History and Heritage Sites

2072 Buckslide Rd.

In 1999, the Anglican Diocese deconsecrated a number of primarily rural churches throughout Ontario. St. Stephen's Church, in the former Stanhope Township, was one such church. The Township collaborated with the newly-incorporated Friends of St. Stephen's Church to take over and maintain the cemetery while the Friends took over the church.  

Boshkung Lake Rd., 2 km from Hwy 35 at T-junction

In 1861 Thomas Mason made his way to Stanhope Township after a remarkable series of escapades. His family farmed the same land for 134 years and along the way experienced success and tragedy. On the corner of the property a small plot holds the remains of three small boys who died in the 1860s and 1870s.

One of the greatest schemes in Ontario's logging history was the Gilmour Tramway, a complicated series of log chutes and jackladders built to get Algonquin white pine to mill all the way down at Trenton. Starting in the village of Dorset and travelling through lakes in Stanhope, the tramway was the crucial link in a 445 kilometre journey. The epic story was the topic of two books, When Giants Fall and The Gilmour Tramway. Visit the Dorset Heritage Museum to see a fabulous scale model of the tramway.

1090 Main St., Dorset

The Bigwin Steamship was rescued from a watery grave and restored over an 8-year period by the Lake of Bays Marine Museum. The S.S. Bigwin was one of the last remaining steam vessels to operate on Lake of Bays and was officially re-launched in 2010. The permanent home of the S.S. Bigwin is in Dorset at the original wharf and property used by the Huntsville and Lake of Bays Navigation Company. Thousands of dollars were donated by the community toward this historic preservation project and a variety of themed cruises can be enjoyed throughout the summer season.

The driving tour is a dandy little self-guided exploration of some of the sites listed here, with photos and brief explanations including what's private property and where you can get out for a stretch. Get a PDF copy here.

Main St., Dorset

The original bridge spanning the narrows in Dorset was built in 1895 and collapsed in 1905. The current arched, single-lane bridge was built by Western Bridge & Equipment in 1914 and has remained vitually unchanged since then. It's arched or "humpback" shape was to allow the passage of boats such as the S.S. Iroquois. The bridge is an iconic symbol of the village of Dorset and its history.

3979 Highway 60, Oxtongue Lake

Many notable artists found inspriation in the stunning and rugged landscapes of Haliburton and Muskoka. Among these artists were members of the Group of Seven. Franz Johnson's family lived in the village of Dorset and in tribute, the Dorset Museum is home to three outdoor Johnson murals as part of the tours of the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery. 

A.J. Casson spent a lot of time in the area, painting many images up and down what's now Hwy 35. Casson's deep and long-standing connection to Oxtongue Lake is honoured in an outdoor display at the Oxtongue Lake Community Centre on Hwy 60.

One of the most spectacular cascades of water in Haliburton is Buckslides, named after Daniel Buck owner of a lumber mill at the end of Kushog Lake where a timber slide was constructed to navigate the tumultuous waterway. Buck's timber slide was known casually as "Buck's slide" and the road to Buck's slide eventually became Buckslides Road. Buckslides, painted by Group of Seven member A.J. Casson in 1938, is best viewed from the road, which allows observers to avoid private property.

Boshkung Lake Rd., 100m off Hwy 35, at the speed sign

Tucked away from passersby on Boshkung Lake Road is the final resting place of a handful of early Boshkung settlers. Little is known about why this small group of unrelated folks was buried in this particular location; folklore says they were moved from another nearby location. Behind the painted rock just off Hwy 35 is a stone cairn with a plaque of names. Up the hill is an unremarkable space with remnants of a scattering of head tones. 

The most famous crop in all of Haliburton County is rocks! Early farmers had to clear trees and pry stones from the land before they could plant crops to survive. That's why we call their life "hardscrabble." Hand-built stone fences are a silent testament to our heritage and can be seen all over the area, with a special few on Boshkung Lake Road, where they were built in the 1860s. Keep an eye out when you're driving around.

A wee wander through our local burying grounds will provide a bit of time travel. Choose from St. Stephen's on Buckslides Rd.; Zion United in Carnarvon; St. Peter's at Maple Lake; or Maple Lake United near the airport. You can find these locations on the County of Haliburton's interactive map.

1584 Big Hawk Lake Rd.

The last of its kind in Ontario, this iconic landmark was first built in 1870 and fully restored in 2005 along with explanations of the who, what and why of an industry that at one time employed most of the men in Upper Canada. You'll never see anything like this beautiful and rugged site. 

In 1951 local resident Frank Hubbel donated land for a schoolhouse. The charming little school was sided with stone and had the usual Girls and Boys entrances. In the 1960s when one-room schools were being amalgmated into larger educational systems, the school was taken over by a citizens group. The municipality took it over in the 1970s and its use as a community centre has increased dramatically, the most recent augmentation being an outdoor exhibit honouring the community's relationship with the Group of Seven, and A.J. Casson in particular.