History
Contents
Introduction
Early Settlers
Logging
Steamship Era
Today's Boat Cruises
Resorts
The Late 1920's and Onward
The Muskoka District
is located in Ontario, Canada made up of the townships of Georgian
Bay, Muskoka Lakes, Town of Huntsville, Town of Bracebridge, Town
of Gravenhurst, and Lake Of Bays. The terrain is rocky and rugged
because it is part of the Canadian Shield, which is rich in its
mineral deposits and large forests. The trees include black
and white spruce, jack pine, tamarach, poplar, white birch and balsam.
Rock in the Muskokas has been dated back as far back as 1.5 billion
years. Rock near this age is thought to represent part of the
initial crust of the Earth. There are over 1,600 beautiful lakes
making this scenic beauty become one of the most popular tourists
destinations in Ontario.
First mention of Muskoka in any records is in 1615 and the
territory was occupied by Indians, mainly consisting of the Algonquin and Huron
tribes. Early explorers to the region like Samuel De Champlain
came to the area next followed by Missionaries. The name Muskoka is thought to come
from the name of a
Chippawa tribe chief named Mesqua Ukee which means "not easily turned
back in the day of battle". It was Mesqua Ukee who signed the
treaties made between the Indians and Province of Canada which sold about
250,000 acres of land in the area to the Province.
To help encourage settlement to the area the Free Land
Grant and Homestead Act of 1868 was created. Before this it was suggested
that Muskoka be turned into a large Indian reservation. The realization of
Muskoka's timber and the immigration of settlers into southern Ontario
changed officials minds.
The Free Land Grand and Homestead Act gave 200 acres of
land with extra land granted for rocky sections in Muskoka to families which
meet the following conditions. The applicant had to be at lease 18 years
of age and wanted to use the land for settlement and cultivation. The
settler had to clear 15 acres of land, build a house at lease sixteen feet by
twenty feet in size, live on the property at lease 6 months of a year for a
period of 5 years. If all the requirements were met he could then apply
for a land patent and become the owner. This was to stop people from land
speculation. The Province retained all mineral rights to the area,
including pine trees and quarry stones.
 The Province would grant timber licenses to lumbermen on a
settler's land. Loggers could cut trees and build logging roads across a
settler's property without their permission. The Province collected timber dues on all pine timber
taken down in the area, even the settlers were charged this due if they cut down
more timber than their allowance. This was so profitable for the
government that it was said that the dues collected paid all the administration
costs for the Province. The railway provided transportation for industry, lumber
and shingle mills opened up, there were so many that 13 were located on Muskoka
Bay alone. Eventually the lumbermen cut down all the trees
and put themselves out of business. The railway in 1878 had a
station at Severn Bridge and one which is now known today as Kilworthy. The railway reached Gravenhurst in 1875 but it did
not reach Bracebridge until 1885 and it reached Bala in 1907. The railway
provided better transportation for tourists as the trek on the roads were still
difficult.
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