KAWARTHA LAKES-Does it seem like winter isn’t as much fun as it used to be? Or at least that it isn’t as wintery as it once was? Well, there was a time when Bobcaygeon hockey players like Paul Junkin (foreground-centre) came to play on Big Bob Channel. Up to the 1960s, many communities maintained outdoor rinks whether it was on a street, river, pond or lake. In smaller settlements like Rosedale and Burnt River, the village teams played on this natural ice. A hockey game on Big Bob Channel would be unthinkable today—it’s open water! Now, local families can skate on the outdoor rink at Tommy Anderson Park or at Bobcaygeon’s Arena instead.
In generations past, social life in Bobcaygeon centred around the waterway and canal much more than it does today. Over at the canal, many local youths loved to jump off the swing bridge into the locks, often swimming among the boats. Would you get charged for that today? Whereas today, many seasonal visitors to the region stay at a cottage, previously the village was home to many more busy inns and lodges. Locust Lodge (now the Bobcaygeon Inn) was one of the most popular in town. In summer, one of the village’s many fishing guides would pick up visitors so they could try their luck and enjoy a shore dinner. In winter, Big Bob Channel remained a lively place.
In the mid twentieth century, local youth spent joyful winters, shoveling off natural ice so they could play hockey or skate. With little in the way of equipment, maybe just tube skates and a straight-blade wooden stick, they made many happy memories. But as the century wore on, hockey and skating became more serious sports. Instead of just playing locally, families would drive long distances so their kids could play in leagues, indoors, with practices, coaches, and full protective equipment. Figure skating similarly came to include elaborate costumes and performances. It has become a special sight indeed to see shinny games, outdoors on natural ice—the way the game was originally played.
This story is part of our partnership with Maryboro Lodge, The Fenelon Falls Museum and was written by Glenn Walker.
If you want to make a donation to the museum, you can e-transfer to: [email protected] or mail a cheque to :
Maryboro Lodge Museum
Box 179
50 Oak Street
Fenelon Falls, ON
K0M 1N0
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