KAWARTHA LAKES-Up to the mid twentieth century, the Orange Order was one of the most popular community organizations, and it seemed that everyone either was a member or knew someone who was. Many communities, including some crossroads hamlets had an Orange Lodge. The Order was named for the Protestant William of Orange, who defeated the deposed King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, to secure the crown of England and Scotland, while ensuring the ascendancy of Protestantism. The organization was officially Protestant, and at times in Upper Canada, later Ontario, there was violent conflict between Protestants and Catholics. However, in some neighbourhoods the fact that (practically) everyone was Protestant might be taken for granted, and in practicality the Orange Lodge served as a community hall, with the Orange Order as a fraternal organization for community betterment.
The annual Orange Parade on the ‘Glorious’ 12th of July was the biggest event of the year for the Orange Order and often for the community hosting it. Often a community like Fenelon Falls would host the festivities for the surrounding region. A figure on a white horse to represent King William often headed the parade, followed by marching bands and groups carrying banners, wearing the regalia of the Orange Order, typically from many different communities. In Fenelon Falls, Charles Burgoyne was one of the gentlemen who played King William. It was not always easy to find a white horse, and many people appreciated the irony when rumours spread one year that it had to be borrowed from a Catholic.
In central Ontario, the northern lodges would often celebrate at a town on the Victoria Railway like Fenelon Falls, Kinmount or Haliburton. Lodges further south might parade in Lindsay, Peterborough, Port Hope or Cobourg. It was common for the crowds to number more than 10,000 people. Sometimes there were so many visitors looking to ride the rails to the parade that two trips were scheduled. Residents of communities like Bobcaygeon, that were not located on the railway, travelled by steamship in the nineteenth century.
Lodges, bands and school groups put a lot of work into preparing for the parade, and visitors appreciated seeing these performances. But for many people attending, the highlight was seeing everyone come together to celebrate. Both men and women were typically well dressed for the event. In the era before automobiles, it would be a rare chance to see old friends who lived at a distance. It was often a busy day for main street shops, as people would congregate in their favourite store before or after the parade. By the time everyone headed home, some of the revellers might be a little tipsy from the beverages that were shared—even though many of the host communities were dry towns.
In the second half of the twentieth century, attendance at the Orange Lodge and the Orange Parades began to dwindle as fewer people attended church, let alone concerning themselves with the differences between Protestants and Catholics. Once practically every family had a car, they could drive to other communities to enjoy many new forms of recreation. Many Orange Halls were no longer used, as larger facilities with more amenities were constructed.
This story is part of our partnership with Maryboro Lodge, The Fenelon Falls Museum.
If you want to make a donation to the museum, you can e-transfer to:Â [email protected] or mail a cheque to :
Maryboro Lodge Museum
Box 179
50 Oak Street
Fenelon Falls, ON
K0M 1N0
