Leisure by the Lake

A snapshot of recreation and relaxation in Scugog

Boat ScugogScugog Shores Museum Village and Archives

On the Lake

Swimming, boating, fishing, and more is how residents and visitors could pass their time on Lake Scugog. In 1904, the Grand Trunk Railway Company advertised Port Perry as a pleasure resort, the perfect spot on the water for a leisurely holiday.

Steamship Cora (c.1902)Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives

Bowerman's Cora

Many steamboats travelled Lake Scugog for business and pleasure. The last steamboat to be built on Lake Scugog was Cora. Built in 1902 by Captain John Bowerman, Cora made a weekly trip to Lindsay and accepted other charters where requested.

“The Grand Trunk Railway Company is about to advertise Port Perry as a Pleasure Resort…” North Ontario Observer, 1904.

Steamship Anglo-Saxon (c 1900)Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives

The Annual Excursion

The Port Perry Standard tells of the Third Annual Excursion on Lake Scugog at the cost of 50c a ticket in June of 1867. This event saw hundreds of pleasure seekers across multiple steamboats with bands playing on board. The Anglo-Saxon was one of these ships.

Boat Palace ScowScugog Shores Museum Village and Archives

The boats landed at Scugog Island and visitors “sang, …enjoyed swinging, went fishing, swimming, boating, etc”. The bands continued to play as visitors hiked and picnicked before returning home at 4:00 pm.

Afternoon FishingScugog Shores Museum Village and Archives

Closer to Shore

For those who stay on land, the shores of Lake Scugog offer swimming, fishing, and general relaxation with friends and family.

A Swim in Lake Scugog, Early 20th century, From the collection of: Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives
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A Family Swim, Early 20th century, From the collection of: Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives
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Friends at the Beach, c.1900, From the collection of: Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives
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Greenbank Football Team (1910)Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives

Community Sport

Sport is one of the earliest pastimes and this was no different for generations of those seeking fun in Scugog! 

There was no shortage of organized sports in the community.

Port Perry Intermediates Hockey Team (c.1920)Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives

Hockey

Canada’s winter sport, hockey, was a popular choice in Scugog. The Port Perry Hockey team even brought home the Grand Challenge Silver Cup Trophy in February 1902 against the Markham team. This was worth $50 in 1902, about $1700 today!

Even "Cat" the mascot loves some hockey.

“Lady hockey players gave a magnificent display of their skills in this attractive sport." The North Ontario Observer, March 1892.

Ernest Edgar Scugog Braves Hockey, c.1930s-1940s, From the collection of: Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives
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Ernest Edgar: Scugog Braves player, WWII veteran, and past Chief of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

Port Perry High School Boys Basketball Team (1951-1952)Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives

High School Sports

Scugog youth participated in various organized sports at Port Perry High School from the early 20th century. Basketball and hockey were popular choices.

Port Perry High School Girls Basketball Team, 1907, From the collection of: Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives
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Port Perry High School Girls Basketball Team, 1951-1952, From the collection of: Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives
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Blackstock Curling Club (c.1970)Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives

Curling

Curling is a well-loved sport in Scugog with Curling Clubs in Blackstock and Port Perry.

Curling Rink (1900)Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives

A Rink to Sweep

Port Perry has had various arenas used for curling with the earliest on Casimir Street (c.1900). A skating arena with two pads for curling on Lilla Street (Scugog Street) opened 1922, a new arena on Water Street opened 1946, and the current curling rink on Bay opened in 1958!

A Break from Tennis, From the collection of: Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives
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Playful Tennis, From the collection of: Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives
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Tennis was a casual summer sport that was especially popular among women in the late 1800s. Dr. Mellow, of Port Perry, enjoyed tennis and maintained a tennis lawn at his home where he welcomed other tennis lovers in Scugog to enjoy!

Map of Scugog Island (1877) by J.H. Beers & Co.Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives

Luxurious Garden Estates

Seven Mile Island can be seen on the West shore of Scugog Island.

Luxurious Garden Estates

Seven Mile Island can be seen on the West shore of Scugog Island.

Map of Port Perry (1877) by J.H. Beers & Co.Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives

Luxurious Garden Estates

Beechcroft can be seen in the North East of Port Perry.

Kent Gardens and Estate on Map (1877) by J.H. Beers & Co.Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives

Luxurious Garden Estates

Beechcroft can be seen in the North East of Port Perry.

Seven Mile Island Arbour (c.1918)Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives

Seven Mile Island

Seven Mile Island was once a beautiful estate. By the 1930s, the Wilson family added multiple gardens, a reflecting pool, a teahouse, and a swimming pool. Towards the Lake was an impressive boathouse with a dance hall upstairs.

Seven Mile Island Reflecting Pool, c.1918, From the collection of: Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives
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Children at Delmont Cottage Scugog Island (c.1915)Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives

Delmont Cottage

The Wilsons enlarged Delmont Cottage into an impressive 26 room mansion. Above is Delmont Cottage c.1915 under the ownership of Thomas Stinzel.

Kent Rose GardensScugog Shores Museum Village and Archives

Kent Gardens or Beechcroft

The Kent property in Port Perry was another impressive garden estate. The property known as Beechcroft boasted fountains, a reflecting pool, and terraced gardens and lawns including a rose garden. 

Kent's Reflecting PoolScugog Shores Museum Village and Archives

In 1921, Mr. Kent announced the gardens of his home would be open for the public to visit and enjoy! Thousands of visitors from all over Ontario visited the gardens.

“One of Ontario’s Lovely Beauty Spots” The Ontario Statesman, 1924.

Kent's Rose Garden Fountain, From the collection of: Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives
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Port Perry Band at Blackstock Fair (c.1940)Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives

Scugog Bands

Some talented Scugog residents gathered together in bands and shared their merry music with eager listeners. Bands included the Port Perry Band and the Bethel Church Orchestra, but there were many more!

Bethel Church Orchestra, Original Source: Shirley Tweedsmuir Book
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“Music is powerful, universal, divine.” Victoria Walker. Port Perry Star, 1912.

Women with Instruments, O'Brien, W. E., From the collection of: Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives
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Port Perry High School Womens Music, Leonard, William H., From the collection of: Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives
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Music was being made at the Port Perry High School, and at home with friends. Children were usually trained in at least one instrument.

Family and Phonograph (c.1900)Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives

Those who didn’t make music (and even those who did) might sit back and enjoy music from a phonograph!

Wax Cylinder Recordings

This phonograph (also called a gramophone) is using a wax cylinder to play music. The cylinder can be seen at the base of the sound horn. Wax cylinders were one of the earliest forms of recorded music.

Dorothea and Helen Listening to the Phonograph (c.1922)Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives

By 1912, the phonograph record became more popular than the wax cylinder. Here, two children from Port Perry enjoy music from the phonograph in the parlour!

How do you spend time in Scugog? #scugogshoresmuseum

Credits: Story

This project has been made possible by the Government of Canada.
Ce projet a été rendu possible grâce au gouvernement du Canada. 

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

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