Wayback Wednesday, sponsored by Jamie Lockwood, broker/owner of Sutton Group Muskoka Realty!
Captain George Hunt (1830-1882), founder of Huntsville.
From Muskoka Digital Archives and notes from Wiki:
Did you know that the founder of Huntsville, Captain George Hunt, an English army officer, was born on the island of Corfu in Greece on the Mediterranean?
Hunt came to Huntsville from Quebec in 1869, choosing lots 14 and 15 in the Township of Chaffey, on the east side of the Muskoka River. He petitioned the government for a post office and a continuation of Muskoka Road north from Ira Fetterley’s place to the village.
By November of 1869, Hunt brought his wife Sarah and their three daughters Lydia, Agnes, and Sarah to their new home. He had received the go-ahead to build the road north to his location and was named the first postmaster. He started building the bridge over the Muskoka River, which was finished in 1871. A devout Presbyterian, Hunt donated the lot for the first church built on Church Street. Nearby a one-room school was erected just east of Hunt’s original dwelling. Hunt’s stepmother, Mrs. Robert Hunt, who arrived in 1871, began teaching there.
In 1871 a son, John Hunt, was born. According to the Muskoka Digital Archives, when Hunt sold lots from his property east of the bridge, he inserted a clause that permanently prohibited any liquor from being sold from them. This gave rise to much local criticism, resulting in Huntsville’s growth expanding west of the river, which included stores, homes, and the first hotel. Hunt died in 1882 from typhoid fever and is buried at the Madill Church Cemetery, south of Huntsville. His wife, Sarah, died in 1925.
His voice was instrumental in reversing a provincial government decision to route the northern railroad through either Parry Sound or Hoodstown, sending it through Huntsville instead, thus securing the industrial expansion that followed and quickly growing the town’s population and importance.
The railroad arrived in 1886 and the same year the village of Huntsville was incorporated, named after the late Captain Hunt.
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Many know Captain Hunt was a fine man, however, there are claims by others to have been the founder of Huntsville . I will not go into detail.
Also I understand the town was named after Captain Hunt as he was the first postmaster.
The three daughters Lydia, Agnes, and Sarah and son John
Did they have children? Are there any Hunt descents living
in Huntsville. Genealogy is an important part of history.
Lots has been written about Capt. Hunt, the man who our town was named for. His diary mentions rendering assistance in the building of businesses needed in the growing community. In the early 1870’s, the Fetterlys were working on a new sawmill at the Locks. George Hunt and others from the town were there to help. In Port Sydney, a new steamer the ‘Northern’ was being built; so he was off to assist there as well.
But the land grants here in Muskoka were being allotted as farm land. So, George Hunt became a farmer as well. As a paid member of ‘The United (East Muskoka) Agricultural Society, in 1877 he entered white corn, 2 pumpkins, a Berkshire boar and a Durham bull ‘Young Monarch’ for show in one of the areas first fairs. He won the $1.00 prize for the bull.
In 1878 there was advertised a “Cattle Fair–Great sale of Farm Stock, Implements etc. etc.” on the grounds of Geo. Hunt on July 1 of that year.
He also petitioned for the building of a railroad through the village. One of his letters stated that “Unless the RR is built there will be great Emigration from the Dist.’
He was an industrious man, our George Hunt. I wonder what he would think of his namesake now?