Ryan Kidd, a local Port Sydney historian and author, shared his knowledge about the history of Port Sydney dating back to the 1800s on Thursday, April 11, 2024, via Zoom, before donating his research to Muskoka Heritage Place.
Kidd shared his knowledge of the Port Sydney area with 52 participants. He presented materials accumulated in his research for his three published books: These Memories I Leave To You, The Newcomers, and Intriguing Port Sydney. All of the documents that he has amassed will be donated to Muskoka Heritage Place for others to enjoy.
In a series of slides and archival photos, Kidd traced the history of the Port Sydney and Lake Mary area through various stages of economic and social maturity from as early as the 1870s. He explored Port Sydney’s earliest settlements, its thriving lumber harvesting and milling, farming, lodges, resorts, stores, and churches.
Kidd also displayed a collection of photos, many of which were timeworn family photos, painting a picture of the people who’ve formed part of the village and their pursuits.
Mary Lake is referred to as the Jewell in the Crown of Muskoka. It lies in a NE to SW line halfway between Bracebridge and Huntsville and is part of the North Muskoka River. From 1860, it was settled through government land grants offered to European immigrants pouring into Canada. With its great stands of pines, it attracted lumber mills and jobs to the area. However, farming proved to be unrealistic due to the terrain and pine forest topsoil.
Kidd paid particular attention to the prominent families that inhabited the shoreline of Lake Mary or built cottages and summer homes. The Cottrills, Thoms, Ropers, lumbering and farm families, the Lawrences, whose farm was turned into a lodge, and many more. Port Sydney became a beacon for vacationers in the 1930s, who vacationed in the area with its well-known resorts and lodges, some of which were initially built to house workers who overwintered in forest logging operations. Kidd traced the history of lodges like Clyffe House and Grunwald.
His presentation included diaries of Ann Kay and her trip to Canada in the late 1860s as well as writings by Mary Butcher and a summary of her 20-year diary about life in the town. He also included excerpts from Audrey Clarke’s diary about life at Bellview Lodge.
Kidd acknowledged the many sources and contributors who had helped him in his research. He especially acknowledged Bill Clarke, who he said had proved invaluable with his encyclopedic knowledge and enthusiasm for the project.
Kidd is the Mary Lake Association’s board archivist and a published author. He is contributing an extensive body of historical documents to Muskoka Heritage Place, which includes over 50 GB of photos, histories, diaries, and more.
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Nathan Cockram says
Great historiography.
One comment. The settlers weren’t pan-European as the article might perhaps suggest.
The land grants were part of an effort made by the British government to populate the colony. As such, almost all of the early settlers to Port Sydney, as well as Muskoka more broadly, were British.
My own family came to the area in the 1880’s from North Lancashire England.
Verda-Jane Hudel says
Port Sydney.
Many settlers were actually United Empire Loyalist.
I have always been taught the name of the lake and still is Mary’s Lake. Named after the, I think, first surveyor’s daughter Mary who was born the day he arrived at the lake.
So many place, lake names have been changed due to lack of facts.
David McClure says
I am so happy that you people in Muskoka & Nipissing Districts are doing such a great job of preserving your written history and preserving historic and heritage buildings . I am so happy that you have saved 2 historic churches and do hope that you will be able to preserve the beautiful stone church at ASPDIN ,lovely St. Mary’s Anglican church , which was built about 1880 during the ministry of a dear old minister ,Rev. William Crompton who encouraged the children in the Sabbath school to get a stone from their farm fields and bring a stone to church so the stone masons could place those stones in the church wall as they built . I am sure the old minister was thinking of our Lord’s words when he spoke ,
“Suffer ( or allow ) the little children to come unto me “.
Your district does a great job preserving history and historic buildings . May you be enabled to continue your good work .