It’s Wayback Wednesday, sponsored by Jamie Lockwood, broker/owner of Sutton Group Muskoka Realty!
In this undated photo, the popular Boley’s Bakery and Dairy can be seen mid-frame. Beyond the bakery you can see the roofline of the Eaton’s store, where Pharmasave is today, and Town Hall in the distance. The buildings in the foreground were once McCaffery’s pool hall (later the Dominion Store) and Pym’s Hotel.
Peter Boley was the first Italian worker at the Huntsville tannery. His sons, Albert and Ting, would later open a bakery in the Strano block (beside Town Hall, where the Algonquin Theatre is today) in 1932. They moved it up Main Street to a location west of Canadian Department Stores (later Eaton’s, now Pharmasave) in December 1940. The restaurant was enlarged and its equipment updated in 1950.
Boley’s Bakery and Dairy Bar was a hit with residents and visitors alike. The milkshakes, cream puffs, Chelsea buns and more all occupy fond memories from the past. Share your memories in the comments!

Photo from from the 1967 Old Home Week centennial souvenir program, courtesy of Glen Duffield. Details courtesy of Huntsville: With Spirit and Resolve.
See more Wayback Wednesday photos here.
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When a student, worked at Bigwin as a launch driver. When a wealthy family checked out. I drove company car to Huntsville to bank the cheque. No credit cards then. Then went to Boleys for a take out cream puff, then to Empire for a 10 cent beer and a pickled egg. Good old days
Best tarts and cream puffs ever!
I’m going back sixty-four years remembering Boley’s milk shakes. They were perfect. ????
Thanks for the fond memories.
We came in from Sand Lake/Kearney in summer for weekly shopping and my father always wanted a Boleys pineapple milkshake. My aunt would have a toasted western sandwich and a chelsea bun. The milkshakes were big, delicious and in a large glass and as I recall the glass was tight off the mixer. Great memories. Some baking went back home with us.
My Aunt Blanche Bell worked there for years I think she was a cook but I’m not sure. I do remember the pastries they called flying saucers, I loved them.,
I started at Boleys as a. dishwasher got promoted to painting pies which was putting a milk glaze on them for Mr Favro. Then waitresses at the horseshoe snack bar in the back of the shop. Helped make milk shake out front with Mr Bucktenika ( Ting and Alberts nephew) Waittressed in the restaurant. My sister Sheila, my mom ( Gladys) worked in the pastry part of the store. Their milkshakes and cream puffs were to die for. Thanks for giving me the chance to remember the good old days, made a lot of wonderful friends, some I still know today
When we came to the cottage (Pen Lake) we would always stop at Boleys for lunch and shakes. The shakes were so big, my brother said I would have to share one. Of course my parents would get baking goods to take with us. Whenever we went to town during the summer, a visit to Boleys was mandatory. Fond memories.