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HISTORY
History
Gravenhurst ON [population 10,889] ‘the first town in Muskoka’ is in ‘cottage country’ covering a large portion of the southern part of the District of Muskoka. The town borders on two lakes and is surrounded by a number of smaller lakes.
Gravenhurst was originally known as McCabe’s Landing and later as Sawdust City. James McCabe was one of the first people to service the tourist industry running a small tavern at the south end of Lake Muskoka in the 1870‘s as people came, first to settle free land and later to hunt and fish and enjoy the outdoors. Gravenhurst became known as Sawdust City because of the large lumber industry that sprang up in the area. At one time there were 28 mills operating in Gravenhurst.
As more people came into the area, farmhouses became hotels. By 1950 there were over a hundred resort hotels of varying sizes in the area. A boat building industry began and famous names like Ditchburn and Greveatte were built in the town.When locks were built between Lake Muskoka and Lake Rosseau, a steamship industry began that carried tourists, their luggage and the mail to the growing number of resorts up the lake. Trains came from Toronto and dropped passengers from Pittsburgh, New York, Philadelphia as well as Toronto at the ‘wharf’ on Lake Muskoka, where they boarded the steamships that ranup the lakes. The RMS Segwun, the oldest vessel powered by steam in North America still operates on the lakes today.
In the 1920’s and 30’s there were several TB sanatoriums in the town. The air was considered clean and pure and helped to cure the disease.
During World War II Gravenhurst was the site of ‘Little Norway”, an important training camp for the Royal Norwegian Air Force. The town was also the site of Camp XX, for Nazi Prisoners of War, known locally as the Muskoka Officers’ Club.
Gravenhurst is known as the ‘Gateway to the Muskoka Lakes’ and since 1885 has had a tradition of welcoming gates at the entrance to the town. The latest incarnation is located at the south end of town.
Since 1949, the town has been home to the Ontario Fire College, run by the Province of Ontario. The campus is also the used by the Ontario Provincial Police K-9 and Marine units.
Dr. Norman Bethune remembered as a field surgeon and medical educator in China and proponent of universal medicine was born in Gravenhurst and the family home is now a National Historic Site.
Outstanding theatre performances are held throughout the year at ‘The OP’ in the restored 1901 Opera House.
In the summer, Sundays feature musical performances in Rotary Gull Lake Park at ‘ Music on the Barge’ and every Wednesday a farmers’ market is held at the newly developed Muskoka Wharf.
Gravenhurst today has a large tourist industry and has become a significant retirement community. From great shopping to fine dining, magnificent scenery and warm hospitality, a visit to Gravenhurst is memorable. |
