KAWARTHA LAKES-“Mossom Boyd was born in India” where his father served in the army. “He came first to England and then to Bobcaygeon. He started off near the Beehive [Boyd was on Lot 15 Concession IV, Verulam at Kelly’s Bay, on the north shore of Sturgeon Lake], halfway between here and Fenelon Falls on a farm. He found out there was no money in farming, so he came to town, and started working for Thomas Need. Thomas Need started a sawmill here, and he started working for Thomas Need. Thomas Need was here for about six years, he was a bachelor,” until his aunt “left him some money back in England so he went back.”
Mossom married Caroline Dunsford (who had grown up at the Beehive, near Mossom’s original farm and was his business partner’s sister) and they had six children together. “He had the big lumber mill going, with 600 men working in the bush cutting down the virgin pine trees between here and Haliburton.” After Caroline passed away, “he wrote to a girl in England that he used to know, Letitia Cust and she came over here.” They had three children together.
This story is a memory and memories aren’t perfect. Sometimes details get a little mixed up, things get forgotten or overlooked, and the perspective is inevitably subjective. If you notice something that’s not right, have something you would like to tell us, or a memory to share the museum would be happy to hear from you: [email protected]
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
