MUSKOKA HERITAGE FOUNDATION
BUILT HERITAGE STEWARDSHIP AWARDS 2006

Billie Bear Lakeside Community Club
Lake of Bays

In 1906, Mabel Hart and her husband Duncan Jackson established a 167-acre fishing camp on Bella Lake, where her father's homestead was established by a free land grant in 1876. Mabel continued to manage the camp after Duncan died in 1915.

The natural shoreline looks much the same as a 1927 aerial photograph. At least two of the existing log cabins were built between 1919 and 1921 from the original 1884 dismantled hay barn. The original homestead was augmented by a square timber building with a stone fireplace, the camp's dining room, which is now the recreational hall. Four original log cabins remain on the hill.

By 1926, Camp Billie Bear was one of the leading tourist venues in the Lake of Bays District, accommodating up to 50 guests.

Between 1945, when Mabel Hart sold the property, and 1998, there were many owners. Since then the Billie Bear Lakeside Community Club Housekeeping Cottage Resort has been in operation and recently celebrated the camp's 100-year anniversary.

Lake Joseph Community Church
Township of Muskoka Lakes

The site of this 103-year-old church at the head of Cumberland Bay in Lake Joseph was originally purchased in 1902 for a Presbyterian church. Since then members of various Protestant faiths have been invited to preach during the summer months. A historical booklet and the local press documented its designation under the Ontario Heritage Act in 2003, in time for its centennial celebrations.

An early photograph shows an underdeveloped shoreline with a single dock, many canoes and row boats and parishioners arriving in their Sunday best. Today, the shoreline remains quite similar but with a tasteful, ice-proof docking system to accommodate modern speedboat's and its parishioners arrive in a relaxed dress code. The original Lych gate remains on the property.

The exterior is straightforward, Ontario vernacular, white clapboard with a steep roof, simple belfry and cedar shakes. The original leaded windows are multi-paned with a pointed arch. Its most notable feature, however, is the beautiful basswood interior with a vaulted ceiling of basswood paneling in a medallion pattern. The church has an Allen organ.

Over the years, donated gazebos, used as Sunday Schools, have been placed discreetly on the grounds.

Huntsville Train Station
Town of Huntsville

This train station opened in 1923 and was completed in 1924 as one of the typical brick stations on the CNR line. It has been designated under the Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act.

Its high hipped roof projects out over the eaves and extends into a porte cochere on the north end. It is finished in industrial design glazed brick. The brown paver brick dado is laid in stretcher bond and the upper walls of beige brick veneer are laid in the Flemish cross design. The mortar is prominent.

The east side of the station was, until 1947, the backside of the station but, once lake steamer traffic ceased, it was no longer necessary to have the station's primary orientation to the lake so a new door was broken through to the waiting room.
The building has been successfully restored and artifacts and documents are well displayed in the baggage room.

The Huntsville Train Station Society and the Town of Huntsville are to be commended for their ongoing work in stabilizing, restoring and maintaining this station that was so important to the economic development of the town.

St. Thomas' Anglican Church
Town of Bracebridge

This church, built in 1896, was the third Anglican church built in Bracebridge. (The original log structure sat where the present Anglican cemetery is now. The second church was located at the site of the present church's parking lot.) In 1903, the tower and Browning Memorial Hall were donated by the Browning family. The hall was torn down in 1991 and replaced by the 'new' church hall in 1992.

The simple 19th century architecture is Ontario red brick vernacular common to many Southern Ontario Anglican churches, bell tower at the west entrance, altar to the east. The interior of the church is traditional - a centre aisle with two side aisles. The Rood screen, also a memorial, divides the chancel from the main congregation. The interior is of original red brick, beams are of oak as are floors, pews and kneelers. Its most particular feature is its magnificent stained glass windows, all donated by parishioners in memory of some of Muskoka's oldest pioneer families. The only major exterior change is, in deference to Muskoka's heavy snowfalls, the replacement of the original shingle roof with a steel roof.