![BobyLocks](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/BobyLocks.JPG)
Bobcaygeon is a community on the
Trent–Severn Waterway
The Trent–Severn Waterway is a canal route connecting Lake Ontario at Trenton to Georgian Bay, Lake Huron, at Port Severn. Its major natural waterways include the Trent River, Otonabee River, Kawartha Lakes, Lake Simcoe, Lake Couchiching an ...
in the
City of Kawartha Lakes
The City of Kawartha Lakes (2021 population 79,247) is a unitary municipality in Central Ontario, Canada. It is a municipality legally structured as a single-tier city; however, Kawartha Lakes is the size of a typical Ontario county and is mostl ...
, east-central
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
, Canada.
Bobcaygeon was incorporated as a village in 1876, and became known as the "Hub of the Kawarthas". Its recorded name ''bob-ca-je-wan-unk'' comes either from the
Mississauga Ojibway word ''baabaagwaajiwanaang'' "at the very shallow currents", ''giishkaabikojiwanaang'' "at the cliffed cascades" or ''obaabikojiwanaang'' "at currented rocky narrows", or from the French ''beau bocage'' "beautiful hedged farmland". The first
lock
Lock(s) may refer to:
Common meanings
*Lock and key, a mechanical device used to secure items of importance
*Lock (water navigation), a device for boats to transit between different levels of water, as in a canal
Arts and entertainment
* ''Lock ...
in the Trent-Severn Waterway was built in Bobcaygeon in 1833.
The town is situated on three islands, along with the main land.
Bobcaygeon's chief industry is tourism, particularly related to recreational fishing. Bobcaygeon is a hub for the region, providing many of the services unavailable in the smaller neighbouring communities.
History
French explorer
Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain (; Fichier OrigineFor a detailed analysis of his baptismal record, see RitchThe baptism act does not contain information about the age of Samuel, neither his birth date nor his place of birth. – 25 December 1635) was a Fre ...
, during his 1615 military expedition through the
French colony
The French colonial empire () comprised the overseas colonies, protectorates and mandate territories that came under French rule from the 16th century onward. A distinction is generally made between the "First French Colonial Empire", that existe ...
of
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
in
New France
New France (french: Nouvelle-France) was the area colonized by France in North America, beginning with the exploration of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Great Britain and Spai ...
, passed through the area that would later become Bobcaygeon. In 1763, France ceded the colony to
Great Britain
Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...
, and it continued as the
British colony
The British Overseas Territories (BOTs), also known as the United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs), are fourteen territories with a constitutional and historical link with the United Kingdom. They are the last remnants of the former Bri ...
of the
Province of Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirteen p ...
. In 1791, the colony was divided, with the area including the future Bobcaygeon becoming part of
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada (french: link=no, province du Haut-Canada) was a part of British Canada established in 1791 by the Kingdom of Great Britain, to govern the central third of the lands in British North America, formerly part of the ...
.
By the early 1830s, the colonial government of Upper Canada had completed its survey of the
Township of Verulam and the area began to attract settlers. Thomas Need, who arrived in 1832, is recognized as one of the earliest settlers of the Township of Verulam and is the founder of Bobcaygeon. With his purchase of of land, Need built a sawmill,
gristmill
A gristmill (also: grist mill, corn mill, flour mill, feed mill or feedmill) grinds cereal grain into flour and Wheat middlings, middlings. The term can refer to either the Mill (grinding), grinding mechanism or the building that holds it. Grist i ...
, and the first store.
In 1833, the government began construction of a
lock
Lock(s) may refer to:
Common meanings
*Lock and key, a mechanical device used to secure items of importance
*Lock (water navigation), a device for boats to transit between different levels of water, as in a canal
Arts and entertainment
* ''Lock ...
and
canal
Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or engineered channels built for drainage management (e.g. flood control and irrigation) or for conveyancing water transport vehicles (e.g. water taxi). They carry free, calm surface flow un ...
at the narrows between
Pigeon Lake and
Sturgeon Lake. This was the first lock constructed on the
Trent–Severn Waterway
The Trent–Severn Waterway is a canal route connecting Lake Ontario at Trenton to Georgian Bay, Lake Huron, at Port Severn. Its major natural waterways include the Trent River, Otonabee River, Kawartha Lakes, Lake Simcoe, Lake Couchiching an ...
. The community began to develop around the lock, sawmill and gristmill. Need became the first
postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office, responsible for all postal activities in a specific post office. When a postmaster is responsible for an entire mail distribution organization (usually sponsored by a national government), ...
of the growing community.
The government had reserved and surveyed a town site on the north bank of Bobcaygeon River between Sturgeon and Pigeon Lakes, which was named
Rokeby by visiting Lieutenant Governor
John Colborne
Field Marshal John Colborne, 1st Baron Seaton, (16 February 1778 – 17 April 1863) was a British Army officer and colonial governor. After taking part as a junior officer in the Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland, Sir Ralph Abercromby's expedit ...
. Need laid out streets and plotted lots on the island, which was named Bobcaygeon. Today, Bobcaygeon designates an area on both sides of the Bobcaygeon River, after the
post office
A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, such as accepting letters and parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post offices may offer additional serv ...
was established on the island by postmaster Need.
In 1841, the colony of Upper Canada merged into the new colony of the
Province of Canada
The Province of Canada (or the United Province of Canada or the United Canadas) was a British North America, British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham ...
. In 1844, Need sold his profitable business interests to
Mossom Boyd, and returned to England. In the 1850s, the economic development of Bobcaygeon was stimulated by Boyd's lumbering business, as he and his sons built up a logging enterprise that was recognized as the third largest logging operation in Upper Canada. In addition to timbering, the Boyds also operated a system of steamboats under the name Trent Valley Navigation Company, as well as an experimental
beefalo
Beefalo constitute a hybrid offspring of domestic cattle (''Bos taurus''), usually a male in managed breeding programs, and the American bison (''Bison bison''), usually a female in managed breeding programs. The breed was created to combine the ...
herd on Boyd Island. Descendants of this herd remain in
Alberta
Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...
.
With
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation (french: Confédération canadienne, link=no) was the process by which three British North American provinces, the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, were united into one federation called the Canada, Dom ...
in 1867, Bobcaygeon became part of the province of
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
in the new country of
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
. By 1869, Bobcaygeon was a village with a population of 800 in the Township of Verulam,
Victoria County Victoria County is the name of several locations:
In Australia:
*Victoria County, Western Australia
* County of Victoria, South Australia
In Canada:
* Victoria County, New Brunswick
* Municipality of the County of Victoria and the eponymous histo ...
. There was a good trade in lumber, limestone, hides, grain and the GalKay lead mine. There were
stagecoach
A stagecoach is a four-wheeled public transport coach used to carry paying passengers and light packages on journeys long enough to need a change of horses. It is strongly sprung and generally drawn by four horses although some versions are draw ...
es to the Ontario communities of
Lindsay,
Peterborough
Peterborough () is a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, east of England. It is the largest part of the City of Peterborough unitary authority district (which covers a larger area than Peterborough itself). It was part of Northamptonshire until ...
and
Minden
Minden () is a middle-sized town in the very north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, the greatest town between Bielefeld and Hanover. It is the capital of the district (''Kreis'') of Minden-Lübbecke, which is part of the region of Detm ...
. In summer, boats travelled to Lindsay and Peterborough. The average price of land was $20 per acre (equivalent to $ in ).
Bobcaygeon, with a population of about 1,000, was incorporated as a village by a Victoria County
by-law
A by-law (bye-law, by(e)law, by(e) law), or as it is most commonly known in the United States bylaws, is a set of rules or law established by an organization or community so as to regulate itself, as allowed or provided for by some higher authorit ...
in 1876.
A group of local businessmen worked for many years to bring a railway into Bobcaygeon. Sir Sam Hughes sat on the board of the
Lindsay, Pontypool & Bobcaygeon Railway. The line was leased to the
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway (french: Chemin de fer Canadien Pacifique) , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadi ...
on completion. In July 1904 the first passenger train steamed into town. The service lasted until 1957, the railway lands becoming the Beach Park.
The village government joined with the Township of Verulam in 1999. In 2000, it was amalgamated with the other municipalities of Victoria County by the provincial government following the recommendations of the Victoria County Restructuring Commission, led by commissioner Harry Kitchen. Now Bobcaygeon exists as a community within the City of
Kawartha Lakes
The City of Kawartha Lakes (2021 population 79,247) is a unitary municipality in Central Ontario, Canada. It is a municipality legally structured as a single-tier city; however, Kawartha Lakes is the size of a typical Ontario county and is mostl ...
.
Education
*Bobcaygeon Public School
Media
*The ''
Bobcaygeon Independent
The ''Bobcaygeon Independent'' was the weekly community newspaper in Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1869. Ownership changed hands many times over the years, until it was purchased along with then owner, Citizens Communication G ...
'' was the local newspaper, established in 1869. Its last issue was printed in December 2004.
*The ''
Central Ontario Visitor'' (another local publication) was printed and released weekly with the ''Bobcaygeon Independent'' between the months of May through October from 1985 to 1999.
*''The Promoter'' (another local publication) and one of the few remaining independent newspapers, published its first issue on March 15, 1991.
In popular culture
The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip, often referred to simply as the Hip, were a Canadian rock band formed in Kingston, Ontario in 1984, consisting of vocalist Gord Downie, guitarist Paul Langlois, guitarist Rob Baker (known as Bobby Baker until 1994), bassi ...
released a song entitled "
Bobcaygeon
Bobcaygeon is a community on the Trent–Severn Waterway in the City of Kawartha Lakes, east-central Ontario, Canada.
Bobcaygeon was incorporated as a village in 1876, and became known as the "Hub of the Kawarthas". Its recorded name ''bob-c ...
" in 1998. Although it was not specifically written about the town (which was chosen to complete a rhyme), the song has still been culturally associated with Bobcaygeon. In 2011, as part of
Big Music Fest, the Tragically Hip performed a concert in Bobcaygeon. In 2016, a viewing event for the band's
final concert in
Kingston was held on Bobcaygeon's main street. The crowd of roughly 5,000 made it the largest public event in the community's history, with attendance boosted by fans who travelled specifically to Bobcaygeon. A candlelight vigil was held in Bobcaygeon on the night following the death of the band's lead singer and lyricist,
Gord Downie
Gordon Edgar Downie (February 6, 1964 – October 17, 2017) was a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, musician, writer and activist. He was the singer and lyricist for the Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, which he fronted from its forma ...
.
In 2001, Bobcaygeon hosted an episode of the
OLN
OLN (formerly Outdoor Life Network) is a Canadian English-language Category A specialty channel. OLN primarily broadcasts factual-based and adventure-related reality programming aimed at male audiences. OLN is wholly owned by Rogers Sports & ...
reality television series ''Drifters: The Water Wars'' as they passed through the
Trent–Severn Waterway
The Trent–Severn Waterway is a canal route connecting Lake Ontario at Trenton to Georgian Bay, Lake Huron, at Port Severn. Its major natural waterways include the Trent River, Otonabee River, Kawartha Lakes, Lake Simcoe, Lake Couchiching an ...
.
Events
*The village's
Canada Day
Canada Day (french: Fête du Canada), formerly known as Dominion Day (french: Fête du Dominion), is the national day of Canada. A federal statutory holiday, it celebrates the anniversary of Canadian Confederation which occurred on July 1, 18 ...
festivities are held at Tommy Anderson Park, and its fireworks display is held at Beach Park.
*During the last weekend in May or the first weekend in June, Bobcaygeon hosts an "Unlock The Summer" Event, as a kick off for summer, and the first opening of the locks of the season.
*Bobcaygeon hosts the annual Ontario Open Fiddle & Stepdance Competition during the last weekend of July. The first was held in October 1970, as part of the annual Fall Fair. It became the Ontario Open Fiddle Contest in 1971, and became a separate event with a July event date in 1973. In 1974, with the addition of step-dancing to the contest, it became the "Ontario Open Fiddle & Stepdance Competition".
*The annual Bobcaygeon Fall Fair takes place during the last weekend of September. The first was held in 1858.
*Bobcaygeon hosts an annual cruisefest for classic and custom cars in the second week of September. The first was held in 1996.
*The Kawartha Settlers' Village in Bobcaygeon holds the town's annual Festival of Trees in the second week of November.
The first was held in 1997.
*Sponsored by local churches & merchants, the annual Bobcaygeon House Tour takes place in mid-June, where six Bobcaygeon homes are toured, along with an art show at the Trinity United Church. The first was held in 1992.
*The Canada/US Walleye Tournament takes place in May, with weigh-in and outdoors show hosted at the Bobcaygeon-Verulam Community Centre.
Notable people
*
Brady Austin
Brady Austin (born June 16, 1993) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently playing for Kölner Haie in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Austin was selected in the seventh round (193rd overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draf ...
, professional hockey player
*
Allan Stanley
Allan Herbert Stanley (March 1, 1926 – October 18, 2013) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played for the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hocke ...
, professional hockey player
References
External links
Bobcaygeon & Area Chamber of Commerce
{{authority control
Former villages in Ontario
Communities in Kawartha Lakes
1876 establishments in Ontario