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.
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.
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 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.
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!
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
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.
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 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.
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!
“Music is powerful, universal, divine.” Victoria Walker. Port Perry Star, 1912.
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
This project has been made possible by the Government of Canada.
Ce projet a été rendu possible grâce au gouvernement du Canada.
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