Innisfil Images

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: Andrew Hunter: 1863 - 1940; Newspaper article written by Alida Minchella, of The Examiner, with accompanying images. The article discusses Andrew Hunter (1863-1940), a historian, archaeologist, scientist and editor, who was important to Simcoe County and Canadian history. Poor resolution is due to the acquisition being a photocopy, if you have an original copy of this document please contact the library.

: Barclay Family Collection 2015

: Belle Ewart; Children at the Lake Shore, Bell Ewart Further information is available at the Knock Heritage Site, IHS3615

: Belle Ewart Shoreline; Aerial view of Belle Ewart and its shoreline on Lake Simcoe, looking north from the ice house. A number of houses are visible behind the trees along the shore., IHS2141

: Bennett'S Beach; Photo of Bennett's Beach on Lake Simcoe. The photo shows a low rock wall built along the shoreline to protect the cottages that are near the shore and just visible in the background. There are a number of trees behind the wall hanging out over the water., IHS466

: Big Bay Point; Newspaper article written by Brian Baker, discussing Big Bay point as one of the most interesting historc areas to visit in Simcoe County. The image attached to the article has a caption below, which reads "Harold Webb, whose grandfather Thomas purchased the farm in 1852, shows a pioneer measuring device found in the walls of the original Webb headstead, and one of two horse bells he (Harold) used on his own team when driving team and sleighs in the winter to add a cheery sound."

: Big Bay Point School Class Photo 1963-64 - Senior Room; Senior class photo taken outside of Big Bay Point School for the 1963-64 school year. Pictured from left to right, front row: Harry Kuypers, Wesley Fellows, Wayne Sanford, Larry Durkee, Ambrose Ireland, Bert Howard, Rodney Howard, and Chris Luchkiw. Middle row: Janice Wilson, Debra Nelson, Lynn Brown, Bernadette Dorian, Judy Metcalfe, Helen Kuypers, Susan Taylor, Theresa Carpentier, and Joanne Emms. Back row: Miss Patricia Cummings (teacher), Len Tremblay, Donald Bowman, Stan Barber, Greg Owens, Mike Dorian, Bill Goodyear, Linda Metcalfe, Brenda Davis, and Lorraine Skinner.

: Bill Lamb Harvesting Ice On Lake Simcoe; Bill Lamb and "Dolly" the white draft horse hauling ice blocks to the ice house located on Hastings Avenue, owned by Cliff Carscadden of the 10th Line, Innisfil., IHS4200(d)

: Bill Warnica Collection; A collection of images donated by Bill Warnica

: Breakwater; Photograph of the breakwater in Lake Simcoe at Belle Ewart. The water is calm and there are some buildings visible along the shoreline in the background., IHS419

: Canoe Tilting On Lake Simcoe; Photograph of "canoe tilting" or jousting on Lake Simcoe at Big Cedar Point during the Civic Holiday Regatta. From the book "Skunks and Scholars" p. 14, photo from p. 226. The photo shows two men standing upright in their respective canoes, each with another man seated to paddle., IHS3665

: Captain Frederick Mackay; Photo of Captain Frederick MacKay, father of Jean Crosby, dressed in his Captain's uniform. He was a Captain for the Lake Simcoe boats., IHS427

: Car Buried in Snowbank; Photo of three people surrounding a car behind in a large snowbank. The photo was taken on Concession 11 of Innisfil, just east of Highway 11/Yonge St. Pictured at the top is Bill Durkee, with Barb Durkee in the middle, and Shirley Durkee standing on the road.

: Cars at Stop Sign; Photo of three cars at an intersection on Concession 11 in Innisfil, east of Highway 11/Yonge St. demonstrating the height of snow. Shirley Durkee stands in front of the leftmost car.

: Cedar Harbour. Lake Simcoe; Postcard showing a cottage on the shore at Alcona Beach, Cedar Harbour on Lake Simcoe., IHS3925

: Cherry Creek School Photo; Undated class photo from Cherry Creek School, S.S. #3, with teacher Marion Bell [back row, left]. Most students are unidentified other than Grace Kell [middle row, far left], Doug Hughes [middle row, far right], Joyce Matchett [front row, far left], and Shirley Kell [front row, next to Joyce Matchett].

: Christmas Card from Maria Louise Nixon Barclay; A Christmas greeting card sent from Maria Louise Nixon Barclay, signed as "Aunt Louie", along with her daughter Margaret Armstrong (signed as "Marg") when they were living together in Toronto. The card shows a lantern surrounded by holly with a typed message that reads "To wish you every happiness that a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year can bring."

: Churchill Junior Women's Institute; Newspaper clipping of an image, from the Witness, with the caption: "Churchill Junior Women's Institute was organized in 1925 with Agnes Todd (now Kneeshaw) as president. This picture, taken soon after, shows early members. Front row: (l to r) Del Kneeshaw, Eva Allan, Lois Todd, Dorothy Bell, Alberta Kneeshaw, Mina Constable. Back row: Georgie Reive, Agnes Todd, Alma Comer, Iva King, Helen King, Eileen King, Margaret Robertson and Ethel Kell. This picture is courtesy Dorothy Bell Hood." Poor resolution is due to the acquisition being a photocopy, if you have an original copy of this document please contact the library.

: Climbing a Snowbank; Photo of three people climbing on a very large snowbank on Concession 11 in Innisfil, east of Highway 11/Yonge St. Only the tops of the houses and power lines behind the snowbank are visible. Pictured in the photo, just visible at the top is George Durkee. Barb Durkee stands at the top of the bank, and Shirley Durkee halfway down the bank.

: Cold Fighting; Not only do the firefighters in Innisfil fight fires, but sometimes they fight cold, like this brave soul who was on hand to make sure Innisfil's Polar Bear Dippers were safe as they jumped through the ice in Lake Simcoe. Dressed in full gear, the firefighter sits on the ice in anticipation of the participants arriving to "dip."

: Connie Wisker and Friends; Photo of Connie Wisker and three friends on a dock in Lake Simcoe, with the Lake Simcoe Ice House visible in the background. The four young ladies are all dressed in long dresses and coats, and are wearing short brimmed hats., IHS4040

: Cookstown - Looking North; A very early view of Cookstown village looking north. The photo shows a dirt road on the left running north towards a church steeple in the distance. On the right there is a walkway made of boards running alongside a fence containing some blanket covered cattle and farming equipment, with a number of houses lining the road beyond the fence. The cows were being readied for showing at the Cookstown Fair c. 1900.

: Cutter On Lake Simcoe; Two men and two women in long winter coats and hats stand in front of a team of two large horses in the snow. Visible in the background is a second team of horses scraping snow off the ice in order to begin ice cutting for the Lake Simcoe Ice Company., IHS304

: Cutting Ice On Lake Simcoe; Photo of a double bladed ice cutter on Lake Simcoe, operated by Harold Sheppard and Harvey Whan., IHS686

: Cutting Ice On The Dallimore Ice Field; Photo of a large circular saw powered by a 28 Chevy motor mounted on a sleigh, cutting ice on the Dallimore ice field. The field extended from the 10th Line North to approximately the 12th Line on Lake Simcoe. The saw scored the ice into 3 foot by 5 foot blocks., IHS4315

: David Myers; Photo of David Myers, a seated man with a beard in a wool coat and trousers. The following account was provided by Bill Warnica: David Myers was born about 1800 at Black River, New York State, near Utica to parents Captain Myers and Catherine Wolff. About 1830, David moved to Markham, Ontario, Canada where he worked and married Melinda. Shortly after David and Melinda moved to Innisfil where Melinda died in child birth of their son Leonard who also died, about 1832. Melinda and Leonard were interred beside the old mill pond at Painswick beside Big Bay Point Road. David remarried twice more, once to Mary Ann who gave him 8 children and lastly to Sarah with no issue. One July 29th 1833 David bought the south half of lot 16 concession 10, Innisfil. This would be the north east corner of Yonge Street and Victoria Street in Stroud today but was then called Myers' Corners. In the 1840s Myers Corners was renamed Victoria and then in 1880 renamed again to Stroud. David died Sept 29th, 1877 at his home in Victoria, (Stroud) and was interred in the Myers' family plot in St Paul's Anglican Cemetery, Innisfil. Due to the church fire the burial records of the six Myers interred there have been lost.

: Dedication Ceremony at St. James Cemetery in Stroud; Colour photo from a dedication ceremony that took place in St. James Cemetery, Stroud, on 25 August 2016 to honour local members of the armed forces who served in the First World War. The ceremony took place in front of the grave of veteran T. Alvin Webb.

: Documents

: Elizabeth Sheppard On Lake Simcoe; Photo of Elizabeth "Betty" Sheppard (née Leddell) wearing a fur coat and hat, and standing in front of her car after getting stuck in the snow on Lake Simcoe in February 1927. According to the attached text, she and her husband Henry Sheppard "used to drive on Lake Simcoe when it was frozen over to Roaches Point and across Lake Simcoe to Bell Ewart." The car became stuck despite the chains on the back tires., IHS691

: Elvin Hanmer; Studio portrait of a bearded man, Elvin Hanmer, standing in a dark wool coat. The following description was provided by Bill Warnica: The town of Bell Ewart was laid out by James Bell Ewart, on the shores of Lake Simcoe, about 1850 to accommodate the lumber industry around the lake. The Ontario, Simcoe and Huron Railway found it necessary to control navigation on Lake Simcoe and purchased the steamer 'Morning', and the wharves at Orillia and Bradford to supplement Bell Ewart's economy. By 1854 they had constructed a branch rail line from Lefroy to Bell Ewart, which enhanced the growth of the town. Sadly James Bell Ewart did not live to see the rapid growth of his town, dying at his home in Dundas on 17 December 1853 at only 52 years of age. It has been erroneously reported that Bell Ewart was named by the joining of his and his wife's last names but his wife was Mary Margaret Crooks, daughter of James Crooks and Jane Cummings of Dundas Ontario with no 'Bell' ancestry. A more likely explanation would be the joining of his parent's last names, John Ewart (1767-1821) and Janet Bell (1771-1848). With the growing lumber industry, Bell Ewart expanded very quickly with many industries, stores, and three hotels as people flocked to Bell Ewart to make their fortune. One of these entrepreneurs was Elvin VanBurden Hanmer who immigrated to the growing town in 1854 with his wife Sarah Barbara Martin as young newlyweds. In Bell Ewart they raised their six children. One daughter, Anna, married George Blackmore of Coxmill Road in Painswick and another daughter, Etta, married a lawyer, Thomas Roberts Ferguson KC, of the renowned Cookstown Ferguson family. Elvin bought the Bell Ewart Hotel (previously called the Railroad Hotel) from Alva Doolittle. Alva then moved to Orillia and operated the Orillia Hotel until his death in 1874. Elvin was born in Utica New York on 22 November 1831, son of Episcopalian Minister Calvin Hanmer and was a direct descendant of Thomas Hanmer who was Knighted by King Henry VIII. Probably due to the failing lumber industry, Elvin sold the hotel and moved to Barrie in 1881. On 23 December 1899 Sarah decided to go to Toronto to spend Christmas with her daughter, Anna Blackmore. Elvin took her to the train in Barrie and made sure she was comfortably aboard. When she was settled in Elvin went to get off the train only to find it was pulling out of the station. He grabbed the door to swing out but seeing his feet never touched the platform, he swung back in under the train with several train wheels passing over his legs, severing his feet from his body. Mrs. Hanmer heard of the tragedy, got off the train in Allandale and rushed back to her unfortunate husband. Even though he was in good spirits over the next few years, the accident, tetanus and a stroke took its toll and Elvin succumbed to his injuries on 11 March 1904. Mrs. Hanmer followed him in Jan 1915 and both were interred in their family plot in Barrie Union Cemetery. Elvin had the distinction of being the very first 'Mason' made in the Bell Ewart Kerr Lodge. Elvin and Sarah's grandson, Ernest Hanmer, lost his life in action during WWI in France. Hanmer Street in Barrie is named in his honour.

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