Stories 1

Baysville was first surveyed in 1862, by Robert T. Burns, and the area of McLean Township was opened for settlement in 1868. Lots were allocated under the Free Grants and Homestead Act of 1868.

The first habitation in the Baysville area, was a hut built by Langford, Attridge, Forrester and Gilbert, in October 1870. These men had walked from Bracebridge to find their locations in McLean Township. It was necessary for them to follow engineers' blazes on trees to find their way. One had to build a dwelling on his location before a deed would be given. The men returned three weeks later to build shanties on their sites. They lived in a hut to start with, made with trees, thatched with hemlock brush, and open at the front facing a big rock. In front of this, they built their fires. In the daytime, they worked on cutting and splitting trees to build their shanties. By Christmas, they had one shanty finished and another one almost done, but the snow was so deep that they went back to Bracebridge and got jobs for the rest of the winter. Forrester and Gilbert gave up their locations, not completing their buildings.

Mr. W. H. Brown started preparing for his mill in 1872. He had built his home and was awarded extra property for the mill. When the long- promised road from Bracebridge was built in 1873, he was able to get his machinery to Baysville so he could start cutting lumber. The mill was located on the west side of the river near the site of the dam. This area is now referred to as the Baysville Terrace.

The south branch of the Muskoka river was the main means of transportation for settlers. In 1872, the first boat built was a row boat for Mr. Wattie, whose property was on the Lake of Bays, at Wattie's Creek. The bottom of the boat was made from a pine tree, 23' long, 2" thick and 34" wide. The side boards and hardware were hauled to within 5 miles of the Langford farm and carried from there to the river, where the construction was completed.

In 1876, Captain Huckins of Baysville bought the steamer "Wabamik", that ran from Gravenhurst to Bracebridge. After a dreadful time, transporting it over land, it finally arrived in Baysville and did service on the Lake of Bays and the Muskoka River for about 4 years. Captain Marsh, who had the original store, now the Antique Store in town, built a boat called the "Excelsior" and ran it for many years. He moved to the Oxtongue River area, built many more boats, and founded the "Navigation Company", Lake of Bays. By 1905, there was regular transportation service on Lake of Bays, Peninsula and Fairy Lake by means of the "Iroquois", the "Mohawk Belle" ,the "Algonquin" and the "Portage Railway". Before the arrival of the railroad, horses and wagons were used over the Portage.

Farming as a means of making a living in this area, was hopeless, so lumbering became the main means of support. Logs were hauled through the brush, to lakes and rivers. They were then towed in "booms" down the Lake of Bays by steamboats. One company had an "alligator", an amphibious craft with machinery, which allowed it to winch itself over land. The working men called "river drivers" guided the logs in booms down the river. When they came to Baysville they tented on the east bank ( in the area where the Marina stands today). School children from Baysville, were allowed to go over to the cook house after school, and were treated to pie and tea. There was nothing sweeter or more delicious than the Date Pie that was served there. The adults were invited on Sundays.

The bark of hemlock trees was peeled off, piled and measured by cords. The bark of the hemlock trees was peeled off, piled and then it was then sold to the tanneries in Bracebridge and Huntsville. It was used in the leather tanning process. In Baysville it was piled along the Baysville Terrace south of the bridge, on the west side..

As Baysville was about half-way between Bracebridge and Dorset, it was known as a "staging area" or stop over for travelers and workers. Over the years there were at least 7 hotels, and boarding houses, with accommodations provided for horses. The Baysville House is the last to survive (presently Four Oaks Restaurant).

In 1900, people from the Toronto area, were beginning to travel. Muskoka was becoming a popular tourist area. Farm houses began taking tourists and many added another wing to their homes to accommodate guests. Hotels were built on lakeshore property. More affluent families, bought land and had cottages built. At the Narrows, where Lake of Bays joins the river, were Miss Yeoman's (latest Peter Kelk), Mr. Clark's ( Auld Reekie) and Mr. J. J. Robertson's (Stratheid) cottages. Many of these original properties are still owned by descendants of these original families.

Mr. W. H. Brown's brother in law, Mr. A. J. Henderson of Toronto, thought that Baysville would be a good place for a summer hotel for tourists and the "Pulford House" was built on the property. This is the site of the Baysville Riverfront Project now, on Terrace Drive. It operated from 1908 until during World War II. In 1922, Mr. J. J. Robertson bought it, and took guests in 1923. The first of the guests included 2 men from London, Ontario, who were keen trout fisherman. After Mr. Robertson's death in 1936, the Chambers brothers bought it, and renamed it the "Riverview Lodge". They operated it until 1946, when it burned down.

The property was then sold to Mrs. J. Walsh, who later sold it to the Department of Highways. They wanted to build a new bridge a bit further north from the existing one. The Department gave the remainder of the land to the Township of McLean for parks and permanently closed the accesses from the Baysville Terrace and Spruce Street.

During the 20's and 30's, regattas were held at the government docks. All the regular water sports were held, and both local and cottagers participated. One of the main events was "log burling". Two contestants wearing spiked boots would make a log spin around and around in the water, and then suddenly one chap would try and reverse the direction, and make his opponent lose his balance and fall off. The Vanclieaf cousins were extremely clever at this event, and possessed excellent timing.