volunteer excursion— bruce cleland · 2011. 10. 13. · louise boese volunteer co-coordinator...

Email address:

[email protected]

Website: www.realmuskoka.com

Phone: 705-687-2115

It is hard to believe that we are already coming so close to the end of the 2011 sailing season! Thankyou again to all the volunteers who have been so faithful in being on duty at the Centre, at the Heritage Boatworks busily restoring the boats, behind the scenes working on the exhibits or other projects, fixing things up as needs have arisen or being here to help out for a variety of reasons!! We cannot say often enough that we simply could not run a “smooth ship” without all of you!! The Wednesday Work Crew started with their regu-lar routine as of September 21st. Ann has been compiling her list of things to be done, and is happy to get them looked after. The Boatworks will continue with their restorations of boats at the Heritage Boatworks Shop. Archives will begin the winter schedule on Thursday, October 27th, with their regular time frame of 10-4—you choose when you come in, or how long! I’m sure Mary Storey has been adding to her list of projects as well that will keep this enthusiastic group busy. You are very welcome to join them!! Don’t forget that the Centre will continue to be open during the fall/winter/spring season, right up until the sailing season in 2012. Post season means we are open Tuesdays to Saturdays 10-4, closed on Sundays and Mondays. Before long we will be asking for your participation in the Santa Claus Parade. Yikes, that means winter is just around the corner!! In the meantime, however, let’s enjoy the wonder of the amazing blaze of colour that is all around us. Thankyou again for all the ways that you have helped to make this sum-mer an enjoyable and successful season! Louise Boese

Volunteer Co-Coordinator

Bruce Cleland

Josef & Louella from The Netherlands: “In Holland we have lots of boats, but what we have seen here is absolutely “art”. Very impressing!” Tyler from Ottawa: “This place is SWEET!” Lois & Al from Lake Joseph: Al’s Dad (Hugh Alexander Fraser) worked for Ditchburn building boats in the late 30’s. He helped build 2 OPP boats. Thanks for preserving our Muskoka heritage!” Renata from Gracenhurst: “WOW!” Richard & Kathleen from Montreal: “Wonderful museum, lovely staff!” Jean & Nialei: “Nous avons fait un magnifiue voyage dans le temps grâce ce votre exposition que est splendid. Merci!”

Volunteer Excursion— Who are

they looking at and listening to?? Check inside for

more info!! ►►►

They are looking at, and listening to— Jeff Gabura, explaining his vision and

“journey” of restoring S.S.Bigwin

SS Bigwin was built by Polson Iron Works and launched in 1910 During its lifetime the SS Bigwin has been a pleasure yacht for millionaires and a ferry

boat for celebrities and dignitaries Began its career as the Ella May, one of a pair of steamships owned by the wealthy Kuhn

family of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania – used to transport friends and family to their pri-vately owned Belle Island near Beaumaris on Lake Muskoka

Financial troubles forced them to sell Ella May to Bigwin Inn on Lake of Bays in 1924, owned by Charles O. Shaw

Used as a tugboat initially until it replaced the much larger Iroquois as the ferry that car-ried guests to the resort.

The good times eventually came to an end for both the Bigwin Inn and the SS Bigwin steamship in 1969. Hotel went bankrupt and the boat was put into the boathouse where it sat until 1991. It was actually partially submerged in the water.

From there it was floated to South Portage where it stayed in a field until rediscovered by Jeff Gabura in 2002

After almost ten years (he was thinking two!!), the Bigwin restoration project is close to be-ing completed and Bigwin will be ready to cruise on Lake of Bays, hopefully, in 2012.

Volunteer Excursion on Friday, September 30th Volunteer Excursion on Friday, September 30th Volunteer Excursion on Friday, September 30th Volunteer Excursion on Friday, September 30th

After lunch AND some shopping at Robinson’s, we were off to the DORSET HERITAGE MUSEUM! Some of it’s features include exhibits of early pioneer life, traditional logging practices, transportation and photographs, all pertaining to the Dorset area. Artifacts are donated by the community and each piece is carefully researched, preserved and then displayed.


JANET GRAY

• Came to Canada in 1971 from Northern Ireland and lived in the Caledon area

• Moved to Gravenhurst 6 years ago and bought a condo on the Wharf. Started

working for the Steamship office and then came to the Heritage Centre Retail Shop when it opened in 2006

• Janet has 4 children and 3 grandchildren whom she loves to spend time with

• She has been very involved with Rotary of Palgrave as Director of International

Services

• Her passion for travelling (which she has done extensively) has helped make her

an expert travel consultant, (besides working in the Retail Shop). She is registered with Travel Professionals International, Check the internet www.janetgray.ca if you would like her to plan your next trip!!

Volunteer Profiles

EVELYN MATSON

• Born in Willowdale. Met Rick in high school, attended Earl Haig collegiate

• After their marriage, had three children, and moved to Barrie. In 1969, Evelyn got

job at Barrie Cable as secretary, Rick worked & travelled for IBM in Toronto

• In 1985 moved to Newmarket where Evelyn began career in dentistry as dental x-ray

technologist.

• Both wanted to retire in Gravenhurst after cottaging here for years. Moved to a

small cottage/home on Lake Muskoka and Evelyn got a job with Dr. John Robinson.

• Took an 8-month trip in their RV in 2002

• Now have 6 grandchildren

• Evelyn’s interests have included singing with barbershop group since 1975 and stay-

ing “in tune” with happenings in and around Gravenhurst

• Loves to volunteers at the Centre but also is involved with the Gravenhurst Rape

Payers Assn. is a member of Mukoka Bay Associantion, and Gravenhurst Transportation Committee.

• She and her husband Rick were responsible for the Children’s Memorial Gazebo

located on the Wharf peninsula

PAT JOHNSON

• Born and raised in Toronto—attended Jarvis Collegiate

• Met husband Paul when working at Andras, Hatch & McCarthy on Bay Street where she

worked in the office and Paul was an internal auditor

• Moved to Ajax in 1972 where Pat became a stay-at-home Mom to their two children Kim-

berley and Christopher—Paul commuted to Toronto

• After children grew, she worked part-time and eventually became a legal assistant to a

lawyer in Whitby (for 15 years)

• Pat became familiar with Muskoka when she would come to a cottage with one of her girl-

friends —they loved going to Jerry Dunns in Bala to hear the big bands and to dance

• Paul and Pat began looking for a retirement spot all over Ontario and numerous times

travelled through Gravenhurst . They liked the “feeling of home” in Gravenhurst. Ended up buying a lot and built their present home in 2003.

• Paul and Pat were among the first group of volunteers at the Heritage Centre (2006). They have enjoyed the

“fun” volunteering experience. Unfortunately Paul has not been able to continue because of health issues. Besides being at the Centre, Pat has also done some volunteering at the Steamship office.

• Passions include their three (fourth to arrive in January) grandchildren. Both love to travel and have just re-

turned from an extensive trip driving north U.S. to B.C. They spend part of their winters in South Carolina and Pat has recently taken up playing golf!

• Pat has a wonderful knack of decorating and helps each year to decorate the Centre for Christmas. Also helps

with the Santa Claus Parade.

Moving boatsMoving boatsMoving boatsMoving boats

Fall Tour Groups

An amazing find in grandfather’s chest… and a gen-erous donation of it! An exciting Archives winter project!!! Archives begins Thursday, October 27!!

Work Crew

Boats waiting to be hoisted out of the water

1925 Rice Lake

Canoe

♦ Santa Claus Parade—mark your calendar!!

Saturday, November 19—Come support the Muskoka

Steamship & Historical Society, decorate the float and walk in the parade! More details will be sent to you by email

♦ Volunteer Wine & Cheese—December 16—2:00 p.m. Be sure to mark your calendar for this last volunteer event

of the year!

Photos submitted by

Volunteer Barry Radford

Volunteer Stars Can you identify

them?

#1

#2

#3

1. Al Rivers

2. Ruth & Rick Bednar

3. Gord McKenzie

4. Bill Gilbert

#4

Answers

September 22nd a group of volunteers gathered at the Heritage Centre to get some helpful hints from Pru Donaldson, Muskoka actor, and some encouragement to consider “volunteering in character”. We also discovered some very capable talents within the volunteer group to get this concept going! Why not join the group to help you get a costume together as well—next meeting

will be Thursday, October 13 at 1:30 p.m.

Happy Birthday

LORRAINE!

♫♫♫♫

OK,

Joanne

& Ann—

shake

it

girls!!

Come on Evelyn...Sing it out!!




Show’s

over

Pat!

Email address:

[email protected]

Website: www.realmuskoka.com

Phone: 705-687-2115

It is hard to believe that we are already coming so close to the end of the 2011 sailing season! Thankyou again to all the volunteers who have been so faithful in being on duty at the Centre, at the Heritage Boatworks busily restoring the boats, behind the scenes working on the exhibits or other projects, fixing things up as needs have arisen or being here to help out for a variety of reasons!! We cannot say often enough that we simply could not run a “smooth ship” without all of you!! The Wednesday Work Crew started with their regu-lar routine as of September 21st. Ann has been compiling her list of things to be done, and is happy to get them looked after. The Boatworks will continue with their restorations of boats at the Heritage Boatworks Shop. Archives will begin the winter schedule on Thursday, October 27th, with their regular time frame of 10-4—you choose when you come in, or how long! I’m sure Mary Storey has been adding to her list of projects as well that will keep this enthusiastic group busy. You are very welcome to join them!! Don’t forget that the Centre will continue to be open during the fall/winter/spring season, right up until the sailing season in 2012. Post season means we are open Tuesdays to Saturdays 10-4, closed on Sundays and Mondays. Before long we will be asking for your participation in the Santa Claus Parade. Yikes, that means winter is just around the corner!! In the meantime, however, let’s enjoy the wonder of the amazing blaze of colour that is all around us. Thankyou again for all the ways that you have helped to make this sum-mer an enjoyable and successful season! Louise Boese

Volunteer Co-Coordinator

Bruce Cleland

Josef & Louella from The Netherlands: “In Holland we have lots of boats, but what we have seen here is absolutely “art”. Very impressing!” Tyler from Ottawa: “This place is SWEET!” Lois & Al from Lake Joseph: Al’s Dad (Hugh Alexander Fraser) worked for Ditchburn building boats in the late 30’s. He helped build 2 OPP boats. Thanks for preserving our Muskoka heritage!” Renata from Gracenhurst: “WOW!” Richard & Kathleen from Montreal: “Wonderful museum, lovely staff!” Jean & Nialei: “Nous avons fait un magnifiue voyage dans le temps grâce ce votre exposition que est splendid. Merci!”

Volunteer Excursion— Who are

they looking at and listening to?? Check inside for

more info!! ►►►

They are looking at, and listening to— Jeff Gabura, explaining his vision and

“journey” of restoring S.S.Bigwin

SS Bigwin was built by Polson Iron Works and launched in 1910 During its lifetime the SS Bigwin has been a pleasure yacht for millionaires and a ferry

boat for celebrities and dignitaries Began its career as the Ella May, one of a pair of steamships owned by the wealthy Kuhn

family of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania – used to transport friends and family to their pri-vately owned Belle Island near Beaumaris on Lake Muskoka

Financial troubles forced them to sell Ella May to Bigwin Inn on Lake of Bays in 1924, owned by Charles O. Shaw

Used as a tugboat initially until it replaced the much larger Iroquois as the ferry that car-ried guests to the resort.

The good times eventually came to an end for both the Bigwin Inn and the SS Bigwin steamship in 1969. Hotel went bankrupt and the boat was put into the boathouse where it sat until 1991. It was actually partially submerged in the water.

From there it was floated to South Portage where it stayed in a field until rediscovered by Jeff Gabura in 2002

After almost ten years (he was thinking two!!), the Bigwin restoration project is close to be-ing completed and Bigwin will be ready to cruise on Lake of Bays, hopefully, in 2012.


volunteer excursion— bruce cleland · 2011. 10. 13. · louise boese volunteer co-coordinator...

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