”‡ ‘™‡” ™ƒ•
erected in 1922, but its status and purpose formally changed in
1967 when it was rebuilt and changed to a 100-foot
observation tower. Today it is a popular tourist destination.
The Lake of Bays Marine Museum which now provides a home
base for the newly renovated Bigwin ferry and a Lake of Bays
souvenir emporium, used to be a marina operated by the
Žƒ›–‘ˆƒ‹Ž›™Š‘ƒŽ•‘‘™‡†ƒ†‘’‡”ƒ–‡†Žƒ›–‘ǯ•
‡‡”ƒŽ
Store next door. Prior to that, in the days of steamer
transportation on the lake, the Lake of Bays Navigation Co. used
steamers in the summer months to deliver mail and to ferry
passengers to Dorset from around Lake of Bays. The steamer
Iroquois would dock in the narrows overnight, while the
captain and crew would sleep in the upstairs of the Marina.
Today Dorset is a bustling and vibrant little community with
much to offer residents and tourists alike. On long holiday
weekends in the summer, it is often standing room only in the
little village, with boats galore, divers on the bridge, great
shopping and wonderful sunsets by Bummers Roost.
- Written by Paul Dillenberger
This article is about Point Sibylla, that magical place, located
somewhere in Canada. In my world as a child, I remember
hopping into the backseat of the car at our home in New Jersey.
Many hours later, after fighting with my brother, traveling on
Route 11 (then a two-lane, two-way road) in heavy traffic, and
experiencing that long, windy roller coaster ride on Hwy. 118
(now Hwy 117), we'd pull into the driveway of the cottage.
That driveway, which is probably 50 metres in length, seemed
like it was a mile long. Finally, after what seemed to be forever,
I could see the backside of the cottage. As soon as the car
stopped, we would all jump out and run down to the lake. And
sure enough, in my excitement and like it was on cue, I would
fall off the dock, fully dressed, into the shallow water, a yearly
experience for me. This of course occurred when I was a young
kid in the 1950s. In the 1960s, my teenage years, the routine
changed. We would first stop at Lake of Bays Marine (now
Pride of Lake of Bays) to pick up the boat. I was allowed to
drive the boat to our boathouse, while my mother would drive
the car to the cottage. In any case, arriving at the cottage was a
very special experience for me. And now in my sixties, I still get
excited driving down that "long" driveway for the first time
each summer season. My brother and I now get along; Hwy. 11
is a major freeway; the roller coaster road has been
straightened making the trip half as long; we wait a few days to
pick up the boat; and miraculously I remain on the dock as I
view the water for the first time. Point Sibylla, named after my
great grandmother (her middle name was Sibylla), is a point of
land located just outside the village of Dorset, Ontario on
Trading Bay, part of Lake of Bays. The cottage was built in 1910
at the direction of my great grandfather, Daniel B. Stumpf, a
holistic doctor from Buffalo, New York. He was a fisherman
who loved to head north to the lakes of Ontario for his fishing
trips. He discovered Lake of Bays and fell in love with the area.
The story goes that he stood in the town of Dorset and walked
along the shore until he stopped at a point of land where a
brook babbled into the lake. He decided to buy that piece of
land. To the best of my recollection, records in Bracebridge
show that he purchased the spot for $500 in 1908. He had the
cottage built on a hill where the land drops down to a flat area
by the water. When one enters the cottage from the back, one
enters at ground level. As one moves through the cottage to the
front (lakeside), one ends up on a covered porch, which is 12
feet off the ground. The cottage had two bedrooms, a cedar
paneled living room, a kitchen with a pantry, and a toolroom.
The cottage also had an attic which spanned the entire cottage
including the porch; it was livable due to the three dormers
Daniel B. Stumpf
Louise Sibylla Stumpf
located on the roof. A wood shed and what we called the
greenhouse (a two seater outhouse) were also built. Water was
pumped from the brook up to the house using a hand pump in
the kitchen. Water was boiled and cooled by placing pitchers in
the brook. All lighting was through the use of oil lamps and
candles. To create a sense of privacy the boathouse was built
away from the point, thus creating a space between the two, out
of sight of any neighbors. My great grandfather had rocks
brought in (probably in the winter) to create a reef where
waves would break. This created an area that was calm
between the reef and the shore. My great grandfather planted
lily pads is this area. I can remember those lily pads being there
when I was a child. They have since disappeared. Higher water
levels now cover those rocks, and they are only visible when the
lake is lowered in the fall. There is a story about my father
driving the boat over those rocks, having gone too close to
shore. After pulling the outboard motor off the boat, one could
see the lower half of the motor was hanging from a single wire
attached to the upper half.
The kitchen was elongated with an addition in the 1930s. My
father (John Dillenberger) added electricity in the 1950s and
plumbing in the 1960s. It was pretty exciting to have a
bathroom and a hot shower after so many years of "roughing
it." In the 1970s it became apparent that the cottage was not
level. If you placed a ball anywhere in the cottage, it would roll
somewhere. My stepfather (Warren Tuthill) and uncle (R. H.
Giles) discovered that the cottage was literally hanging off the
chimney. Cedar posts supporting the cottage had rotted. To fix
the problem, my step-father spent the next 10 years or so
replacing those posts one by one. He used a jack (known as
Jack's jack) borrowed from Jack Clayton, owner of Clayton's
General Store and Marina. He was so involved with this project
that he had names for each of the posts, the main ones being the
King and Queen posts. Of course doors and windows had to be
adjusted to accommodate the new posts. The family has my
stepfather to thank for saving the cottage from falling over into
the front lawn.
In the 2000s, my brother (Eric Dillenberger) and I decided that
it was time to put a real foundation under the cottage. We
decided to dig out the hill and put in a winterized basement.
That project took several years; some of the work was hired out
and some we did ourselves. We added another bathroom, a
laundry area, two bedrooms, a living room and a kitchenette.
The kitchenette is still not complete. The basement has a
walkout with a view of the lake. It was important to us to
preserve the 100 year old part of the cottage, so we matched
the outer decor of the basement to the rest of the cottage as
best as we could. The basement houses a 100-year-old piano
that was hauled from New Jersey. The piano was a wedding gift
to my grandparents. It seems that a 100-year-old cottage is an
appropriate place for a 100-year-old piano.
Point Sibylla has a 100-year history as a family cottage. My
great grandfather had two sons (Elmer and Norman Stumpf)
and two daughters (Alice and Irma Stumpf). He paid for his two
sons to go to college and gave the cottage to his two daughters,
one of whom (Alice) was my grandmother. My grandmother
had four children (Walter, Hilde, Alice and Elsa Lohans), one of
whom was my mother (Hilde). As generations passed,
ownership became split between many people. My parents
purchased our relatives' shares; at this time, my brother and I
own the cottage. My mother had spent all but three or four
summers of her 89 years at the cottage. I have spent all but
three or four summers of my life (I am 63 years old) at the
cottage. My children (Michael and Timothy Dillenberger)
continue to come to the cottage on a regular basis as well.
There is a crib, highchair and child-sized table and chairs in our
attic that were used by my mother, myself, and my two sons.
The cottage is a constant in our varying lives.
Above is the oldest picture (circa 1910) of the cottage, probably taken soon
after it was built. Note the stairs protruding from the center of the porch. If
you look closely, you will see relatives, from three generations ago, posing
on the stairs. The cottage is held up by cedar posts, which are covered by
wooden mesh that surrounds them. Below is the cottage about 100 years
later. Note that the stairs were taken down and rebuilt (not visible in this
picture) on the side. In 2003, the posts supporting the cottage were
replaced by a new foundation and basement, providing new winterized
living space and preserving the 100-year-old part of the cottage.
My great grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Stumpf, are pictured in the photo
above. You can see the back of our cottage (before the addition of an
extended kitchen and bathroom) in the left side of the photo. Pictured below
is the same scene some 90 years later.
At my mother's funeral, my aunts (Alice Braun & Elsa Giles)
shared what life at the cottage was like when they were
growing up (in the 1920s and 1930s). Here is their account:
"Every summer we traveled north to the family place at Dorset, Ontario,
which was the most beloved place of our childhood--and remained so for
Hilde, who went there almost every summer for the rest of her life. There,
along with cousins Jackie and Audrey, and Canadian neighbor Margaret, we
swam at least twice a day. We played croquet, badminton and volleyball on
the lawn. We rowed the old red rowboat around the lake to Paint Creek and
hiked up to Lost Lake where we skinny-dipped.
Everyday we walked a mile to town (actually it is less than a mile) for the
ƒ‹Žƒ–Žƒ›–‘ǯ•and got our milk-’ƒ‹Ž•ˆ‹ŽŽ‡†ƒ–”•Ǥ‘ŽŽƒ”ǯ•ˆƒ”Ǥ•–‡ƒ†
of a refrigerator we had a box in the creek to keep things cool. We hiked past
–‘™–‘–Š‡Dz–‹…ƒdzˆ‘”‡•–”ƒ‰‡”ǯ•Ž‘‘‘—–ƒ†…Ž‹„‡†–‘–Š‡–‘’™Š‡”‡™‡
could see for miles. Evenings we ’Žƒ›‡†Ž‹…Šǡdz’‘‘ˆdzƒ†’‡‹•ƒ––Š‡
dining table under the Tiffany oil lamp. Sometimes there were plays at the
Grange Hall.
‡ˆ‘”‡ ‡Ž‡…–”‹…‹–› ƒ† ’Ž—„‹‰ ™‡ Šƒ† ƒ Dz‰”‡‡ Š‘—•‡dz ‘—– „ƒ… Ȃ our
ƒƒ†‹ƒ‡‹‰Š„‘”•–Š‡…ƒŽŽ‡†–Š‡‹”•–Š‡Dz™Š‹–‡ Š‘—•‡ǤdzŠ‡‰‡‡”‘—•…‘‘
stove in the kitchen was for cooking as well as heat. The living room had a
fireplace. A major project for our father every summer was cutting and
stacking firewood."
My mother, Hilde (on the right) and her two sisters, Elsa & Alice
in the early 1930s
Croquet on the lawn
The rock is more under water now than in 1926
Myself and my brother (Eric) in 1952 (left) and our two sons
(Michael & Ben) at approximately the same age in 1981
Not much has changed over the years. When you look at old
photos, things look pretty much the same: the deer head, the
model boat, the trout on the wall, the Bigwin Inn banner, the
lantern from my great grandfather's boat, the kitchen, even
the furniture. One area of the cottage that went through
some minor changes is the porch. The original cottage had a
side porch (pictured in the bottom right of the first picture
below) that led to the front porch, which had a steep set of
stairs running from the center of the porch to the lawn below.
The side porch rotted away and was removed. The steep
stairs were removed and new safer stairs were built on the
side of the porch.
The porch in the early days (above) and 100 years later (below)
Pictured above is the living room as it appeared in the early part of the 20 th century.
Below is the same living room in the mid-20th century. Below that is the living room
today. The pipe holder on the left side and the knick-knack holder on the right side
of the fireplace remain, as does the built-in cedar chest (on the bottom right) and the
cedar paneling throughout. When my grandfather, Hermann Lohans (pictured
below), returned from India as a missionary, he added the leopard skin (upper left)
and the alligator tail (hanging from the center of the mantel). At some point, the
bricks were painted red and the mortar painted black. On the mantel today, you can
see a photo portrait of my great grandparents.
Above is a photo of the kitchen
extension as it looked in 1941.
On the left side of the
photograph, you can see a hand
pump, used to draw water
from the brook. At the right is
the same view today. As you
can see, not that much has
changed. An oil lamp above the
table has been replaced by an
electric light. The table in the
back is still used today. The
linoleum floor has been
painted, but the pattern is
exposed in the bottom center
of the photo. Faucets and
modern
plumbing
have
replaced the hand pump.
Water is now drawn from the
lake rather than the brook,
probably due to pollution
created by construction of the
Hwy. 35 Dorset bypass.
Above: Adding the foundation and basement in 2003
Below: The cottage as it appears today in 2013
View of cottage and boathouse from the lake
circa Ȃ 1910
My great-grandmother, grandparents, and
uncle are sitting on the shore.
View of cottage (behind the trees) and boathouse from the lake
circa - 2010
My great-grandmother, Louise Sibylla Stumpf, on Point Sibylla with the
Iroquois steamboat headed into Dorset in the early 20th century
My wife, Suzanne, and her mother, Helen Benninger
by Point Sibylla in the early 21st century
The beauty of the area and the connection to the past keep us
coming back to Dorset, year after year, regardless of where we
live. Currently, we travel from Minnesota. My son, who just
moved to California, still travels to the cottage. My brother
visits the cottage from Oregon. We continue to enjoy the
experience--the beautiful sunsets, the call of the loon, the
hummingbirds that visit year after year, visiting with family and
friends, reading, solving crosswords and sudokus on the porch,
walking to town, boating, swimming, fishing, water skiing,
playing games, croquet on the lawn, gardening, sitting on the
back porch--and most of all, relaxing. I am hopeful that family
will continue to enjoy the cottage for the next 100 years and
will consider our photos to be their "old photos."
The Stumpf Cottage
Dr. Daniel B. Stumpf, great grandfather
of Charles E. Stumpf, visited Dorset in
the early 1900s in search of available
property for a summer cottage. Daniel
was born in Elmira, Ontario in 1856, but
resided in Buffalo, New York. While
visiting the beautiful country, he stayed
at the Alvira Hotel in the village of
Dorset. Daniel and family liked the town
so much that they later bought adjoining
land and summered in Dorset after
looking at several other locations. In 1910, Dr. Daniel B. Stumpf
built a cottage on that land and named it Point Sibylla (featured
‡ƒ”Ž‹‡” ‹ –Š‹• „‘‘Ž‡–ȌǤ ‹Ž†‡ —–Š‹ŽŽǯ• •‘•ǡ ”‹… ƒ† ƒ—Ž
‹ŽŽ‡„‡”‰‡”ǡ‘™‘™ –Šƒ–…‘––ƒ‰‡Ǥ‹Ž†‡ ™ƒ•‘‡‘ˆƒ‹‡Žǯ•
grandchildren.
In 1928, Marion Stumpf, wife of Elmer Stumpf, who was one of
ƒ‹‡Žǯ••‘•ǡ’—”…Šƒ•‡†ƒ‘–Š‡”’”‘’‡”–›ǡŒ—•––™‘’”‘’‡”–‹‡•
down the lake from Point Sibylla. This property was purchased
from Erastus Lockman, who lived in the now yellow house
ȋˆ‘”‡”Ž› –Š‡ Dz
‹Ž‘—” ˆˆ‹…‡ —‹Ž†‹‰dzȌ ‡ƒ” –Š‡ ‘”•‡–
Garage. Marion was a Canadian who travelled north as a little
‰‹”Ž–‘ƒ––‡†ƒ‰‹”Ž•ǯ…ƒ’ǤŠ‡Šƒ†Š‡ƒ”†‘ˆƒ‡‘ˆƒ›•ƒ†
dreamt of having a cottage on its shore. It was Marion who
suggested Lake of Bays to Daniel Stumpf. The construction of
the main Stumpf cottage began in 1929. Marion was the
designer. The builder was John Booker, who lived a few
hundred feet toward Dorset from –Š‡’”‘’‡”–›ǯ• gate. While the
…‘––ƒ‰‡ ™ƒ• „‡‹‰ „—‹Ž–ǡ ƒ”‹‘ ƒ† Ž‡”ǯ• •‘ǡ ‘„‡”– —•‡†
some of the scraps for furniture. One of his small tables is still
used today.
On the upper left is the
cottage as it appeared
soon after it was built.
On the lower left is the
cottage many years
later. One can see the
addition
that
was
annexed in 1966 on the
right side of the cottage.
Above is a picture of
Robert Stumpf sitting
on the porch as it was
being built.
’‘ƒ”‹‘ǯ•†‡ƒ–Š‹ͳͻ͵ʹǡ–Š‡’”‘’‡”–›™‡––‘Š‡”Š—•„ƒ†ǡ
Dr. Elmer H. Stumpf. Electricity was installed in 1948 at which
time the original refrigerator was purchased; that refrigerator
”‡ƒ‹• ‹ –Š‡ …‘––ƒ‰‡ –‘ –Š‹• †ƒ›Ǥ Ž‡”ǯ• ‰”ƒ†•‘ǡ Šƒ”Ž‡•ǡ
remembers how the iceman used to walk down the steep hill
twice a week to deliver ‹…‡–‘–Š‡…‘––ƒ‰‡Ǥˆ–‡”Ž‡”ǯ•†‡ƒ–Š‹
1965, the property was transferred to his son, Robert C. Stumpf.
In 1966, a modern addition was added to the cottage, while
maintaining the original structure from 1929. The addition
included two modest bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a kitchen.
Robert C. Stumpf passed away in 1996. Charles and Sanda
Stumpf now own the property with 87 feet of lake frontage.
Charles is the son of Robert and Lucille Stumpf.
Charles Stumpf, as well as his parents, were brought up in
Buffalo, NY, and would make the trip up north every year. He
remembers how the cottage was quite small and he would sleep
on a cot next to the kitchen. As the children grew older and
Robert and Lucille moved to South Carolina, the family would
meet every two or three years. Robert and Lucille then moved to
—”‘’‡ƒ†–Š‡…‘––ƒ‰‡„‡…ƒ‡–Š‡ˆƒ‹Ž›ǯ•‡‡–‹‰’‘‹–‹–Š‡
summers. The cottage was insulated and paneled in the early
2000s to allow for family members to bear the cold nights.
Carpet was also put into the cottage to cover the wood floors.
The prior tool shed is now used as a laundry room. The original
boathouse remains but the dock has been replaced. The original
cottage foundation was made up of tree stumps and rocks.
Concrete blocks were placed under the cottage later for extra
support; however, the floor is not level. Charles says that the
—‡˜‡ˆŽ‘‘”Dz‰‹˜‡•–Š‡…‘––ƒ‰‡…Šƒ”ƒ…–‡”ǤdzŠ‡›ƒŽ•‘Šƒ†ƒŽƒ”‰‡
stone fireplace, which was sitting on a rounded rock. When
Highway 117 was being blasted, it began to tilt. The fireplace
was then strapped to the house but that pulled on the house.
Finally, that fireplace, which Robert Stumpf helped to build by
hand, rock by rock, had to be taken down.
The cottage was originally green. It is now white with a light
blue trim and a red steel roof. A red steel roof was also put on
the boathouse in 1990 to prevent leaking. They used to have an
old Peterborough boat with wood at the front and back. They
also had a fold-up boat, which unfortunately, sank. Next to the
boathouse, there is a beautiful natural sand beach, thought to be
created by the crib of the boathouse blocking the water,
preventing erosion. Thirty feet out into the lake, there is a drop
off.
There used to be a freshwater spring running down the length
of where the driveway is today, but it has dried up over the
years. They used to scoop water from the spring. Charles
Stumpf remembers that his job as a little boy was to reel out a
300-foot wire up the hill so that the family could receive radio
transmission for entertainment. Even with the wire, reception
was extremely weak.
The Peterborough boat
docked in Dorset
The boathouse
in the early days
Boating at the boathouse
Note the sandy beach in the
background.
Marion Stumpf and her two
sons Harry and Robert
relaxing on the porch
(circa 1931)
The Stumpf Clan
circa 1930
back row left to right:
Elmer and Marion
Stumpf, Louise Sibylla
Stumpf, Harry Stumpf,
Daniel B. Stumpf, Walter
Lohans, Alice Lohans, &
Robert Stumpf
Front row (left to right):
Elsa, Alice, and Hilde
Lohans
The cottage was originally 20 by 20 feet with a loft that
contained two bedrooms, hidden from view by curtains. The
loft used to bounce when walking on it, but extra support was
added for safety. Most recently, a foundation has been built
under the cottage. The Stumpf cottage has a very characteristic
charm with many old tools and paraphernalia kept for
memories and historical allure.
Oil painting
by
Toronto
artist
Carol
Anne
Palmer
in 2000
CHETOLAH LODGE
Dzdz
Written by Tara Gilchrist
Construction of the
main lodge with
stone fireplaces
and two-sided
porch
DzChetolahdz translates to Dzhaven of restdz in Cherokee and is very
well suited. It is believed that the name came from the original
owner, Mr. H. E. Wadsworth, from New York. It is thought that
construction began in 1927 and was completed in 1929. The
exact dates of land purchase and buildings are unknown but
stories of the property and its owners are countless. Luckily
some photos survive of the construction of the log buildings.
Electricity had yet to make it to Dorset when Wadsworth
arrived in 1927 so he paid half the cost to make it so. By 1931,
hydro lines had been run from Bracebridge.
It is evident
through piles of catalogues, receipts and machinery that having
proper woodworking and metalworking was important to
Wadsworth. Many of the saws and drills currently remain in
working order in the tool shed today.
Š‡–‘ŽƒŠ Š‹Ž†”‡ǯ• ”‡•Š ‹” ƒ’ ™ƒ• …”‡ƒ–‡† ƒ† ‘’‡”ƒ–‡†
‘–Š‡’”‘’‡”–›ˆ‘”‘Ž›ƒˆ‡™›‡ƒ”•‹–Š‡‡ƒ”Ž›ͳͻ͵Ͳǯ•Ǥ‹––Ž‡‹•
known about the camp but it is believed to have been for kids
from the Dorset area. Documents still kept in a desk on the
’”‘’‡”–› Š‘Ž† ‘”‹‰‹ƒŽ Ž‡––‡”Š‡ƒ† ™‹–Š –Š‡ …ƒ’ǯ• ƒ‡ ƒŽ‘‰
with the names of children that attended. Mini golf, tennis, lawn
bowling and swimming were among the many activities the
children enjoyed.
The second owner, Mr. Homer C. Selby Sr. (1880-1959) owned
the massive Selby Shoe Company in Portsmouth, Ohio. It is not
known the exact year Homer Sr., his wife Lola, two sons Homer
Jr. and G.D. (George) took ownership of the property.
earliest documentation begins in 1941.
The
There are many
…‘Ž‘—”ˆ—Ž•–‘”‹‡•‘ˆ–Š‡ˆƒ‹Ž›ǯs speed boats that used to race
each other on the lake. A long waterfront cabin commonly
referred to as the Dzmoteldz no longer exists but is said to have
housed the numerous servants. The brothers had their own
small planes that they used to get between their home in Ohio
and Chetolah. Many letters found in the desk are from Homer
Jr.ǯ• ™‹ˆ‡ ƒ‡– ”‡ƒ—ˆǤ Š‡› –‡ŽŽ •–‘”‹‡• ‘ˆ –Š‡‹” ‘ˆ–‡ Ž‘‰
distance love between Portsmouth and Dorset.
Winter fun
Wadsworth had a large wooden ramp built that was positioned
†‘™ –‘ –Š‡ ™ƒ–‡”ǯ• ‡†‰‡ ˆ‘” …Š‹Ž†”‡ –‘ –‘„‘‰‰ƒ ‘Ǥ – ™ƒ•
great fun for some time, but when Marcela Mckay (Barry)
broke her arm on the ride, it was time to take the ramp down
ˆ‘”•ƒˆ‡–›ǯ••ƒ‡Ǥ
Property
Divided
Just to the left of
these buildings is
where the
current property
line is drawn.
The cabin closest
in the image was
added onto
sometime in the
1940s to
establish what
the tool shed is
today.
Wages Chart
A book containing
many local
tradesmen names,
their trade and
hours worked are
recorded. It is
believed that
these are the
documents for
much of the
construction of
the buildings on
the property.
Mrs. Lola Selby survived her husband Homer Sr., but when she
died in 1965, Chetolah was inherited by sons, Homer Jr. and
G.D. Selby. Local cottage owner John Fauquier managed his
ˆƒ‹Ž›ǯ• Š‘–‡Ž ƒ† „ƒ” DzThe Rockdz just south of Huntsville in
1966 and 1967.
He remembers Homer and Janet well.
Dz‹–Š‘—– ˆƒ‹Žǡ –Š‡› ȋ‘‡” ƒ† ƒ‡–Ȍ ™‘—Ž† ƒ””‹˜‡ ƒ– ͳʹǣͶͷ
a.m. every evening from August through November for drinks
and conversation.
They would have been in their late 40s at
the time, and I remember they said they married late in life at
–Š‡‹†‡–‹…ƒŽƒ‰‡‘ˆͶʹǤdz
G.D. and his wife Joanne had a son named Steven. They would
spend each summer at the lodge. In 1985, Homer Jr. passed
away and Janet, G.D. and Joanne stopped visiting the property.
It sat dormant for some time and sadly nature took its course.
Several animals found homes within the many buildings. Many
locals still living around Dorset have reminisced about the
times they snuck peeks in and around the abandoned buildings.
Janet Freauf sold her half to Janet and Jamie Caskey in 1986.
G.D. Selby sold his half to Tec (Thomas) Hungerford in 1988.
The property was officially divided with the Caskey family
owning the larger south side of the two parcels. Later, the
Caskeys split the property again and sold a portion to John
Francis in 1996.
Mr. Hungerford was able to divide his parcel into three. The lot
he kept for himself held a garage and the old tennis court. The
lot closest to the north, with one small cabin on it, was sold to
Maurizio Romano in 1995.
Inside the lodge
photo credit Ȃ Kelly Hollingshead (2009)
Grand and toy rubber stamps still exist from 1932
Communication made
easy with
many
telephones
circa 1940s
Game Rules
The lot that sat between Hungerford and Romano is where the
main lodge sits today. It also contained a second log guest cabin
complete with bathroom, a long tool shed, an ice house,
photography darkroom cabin with adjoining sleeping quarters
as well as a covered boat slip at the remaining dock.
The Campbell family (Mark and Joanne) purchased the main
lodge property in 1991 and spent three years reclaiming the
property from the wildlife that had moved in. They tore down
some interior walls to open the space and kept the integrity of
the beautiful logs and all its furniture.
They hosted Dzwork
weekendsdz in which upwards of 20 people would lend helping
hands on the property while Joanne cooked huge pots of food
over the wood-fire Gurney stove. The Campbells loved the
property and respected its history, but it became evident that
four very young children and another family cottage on Lake
Kawagama made it difficult to pay the kind of attention the old
buildings needed. It was time to sell once again.
When the Gilchrist family, Tom and Scottie (Elizabeth),
purchased the property in the autumn of 1994, it was the
beginning of something incredibly special for the family and
buildings. The kitchen was opened up by removing part of a
wall where there had been two separate rooms with two Dzindz
and Dzoutdz doors. They also unhooked the old Gurney but still
use it for storage in the kitchen along with the original
Kalvinator icebox. During the first spring, the ice collapsed the
boathouse which was rebuilt on the same crib although it was
built on the shoreline to hopefully avoid future damage. The
The Lodge
Photo credit:
Tara Gilchrist
2004
windows were the only things able to be salvaged and used to
build the new boathouse.
The two little cabins just behind the kitchen that housed the
icehouse and photography darkroom had to be torn down but
many of the treasures inside them were saved.
Catalogues and drawings for the original furniture and lamps
live in the tool shed and the original armchairs and three seater
couch still sit prominently in the central room in the main
lodge. Most of the wicker baskets and chairs, Hudson Bay
blankets, curtains, lighting and bed frames are original.
Letterhead from Wadsworth, Selby and the Fresh Air Camp still
sit in the desk drawers as they have for decades. Love letters,
receipts, postcards, accounting books, telephone directory, and
photographs all still have their place around the desks as well.
The large metal box filled with newspapers (for starting fires)
next to the fireplace contain papers and magazines from the
1940s at the bottom of the pile. All of the labelled keys to the
Wadsworthsǯ suitcases and buidlings around the property still
hang in their cupboard at the front entrance. The moose head
with inscription of Dz1954dz hangs over the stone fireplace.
Š‡–‘ŽƒŠ™‘‡ǯ•‰‘Žˆƒ†•™‹‹‰–”‘’Š‹‡•, dated 1941, sit
on the mantle of the fireplaces as well.
Probably one of the best upgrades the Gilchrists completed
early on in their ownership was screening-in the lakeside
section of the porch.
During the summer, this is where
countless meals, card games, hanging out and even sleeps are
most memorable.
Originally, a large coal furnace was used along with the wood
fireplace to heat the lodge. Although it has been upgraded to an
oil burning furnace, the coal chutes and large amounts of coal
still remain in the basement.
Above: photo by Sam Allard
2012
Right: design plans for the light
fixtures used throughout the lodge
from the mid 1930s
The paint, turpentine, stains, oils and finishes all still sit in
original containers on the shelves in the tool shed. An old metal
forge suggests the creation of many of the metal fixtures
including lamps that are still on site. Antique saws, chisels,
jigsaws and boxes of nails all have their places in the tool shed
as well.
 –Š‡ •’”‹‰ ‘ˆ ʹͲͲ͹ǡ –Š‡ ‹Ž…Š”‹•–ǯ• †ƒ—‰Š–‡” ƒ”ƒ ‘˜‡† –‘
Chetolah to start her pottery business. Ever since her parents
bought the cottage when she was 13, she loved the idea of living
there.
After a few years she took the Chetolah name and
memory with her down Main Street to Harvey Avenue West to
expand her business and open Chetolah Pottery Studio.
It
™ƒ•ǯ– Ž‘‰ „‡ˆ‘”‡ Š‡” „”‘–Š‡” …‘–– ™ƒ• †”ƒ™ ‘”–Š; he
currently lives year round in the log guest cabin. He is an active
‡„‡”‘ˆ‘”•‡–ǯ•˜‘Ž—–‡‡”ˆ‹”‡†‡’ƒ”–‡–ƒ†„—‹Žt a yearround garage for wood and car projects. Now most weekends
are all about family as Tom and Scottie visit regularly from
Toronto.
Around 1999, Joanne Selby (wife of the late G.D. Selby) visited
the property and had an emotional experience. The curtains
she had made were still hanging in the windows. The moose
head over the stone fireplace, most of the furniture and even
the rowboat hanging from the ceiling as a light fixture were still
in place. She was truly able to step back in time.
Above and right:
construction of the log
style lodge
in 1927
Below: file folders for
various local businesses
LETTERHEAD FROM
THE EARLY DAYS
(LEFT)
Below: twisted boathouse and dock
Photo by Tom Gilchrist (1996)
As time passes, the Gilchrist
family
continues
to
fuse
Š‡–‘ŽƒŠǯ• rich past with the
present. The property has seen
countless holidays and precious
shared
moments.
In
the
beginning, the family had guests
visiting constantly; but as the
years press on, the invitations
have become fewer, to allow for
more relaxed visits. There are
still
constant
projects
and
chores; but after 80+ years, the
Above: interior of lodge
Photo by Kelly Hollingshead
(2009)
place is really growing into its
Below: winter view of
guest cabin
Photo by Sam Allard (2012)
Dzhaven of restǤdz
name.
Chetolah really is a
The Walsh (Roelofson/Richardson) Cottage
In the early 1900s, the original Richardson property
was divided into three separate lots; one was kept
by the Richardsons and the others were sold to the
Petersons (now owned by Forward) and the
Hollingworths (Fraser).
The three boathouses
pictured below are the boathouses for those three
properties.
ƒ‡ ƒŽ•Šǯ• ‘–Š‡” ™ƒ• ‹Ž†”‡† ‘‡Ž‘ˆ•‘ǡ ‡‡
‹…Šƒ”†•‘Ǥ ‹Ž†”‡†ǯ• ˆƒ–Š‡” ™ƒ• –Š‡ ‘”‹‰‹ƒŽ ˆƒ‹Ž›
owner of the property. In 1977, Mildred wrote her
memoirs regarding her experiences coming to Dorset
summer after summer. Her journeys to Dorset began in
1911 at the age of 7 years. The following pages contain
her stories, which go back as many as 66 years from the
time that she wrote them.
These rustic
stone steps
that lead
down to the
boathouse
were built by
‹Ž†”‡†ǯ•
husband,
father and
brother.
Later, her
son, Dick,
built the
railing.
I REMEMBER DORSET
By Mildred Roelofson (nee Richardson)
Written in 1977
I Remember
It was June 1911 that my Dad, Charles Frederick Richardson,
brought my mother Clara, my sister Rhoda, and me to Dorset for
the first time.
I am trying to recall, or inquire from Mother, the names of some of
the builders, carpenters, and stone masons who built this cottage.
The man who erected the walls was Jerry Loucks of Dorset who
worked for the government (Roads Department) but
Dz‘‘Ž‹‰Š–‡†dz ˆ‘” •‘‡ ‡š–”ƒ ™‘”Ǥ ‡ „—‹Ž– ƒ „‡ƒ—–‹ˆ—Ž
„”‡ƒ™ƒŽŽ‘–Š‡ ™ƒ–‡”ǯ•‡†‰‡ ƒ†ƒ ˆ‹‡ ”‡–ƒ‹‹‰™ƒŽŽ‘ –Š‡
hill. The rocks for these walls were dragged from the water by
two huge Clydesdale horses and the driver was Ernie Clayton,
13 years old, who is now 84 and lives up the hill from us in
Dorset.
Mr. Johnston and Mr. Martin built the fireplace and chimney.
One of them was often gone, and this slowed the progress
considerably. He was a very strong man, and one of the stories
about him was that he could lift the big wood burning stove in
our kitchen right up off the floor.
We came to Dorset on June 30th (1911) and traveled by
Dz•Ž‡‡’‡”dz‘–Š‡
”ƒ†”—ƒ‹Ž™ƒ›–‘—–•˜‹ŽŽ‡Ǥ”‘–Š‡”‡
we went by way of Penninsular Lake and Mary Lake (sic) on the
Algonquin Steamboat to the Portage, where a tiny train (The
Portage Flier) took us over the mile of portage to Lake of Bays.
The little train was said to be in use as a Toronto streetcar,
except for the engine. The trip was up a hill to Lake of Bays so
–Š‡ ‡‰‹‡ Šƒ† –‘ Dz’—•Šdz –Š‡ …ƒ”•Ǥ  ‹–• ”‡–—” –”‹’ –‘
Penninsular Lake, it made great speed pulling the loaded cars
and freight along. This trip to Dorset was a big treat for Rhoda
and me, but very tiring for our parents. We left Toronto at
around 10:30 p.m. and arrived at Dorset the next day at noon.
All our belongings were trucked from the steamboat at Dorset
to our cottage, which was about a half mile away. (There were)
trunks, packing cases and canned foods. (There was very little
available except staples at the Dorset stores and almost NO
MEAT!!!)
Rhoda and I were sent out to play. Play?? We had never been
in the woods before, and it was a real woods back then. In a few
minutes we ran up to tell Papa that we had seen a baby bear.
Imagine the excitement!! Dz…Ž‡dz Pete Peterson who had built
the cottage next door came running over with a gun, and the
–™‘ ‡ ™‡– •…‘—–‹‰ ƒ„‘—–Ǥ —” Dz„‡ƒ”dz –—”‡† ‘—– –‘ „‡ ƒ
black squirrel!
When Dad bought the property he sold two parts to friends.
One man was older than Dad but a business friend named Sam
Hollingworth. The other was another business friendȂMr.
Peterson. The Petersons have left long since and the cottage
has changed ownership several timesȂsometimes to our
distress. Mrs. Peterson wished to be close to Mother because
she was afraid of being alone. So their cottage is on the edge of
our land. Two families whom we liked very much were the
Kuntz family from Kitchener and Mr. and Mrs. Betz from
Toronto.
On the other side of our property lived a family from Buffalo,
Dr. and Mrs. Stumpf. There were two boys and two girls. They
were older than Rhoda and I, but ever so kind to us. One of
them married a Lutheran minister, the Rev. Mr. Lohans. They
occupied the cottage until one of their daughters, Hilde, now
Mrs. Warren Tuthill, took ownership, and she comes up every
•—‡” ˆ”‘ ‡™ ‡”•‡›Ǥ ‹Ž†‡ ƒ† ƒ””‡ǯ• …Š‹Ž†”‡ ƒ”‡
ˆ‘—”–Š‰‡‡”ƒ–‹‘˜‹•‹–‘”•–‘Dz‘‹–‹„›ŽŽƒdz™Š‹…Š™ƒ• named
for Mrs. Stumpf.
Our cottage belonged to my mother and father and their six
children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Š‹•…‘•–‹–—–‡•ƒDzˆ‘—”‰‡‡”ƒ–‹‘ˆƒ‹Ž›dzˆ‘”‘—”…‘––ƒ‰‡Ǥ
The other cottage where fourth generation people visit each
•—‡” ‹• –Š‡ ‘ŽŽ‹‰™‘”–Šǯ• ‘‡ǡ ‘™ ‘™‡† „› ”‡‡
Hollingworth, the daughter of Samuel. The nieces, nephews
and grandchildren visit there which makes it a four
generations spot also. This is quite remarkable as many
cottages change ownership very often.
Since Rhoda and I were the first children among all these
people, we were very well treated and, in return, we ran
messages, collected mail, etc. which was a pretty fair exchange.
I think we spent a very carefree and happy childhoodȂplaying
among the wild woods and in the water. We learned to swim in
a very unorthodox manner, much frowned upon today. We
™‘”‡Dz™ƒ–‡”™‹‰•Ǥdzˆ–‡”ƒ„‘—–ƒ™‡‡ǡ›†ƒ†Ž‡––Š‡ƒ‹”‘—–
of the wings while pretending to hold us up. We were
swimming! Not as our grandchildren swim, but strong and fair
distances, and I can still navigate at 73 years of age.
On October 18, 1912 a new member of our family arrived in the
’‡”•‘ ‘ˆ ƒ Ž‘˜‡Ž› Ž‹––Ž‡ •‹•–‡”Ǥ ‡ ‡Œ‘›‡† Dz‹†‹‰ Š‡”dz „›
wheeling her in the carriage on our porch. As I was almost nine
years older than Grace, and progressively older than my three
brothers (Bruce, Paul and Murray), there were years when I
™ƒ• ƒ– …‘ŽŽ‡‰‹ƒ–‡ ƒ† ‘ –‘ —”•‡•ǯ ”ƒ‹‹‰ …Š‘‘Žǡ „—– ˆ‘” ƒ
while we had some good times and rather exciting experiences.
Some of our amusements were like those of today and some of
the activities have gone forever.
Since we had only coal-oil lamps and candles, except for the
Šƒ‰‹‰ Dz‘Ž‡ƒ ƒ’dz ‹ –Š‡ Ž‹˜‹‰ ”‘‘-dining room, we
gathered around the table in the evenings for games such as
Dz‹–ǡdzDzƒ‡•ƒ†ƒ††‡”•ǡdzDz”‘‹‘Ž‡ǡdz‡–…Ǥ–Š‡†ƒ›–‹‡™‡
played in the woodsȂnot too far afield because we could hear
the wolves, although we did not see any. We spent much time
in the water swimming and diving.
Today is May 21, 1977, and in exactly six months I shall be 74
years of age. The reason I mention my age is that Rolly is five
months older than I, and we were in swimming for about half
an hour. It is not entirely a credit to us for the weather is
extremely warm for May. Swarms of dragonflies came out and
hovered about dashing around. They eat mosquitoes and those
dreadful tent caterpillars.
I believe the Environment
Department (sic) is now breeding the dragonflies to kill the
pests.
To return to the activities of the pastȂone really great
enjoyment was the gathering on the lake at our bay about
sundown. There were many canoes and rowboats, very few
motorboatsȂand most of them were gorgeous mahogany inboards. Then we had a singsong until sunset.
There used to be a very small steamboat which could be hired
for trips on the lake. This lake is over 300 miles in
circumference. It is not a large lake but as its name shows, it is
the Lake of Bays. So there were many lovely trips one could
take. One that I remember was to Oxtongue Falls. There was
‰”‡ƒ– ”—•Š‹‰ ƒ„‘—– ‹ ’”‡’ƒ”ƒ–‹‘ ˆ‘” –Š‹• †ƒ›ǯ• ‡š…—”•‹‘Ǥ
There had to be picnic food prepared because the trip took
hours, from morning through the late afternoon. The Oxtongue
Falls is part of the Oxtongue River which flows down to Lake of
Bays from Algonquin Park. Rhoda and I had the usual fun but
‘•– ‘ˆƒŽŽ™‡ Ž‹‡†–‘ Dzƒ˜‹‰ƒ–‡dz•‹––‹‰‘ –Š‡ ƒ’–ƒ‹ǯ•‡‡
and steering the ship. Now remember that we had no navigable
roads in those days and everything was delivered by steamboat.
To my amazement and a bit of sorrow, I learned about fifteen
›‡ƒ”•ƒ‰‘–Šƒ–‘‡ƒ›”‡ƒ…Šƒ”•Šǯ•ƒŽŽ•ȋš–‘‰—‡ƒŽŽ•Ȍ„›
way of Huntsville Road (Hwy. 35 and Hwy. 60) in less than
twenty minutes.
Some changes have been made over the years. In the beginning,
™‡ Šƒ†ƒ Dz…‘—‹–›’—’dzƒ†Dz‹…‡Š‘—•‡ǤdzŠ‡’—’–‘‘
water up to a very large tank on a high standard, and members
of each household were expected to pump one hundred strokes
a day. Rhoda and I, and later on, Grace pumped whenever we
had nothing better to do. Later, Jack Hollingworth and our
brothers, Bruce, Paul and Murray took over the chore. Finally a
need for electricity became apparent, so each owner installed
his own electric pump and tankȂlater to put in pipes and have a
direct flow of water.
Another community property was the ice house. Local
residents supplied ice from the lake and buried it in tons of
sawdust. We also stored fish and other perishables there.
I hated the job of getting ice. Sawdust (was) to be washed off
the block, (making my) shoes full (of sawdust) and wet. The ice
was put into the ice-box (on the porch), which dripped into a
pan underneath. This frequently overflowed until Dad put a
hole in both the box and the floor to let the water drain out. I
suspect that the mice found this a convenience as well.
Then came electric light! Before this I had the job of cleaning
the lamp chimneys, and it really was a pleasant jobȂusing left
over paper and old towels and napkins for shining after
blowing on the glass.
With the advent of electric lights came an electric refrigerator
and a two burner small electric sto˜‡ –Šƒ– Šƒ† ‘Ž› Dzdz ƒ†
Dzdz •™‹–…Š‡•Ǥ Š‹• ‰ƒ˜‡ —• ‡‹–Š‡” •…‘”…Š‡† ‘” „‘‹Ž‡† ‘˜‡”
foods but it really was a convenience. We did not give up our
wood burning stove. It was a treasure.
There was one memorable event that took place each summer
at DorsetȂTHE REGATTA. Everyone attended. Rhoda, Grace
and I took part in swimming races. I cannot remember any
great glory won by usȂmaybe a first or second some years. Our
brothers were the real performersȂdiving off the high bridge
ƒ†‹”—…‡ǯ•…ƒ•‡Ž‘•‹ng his front tooth. There were various
canoe races but the one we loved was the war canoe race when
–Š‡ „‘›• ˆ”‘ ‘„‹•‘ǯ• –‘”‡ …ƒ‡ †‘™ ™‡ƒ”‹‰ –Š‡‹”
butcher aprons and all four paddled for dear life only to come in
last and then tip the canoe and swim to the finish line. The last
time Mother and Dad went to a regatta, we took them down to
the dock and set up chairs for them. Mother was 70 and Dad
was 75 years of age. They had a glorious time among old
friends and all of them cheering and screaming for their
favorites. The regatta petered out because too many fine young
camp people came and won all the events, and the local youth
became discouraged.
Sometimes early in the morning when the mist had not yet
risen, my father would waken me at about 5 a.m. and ask me to
‰‘ˆ‹•Š‹‰Ǥ™‘—Ž†”‘™–Š‡„‘ƒ––‘ƒ„„‹–ǯ•ƒ›ƒ†•‘‡–‹‡•
back too. Dad fished. Occasionally Dad would row and I caught
fish. Once I caught two at onceȂone small one in the mouth of a
Žƒ”‰‡” ‘‡Ǥ •‡‡ –‘ Š‡ƒ” › ˆƒ–Š‡” ‡˜‡ ‘™ǡ Dz‘– •‘ ˆƒ•–
girlieȂƒ Ž‹––Ž‡ ‘ –Š‡ ”‹‰Š– ȋ‘” Ž‡ˆ–Ȍ –Š‡”‡ǤdzȂDz”ƒ– ™‡ …ƒ—‰Š–
„‘––‘Ǥdz
Those were great experiences but fresh fish for breakfast is a
long forgotten delicacy. On our return, the mist would rise and
the sun appear in a burst of glory.
Mother and the other ladies had many porch parties and even
dress-up parties as well. Their fun would seem rather old
ˆƒ•Š‹‘‡†–‘†ƒ›Ǥ‘”‡ǯ•–Š‡’‹–›ˆ‘”–Š‡†‡ƒ”•‘—Ž•ƒ†‡—…Š
fun and excitement out of very simple amusements. They
dressed in their very nicest afternoon gowns or else wore
Dz…‘•–—‡•dzƒ†‡‘ˆ™Šƒ–‡˜‡”™ƒ•ƒ–Šƒ†ǡŽ‹‡’‡‘’Ž‡†‘‘ƒ
cruise. For example, I remember Grandma Persch in a nighty
and bonnet and carrying a baby bottle and Mother in knee
„”‹–…Š‡•ǡ•‘…•ƒ†ƒ†ǯ••Š‹”–†”‡••‡†ƒ•ƒŽ‹––Ž‡„‘›Ǥ
One day Rhoda and I planned a surprise party for Mother. I do
not recall how successful the party was, nor whether Mother
was surprised, but I do remember makin‰ –Š‡ Dz‘‡ ‡‰‰ …ƒ‡Ǥdz
The oven ceased to work at the precise time so Mrs. Peterson
let us take the cake to her stove. We went over the rough
ground without a spill and out of the oven with the cake not
DzˆƒŽŽ‹‰Ǥdz…—Ž‹ƒ”›•—……‡••ƒ–ͳͲ›‡ƒ”•‘ˆƒ‰‡Ǩ
There are some stories you will find hard to believe. One of our
ƒ—•‡‡–• ™ƒ• Dz…Ž‹„‹‰ –Š‡ ‘—–ƒ‹dz ™Š‹…Š ™ƒ• ‘– ƒ
easy task for we did not have the road which is there now. On
top of this hill was a Lookout Tower where a man kept watch
for forest fires. Today the Lookout Tower is just for tourist
pleasure and the fire watch is done by planes. Sometimes we
descended the MOUNTAIN right down the steep faceȂquite a
drop! Mother always directed us to wave a handkerchief when
™‡”‡ƒ…Š‡†–Š‡–‘’‘ˆ–Š‡Š‹ŽŽǤǯ‘–•—”‡‘ˆŠ‡””‡ƒ•‘‹‰„—–
it seemed to pleasure her.
Sometimes I, at about eleven years of age, would row the boat
through Dorset and Johnny Cake Bay and up the river to the
™Š‹…Š ™‘—Ž† –—” –Š‡ „‘ƒ– ƒ”‘—†Ǥ –ǯ• ”‡ƒŽŽ› ƒ ˜‡”›
small rapids but then I was a very small girl. One experience
was rather frightening. I had two passengers, Grace and Bruce.
No life preserversȂno one used them in those days. Coming
back from the river, it became very rough. We kept close to the
•Š‘”‡ ‡š…‡’– ƒ– ƒ””›ǯ• ‘‹– ‘… ™Š‡”‡ –Š‡ ™ƒ–‡” ™ƒ• ˜‡”›
choppy and we had been warned to keep well out from the
shore. The children were frightened and secretly so was I. So I
–‘Ž†–Š‡–‘•‹‰ǤŠ‡›•–ƒ”–‡†•‹‰‹‰Dz‡•—•‘˜‡•‡Ǥdzǯ
sure He did for we landed safely, even though we were quite
tired and frightened. There was Mother with Grandma
Hollingworth WAVING THEIR HANDKERCHIEFS. Talk about
throwing out the life line!
There were three steamboats which sailed the lake from the
portage to Dorset stopping at several resorts with passengers
and freight. Some of the resorts are still in operation such as
Dz‘š ‘‹–ǡdz Dz‘‹– †‡ƒŽǡdz Dz‹‰™‹ǡdz Dz‘˜‹ŽŽ‡ǡdz Dz”‹––ƒ‹ƒǤdz
They all had cheers like schools and when the boats arrived
people gathered on the dock screaming their special cheer like
football fans.
The steamboats were the Iroquois, the Mohawk Bell, and the
Joe on Lake of Bays and the Algonquin and Ramona on
Penninsular and Mary Lakes (sic). The two larger boats on our
lake made trips to the main spots on the lake and the Joe went
to out of the way spots and acted as a freighter. Mr. Rutherford
was the purser on the Iroquois and he used to take us down the
Portage to meet our Dad at the week end, NO CHARGE!
In the early days at Dorset there was seldom any fresh meat
ƒ˜ƒ‹Žƒ„Ž‡Ǥ‡ƒ–‡DzŠ‹…‡ƒ††‹‡‘‘ƒ•–dzƒ– ƒ›†‹‡”•Ǥ
Never do I wish for Chicken Haddie again!! Occasionally a
farmer named Sparks would bring fresh lamb to the village and
Dz–Š‡™‘”†dz™ƒ•“—‹…Ž›•’”‡ƒ†ƒ”‘—†Ǥ
”ƒ†ƒ‘ŽŽ‹‰™‘”–Š
or Auntie Maude, Mrs. Peterson and Mother, would run to town
with a plate in a bag and a small change purse. The ladies in
those far gone days did not wear shorts or slacks or other
comfortable clothing. No indeed! They wore long full skirts,
petticoats and high laced shoes and were models of decorum.
So it must have been difficult for them to act so impulsively and
run down through the dust to claim their piece of meat. People
used to enjoy Muskoka lamb, although some claimed it was
really young venison. Whatever, it tasted delicious.
My father was in the grocery business, and he used to ship
canned goods to us at the cottage. The cans were kept on a
shelf over the kitchen door. When we went out to play we were
–‘Ž† Dz‘ǯ– •Žƒ –Š‡ †‘‘”Ǥdz ‡ŽŽǡ ™e nearly always did and
down would come the tin cans. Luckily no one was ever hit.
Mother was terrified of cows, large or small, and called all of
them bulls. She was not an athletic person, and one day on her
way home from the village she found a herd of cattle sprawled
ƒ…”‘•• –Š‡ ”‘ƒ† ‡ƒ” ‘…ƒǯ•Ǥ ‘–Š‡” ™ƒ• ™‡ƒ”‹‰ ƒ RED
sweater and in her opinion that was danger. So she hurried
†‘™ –‘ –Š‡ Žƒ‡ •Š‘”‡ ‡ƒ” ƒ””›ǯ• ‘… ƒ† •…”ƒ„Ž‡† Š‡”
way home along the rocky shore a distance of about a quarter of
a mile. She was very tired and distressed when she got home,
but I am afraid that Dad and all of us had a good laugh at her
expense.
‘–Š‡”ǯ••‹•–‡”ƒ‡‡”•…Š„‡…ƒ‡‹–‡”‡•–‡†‹•‘‡’”‘’‡”–›
ƒ–‘”•‡–Ǥ–™ƒ•–Š‡Š‘–‡Ž‘™ƒ•DzŠ‡Ž˜‹”ƒǤdzfter much
†‹•…—••‹‘ •Š‡„‘—‰Š–‹– ƒ†ƒ†ƒ†—– ”ƒ…‡ȋƒ‡ǯ•‘Ž†‡”
sister) put some money into the venture.
They promptly
…Šƒ‰‡† ‹–• ƒ‡ –‘ Dz
ƒ‘•ƒ›‘dz ™Š‹…Š ‹• ƒ †‹ƒ ™‘”†
‡ƒ‹‰DzŠ‘•’‹–ƒŽ‹–›dz‘”•‘‡–Š‹‰Ž‹‡–Šƒ–ǤŠ‡”‡ƒ”‡‘
”‡•‘”–•‘™Ž‹‡–Š‡Dz
ƒ‘•ƒ›‘ǤdzŠ‡–ƒ„Ž‡•‹–Š‡†‹‹‰”‘‘
were set for 8 to 12 people, who were guests, and the food was
served family style. Great bowls of vegetables, platters of meat,
mounds of bread and large pitchers of milk were on each table.
Dz‡…‘†•dz™‡”‡“—‹–‡–Š‡—•—ƒŽƒ†–Š‡ˆ‘‘†™ƒ•†‡Ž‹…‹‘—•Ǥ
Š‡ …‘‘ ™ƒ• ƒ ™‘ƒ ƒ‡† Dz‹‹‡ǡdz ƒ† Š‡” Ž‹––Ž‡ ‰‹”Ž
Dzƒ””‹‡dz ™ƒ• ‘‡ ‘ˆ ‘—” ˆƒ˜‘”‹–‡ ’Žƒ›ƒ–‡•Ǥ Š‡ ™ƒ• ’‘’—Žƒ”
with our Dorset friends. Carrie had a great collection of ghost
and horror stories which lost nothing in her telling and her
‰‡•–—”‡•ǤŠ‡…ƒŽŽ‡†‘—”‘–Š‡”Dzƒ™ƒ™Ǥdz
Wednesday and Sunday were great and wonderful days for us.
Minnie made ice cream for the dining room, and we were all
welcome to stay for dinner those days. There was a croquet
game on the hotel lawn, and one Sunday afternoon Rhoda and I
™‡”‡’Žƒ›‹‰™Š‡ƒ†‡Ž‡‰ƒ–‹‘ˆ”‘–Š‡Dz‘”†ǯ•ƒ›ŽŽ‹ƒ…‡dz
arrived and said we were doing a very bad thing to be playing
games on Sunday. Aunt Jane did not mince words in ordering
them away, but we never played outside at the hotel on Sunday
again.
Aunt Jane sold the hotel sometime around the early 1920s and
the next year it burned to the ground. I have learned from
various people about the dreadful fire. Cathy Nimo (McKey)
told me that she was a little girl at the time but she remembers
vividly the horror of the day. She was not permitted to touch
the window glass of their home because of the heat. There
were only volunteer firemen but they did a brave and splendid
job of saving the village of Dorset. Some years later, Vi Samson
and her husband bought the property and built lovely cabins
and a dining room on it. It is a very popular resort to this day.
On September 8th, 1928 Frank Roelofson (whom I call Rolly)
an† ™‡”‡ ƒ””‹‡†Ǥ ‡…ƒ—•‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ –‹‡ ‘ˆ ›‡ƒ”ǡ ‘ŽŽ›ǯ• Šƒ›
fever, and the fact that we had very little money, my parents let
us go to the cottage for our honeymoon. It rained every day, or
part of every day, for the whole two weeks. However, we swam,
…ƒ‘‡†ǡ Š‹‡† ƒ„‘—– –Š‡ …‘—–”›•‹†‡ǡ ƒ† –Šƒ– „‡‰ƒ ‘ŽŽ›ǯ•
love affair with Dorset. He often went fishing with my Dad and
my brother Bruce. At one visit their main occupation was
installing the rustic stone steps down to the boat house and the
lake. They are still in use although we had a stone mason mend
them in later years. Just last year (1976), our son Dick built a
very useful railing down those same steps.
There was a gap in our visits to Dorset. Dick was born on June
26, 1930, and in July we took him to Dorset with Jim and Janet
Panabaker. Then Jane came along on November 6, 1933; the
depression hit us pretty hard. So we had no money for
traveling and no car. However, we had many happy days with
our children going hiking, pi…‹…‹‰ ƒ† DzŒ—•– †‘‹‰ –Š‹‰•
–‘‰‡–Š‡”dz‹
ƒŽ–ƒ†–Š‡•—””‘—†‹‰ƒ”‡ƒǤ
The war came to our family as a personal disruption and horror
when Rolly went away with the Highland Light Infantry and
was gone five long years. My Dad took the children and me to
the cottage several times and the children really had a good
time learning about the natural joys of the woods and the lakes.
After Dad died, mother kept the cottage for a while but one day
–Š‡‘Ž†‘—–•‹†‡–‘‹Ž‡–ȋDz’‡”Š—•ƒdz™‡…ƒŽŽ‡†‹–Ȍ…‘ŽŽƒ’•‡†ƒ† my
brother Paul arranged for George Burke to install a flush toilet
on the porch. Paul built a room to enclose it. That was a very
expensive operation and Mother decided that she could no
longer afford to keep the cottage. Rolly, bless him, decided that
he could afford the purchase.
Since our ownership, we have had a new roof and the cottage
painted. Also it is now insulated and has some electric heat,
which makes for more comfort as we grow older. Another
addition is the shower, also installed on the porch. This room is
now storeroom, dry room for wood storage, bathroom, shower
”‘‘ǡ„‘‹Ž‡””‘‘ǥ‘–‡Ž‡‰ƒ–„—–—•‡ˆ—Žƒ†‹‡‡’‹‰™‹–Š
our desire to maintain the old fashioned appearance of the
house.
Now our great joy is having our grandchildren come up to visit
—•ƒ†Š‡Ž’
”ƒ†’ƒDz‘’‡dz–Š‡…‘––ƒ‰‡Ǥ—”™‹•Šƒ†Š‘’‡‹•
that many happy years may yet be in store for us and our
children and grandchildren.
The fence at the roadside of the property was built by Dick with
‘ŽŽ›ǯ• ƒ••‹•–ƒ…‡Ǥ ‹… ™ƒ• ’”‡•‹†‡– ‘ˆ –Š‡ š‡–‡” ‘†‡‘
Association and a farmer gave him a large number of split rails.
So Dick brought some up to build my dream fence and gate of
split rails. A notable feature of this fence is that one of the logs
has a date carved on it of 1896.
Paul and Jane gave us a splendid Christmas gift one year. They
had our large porch screened. So now we can use the porch at
all times without mosquitoes, blackflies, coons, and skunks!!!
The new sign on the gate is made of a beautiful piece of cherry
™‘‘†ǡ ™Š‹…Š ‹… ‰ƒ˜‡ –‘ —• ™‹–Š –Š‡ ƒ‡ Dzdz
carved on it. However, in the early days, it was the custom to
have significant names for cottages. Ours was caŽŽ‡†Dzƒ‡ƒŠ
‘‘dz ™Š‹…Š ‹• •—’’‘•‡† –‘ „‡ †‹ƒ ˆ‘” Dz‡•–‹‰ Žƒ…‡ǡdz Š‡
‡–‡”•‘ǯ• ƒ‡† –Š‡‹”• Dzƒ ƒ ƒ›•‡‡dz ™Š‹…Š –Š‡› „‡Ž‹‡˜‡†
‡ƒ– Dz‡•–‹‰ Žƒ…‡dz ƒ† –Š‡ ˆƒ‘—• ‘Ž† ƒ ƒ ‘–‡Ž ™ƒ•
ƒ‡†–‘‡ƒDz‘‘•dz‘”‹Ž†
‡‡•‡Ǥdz
Our childhood playmates at Dorset (included) Ellen McKay
(Mrs. Orris Avery). Her father had a lumber yard with his
brother Alex whose daughters Violet, Margaret and Myrtle
(wonderful and famous cook in later years) were also our
friends. I remember Vivian, Phyllis and Mildred McKey as well
ƒ†Š›ŽŽ‹•‹•‘™ƒ’ƒ–‹‡–‘ˆ›•‘‹Žƒ™ǯ•ǡ”Ǥƒ—ŽƒŽ•ŠǤ
Other friends were the Burkes. George became our plumber,
electrician and a very good friend. He just retired this year. We
remember too Hector McKay who did our roofing on our
…‘––ƒ‰‡Ǥ‘”‡‰”‘™—’ˆ”‹‡†•™‡”‡–Š‡‘…ƒǯ•ǡ”‹šƒ†
her sisters, chiefly Nell Dollar. Stan and Ellen Booker were
great friends. Stan was the Department Fire Chief for the
district around Dorset. It was he who suggested that our
Dz‘—–ƒ‹dz „‡ –Š‡ ‘”•‡– ‡–‡‹ƒŽ ”‘Œ‡…–Ǥ ‘™ ‹– ‹• ƒ
„‡ƒ—–‹ˆ—Ž’Žƒ‡†’‹…‹…’ƒ”™‹–ŠƒDz‘‘‘—–dz–‘™‡”‘–Š‡–‘’
of it.
Š‡‘„‹•‘ǯ• –‘”‡ Šƒ• „‡‡n a rendezvous for many visitors
over the years and we count the Robinsons among our friends.
‡•ƒ†ƒ”Œȋ•‹…ȌŽƒ›–‘Šƒ†ƒ•–‘”‡‘–Š‡Dz‡ƒ”dz•‹†‡‘ˆ–Š‡
bridge which is now owned and operated by their son Jack and
his wife Irene. We buy our gas for the boat at their marina
(thus dividing our spending).
My youngest brother Murray is not mentioned very often here.
That is because when he was growing up, I had left for Galt to
–ƒ‡—”•‡ǯ•”ƒ‹‹‰ƒ––Š‡
ƒŽ–
‡‡”ƒŽ‘•’‹–ƒŽǤ‘™Š‡Š‡
was old en‘—‰Š ˆ‘” Dz†ƒ”‹‰ †‘dz Šƒ† Ž‡ˆ– Š‘‡Ǥ Š‡ ‘‡
important remembrance of his life at Dorset was that he
attended both the Anglican and Presbyterian Sunday Schools.
Murray was killed in action during the war 1939/1945. There
is a gold star beside his name on the Honour Roll of both
churches.
After we had the cottage about five years, Rolly bought a lovely
little motor boat with 50 H.P. motor. This has given us many
happy hours taking trips exploring the many bays of this
beautiful Lake of Bays. We still enjoy using the canoe and
rowboat around our own bay, and I especially like rowing Rolly
along the shore since that is my only accomplishment boatwise.
No doubt I have omitted many important stories of the past, but
these are some tales of our wonderful years at our beloved
Dorset.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Photographs:
Some photographs were credited in the booklet. Many others
were contributed by the following families and organizations:
Dillenberger
Dorset Heritage Museum
Gilchrist
Stumpf
Writers and Contributors:
John Clayton
Daphne Curtis
Paul Dillenberger
Suzanne Dillenberger
Tara Gilchrist
Jonathan Prasse
Mildred Roelofson
Charles Stumpf
Gloria Woodside
Michael Woodside
Appreciation:
A special thanks to the Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation for
initiating, funding and producing this booklet. The foundation
would like to thank Gloria Woodside for overseeing this project
and Paul Dillenberger for editing the contents.