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HomeNewsThe Famous Origins Of The First Retail Establishment In Fenelon Falls

The Famous Origins Of The First Retail Establishment In Fenelon Falls

This article is part of our partnership with Maryboro Lodge, The Fenelon Falls Museum.

KAWARTHA LAKES=Do you know what Fenelon’s first retail establishment was?

A Tavern Operated by Robert Jameson, grandson of the John Jameson, the famous Dublin distiller.
Old Jameson bottle
It is hard to place exactly where the tavern was because it predates both photography and having the town surveyed into streets. At the time, it would have been hard to miss, because there were precious few buildings… so there would be no real reason to give directions of exactly where it was. It seems to have been on the north side of the river, probably not very far from the falls, and more or less where the downtown is now.
As was the custom back in Britain, taverns were a place to eat, drink and sleep, and were typically one of the first businesses established in Upper Canadian settler communities. Fenelon Falls, like many other nascent villages, was privately owned by Robert Jameson and his business partner James Wallis (who built Maryboro Lodge). Both were younger sons from wealthy families, who would not inherit the family fortune back home, so they were seeking a way to maintain the social standing they had grown up accustomed to.
The Jamesons’ family business needed no introduction. Robert was the grandson of John Jameson, whose whiskey was already world-famous.
John Jameson
Jameson & Wallis’ business was land speculation, as they snapped up land from the government, hoping to resell it at a profit. They then developed community improvements, such as the mills and a tavern, hoping to attract settlers to the area, who hopefully would buy one of their parcels. However, there was no shortage of government land, so why would anybody buy their lots at a premium price?

In the end, Jameson & Wallis’ venture at Fenelon Falls completely unprofitable—they had been throwing good money after bad. But their misguided investments did help to get the community started. Both had to move on to other ventures.

Robert Jameson died before cameras became common and there is no known likeness of him. The only image of the tavern comes from an Anne Langton sketch.

Maryboro Lodge, The Fenelon Falls Museum has been hit hard by the pandemic.

If you want to make a donation to the museum, you can e-transfer to: curator@maryboro.ca
or mail a cheque to :
Maryboro Lodge Museum
Box 179
50 Oak Street
Fenelon Falls, ON
K0M 1N0

 

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