Ghost Towns Of Muskoka

The authors explore the tragic history of communities whose stars have long since faded, and the people who once lived, loved, and laboured in them.

Explore the remnants of vanished villages across Ontario’s cottage country. Crumbling foundations lost in the forest, weathered buildings leaning wearily with age, cracked tombstones jutting from the ground — all serve as haunting reminders of once thriving villages that have since been abandoned. Each of these locales has a distinct story to tell, stories that until now were confined to fading memories and grainy photographs. From the northern shores of Georgian Bay to the eastern reaches of the Kawarthas, Ontario’s cottage country is littered with vanished villages, including settlement-era farm communities, railway whistle-stops, and logging hamlets. Within these pages, readers will venture into Ontario’s past to learn how these communities lived and died and to meet the people who invested their hopes and dreams in them. Dozens of photographs, many historical and never before published, bring these ghost towns back to life. Join Andrew Hind in exploring over a dozen villages across the districts of Parry Sound and Nipissing, Muskoka, and the Haliburton Highlands.

Three titles in Andrew Hind and Maria Da Silva’s acclaimed series on the local history, maritime colour, and even the shadowy side of Ontario’s most picturesque communities. From ghost towns to actual ghosts, the unexpected abounds in this collection of the most surprising corners of Ontario — a must for cottagers and local-history lovers, brought to you by two of the best! Includes: RMS Segwun Ghost Towns of Muskoka Ghosts of Niagara-on-the-Lake

A tale of deception and adversity, Hardscrabble tells how unscrupulous politicians, emigration agents, and philanthropists lured impoverished emigrants to farm the Muskoka backwoods in the 1870s. What these new settlers weren't told was that their land was situated on the rocky Canadian Shield.

Kids who learn to travel will travel to learn. National Geographic Traveler Editor Keith Bellows sends you and your children globetrotting for life-changing vacations that will expand their horizons and shape their perspectives. What you won’t find inside: predictable itineraries and lists of landmarks and events. Instead, you’ll get evocative, slice-of-life experiences and age-appropriate ideas that illuminate place and culture. Each chapter of 100 Places That Can Change Your Child’s Life plumbs the heart of a special place—from the Acropolis to Machu Picchu to the Grand Canyon—all from the perspective of insiders who see destinations through a child’s eyes. You’ll meet actor and travel writer Andrew McCarthy, who tours the suqs of Marrakech with his seven-year-old son; photographer Annie Griffiths, who shares the miraculous migration to Mexico of the monarch butterflies; Tom Ritchie, who has guided countless children and parents to Antarctica for more than 30 years; the waterman who knows where to see the ponies of Assateague in the true wild; and countless others who are cultural treasures, great storytellers, and keepers of a sense of place. Packed with ideas to supplement the travel experience—foods, music, films, and carefully curated lists of kid-friendly activities and places to eat and stay—this inspiring book is the perfect trip planner to excite children about culture and the unique magic the world has to offer.

Terry Boyle unveils the eccentric and bizarre in these mini-histories of Ontario’s towns and cities: the imposter who ran the Rockwood Asylum in Kingston; Ian Fleming’s inspiration for James Bond; the Prince of Wales’s undignified crossing of Rice Lake; the tragic life of Joseph Brant; the man who advertised his wife’s death before poisoning her; as well as Ontario’s first bullfight and the answer to the question, "Why did so many lumberjacks sport beards?" The colourful characters, Native legends, and incredible tales that make up our province’s fascinating past come alive in Hidden Ontario. From Bancroft, Baldoon, and Brighton to Timmins, Toronto, and Trenton, find out more about the Ontario you thought you knew.

Long-dead British soldiers, grieving lovers, an undead priest - Niagara-on-the-Lake’s long and colourful history is kept alive by ghosts of its past. Widely considered to be Canada’s most haunted community, the town has preserved much of its built heritage, thus providing perfect "haunts" for age-old spirits. Through historical investigation and engrossing storytelling, the authors have detailed nearly two dozen ghosts. An ageless tavern is home to the spirit of a British officer slain in its basement, a gentlemanly ghost except when encountering Americans; a woman comes face-to-face with a hero from the past while working at one of the nation’s most cherished historic landmarks; visitors to Queenston Heights are stalked by phantom soldiers. Historical research is embedded in every tale in an attempt to establish the line between fact and fantasy. But numerous eyewitness accounts will draw the reader into these unusual and often unnerving stories.

Muskoka is a beloved region for summertime frivolity--a popular destination for tourists and cottagers. The region is also home to a remarkably varied and interesting history. This book explores stories that most people, residents included, likely know little about. Meet Dangerous Dan, a two-fisted brawler who fought his way into legend though countless lumber camps and booze-soaked taverns. Learn how one man's vision and hard work transformed Bala into the "Cranberry Capital of Ontario." Explore the history of Bigwin Inn, a lavish resort that was once the most luxurious hotel in Canada and that experienced a tragic and sad demise. Venture aboard steamships, into logging camps and elegant resorts, and through dense forests to the remains of ghost towns to unearth tales so much a part of the Muskoka experience...but overshadowed by the beautiful lakes and the endless opportunities for carefree enjoyment.

Despite the urban sprawl, industrialization and endless highway construction, Ontario possesses many hidden corners and lonely roads where the remains of earlier settlements, often constructed with immense effort against impossible odds, now lie forgotten. Some are no more than a few decaying foundations and collapsing houses, while others are littered with the remains of the industry and manufacturing that once thrived there. There is a renewed interest in exploring our own backyard, and Ontario's Ghost Town Heritage is the perfect guide to these once-booming towns and villages. While some still maintain small resident populations, others exist only as abandoned buildings and ruins. All have in common that they are "ghosts" of their former greatness, and their images evoke the lost legacy of Ontario's past. This fascinating book by Ontario historian Ron Brown explores over 80 accessible ghost towns in all parts of Ontario. Detailed driving directions invite you to experience the province's heritage for yourself. This revised edition contains many new sites to visit and has been carefully updated with the latest information and driving directions.

Take an eclectic journey across Canada to seek out our world-renowned natural and historic landmarks, such as the relics of a famous gold rush, North America’s only walled city, indigenous deep heritage, spectacular landscape features, and awe-inspiring feats of engineering.