STORY STORY - Real Muskoka

The
Real Real Muskoka
Issue 83 Fall 2012
The Curious
Miss Carstairs:
”Part Two”
S.S. Muskoka:
A Tug Turned Steamer
Wanda III Gets
A Makeover:
Caring For Our
Glamourous Girl
STORY
published quarterly by the
Muskoka Steamship
& Historical Society

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In This Issue: About Us:
FeatureS:
tHe CuriouS MiSS CarStairS:
Marion Barbara “Betty” Carstairs—Part two
Bruce Cleland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8–9
S.S. MuSkoka: the Story of a tug
turned Steamer Andrew Hind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10–11
Wanda III GetS a Makeover:
Caring For our Glamourous Girl
Ray Windsor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14–15
ColuMnS:
on tHe Horizon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
PreSiDent’S MeSSaGe Blair McMurchy . . . . . . . . . .4–5
General ManaGer’S rePort John Miller . . . . . . . .6
MeMBerSHiP MatterS John Glendinning . . . . . . . . . .6
Junior StokerS’ PaGe Austen McMurchy . . . . . . . 17
extraS:
SoCiety nuMBerS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
2012 GolF tournaMent John Glendinning . . . . . . .7
WelCoMe aBoarD! new Society Members . . 11
SoMe SoCiety HaPPeninGS:
2012 in Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12–13
CruiSinG—2012 Style!: 100 Mile Cruise
2012 & Members’ day Cruise . . . . . . . . .Back Cover
Cover photo: 100 Mile Cruise: 2012 . Photo by Bev McMullen .
Unless otherwise noted, all historical photos appear courtesy the
Archives Department at MBHC .
Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society
The Real Muskoka Experience
Muskoka Steamships
185 Cherokee Lane
Gravenhurst, Ontario PIP IZ9
Phone: 1-705-687-6667 • Toll Free: 1-866-687-6667
Fax: 1-705-687-7820
Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre
275 Steamship Bay Road
Gravenhurst, Ontario PIP IZ9
Phone: 1-705-687-2115 • Fax: 1-705-687-9408
www.realmuskoka.com
Mission Statement:
The Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society preserves,
educates and promotes the traditions of the steamship,
boat building and resort era in Muskoka.
The Real Muskoka Story Issue 83 • Fall 2012
Muskoka Steamship &
Historical Society:
General Manager: John Miller
Operations Manager: Ann Curley
Sales Director: Cathy Tait
Sales & Marketing Manager:
Christi Gardner
Comptroller: Molly Rivers
Volunteer Coordinator:
Cindy Peterson
Please direct membership emails to:
membership@realmuskoka.com
Regarding our cruises, kindly email:
info@realmuskoka.com
Board of Directors:
275 Steamship Bay Road
Gravenhurst, Ontario PIP IZ9
www.realmuskoka.com
Charity Registration #13261 7770
President, Chairman:
Blair McMurchy
Vice President: Rick Terry
Treasurer: Stan Meek
Membership Committee
Chairman, Secretary:
John Glendinning
Additional Directors:
Rob Clark, Bill Garriock, Gary Getson,
Dunc Hawkins, John Lee, Jim Lewis,
Bruce Patterson, Hank Smith,
Mary Storey, Murray Walker
Muskoka Steamships
Directors:
President: Rick McGraw
Vice President: Blair McMurchy
Secretary: TBA
Treasurer: Stan Meek
Director: Rob Clark
The Real Muskoka Story:
Advertising: Mary Jean Cline
jc466@rogers.com 1-705-687-2960
Managing Editor: Mary Storey
archives@realmuskoka.com
Editorial & Design: Ellen Carnahan
Submissions are most welcome; they
may be edited for clarity and brevity .
3

on the Horizon
Basket Weaving Workshop:
Saturday, November 3 at Muskoka Boat & Heritage
Centre. Instructor Leslie Songer Terry has been a basket
weaver since 1986 and is an active participant in the
Muskoka Arts and Craft Shows. Cost $65.00 includes
all materials. Space is limited, please call 687-2115.
Canvas a Classic Heritage
Canoe Workshop:
November 6, 8, 13, 15 7:00–9:00 p.m. at Heritage Boatworks.
Learn how to re-canvas a classic wood canoe, which
includes the type of canvas, stretching the canvas on the
canoe, the fasteners and filler used, how to apply to paint
& varnish, replace gunwales, stem and keel. Great introduction
to canoe restoration. Call 687-2115 to register.
keeping your Body Healthy:
Tuesday, November 6 1:00–2:30 p.m. at Muskoka
Boat & Heritage Centre. Speaker Dr. Michael Taylor is
a well-established Chiropractor in Gravenhurst and
will discuss the benefits of chiropractic care.
on the Move for Seniors:
Tuesday, November 13 1:00–2:30 p.m. at Muskoka
Boat & Heritage Centre. Speaker Marilyn Hovius from
the Gravenhurst YMCA will speak about the benefits
of exercise and how it will improve your quality of life,
regardless of age. Come and discuss the positive effects
of exercise and what you can do to help yourself.
Black Friday Shopping event:
Friday, November 23 10:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
at Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre. Start your
Christmas Shopping at our Black Friday Sale.
restore a Classic Heritage
Canoe Workshop:
January 2013 32 Sessions—Learn how to restore a classic
canvas wood canoe which includes paint stripping, replacing
planking, ribs, gunwales, thwarts, seats, steam bending,
hardware and many other construction tips. During the down
time, you will make a canoe paddle and take the paddle home.
Cost: $295.00 for Members; $325.00 Non-Members. Please
call 687-2115 to register for this course—space is limited.
Also makes a great Christmas gift!
Muskoka Wedding Show:
January 12–13, 2013 The third annual Muskoka Wedding
Show will be held at the Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre.
It features over 50 vendors and showcasing everything
for the bride-to-be from sophisticated gowns to
photography and décor. The Muskoka Wedding Show
promises glitz and glamour for that special day. The
weekend will also offer elegant bridal fashion shows,
delicious food sampling and incredible door prizes!
Contact us:
Call 705-687-2115 for more information, or
visit our website at www.realmuskoka.com.
President’s Message:
Now that all of the 125th Anniversary Celebrations
of RMS Segwun and the 2012 sailing season have
drawn to a close, I would like to take this opportunity
to thank everyone involved for your part in making
those events such a success—as organizers, helpers
and by attending. It was indeed a wonderful summer
of celebration for the “Icon of Muskoka,” from the
parade through downtown Gravenhurst, the Salute
fly-by of the Canadian Snow Birds and the flotilla
of Antique Classic Boats escorting RMS Segwun and
Wenonah II on the re-enactment of the 100 Mile
Cruise. Each was an amazing event.
As I write this, my last president’s message, dockside
on the shore of Lake Muskoka, I find myself staring at
the calm waters reflecting the beautiful fall colours,
I too will reflect on the past years as President of
the Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society. In
reviewing my previous 18 President’s Messages, I am
reminded what a ride these past years have been,
many full of interesting challenges, including SARS,
West Nile, interesting weather/tornados, a down
turn in the economy, (all adversely affecting tourism
in the region), changes in the municipal landscape;
shifting Transport Canada regulations and ongoing
financial bank loan obligations. Through it all we
as an organization successfully navigated those
challenges, emerging as a stronger, more diverse
and financially sound Society.
To quote my first President’s message, my two top
priorities would be: “getting the next generation
more involved” and “preserving the financial wellbeing
of the ships and the Muskoka Boat & Heritage
Centre (MBHC).” I believe this first goal is well
underway, with the establishment of the Junior
Stokers initiative, chaired by Austen McMurchy, the
creation of themed cruises and exhibits such as the
Pirate Cruises, Noah’s Ark Cruises, Lego exhibit and
the MBHC Educational Outreach Programs to public
schools in the region, just to mention a few. I have
had the opportunity to see the Society through both
my eyes and those of my son, Austen. This has
confirmed that we indeed have something to offer
for all ages. And involving the next generation is
how we as a Society will stay strong and vibrant.
My second priority was the financial well-being of
this Society. An important strategy in achieving this
goal has been to effectively get the message out
about the Real Muskoka Experience. This has been
accomplished through aggressive marketing and
strategic public relation initiatives. This included
being featured on the CBC’s The Rick Mercer Report,
City TV’s Breakfast Television, CTV 2’s News Hour,
as well as making sure we are featured in all the
appropriate tourism literature of the region and
Canada. All of this has resulted in our Society,
4 Issue 83 • Fall 2012 The Real Muskoka Story

with the ships RMS Segwun
and Wenonah II, being
recognized by the Canadian
Tourism Commission as one
of only 115 chosen sites
in Canada, and the only
one in the Muskoka Region
that has been designated
to the world as a “Must
see Signature Canadian
Attraction” when visiting
Canada. In addition, the
MBHC has not only become
a premier tourist attraction
and event centre but also
a recognized archival and
research centre known
throughout the world. Over the past five years, our tourism/
fare revenue numbers are up anywhere from 2% (to this year’s
11%) while overall tourism in the Muskoka region has been down
anywhere from 5% (to 40%). This significant accomplishment
allowed us to retire our bank loans on Wenonah II this past
September. Accordingly, we can take on new projects that meet
our mission statement while maintaining the Society’s financial
stability. This puts us in good stead to move forward in pursuing
new initiatives, such as a boathouse/extension of the MBHC
for Wanda III, new exhibits for the Muskoka Boat & Heritage
Centre, and ongoing preservation for all our ships and antique
and classic boats.
Our relationship with the Town of Gravenhurst, our home port,
has never been stronger or more harmonious, with mutual
support by both parties. As no man is an island—nor do we as
a Society operate in isolation—it is important that we as a board
maintain and establish good working relations with various levels
of government and other societies and corporate partners. That
is why we are very proud to announce that at the recent Muskoka
Awards 2012 event, The Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society
was named Best Community Organization.
As this is my last message as President of the Muskoka Steamship
& Historical Society, I would like to take this opportunity to say
what a pleasure and honour it has been to work with this dedicated
and talented board and all the wonderful members, friends, and
volunteers of this Society. Also I would like to thank John Miller,
our General Manager, and his hard working and energetic staff
whom I have had the privilege to work with over the past years
as President.
On a closing note it’s a familiar message but one that is worth
repeating: all that we do to “preserve, educate and promote
the traditions of the steamship, boat building and resort era
in Muskoka,” could not be accomplished if it were not for the
dedication of our board, volunteers, members/friends and staff.
Blair A. McMurchy,
President/Chairman
“Society Numbers:”
3 Ships
5 Full Time Staff
57 Seasonal Employees
83 Issues of this Magazine
177 DVDs in the Collection
in Archives
184 Cruises of Wenonah II in 2012
299 Books in the Collection
in Archives
316 Cruises of R .M .S . Segwun
in 2012
1823 Magazines in the
Collection in Archives
2027 Items in the Archives Collection
4601 Boats Entered in the Canadian
Wooden Boat Database
Please note:
Every effort is made to check all
facts but occasionally a small
error is written unintentionally.
join us on
The Real Muskoka Story Issue 83 • Fall 2012 5

General Manager’s Report:
The summer of 2012 was a milestone season for the Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society. The Muskoka
Boat and Heritage Centre and Muskoka Steamships both enjoyed successful seasons with a significant
increase in our special event’s business such as weddings, private celebrations and corporate functions.
R .M .S . Segwun celebrated her 125th anniversary which we recognized with a number of special occasions
such as the festival and parade in early July, the 100 Mile Cruise in August and our Steamship Classic Golf
Tournament last month. All events were very successful and well attended—thanks to all the volunteers that
made them possible!
This fall, the Society also received two awards: The Muskoka Awards presented us with “Outstanding
Community Business,” and the Muskoka Heritage Foundation presented Segwun with their “Community and
Cultural Heritage Award.” Both awards are a testament to our vibrant organization, dedicated volunteers
and staff, and a strong, passionate Board of Directors.
One of the greatest achievements of our organization this year occurred on September 28th, the day we
made the last payment to the Royal Bank to retire the Wenonah II construction loan. In 2001, our fundraising
campaign was going strong—3 million dollars were raised towards the Wenonah II construction project
with just 2 million dollars to go. When tragedy struck on 9/11 in New York, we halted the campaign
and approached the Royal Bank for the remaining funds. As you can imagine, this was not a simple loan
application, it was a large commitment for a small organization! With the loan in place and Wenonah II
launched, we entered into a decade of very slow tourism growth due to a number of challenges, but never
missed a payment—it was all worth it in September! Now we focus on paying the money borrowed for our
drydock inspection last year.
Today, with a new Vision Committee tasked with developing a five year plan to grow and strengthen the
organization, we will take stock of our products and offerings and create and execute a plan that will add
value to our customer experience. By next year you will see enhancements through new technologies,
staffing, programming and marketing that will help us reach new demographics such as youth, families
and different ethnic markets. These improvements will build our customer base and further ensure that we
continue to preserve and promote our wonderful heritage attractions.
John Miller,
General Manager
Membership Matters:
2012—What an exciting year to be a part of the Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society! We were treated
to the events and celebrations of the 125th Anniversary of R .M .S . Segwun including the Segwun Parade and
July 1st weekend celebrations, the very successful 100 Mile Cruise, our annual Members Day Cruises, and
the 1st Steamship Classic Golf Tournament.
We are pleased to announce that 53 new members have joined the Society in 2012. We would like to thank
them for their support and welcome them aboard.
The 2012 Membership Year will end on November 30th. Our yearly members will be receiving a 2013
renewal form. Once again, there will be an incentive offered to members to renew early in the year. It is a
great help to the Society for us to receive membership funds early in year which is traditionally a quiet time.
The Membership Committee has been working hard throughout the year, and we are now preparing for
the 2013 season. Did you know that the Society turns 40 in 2013? Do you have any suggestions for our
2013 programs or are you are interested in becoming part of the Membership Committee? We value your
feedback and we are always interested in hearing from you.
Please feel free to contact us through the Heritage Centre or
at membership@realmuskoka.com.
Corrections:
We would like to correct the following errors
that appeared in the Summer 2012 issue:
Seasons of Bangor Lodge:
• Paragraph 2: last line should read “she,” not “he.”
• Paragraph 7: an “a” was missing before the word “shop.”
• In the poem The Bangor Song, the words “the things”
were erroneously repeated in the 3rd verse.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the
Committee members for their many contributions over the
year. They are: Kathy Barkey, Pat Young, Nancy Thompson,
Bruce Patterson, John Rooney, Tom Payne, Rick Terry, Lawton
Osler, and John Lee. I would also like to express our thanks
to John Miller, Ann Curley, and their staff for their continued
assistance.
Happy Sailing!
John Glendinning,
Membership Committee Chair
6 Issue 83 • Fall 2012 The Real Muskoka Story

2012 Steamship Classic Golf Tournament:
The Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society held the first ever
Steamship Classic Golf Tournament on Tuesday September 25th at the
Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club. In what had been a week of rain
and cool weather, our golfers and volunteers were treated to a perfect
golf day at one of Muskoka’s premier courses, followed by a memorable
moonlight dinner cruise aboard Wenonah II. We are pleased to report
that the Society was able to raise approximately $11,000.00 as a result
of the tournament. These funds will go to the Segwun Restoration Fund
to assist with the ongoing maintenance & restorations of R .M .S . Segwun.
Special thanks is owed to the Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club, and in
particular General Manager Trevor Noonan, Head Golf Pro Jordan Nathan
and all of their staff, for making such a beautiful course available to us
and for all of their help leading up to and on the day of the tournament.
In addition, we were privileged to have a number of Sponsors and
Donors who supported us. Thanks to Commodore Sponsors Muskoka
Lakes Golf & Country Club and Barometer Capital Management Inc.;
Captain Sponsors Windsor Boat Works, North Restaurant & Catering,
Merit Golf Vacations, and Richardson GMP; Mate Sponsors Osler Business
Consulting and Pro Fitness Advisors Group; and Donors Dan Cornacchia
and John & Lynne Rooney.
There were a number of Society Members who volunteered to help
the day of the event. Thanks to Kathy Barkey, Janet Gray, Mary & John
Storey, John Twist, George & Pat Robbins, and Al Young for all of their
assistance!
Finally, I would like to thank the Steamship Classic Golf Committee
for the work of planning and preparing for the Tournament. The
Committee consisted of Mary Patterson, Pat Young, Bruce Patterson,
John Rooney and our staff members John Miller, Cathy Tait and Jordan
Waines. This was the first year in which we have planned and run our
own tournament. Without the dedication and effort of the Committee
members, we would not have had such a successful day. Thank you.
John Glendinning,
Chair, Steamship Classic Golf Committee
The Real Muskoka Story Issue 83 • Fall 2012
7

Wapasaka Cabins,
Muskoka Bay, where Betty
Carstairs stayed
Cutaway of Estelle V
The Curious Miss Carstairs:
Marion Barbara “Betty” Carstairs—Part two
In the last issue of The Real Muskoka Story we read about Marion Carstairs, a British
boat racer, and Canadian Bert Hawker who designed her race boats named Estelle.
Continued from the summer 2012 issue of The Real Muskoka Story:
In accordance with Harmsworth racing rules, the boat Estelle IV was built and powered
in England, her home country. The boat was to be shipped to Ditchburn Boats
in Gravenhurst for testing prior to the Labour Day race. She was a single step hydroplane,
35 feet long with a beam of 9 foot 6 inches. Power was supplied to three propellers
by three Napier engines, operating through a single transmission. Most sources
say the engines made 1,000 hp each but the British Westmoreland Gazette of July 29,
1929 claimed 1,200 hp per. According to the press, 100 to 120 mph was expected.
Railway holdups delayed Estelle IV’s arrival in Gravenhurst until mid August—barely
three weeks before the Labour Day race. Once testing got underway,
it was determined that the boat handled poorly, particularly
in turns—so a decision was made to remove one engine to achieve
better weight distribution. The Gravenhurst Banner reported that
the change “has not altered the great speed it is possible to make.”
Unfortunately, this did not prove to be true. The Harmsworth consisted
of three 30-mile heats, one of each run on the Saturday,
Sunday, and Monday. Saturday’s heat saw Carstairs averaging 66
mph before her transmission failed. It was replaced in time to allow
her to complete a full heat on the Monday with her best lap at 69
mph, but Gar Woods’ Miss America VIII was 3-1/2 miles ahead at race
end. Her 1929 disappointments were not over with the end of the
race. While being loaded for shipment back to Gravenhurst, a cable
failed, causing the boat to fall back into the water. The fall broke the
boat at midships. So rather than further testing and improvements
at Ditchburn, Estelle IV was returned to England to be rebuilt.
It was full steam ahead for 1930. Estelle IV was repaired with an improved hull design
and a new Hawker-designed boat: Estelle V was born! Carstairs, both boats, and her
entire entourage arrived in Gravenhurst in early July for a two month stay. Estelle V
was smaller than her sister at 28' long with an 8'8" beam. She was powered by twin
Napier Lion V12s rated at 900 hp apiece. Early claims were made in the press of 70
mph runs in IV and 95 mph runs in V.
Meanwhile, the Gravenhurst townsfolk were getting their entertainment value as this
excerpt from the August 21, 1930 Gravenhurst Banner indicates:
This is Miss Carstairs’ second season spent in Gravenhurst . Much of her spare
time is occupied by motoring in a Chevrolet roadster, with robin’s egg blue
body and yellow wire wheels accompanied by her companion, Miss Mabel
Jenkins of London, England, an actress, who made the acquaintance of Miss
Carstairs last summer while crossing the Atlantic, and has been her close
personal companion ever since .
While the locals were busy reading between the lines,
Bert Hawker and Herb Ditchburn concentrated on
making the two boats ready. Log booms in Gravenhurst
Bay and the boats not having a neutral gear required that
they be towed to the open lake for testing. In an interview
with Ratherby Magazine in 1991, Oscar Purdy recalled
8 Issue 83 • Fall 2012 The Real Muskoka Story

how he and Gord Hawker, Bert’s son, were best pals as
kids and spent a lot of time hanging out at Ditchburn’s.
Purdy goes on to describe how they drew straws to
determine which would be the lucky one to stow away
in Estelle’s bow section under a canvas snap cover to
go for an unauthorized ride. Oscar won the draw and
hid lying on the floorboards ahead of her motors while
the boat was towed to open water. When she was fired
up and took off, the noise and heat were so intense he
couldn’t take it. He came up through the canvas and the
stunned driver shut the boat down. The boys received
an “awful blast” from Herb Ditchburn and their parents.
It remained a lifelong joke that Gord never did get his
ride in Miss Carstairs’ racer.
It was decided that Bert Hawker, having more experience, would drive Estelle V at
Detroit. Joe Carstairs took the helm of Estelle IV. In the first heat, at the running
start, Carstairs’ timing was perfect and Estelle IV was first across the start line. Her
lead was short lived, however. Miss America VIII and the new Miss America IX had
both passed Estelle IV by the end of the first lap. Although both of the Americas had
built up a significant lead, all of a sudden there was Estelle V gaining on them—and
quickly! Hawker was pushing her for all she was worth. Reports say that the moment
Estelle V took the lead is preserved on film shot from an overhead aircraft. A good
thing because no sooner had Hawker taken the lead than an oil line broke, blinding
Hawker and his riding mechanic, Joe Dodkin, with hot oil. Estelle V left the course
travelling at more than 90 mph—across the bows of her competitors, and through a
group of spectator boats—before Dodkin could get her shut down. It is miraculous
that nothing was hit. To further complicate the situation, the rough ride caused the
rivets to pull out of the fuel tank, spilling gasoline throughout the cockpit. Despite,
Hawker cleaned his goggles, got her fired up, and set off in hot pursuit. He caught
up to within 200 yards of the Americas before running out of fuel. Needing a tow,
Estelle V was officially out of the race leaving the much slower Estelle IV as Carstairs’
only challenger for the next heat.
Carstairs chose to relinquish the helm of Estelle IV to Hawker for the final heat. He
was able to achieve a little more speed but could not match that of the Americas.
As a final letdown, Estelle IV’s gas tank split in the same way as her sister’s and
the race was over. None of the Estelles ever raced again and there is no record of
what happened to the boats. It is known that Carstairs gave the Napier Lions from
Estelle V to John Cobb to use in his land speed challenge car, The Railton Mobil
Special. Cobb took the land speed record at Bonneville in 1939. Perhaps one day,
in the back corner of a barn on the Isle of Wight, someone will discover an Estelle
awaiting restoration.
There are photos of Betty Carstairs enjoying a recreational spin in a Dodge Watercar
in the early 1930s, but no record of her ever competing again. As the 1930s progressed,
the political mood in Europe and the United States started to become less
tolerant. Reports began to appear about Carstairs and other gays, describing them
as “inverts” and “deviants.” Carstairs chose to escape this repressive atmosphere;
she purchased her own small island near Nassau called Whale Cay and moved there
permanently. Her creation of her own “kingdom” on Whale Cay is another story
of eccentricity. If you like biographies, pick up The Queen of Whale Cay by Kate
Summerscale—a fascinating read about a fascinating lady!
—Bruce Cleland, MBHC Archives Volunteer
Estelle IV being towed
by a Ditchburn Viking in
Muskoka Bay
Betty Carstairs
The Real Muskoka Story Issue 83 • Fall 2012 9

Top: Muskoka at
Port Cockburn July 1891
Above: Muskoka at
Port Carling locks
Muskoka, second version
S.S. Muskoka:
the Story of a tug turned Steamer
As R .M .S . Segwun celebrates her landmark 125th anniversary
this year, it’s easy to forget that at one time a century ago she
was but one of a fleet of steamships sailing the lakes under the
banner of the Muskoka Lakes Navigation Company. Among her
many sister ships was the unheralded S .S . Muskoka, a vessel
that began her existence as a tug and ended it as a passenger
steamer a quarter century later. Muskoka celebrates her own
anniversary of sorts this year: it was exactly 100 years ago that
she was stricken from the Navigation Company records and
broken up.
When S .S . Muskoka was built in 1881, she was one of three
tugs the Navigation Company operated to supplement
its fleet of passenger steamers. She stood out from S .S .
Rosseau and Lake Joseph by virtue of her size (at 94 feet
long and with a 15-foot beam she was significantly larger
than the others) and her incredibly sturdiness of her
construction. Her immense strength made her ideally
suited to towing scows of tanbark and log booms, and
meant she was also the first steamer to break through
the ice in the springtime. Muskoka’s appearance on the
lakes heralded the coming of a new season for settlers
and was greatly anticipated each year.
Her solid construction was a blessing. Several times
she ran aground on the Muskoka River (notably in 1882
and 1897), and had several collisions with other steamships—and
yet she never suffered anything more than
superficial damage.
S .S . Muskoka was a workhorse, not a thoroughbred. She
was unattractive and ungainly—her boilers pushed her
along at a plodding 8 mph. Nevertheless, the vessel excelled in her role and helped
the Navigation Company maintain a monopoly over towing on the lakes throughout
the 1880s.
By the early 1890s, however, the Navigation Company was willing to relinquish
its iron-hold on this industry. Logging in the region was on the steep decline so
there was less business, and it was far less profitable than carrying
wealthy tourists to summer resorts. As a result, from three tugs in
1881 the fleet dropped to two in 1893 and the last, Lake Joseph,
was sold off in 1896.
S .S . Muskoka was too new, too sturdy, and too large to be a victim
of this change in focus. Instead, she underwent a series of modifications
that gradually saw her evolve into a passenger steamer.
Altogether, she went through a least five different versions. The
most extensive reconstruction occurred in 1897–98, when she was
lengthened from 94 to 110 feet, outfitted with a handsome lounge,
and given a new boiler that improved speed to 12 mph. Muskoka
was now all-but unrecognizable as the tug she had once been, and
while still unattractive, her capacity of 200 passengers made her a
welcome addition to a fleet struggling to keep up with demand.
10 Issue 83 • Fall 2012 The Real Muskoka Story

Running out of Bracebridge, she ran daily to Bala and back,
stopping at a number of ports and resorts along the way. She
was ideally suited for this run, since ships operating in the
Muskoka River had to plow through a Sargasso of logs that
frequently clogged the waterway. Passengers worried even
as the dull thuds of logs hitting hull echoed through the ship,
they were secure in the knowledge that Muskoka was the
safest ship in the fleet.
By 1907, however, that reputation had begun to falter. The
aging vessel was leaking so badly that she would take on 2–3
feet of water every night and would have to be pumped out
daily to stay afloat. Her replacement, S .S . Cherokee, wasn’t
yet ready so she endured one final, agonizing season before
she was allowed to go into graceful retirement in 1908.
Muskoka remained on-hand for a few more years as an
emergency fill-in for other steamers, but was officially
retired from service in 1912 and broken up. Even in the end, the tired
ship’s vaunted strength remained: her timbers proved too much for the
wreckers, and so her hulk was left to rot at the Gravenhurst dockyards
over the next two decades.
—Andrew Hind
Andrew Hind and
Maria Da Silva
are the authors of
the books R.M.S.
Segwun: Queen
of Muskoka and
Muskoka Resorts:
Then and Now.
• Muriel Boles and Walter Dubois
• Ruth and Ron Booth
• Drew Bridekirk
• Michael and Lois Brown
• Dan and Conolly Cormacchia
• Derra and Scott Dunsmoor
• Patricia Hewes
• Don Hinchley
Welcome Aboard!
the following new Members have joined
the Society since the last newsletter:
• Debbie and Len Howe
• Diana Kellington
• John Lovegrove
• Cynthia and Eric Luks
• Stuart McCartney
• William McCaw
• Gillian and Peter McMullin
• Sonja and David Rickwell
New Corporate Members:
• Cottages in Muskoka (Royal LePage) — Catharine Inniss
• Emmer Construction Ltd. — Gladys Pentland and Ernest Merkley
• Patterson-Kaye Lodge — William Curnew
The Real Muskoka Story Issue 83 • Fall 2012
Top: Muskoka derelict
at Gravenhurst
Above: Muskoka,
fifth and final version
Left: Muskoka, final
version in 1904
• Linda and Siggy Soudak
• Ron and Ruth Roth
• Bonnie Rourke and
Cayley Murray
• Barbara Kerr and Peter Thillaye
• Bryden Thompson
• Parker Thompson
• Joseph Virbail
11

VOTED
September 2012
MUSKOKA AWARDS
Some Society Happenings:
This prestigious award was granted to the
Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society to
recognize that we have undertaken projects
and programs that have had significant
positive impact on Muskokans
Director Hank Smith
Voted “Best Community
Organization” by
Muskoka Awards!
R.M.S. Segwun’s
125th Parade:
June 29, 2012
President Blair McMurchy
and son Austen
Stewardship Awards
presented at MLA
Boat Show:
august 11, 2012
in Port Carling
Left to right: Alf Mortimer,
President Blair McMurchy,
Brian Tapley, Bill Gray,
Bill Hitchcock, Gary Clark
12 Issue 83 • Fall 2012 The Real Muskoka Story

The Many Symbols of
Segwun’s 125th Celebrations:
Annual “Piratefest” Festival:
august 4 & 5, 2012
The Real Muskoka Story Issue 83 • Fall 2012
Painting by Doug Dunford
13

Above:
Wanda awaits restoration
Below: Heating to
remove the varnish
Right: Sanding Wanda III
Wanda III Gets A Makeover:
Caring For our Glamourous Girl
She will soon mark 100 years—and she has been looking old and tired. But
this summer, with the help of a small work team from the Beaver Creek
Institution, Wanda III is being returned to her former splendour reminiscent
of the years when she plied the waters of Muskoka in the early
1900s.
Bob Durrant, employee with the Muskoka Steamship and Historical Society
was given the task to oversee the restoration of the ship. “Wanda III is
really weather beaten and her mahogany and teak are in tough shape,”
said Durrant. “But with the work crews from Beaver Creek, we are working
on getting her shipshape again, ready for her 100th birthday in a couple
of years.” Durrant would like to see Wanda III back in service again and he
was very focussed on having the ship cleaned, stripped and re-varnished.
“ With the crews from Beaver Creek, we were able to get Wanda III
to her former glory again .” —Bob Durrant
Wanda III was built in 1915 by Polson Ironworks of Toronto for Mrs.
Timothy Eaton. Mrs. Eaton wanted a “fast” boat to bring her guests from
the Muskoka Wharf to her summer home at Ravenscrag on Lake Rosseau.
And Wanda III was the fastest boat on the lakes when she was put into
service. She was equipped with a state-of-the-art steam powerplant that
propelled her at nearly 40 kph—a remarkable speed at the time. Her
powerplant, a marine triple expansion steam engine, was the same used
to drive WWI Navy minesweepers.
Wanda III is 94 feet long and has a beam of 12 feet. Mrs. Eaton paid
almost $35,000 for her—a princely sum in 1915. The Muskoka Steamship
and Historical Society acquired the boat in 1993 and relaunched her in 1997 after
an extensive restoration. However, the boat is moored alongside Wenonah II and
Segwun and sits outside in all weather conditions. According to Durrant, she
needed a complete revarnishing this past summer because the wood had been
severely weathered over the past few years.
Durrant was very happy to have the work crews from Beaver Creek do the work on
Wanda III. “We had only a short timeframe to get it all done, and the guys from the
institution were good workers. I only had to show them what needed to be done,
and they worked to get the job done.”
14 Issue 83 • Fall 2012 The Real Muskoka Story

The work crews from Beaver Creek are inmates in the correctional facility and were
participating in a Community Service Volunteer Program or Work Release Program
initiated by Corrections Canada. While on site and working on Wanda III, some of
the work crews were accompanied by Tavio DeBenedet, a 28 year veteran with
Corrections Canada. DeBenedet is a Community Liaison officer and describes the
volunteer program as a first step for inmates to be considered for a “work release”
program for inmates.
“This is an important program for Corrections Canada and for the inmates,” noted
DeBenedet. “The inmates know what is expected of them and they have a set of rules
to follow. It helps them to successfully integrate into the community. And they learn
some skills and develop a stronger work ethic through programs such as this.”
DeBenedet and Durrant supervised the work of the inmates and along the way, the
crews developed skills at working cooperatively and in a team. And the mahogany
and teak work on Wanda III was cleaned and varnished.
Three members of the Beaver Creek work crew were Raseedi McKenley,
Mathew Rous and Peter Milhailovic. The three of them were proud to
work on the boat and were happy to be selected for the community
volunteer program.
McKenley said he was from the city and had never been in the countryside
before. “I’ve never done anything like this before. This is a piece
of history and I get to work on it. I’m going to get a picture of this boat
and I’m going to show it to my son.”
“ I’ve been to the Eaton Center in Toronto and now I’m working
on the Eaton boat!” —Raseedi McKenley
Rous was interested in learning some new skills and to qualify for the
work release program. “I don’t have a lot of experience yet, but it is
good to give back to the community and to be a part of this restoration
project.”
Milhailovic was happy to be part of the restoring of Wanda III. “This is
the best project we have worked on yet. It’s not hard work but it does
require a lot of patience. I like to get out and to be doing something for
the community. I enjoy this work and I look forward to coming here.”
“I enjoyed working with the guys from Beaver Creek and with Tavio
during this project,” said Durrant. “Without their help, we could not
have restored Wanda III. Now she is ready for her 100-year celebration.”
—Ray Windsor
The Real Muskoka Story Issue 83 • Fall 2012
Muskoka’s Urban Oasis
530 Muskoka Rd. N. Gravenhurst, ON P1P 1G3
northinmuskoka.com 705-687-8618
Opened in July of 2007 by Robbie and Alain Irvine, North
Restaurant and Lounge has found its place in Muskoka. With a
loyal and ever growing client base, we are thrilled to be located
in Gravenhurst.
At North our focus isn’t just on food and wine, but on making your
meal an enjoyable experience in every way. Our dining room has
been designed to give our customers an ‘urban-Muskoka’ feel
and our servers are ready to meet your every need.
Since opening in 2007 North has won the prestigious Where
Magazine award for One of Canada’s Top Ten Restaurants
for 2008, Muskoka’s Best Fine Dining Restaurant for 2010
and is very proud of it’s many catering business partnerships.
We look forward to welcoming you in to North!
Official Caterer To The Ships
15

Ahoy, Junior Stokers!
WOW! What an amazing summer. Now that I’m back at school for the fall and looking back on the summer, two
things stand out. First you can’t beat the incredible weather, second all the events that went on all summer
to celebrate R .M .S . Segwun’s 125th Anniversary. I hope everyone had an opportunity to be involved in some
of those events. It all started with a parade in honour of R .M .S . Segwun, with the Snowbirds doing a “fly by” at
the end. I am sure a lot of you have seen pictures of this, if you haven’t check out YouTube on our website www.
realmuskoka.com. I was fortunate to be on board R .M .S . Segwun on another remarkable day, when she reenacted
the 100 Mile Cruise this past August. It was like going back in time to cruise through the three lakes up
to the top of Little Joe accompanied by more than a hundred classic wooden boats. What a sight! If fellow Junior
Stokers want to send in pictures of themselves on the ships or at the Heritage Centre or Pirate Fest we could start
a Junior Stoker Bulletin Board showing a collage of all the amazing activities of the summer of 2012. Again check
out our website and Facebook for more great pictures of this past summer at The Real Muskoka Experience.
Your Fellow Junior Stoker,
Austen McMurchy
Word Search Puzzle:
Find the words from the list below
hidden in the puzzle.
The theme of this word search is based on the summer of 2012.
Don’t forget a Junior Stokers name is in it too and the first one
to see their name and call the Steamships office will win a Pirate
Cruise for their family in the 2013 sailing season. The name in
the last word search was Nicole.
T P G O C M R A N D G I E B D
B T A N N I V E R S A R Y F H
M
H
F
F
D
W
S
N
D
I
T
D
R
B
E
L
B
E
S
E
W
A
E
S
T
W
J
T
P
G
A
H
O
R
D
E
W
I
G
U
W
O
V
M
A
A
H
U
F
A
R
T
O
L
K
A
F
W
N
E
R
R
E
N
Word List:
HUNDRED
TOLKA
PARADE
HOT
G
I
I
E
N
O
P
T
E
A
A
E
A
Y
O
D
L D D O B D E R J M
E D B N F S D C L K
B W O N S K S T C I
D D A O E S A G A R
U D E I L A R L N R
K R B T H T N E A O
G U D A R E O U D W
D D C R U I S E I F
O H R B S T Q K A D
N Y E E M H O T N S
G T K L U G G Y S T
M D R E F U B V E C
D E S C V O M G E O
H H E N N R J F G B
N A T O W D H I I U
R E D B R I J R F R
by Austen McMurchy
MILE
CANADIAN
ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION
CRUISE
SNOWBIRDS
DROUGHT
WOW
The Real Muskoka Story Issue 83 • Fall 2012
Wolff Wolff '
s Den Cafe
2012 SEASON FROM APRIL TO DECEMBER
SPECIALTY COFFEES ~ GELATO ~ EUROPEAN CUISINE
BREAKFAST ~ LUNCH ~ LIGHT DINNER
FULLY LICENSED ~ PAULANER BEERGARTEN
WI-FI ~ LAKESIDE PATIOS
ALL COFFEES ARE ORGANIC & FAIRTRADE
FOR RESERVATIONS: 705.681.0700
www.wolffsdencafe.ca
Handmade by – Dean Rivett
Gravenhurst, Ontario
Gunnel, Transom, Dispro & Custom
Curved Fenders
www.classicropefenders.com
rivett@vianet.ca 705-687-3804
17

WA WWA AI I TE FFU F U E L
S
O/ O/O O Se St t ev eve a W Wa it e
11 44 55 Pr Proo gg rr es esss D Drr iive, v e, GGr ra avenh venrhu urst s t, , Mu Musk sko oka, k a, O Ont ntar arii oo PP1 1 P 11 XX4
4
Boat Works
Limited
Michael R. P. Windsor
W A T T S P R I N T I N G
Quality Printing For Any
Budget from 1 to 100,000
120-B Progress Drive,
Gravenhurst, ON P1P 1X4
705.687.8228
www.wattsprinting.com
colour.printing@bellnet.ca
Wooden Boat
Restoration , Design
& Custom Building
280 Caroline st. Gravenhurst , Ont .
(705) 687-7887
windsor@muskoka.com
web page: www.windsorboatworks.com
1.888.567.1177
www.clevelandshouse.com
graphic
design
services
ellen@ellencarnahan.com n 705.329.3843
Ellen M Carnahan
18 Issue 83 • Fall 2012 The Real Muskoka Story

GENERATIONS
OF MEMORIES
BE SURE.
CCV has been serving your community for over 40 years, sharing your enthusiasm for success
and the perseverance and hard work it takes to achieve it. Now with offices in Huntsville and
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TOLL FREE 1.877.422.8467
www.ccvinsurance.com

100 Mile Cruise—2012 Style!
R.M.S. Segwun, Wenonah II and 150 Wooden Boats
Go 100 Miles on august 18, 2012
Destination was Little Lake Joe
2012 Members’ Day Cruise:
June 16, 2012
Through
The Locks At
Port Carling
Photo:
Bev McMullen