It’s Wayback Wednesday, sponsored by Jamie Lockwood, broker/owner of Sutton Group Muskoka Realty!
This is the bridge over Vernon Narrows. The Highway 11 bypass opened Nov. 27, 1959. Prior to that, the highway travelled through the centre of town.
We suspect this postcard photo was taken not long after the bypass opened. Can anyone help narrow down the date?
See more Wayback Wednesday photos here.
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Ray Vowels says
The point on the right was sold around 1970 and was divided into five lots By 74 there was 2 or 3 homes there.
Allen Markle says
I’m sure searching MTO records would divulge when the bridge opened, but I don’t recall the exact date.
I do know the south end of the bridge stands on the land cleared and settled by the Markle family; the property, Lot 9 Con. 10 deeded to Lester, then obtained by his older brother, Mathew in the 1870’s. I can remember my Grandfather talking of getting apples from his grandfathers’ old farm along the bay. Maybe some of the trees there now sprouted from seeds from those trees.
When my cousin Cecil returned from the military in the 50’s, he was looking for work and at that time, they were building the narrows bridge.
My Dad drove him to the construction office and the superintendent told Cecil they needed men who could handle working at ‘great heights’. Did he think he could do that?
Cecil explained to him that part of his training involved jumping from airplanes with full packs of equipment. He showed his papers.
The ‘super’ thought that was qualification enough and Cecil worked on the bridge ‘tying steel’.
I got his old military tunic and it was my motorcycle jacket for years.
Allen Markle says
My typo. The farm was lot 9 con.1. Not con. 10. Sorry.