Wayback Wednesday, sponsored by Jamie Lockwood, broker/owner of Sutton Group Muskoka Realty!
From Muskoka Digital Archives
William Young (1956-1945), son of Ira and Caroline Young, at his home on Lot 33 Concession 7, Chaffey Township, Muskoka, circa 1940.
William Young was born in North Gwillimbury, Ontario, and came to Muskoka with his father, Ira, sometime around 1878. He married Ellen Thompson, daughter of William and Catharine Thompson on May 5, 1887, in the Village of Huntsville.
He is pictured here at his home on Lot 33 Concession 7, Chaffey Township. In 1936, this property had 99 acres, and all or part of it was sold to Clifton G. Dyer, who built the Dyer Memorial in memory of his deceased wife, Betsy. The 42-foot stone pylon, constructed by stonemason Herbert McKenney, is surrounded by 10 acres of landscaped grounds, ponds, and walkways.
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The Guide Book and Atlas of Muskoka /Parry Sound registers Lot 33 Conc. 7 as the property of O. Cooper. That was in 1879. The lot has a big hairpin of the Big East River in it. It seems to twig somewhere that there was a Cooper/Young relationship but I can’t be sure. Anyone?
There are two lots between what became the Young property and the Chaffey/Sinclair Township line. The same register shows those were owned by G. Adams. But these lots changed hands quickly when people saw there was little chance of farming what glaciers left.
In 1941, Mr. Dyer of Angell, Turner, Dyer and Meek, Counsellors at Law, Detroit Michigan was in touch with Mr. Sid Davis. His letter states “I would like to close the deal for the purchase of Lots 34 and 35, Concession 7, Chaffey Township.”
Another letter to Sid in June 1943 apologized for missing the “winter and spring trips to the cabin”. He was also concerned “if Mr. Young is still in the little cabin at the top of the hill.” Likely the cabin in the photo. Also hoping that Sid “will be able to combine a visit to Mr. Young with a call on us at the cabin.” It seems that Mr. Dyer became interested in acquiring Mr. Young’s property, since that is where the Memorial was built.
My Grandfather said if you can’t buck 40 cords of winter wood, handle a team of horses, plow a straight furrow in a field of rocks and keep from going hungry, then you shouldn’t farm in Muskoka.” The old gentleman in the picture looks like he had a hand in all that and more.
Rest easy, sir.