ClovellyLAKE OF BAYS

A History 1902 – 2012By Jean L. Robertson

ClovellyLAKE OF BAYS

A History 1902 – 2012

By Jean L. Robertson

The Original Ownership of the BrunelTownship Lot

The first record of the property which became Clovelly, Lot 10, Concession11, was handwritten into the Land Registry Office in Bracebridge in April1902. However Richard Draper Green, yeoman, and his wife PhoebeGreen, became the owners of this lot under the Free Grants and Home-steads Act on September 30th, 1899, two and a half years earlier. This lotwas likely 100 acres in size, so could have included land well back from thelake. In December 1902 not long after the official registering of the owner-ship, Richard Green transferred part of Lot 30 to George Frederick Marshfor the sum of $200.

Five years later, on September 11th, 1907, some 26 acres of Lot 30 weretransferred to James William Tyrell of J.W. Tyrell & Co., Civil Engineers &Surveyors, located in Hamilton, for a fee of $200.

Richard Green and his wife then sold part of Lot 30 to Ettie ElizabethWilkins, in September 1909 for $150. The original deed showed Geo. B.Aldred as witness and the Justice of the Peace for Muskoka as Geo. N.Wilkins. So at that time, the owners were Green, Wilkins and Tyrell. (Cap-tain George Marsh had apparently departed.)

Tyrell family picnicking at Clovelly before any buildings were builtCirca 1910

On May 2nd 1914 the Plan of Clovelly Subdivision was entered as the aboveparcel and numbered as Subdivision Plan M-47 in all Muskoka, by James W.Tyrell as owner, following a survey by Oliver R. Blandy, O.L.S. The subdi-vision plan included 22 lots, with Lot 15 missing as it was a right of way; itwas subsequently declared Lot 15 by judge’s order in May 1963.

Tyrell, the grandfather of Hugh Tyrell Brown and Helen Watson Blythe, wasahead of his time in realizing the potential of the beautiful lakefront propertywhich was part of the 26 acres, and at one time was called “Blueberry Point”.He subdivided the lots hoping to sell cottage properties for people wantingto build, but there were no roads and as well, the First World War seemed tohave discouraged buyers. When the lots didn’t sell,, Tyrell had three cottagesbuilt and rented them out. He drew up a brochure, Clovelly the beautiful,and had it printed, with charming descriptions of the property and the lake,as well as noting the clear, healthy air and water. James W. Tyrell wanted tostart a true community in his Clovelly properties, with rights to the commu-nity dock and the spring water system included in the deeds.

The original three cottages, all two storey, are those now owned by theLockies, Hickeys and Helen Blythe. In 1925, Tyrell sold Lots No. 1 through23, except No. 14, owned by John Buchan, to Dr. and Mrs. James A.Dickson.

J.W. Tyrell surveying early 1900’s

Early History – Part II

Launched in July 1907, thesteamer Iroquois made theday long trip around Lake ofBays, stopping many placesto drop off or pick up pas-sengers, luggage and theRoyal Mail. Later two of itsstops were at the ClovellyCommunity dock and theWhite House Hotel dock. Itis said that the steamer alsopicked up illicit goods, fromthe still on Whiskey Bay. Wekids would often tear alongthe shore path – sometimesin bare feet – to race theIroquois to the WhiteHouse.

The whole of Clovelly wasserved at one time by thenatural spring in the woodsbelow the meadow andabove the Rutherford prop-erty. The well was dugeither by Richard Green orGeorge Wilkins, as bothapparently lived in that area during the early years of the century. CaptainWilkins emigrated from England and thought he could raise sheep on hisMuksoka holding, but soon found that idea impractical. The water systemwas installed by Jas. W. Tyrell as soon as the cottages were built (the threeoriginal cottages). Hugh Brown thinks that Oscar Aldred used to connectup the pipes in the spring and disconnect them in the fall. Storage tanks forwater were put upstairs in the three places, and they filled up at night bygravity feed with a float to stop the water overflowing. The shore path maydate from the earliest Indian settlement, and was perhaps a deer trail used aswell by the Indians. It ran all the way from White House beach to ClovellyPoint, where the big rock sits.

The road through the woods between the White House Hotel and theClovelly Subdivision was just a trail in 1934; many folks came to the cottageby boat. No wonder, as the road was almost impassable, and my father usedlow gear to get over it, leaving family to walk the path. There was a gate on

Iroquois landing atClovelly Dock 1946

the hotel property, that was supposed tokeep the Aldreds’ cows from wander-ing along the old road but they some-times ended up on our beach, mymother was not amused.

In 1949 road crews started cutting treesfor the new south Portage Road. Earlyin the 1900’s the area was logged andthe large pines and other trees werecut, leaving just the smaller trees. Evenby the mid 30’s, we had a great view ofthe lake and islands from partway upthe hill to the meadow, which ofcourse, has disappeared. Because thesight lines were very different in the20’s and 30’s, the Buchan cottage had aclear view over to the south shore.One night Mrs. Buchan woke to findone wall of her cottage was blood red.Next day she heard that the Wawa Innhad burned to the ground.

Hugh Brown onClovelly Dock 1946

Clovelly Kids 1946Hugh Brown, John Elliott, Unknown, Dilwyn Elliott(Hubbs),Mindy Elliott (Enright), Ted Watson Heather Mcalister (Jarvis),

Pam Buchan (Hanna), Laura-Jean Brown

History of the Lots

Lot 1This lot and cottage at the east end of the Clovelly subdivision was boughtfrom Mrs. Edith Grafton Dickson, in 1937 by Dr. Orville Elliott afterrenting the cottage for two summers from her. Dr. Elliott and his wife hadthree children, Margaret, John and Dilwyn. The Elliotts started a Sundaymorning church service and afterward a mini regatta took place on the longClovelly dock, with lots of horseplay and balloons for participants. Dilwynremembers a record of fish caught in the lake in 1913, printed on the cottagewall. Later the cottage was jointly owned by the daughters, then “Mingy”and her husband Con Enright used the cottage till it was sold to Richard andMarcia Lockie in 1984. Today the cottage remains in its original state withonly minor changes.

Lockie Cottage Early Photo

Lot 2 & 3This double lot was deeded in 1936 to Effie “Tot” Elliott by Edith G.Dickson. Dr. and Mrs. Foster Elliott built in the same year. Both the Elliottbrothers were dentists and practiced from the same office. Dilwyn Elliott(Hubbs) recalls the brothers sometimes on the “outs” and Foster threateningto sell out the cottage. On the death of Effie Elliott, in 1963, the owners ofthese lots were Mary M. McMurrich and Kathleen Luckett (Elliott sisters).In 1976 they sold the point property to Roger and Ellen Staig, who decidedin 1994 to build a larger cottage which will be a lovely “retirement” home onLot 2, and Lot 3 was sold to Margo Brown and Peter Irwin.

Lot 4In November 1937 in consideration of one dollar, Edith Dickson transferredthis lot and cottage to EalaMcCullough of Hamilton. Herhusband Col. McCullough, whohad lost a leg in the First WorldWar, died a year later. In the early1940’s Arthur and Jean Brownstarted renting this cottage andbecame the owners. In 1973 thisproperty was acquired byMarcelline and Paul O’Neill and in1979, Pat and Debbie Hickeybecame the new owners.

Lot 5In 1937 James W. Tyrell acquired Lots 5, 16 and 17 presumably from EdithG. Dickson. Lot 16 and 17 were to be for his two sons, Doug and Bill; Lot 5likely for his deceased daughter (1934). In 1939 Hugh Brown Sr. becamethe owner of Lot 5. After Hugh Sr.’s death in 1965, Hugh and Sue Brown

1996

built their cottage in ’68 and later in ’91 added an upstairs. Dr. JamesDickson and Mrs. Edith Grafton Dickson were good friends of Mr. Jamesand Mrs. Isobel Tyrell both at home in Hamilton and also here on Lake ofBays, at Norway Point. The Dickson cottage, actually still there and ownedby the family, is the same plan as the Blythe cottage though it is much alterednow. Mrs. Dickson invested money at some time in this Clovelly Surveydevelopment of James Tyrell’s. It appears that lots were sometimes passedback and forth by registered deed and sometimes without a deed.

Lot 6This lot with cottage was given as a wedding gift from J.W. Tyrell and Mrs.Tyrell to their daughter Mary, (May) Tyrell Watson in 1924. There are notesand references to this, but there doesn’t seem to have been a registered deedat that time. A records book stating expenses for 1938, gives taxes at $13.55,repairs to water pipes and charges for ice, etc. These records continue rightup to the 1950’s. Included in these expenses were “ads” run in the Globeand Mail, Star and Hamilton Spectator to hopefully rent this Clovellycottage, as well as the orginal (Tyrell) cottage at Norway Point. Jamaes Tyrellput his daughter, May, incharge of the Norway Pointplace as well. If the adsfailed to bring renters,either one was used for aholiday by the family, MayWatson, Helen and Ted,and Hugh Brown Sr. and Jr.Helen Watson Blythe hascome up to Lake of Baysevery year except one, 1945,since she was two years old,1928. She came rarely toClovelly until 1936 andagain in ’38 and ’40. In1939 or ’40, repairs startedto make the cottage semi habitable, and though there was now a road, it wasso bad it could hardly be called that. When May Watson died in 1956, sheleft the cottage to Helen Watson Blythe, Ted Watson and Hugh Brown Sr.Then Helen and Ted bought out Hugh in 1967.

In 1984 Helen W. Blythe bought out her brother, Ted and became the soleowner; she now has a cosy cabin behind the main house for the off season,or when the family is there.

2012

Lot 7This lot was also owned by Mary Tyrell Watson (May), after being trans-ferred by J. W. Tyrell in 1936. Ten years later she transferred the property toMarjorie R. Dodson of Hamilton, and she and her husband Percy built acottage near the shore and spent many summers there from 1947 till illhealth prevented them coming. Percy used to play horseshoes at the beach(much wider then) with my father Gordon, Frank Johnson, Bernard Shiltand whoever was available. The property was owned by Jim Dodson ofHamilton and rented in the summers and then sold to Dr. Michael andBarbara Dawson in 1999.

Lots 8, 9, and 10Apparently lots 9 and 10 were transferred to Dr. W.R. Caven by theDicksons in 1934, but no building was done until after lot 8 was purchasedin 1937. The three lots include the low rocky point and the small shelteredcove, a lovely property. The Cavens, Dr. and Mrs. and their three children,David, Mary and Sandy occupied the cottage and the separate “dormitory”till 1972 when the property was sold to Canon Keith Perdue and his wife.The cottage has changed a good deal since then, having been enlarged andmodernized to accommodate a growing family.

Lots 11, 12, and part 13In November 1937, John W. Armstrong obtained these lots – the high rockypoint with a wonderful, wide view of the lake – from Edith G. Dickson.Originally the cottage and ice house were road department buildingsbrought to the property over the frozen lake. John, Helene and their daugh-ters, Jacqueline and Sonia had a small white cottage that was added on toover the years and Mrs. Armstrong used to say it “just grew”. The familycame up by train and boat in the early years. Later the ice house was con-

verted into a second cottage which was owned by George and MarthaLandmann for awhile, then later sold back to Sonia Armstrong Labatt. WithSonia and Arthur’s three children married and grandchildren arriving, amajor renovation and addition was added to the original white cottage, thenanother bedroom wing (jokingly called “the motel”) for the comfort andenjoyment of all. Jacqueline and her daughter, Mary (Tinker) occasionallyvisit from Victoria. Mary remembers the time when her grandfather paintedthe cottage blue, and there was a great fuss by neighbours along the shore,because the white cottage on the rocky point was a “landmark”.

Lots 14 and part 13The Buchan cottage, the first in the bay, was built after purchase of the lotsin September 1921 from Jas. W. Tyrell. It took two years for the lot to beregistered to Ethelwyn Buchan. She and her husband John Leslie had thelog cottage built with materials brought over the ice from White HouseHotel and other places along the shore. As Rachel Buchan Warrener recalls,there was some problem with the roof, and perhaps the log construction wasbeyond the” ken” of Mr. Buchan’s helpers, George Alldred and one of theBoothbys. While the main cottage was being built, a cabin behind thecottage site was used and because it had been built without a square, it wasnamed “Bias”. It was later used for company and as a place to play for PamBuchan Hanna and her siblings and friends. Pamela started coming up inthe summer to her grandparents around 1936 and we used to swim and playtogether on the beach and at the Buchan boathouse. John. L Buchan lived tohis 96th year and his wife to 100. Rachel Warrener inherited the cottage until1995 and was always there each year. Rachel and Lawrie Warrener’s sonJohn and his wife Liz are now using the cottage and making many improve-ments.

Lot 15In 1962, Pam and Jack Hanna had the right of way between lots 14 and 16closed, to become Lot 15 on which they built their cottage, a small one inthe beginning. Over the years a large dining room addition was put on aswell as a sunporch which became extra sleeping quarters at one end, and“The House that Jack Built”, a little playhouse beloved by grandchildren ofmany sizes and families. Near the back of the lot a cabin was built and usedfor many years by Pam’s father, John Buchan. Sons Ian, Marit and theirfamily are regular visitors and of course, “Bolly” – short for Bollinger – theirGolden Lab who keeps Pam company.

Bernard (Berny ) Shilt and his wife Caroline from Buffalo were friends ofthe Hendersons and came to the lake as guests several times. They per-suaded Gordon Rutherford to sell them 50 feet of his east lot, 18, and put upa small place around 1951. Ten years later the Shilts were finally able topurchase 202 feet of a rather low and wet piece of land from the Tyrells.Though they had no children, friends and relatives came regularly from theU.S. to enjoy their Lake of Bays cottage with them. After Berny’s death in1996, his nephew Dan and wife Audrey inherited the property and in spiteof the distance from Atlanta have made it their summer home. The smallcabin has had several additions to accommodate their family. DaughtersAllyson Shilt and Andy Shilt Dabney, along with Andy’s husband Bill andtheir two daughters, spend their vacations here.

Shoreline Path 2012

Lot 16In 1964, Robert and Martha Adam, friends of the Shilts, bought Lot 16 fromthem and after bringing in much fill and cleared the trees, a cottage site wasready and a very nice place soon took shape. Bob Adams was an engineerand when he retired, fixing up the interior of the cottage became a favouritehobby. He built some beautiful pieces of furniture as well. Visits from theirlarge families and many friends necessitated building a “bunkee”. Bob’sdaughter Martha and her husband George eventually acquired the propertyin 1977. Martha Adams continued to visit after Bob died until the late 90’sat the age of 94. Martha and George had a commodious workshop/garage/sewing room built, and then a wonderful spa. Martha has now passed onbut George from Detroit and his son continue to enjoy their special place onClovelly.

Lots 18 and 19In the early summer of 1934,Gordon and Florence Rutherforddiscovered a lovely piece of beachproperty after coming to the lakewith Stan Ferguson who had acottage along the shore to thewest. My mother recalls, “We fellin love with the place at firstsight” and later that day theydrove around the lake to see Dr.and Mrs. Dickson at NorwayPoint. They left with the prom-ise of a proper deed in duecourse, and during the next twoweeks, my father and a cousin,with local help, started building aone room cabin. Their firstdwelling was intended to be aboathouse or garage later, but toget the car down to water levelwas a problem. A passable roadnever materialized so a better path was cleared and for many years every-thing was carried up or down about a hundred steps. On July 16, 1934 thefamily left Toronto and after a daylong trip, found a partially finished cabin,the roof not complete, without a door or screen windows.

However, the family stayed for the summer while work was done on thecabin and the site cleared for the cottage, which was built in 1935. My father

built a scale model of the cottage during the winter and them relatives,friends and young Leon Garroway put up the cottage. 1936 was the firstsummer in Woodwind. The only additions structurally were the outsidekitchen with a wood burning cookstove which we called the ‘cookshen‘, andthe bathroom extension. Many improvements were made over the yearsespecially when we finally go electricity ion August 20, 1953. A list of theseimprovements was started on the wall of the kitchen and added to each yearuntil 1972, when Dad died.

In 1962 Cam and Jean Robertson bought 50 feet of land from him and putup their own cottage; in the midst of getting ready to build, Cam was trans-ferred to Kenora. He did a sort of ‘disappearing act‘ from the office inBancroft in order to get over here to the building. After Gordon‘s death,Florence decided to go west and moved to Victoria, when Jean and Camtook over the old cottage. It has been used and enjoyed by many membersof the family from near and far, and friends as well. Lorraine, Sue and Reidwith family come up each summer for their holidays.

Lots 20 and 21The Johnson cottage,, named ‘Joneze‘, was built in 1943 or ‘44, by Frank andEdna Johnson from Hamilton (Westdale). However there is no record ofthe title until March 1950, when the property was transferred from James Dand Mabel Tyrell. Frank was in the lumber business and was a mastercarpenter. He and Edna had three children, and as grandkids arrived, an-other cottage was put up on the west lot. This was known as the‘Shimmell‘cottage – Bob, Janet and their family used this place for severalyears. After Mrs. Johnson passed away, the cottages were sold to theMacklern family in 1970. Unfortunately, Olive Macklern, who loved beingat the lake, met an accidental death there in the spring of 1971. The oldercottage was then sold to Stanley Knowles, plumber and J.H. Langrod, schoolprincipal, both of Bracebridge in 1972. Two years later Maureen andMichael Mahoney became the owners and after some ‘bumpy times‘, thecottage was abandoned for awhile.. However the Prittie family was lookingfor a cottage property on Lake of Bays, and Robert and Shirley Preittiebecame the new ownrrs. With their four boys, there have been lots of funand activity there again. The cottage has been much improved and a selfcontained sleeping cabin added.

Lot 22 and part 23Just as with the Johnson title, there is no record that can be found before1950, when this property was transferred from the Tyrells to Alva andRuther Henderson and dated also March of that year. Alva Henderson was acousin of W. S. Ferguson (Stan) and he and his wife had visited up at theFerguson place. After their cottage was built, around the same time as theJohnson‘s. a Sunday service was started and we gathered on the natural slopebetween the Johnson and Henderson cottages. Alva played the bugle for thehymns and our favourite was ‘This is my Father‘s World‘. At times therewould be 15 or 20 neighbours there. After Alva died, the property was soldto Louise and Dr. Edwin Lathbury, also of Buffalo. However, before thistime part of Lot 23 was transferred to George and Nora Dobson, friendsfrom Buffalo, in 1951. The remainder of the property belonged to theLathbury family, with Linda and Bruce coming for many years. Brucemanaged to find lots of predicaments to get into and usually had company inthat endeavour. In 1982 the Teagues of St. Catherines bought the propertyand made some renovations. They are the present owners.

Lot 23 (part)The Dobsons, Nora and George, built their cottage in 1951-52. Theirdaughter, Ruthann came up from Buffalo each summer, but another daugh-ter, Lois lived in Florida so did not come often though her daughter, Sueseemed to come all the way each year. George was an electrician and helpedwire our cottages prior to hydro putting in power. Lights were turned on inAugust, 1953, and as my mother wrote, ‘We all had tears in our eyes asGeorge had recently died, being electrocuted at work.’ Some years later theDobson cottage burned to the ground in the fall, and it is still a mystery.Nora rebuilt a smaller cottage lined with cedar, which she and her familyenjoyed for a long time. In 1976 the cottage was sold to Don and AnnSanderson of Toronto. Nora had moved to Florida, making the long trip toMuskoka each summer. The Sandersons used the cottage part of the sum-mer till Don passed away; since that time it has been used infrequently,mostly by family.

NOTE:

Clovelly A History 1912-2002By Jean Robertson

The original publication was printed in a different format with some differ-ent pictures. This production was produced by the Lake of Bays HeritageFoundation. The Foundation is very grateful for all the work that Jean putinto the history of Clovelly.

In the Clovelly area there are many heritage properties. It is always a verydifficult challenge to decide on which properties to present the HeritageAward. This award is an award of appreciation and in no way affects the useor future of the property.

Receiving awards in 2012 are:Irwin/Brown - 1936Lockie family (Sunrise) - 1912Buchan/Warrener - Circa 1923Robertson (Woodwind) - 1935

The Lockie Cottage

94 ClovellyWe unexpectedly bought the cottage called Sunrise in 1984. We had beenrenting the neighbouring cottage and were definitely not in the market for avacation property. But we couldn’t resist the well-loved and worn cottage onthe calm side of Clovelly Point. We bought the cottage from the family thathad owned the cottage since the thirties. The cottage had been built byJames Tyrell in 1912.

We caught sixty mice our first summer. We could see outside from theinside without looking through the windows. The mice did not have toduck their heads when entering through the ill-fitting doors. There are twosets of French doors downstairs leading to a large screened in veranda anddoors off two of the upstairs bedrooms lead to the sleeping porch.

That first year we were very busy! We brought in Hydro and copper plumb-ing. We put in electric heat. We had a real faucet installed in the kitchen toreplace the pipe. We enlarged the kitchen by knocking down the pantry wall.We luxuriated in a bathtub! We insulated and sealed the perimeter walls. Wesanded the floors and painted and stained. Recently we updated the bath-room and kitchen. We now have a shower! We put electric heating coils inthe pipes so we can enjoy Christmas with water. One winter the dog’s waterbowl froze, much to her great disappointment!

The furnishings are a combination of treasures. Marcia’s family owned theWalper House in Kitchener –Waterloo. The wagon wheel chandelier on theporch hung from the ceiling of the Hofbrau.

The wooden duck picture was made by Richard’s Grandad in the 30’s andhung in their old Balsam Lake cottage. The comfy down chesterfield was awedding gift to Richard’s parents in the forties.

Some treasures came with the cottage like the 1870’s piano and some wickerfurniture that are still enjoyed today. Other things were carted away like thebench seat of an old car! The white wheel tire swing is still hanging on thebig white pine. The old carved log sitting upright by the fire has been theresince Hugh Brown, the grandson of the builder/founder, now 81 sat on it asa boy.

Many generations of cottagers at Clovelly remember pouring water down afloor knot-hole through the ceiling and onto an unsuspecting guest amidstmuch laughter. On one of the walls is a faded 1913 fish record recalling abounty of fish such as 22 pound trout!

Marcia and the children, now in their twenties have spent the entire sum-mers here with Richard coming up weekends and vacations. Summer jobswere secured at Bigwin Golf Course, Lumina Resort and Dwight Market,although their favourite job was delivering the newspaper by boat!

Favourite activities include swimming a mile and a half to Bigwin Island. Itis a tradition that began when the children were 5, 8 and 11. Nightime ghoststories are still being told in the cot-lined sleeping porch!

The cottage continues to be a well-loved, and memory-filled cottage.

Built Heritage Criteria

Determining the value of a building or site as a heritage resource is truly amatter of knowledgeable opinion. The following criteria were establishedby the Built Heritage Committee in 1999 and continue to be used for ourevaluation process.

1. Representativeness and or uniqueness

2. Association with a specific event that has made significant contributionto the community, province or nation

3. Visual and or functional quality

4. Architectural or technological significance

5. Influence on the present character of the area

6. Sensitivity to the site (natural features or townscape)

7. Present use combines respect for heritage values with contemporaryneeds and realties.

Photos Submitted by: Hugh Brown, Helen Blythe and Gloria Woodside