History
Local Builder
The Midland Boat and Canoe Company was listed among the merchants in a 1906 business directory. It was operated by W.H. Hacker and located at the foot of King St. in Midland, Ontario. Their biggest business was renting houseboats which they towed to permanent settlers scattered along the wilderness shores of Georgian Bay as back...
History
Vintage Motors
Boating technology has obviously come a long way since this outboard motor was the cutting edge of design in 1931. This is a Johnson 8 horsepower motor that would have been used to get people to their cottages on the remote islands of Georgian Bay. The Georgian Bay Heritage League has brought this gem back...
Restorations
Odd Angles
Restoring vintage wooden boats is a passion which combines an obsession with wood, a love of the water as well as an appreciation of history and heritage. Seldom does the practice of bringing an historical wooden boat back to life involve square cuts; everything has either roundness or odd angles since, obviously, perfectly “square” boats...
History
Marine Heritage
In the early 1900’s, the wooden boat played a much more central role in daily life on Georgian Bay. Today, boats have a mostly recreational place in our culture, whereas back then it was even a major local employer. The names Grew, Gidley, Norse and Midland Boat Works, all historical boat building companies, come to...
Restorations
Crafting Oars
The keeper of a lighthouse on Georgian Bay would spend the whole summer at his post, sometimes with his family, often miles away from the nearest land access. A lighthouse boat was therefore standard equipment. But without a serviceable set of oars, 2 or 4 on a tandem boat, he would be the open water...
History
Grew Boats
Henry E. Gidley established a boat building company in Penetanguishene, Ontario in the late 1800’s. He built a wide range of boats from canoes, rowboats, sailing skiffs, scows, and small powered fishing boats. Gidley Boats also offered a line of pleasure craft, including the “Kittyhawk”, built for Wilbur Wright (of the famous “Wright Brothers”) who...
History
The Midland Boat and Canoe Company
The Midland Boat and Canoe Company was listed among the merchants in a 1906 business directory. It was operated by W.H. Hacker and located at the foot of King St. in Midland, Ontario. Their biggest business was renting houseboats which they towed to permanent settlers scattered along the wilderness shores of Georgian Bay as back...