Main Street and Bridge

Excerpt – Pictures from the Past –
Huntsville, Lake of Bays (p 33-34)

The present bridge over the Muskoka River in Huntsville is the fourth one. In the 1870 Crown Lands Department of Ontario report, it states that the Muskoka Road was cut through from the boundary of Stephenson Township into Chaffey Township, south of Lake Vernon. From there it went almost due east to the Muskoka River in Chaffey Township. This became the site of Huntsville. The report continues, “at the end of this road at the crossing of the river, a substantial pier bridge has been erected.” In 1876 the bridge at Huntsville was raised “so as to enable a steamboat to pass under and obviate the cost of a swing bridge.”

At this time the Locks between Mary Lake and Fairy Lake were just being completed. The Northern was the first steamship to go through the Locks in 1877. However, the raised bridge was unsatisfactory and it was replaced by the first of three steel bridges. The first steel bridge was described as a “new queen truss bridge with braces, of seventy foot span.” This is the bridge seen in the picture. The centre pier of the old bridge was removed, and improvements were made to the approaches. As can be seen, this bridge was wide enough for only one wagon at a time. By 1901 this bridge had decayed. Estimates were received for a new swing bridge, which opened with much fanfare in 1902. The present bridge was constructed in 1938.

Just behind the superstructure of the bridge in the picture can be seen what was The Bookcase, under construction. It is a very handsome red brick building designed by William Proudfoot, with romanesque arched windows. George Wilgress, a lawyer, used it as his office until 1934, when another lawyer, Kenneth A. Mahaffy, occupied the premises. He and his family lived upstairs in the lovely apartment overlooking the river. The building has subsequently been a craft shop and a book store. The yellow brick building to the right of it contained Wardell’s store and the post office, the side of the imposing Kent House is shown with its windmill behind it. At the head of the street the white clapboard Pym House is evident.

On the right-hand side of the street, the town dock is under construction, as is the building, now 90 Main Street East. The side of the Hanna & Hutcheson Bros. store is visible. 

Contact Us!