KAWARTHA LAKES-These three aerial photographs show Fenelon Falls from similar vantages looking east from above Cameron Lake. In 1919, it was a special occasion when an aeroplane flew over Fenelon Falls to photograph it from the air. Some of the prominent features in this original photograph still remain: The breakwater leading to the swing railway bridge; the concrete piers separating the channel leading to the canal from the river above the dam and falls; the houses of Oak Street (including Maryboro Lodge, a tourist lodge in 1919, more recently a community museum); the Victorian shops of Colborne Street; and the Burgoyne (later Graham House—the prominent white house beside the railway, later Garnet Graham Park).
In the 1919 photograph, the strip of land between the railway and Cameron Lake was vacant, having recently been home to the Standard Chemical Company. In the early twentieth century, tourists could stay at Maryboro Lodge with the Abbott Sisters, or across the railway tracks in the tourist camp. There were several boat houses along the water. In this era, many people would swim in the canal. By the 1960s, the village’s beach was at the end of Bond Street, affectionately known as “Sawdust Bottom.” Being near the former site of a sawmill, bathers would churn up sawdust as they swam. Swimming piers extended into Cameron Lake, including a large pier near the end of Bond Street. Today, all these piers have been removed, and the south end of Garnet Graham Park (formerly the tourist camp) has been redeveloped into greenspace.
In the photograph from the 1960s, (site not visible on the other two images) Allen Wood Products is visible on the south shore of the Cameron Lake. In this era, this factory produced toys which were marketed nationally through retailers like Eaton’s. Popular products included Bingo Beds (now called pounding benches), Tinkertoys, croquet sets, bead figures (like action figures, but made from wooden beads) and doll furniture. It was the village’s largest employer. In the 1970s it reopened as Swedfurn, which made pine furniture.
In the 1960s Fenelon Falls District High School, later Fenelon Falls Secondary School, had vastly expanded as Continuation Schools in neighbouring villages closed to consolidate all students to two county high schools, the other being LCVI. It appears east of Allen Wood Products, on the opposite side of Helen Street. The present day photograph shows how this building has continued to expand, as it has become normal for most students to complete high school. In the 1960s, many youngsters walked over to Allen Wood Products to begin their working lives, as young as 16.
At the time that the original photograph was taken, Fenelon Falls had a two-flight lock and there were cottages, cabins and businesses on the island. In the early 1960s, the Federal Government terminated the leases for these occupants and cleared the island to create greenspace and a new lock station, which is visible in the 1960s image. Both the 1919 and 1960s images show the old stone grist mill on the north bank of the falls (it burned April 28, 1970) and the Lindsay Power Plant on the south bank (now the Locker at the Falls).
Fenelon Falls from Above Cameron Lake 2026
Since the 1960s photograph was taken, the landmark buildings east of the bridges on the island have been cleared to create more greenspace. All three photographs show the old stone building just south of the falls. Once an office for R.C. Smith’s Sawmill (later leased to J.W. Howry and Sons), it became known as Heritage House, later serving as the village municipal office. Today it is home to RWH Construction. In the 1919 image, the lot behind it was vacant (the sawmill burned, was rebuilt to collect the insurance payment, then dismantled to outfit a mill at Victoria Harbour). Since then, this area served as a municipal works yard and today is home to Sobeys.
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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