Local historian and author Gary Denniss continues to mine the archives for treasurers from Muskoka’s past.
The results of his latest archival expedition can be found in Muskoka Memories 106, which is now available exclusively at the Owl Pen in Bracebridge.
Denniss has now published more than 50 books, including the six volumes of his Muskoka Memories chronicles.
This time Dennis continues his deep dive into the fascinating stories that make up the shared history of the region.
Topics covered in the 108-page book include: Roxborough Shea, an early pioneer in Watt Township; the Madill Methodist Church; Christ Church, and the Anglican church in Port Sydney ( both are celebrating 150 years in 2023); farming in Muskoka; the Madawaska Club and the Go Home Bay School; When Matthiasville was Young; the Mutchenbackers of Rosseau Falls; the Genesis of the Bracebridge Fire Department and much more.
One chapter delves into the interesting history of night skiing in Stephenson Township.
“It’s something the children of the area south of Port Sydney engaged in decades before it became popular at today’s ski resorts,” says Denniss. “The story was told to me by one of the participants and it surprised me how resourceful these young people were.”
Another chapter takes a look at the origins of Matthiasville.
“It brings to life the exploits of William Ira Matthias who wended his way to Muskoka about 1870, and returned with his family and established a community that contained his home known as the Matthias Castle,” says Denniss.
In recognition of the preservation efforts of a group of interested citizens in the Huntsville area, a chapter on The Madill Wesleyan Methodist Church includes a firsthand account prepared by Rev. Alfred Laycock that was given at the Diamond Jubilee of the church in 1923, says Denniss.
Denniss says his interest in ensuring the preservation of local history was sparked during the celebration of Canada’s centennial in 1967.
“Books recording local history was one of the many projects the government encouraged to be undertaken,” he says. “A friend of mine in Douro Township near Peterborough and my Great Uncle in Watt Township (both elderly gentlemen), published history books of their townships as a way of contributing to this memorable commemoration. Although it was too late for me to accomplish that for my home township of Macaulay that year, I began researching with a similar goal in mind and published my first book, “Macaulay Township in Days Gone By”, which just happened to coincide with the centennial of Macaulay as a municipality (1871-1971).”
While doing his research, Denniss thought it might be interesting to collect archival photos of all of the one-room schoolhouses in the region. The result was A Brief History of the Schools in Muskoka.
“With the positive responses I received from people across Muskoka from my first two publications, it occurred to me that there was a growing interest in creating a historical paper trail to preserve some of the stories of people and events in the District,” he says. “And so, I have continued to do so until the present time.”
Denniss says he will continue to document local history, and Muskoka Memories 107 is already in the works.
“I’m certainly not the only author who seeks to preserve in print the history of Muskoka,” he says. “What isn’t recorded now, in most instances, will be lost and it is my determination to help in the preservation of our District’s historical exploits.”
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