Saving the Past for the Future
Welcome to Fernleigh
Fernleigh Village
According to C.A. Armstrong in Away Back in Clarendon & Miller (1976), the first permanent settlers arrived in 1872 with a well- established community by 1880. Credit for the name “Fernleigh” is given to John Howell who was attending a Sunday School class in the old log schoolhouse and noted the abundance of wild ferns. Over the years, the community became self-sufficient with a school, store, post office, church and several lodges.
Fernleigh Businesses
Fernleigh Store
FERNLEIGH GENERAL STORE OWNERS
1901-1903 J. Manson and Margaret Davy
1903-1945 Ervin and Evianna Martin
1945-1957 Robert and Christena Martin
1957-1970 Keith and Marjery Lyons
1970-1977 Arnold and Shirley Miller
1977-1980 Carl and June Thompson
Although Dempster Lyon established a store for a short time in conjunction with his cheese factory in 1902 at the Factory Lake site, it was not considered a general store. In his book, he indicated that he sold dairy products such as cheese and milk, and a few grocery items. (Find more information in Chapter 11: Starting Business at Fernleigh from Dempster Lyon).
J. Manson Davy constructed the building that became known as Fernleigh General Store; the structure has remained in the same location throughout the years. Although Mrs. Margaret Davy is recorded as the postmaster from August 1, 1902 until August 31, 1918, it was not determined to be located in the store.
Evianna Davy (daughter of Manson and Margaret) married Ervin Martin on May 1, 1895. A ledger, dating as early as 1903, reported the General Store was operated by Ervin and Evianna (Eva) Martin. Martins took over the post office on April 15, 1920. Ervin was listed as the postmaster until his death on Oct.5, 1945; then his wife, Eva, was postmaster until Jan. 1946. The Cloyne-Fernleigh Mail Service contract went to Robert Martin to commence Jan.1, 1946 for delivery six times per week at $670 per annum. Future store owners also operated the post office within the store.
The store was stocked with everyday items needed by homesteaders from tiny things like needles to hundred- pound bags of staples, farm supplies, building materials and blacksmithing equipment. Tobacco cost ten cents a plug and they carried two brands- Big Ben and Club. Agricultural items such as berries, apples, vegetable, milk, eggs, cream, butter, chickens and even livestock were sold. Eva had socks, boots, rubbers, towels and another clothing company brought in overalls. Customers were allowed to keep a tab. The ledger shows monthly entries commencing in 1903. The McCaskey Account Register table and bill books have been preserved.
Between the store and the school was a big shed with open doors to stable the horses on mail delivery nights. Folks would go into the store to visit. There were benches around the entire store, spittoons in the corners (that men could hit from across the room) and a wood stove in the middle. Three nights a week, the town's people would come and wait for their mail to be delivered and get the local news.
After Ervin and Eva, their son, Bob and his wife Christena (Derue) operated the store until 1957; the next owners were Keith and Marj Lyons (1957); Arnold and Shirley Miller (1970-77); Carl and June Thompson (1977-81) when the store closed and became a private residence.
More information about Fernleigh General Store is available from the CMCA book Memories of General Stores of North Frontenac (2016).
S.S.#8 Fernleigh School
A CMCA Historic sign was installed in the front yard at the school. To view this sign go to www.cmcabook2017.wixsite.com/nfhistorictour
The half acre school property at Concession 11, part of Lot 26, was obtained in a Letters Patent November 23, 1881. Fernleigh School became known as S.S.# 8 Clarendon. The first log school was built on the site circa 1882. It is believed that the present building was constructed in the early 1920s to replace the school that burned. School continued to operate until 1962 when an amalgamated school, Clarendon Central Public School was constructed in Plevna.
Lodges and Camps
Several lodges were located in the Fernleigh area: Twin Oak (still active), Fernleigh Lodge (still active), and Hideaway Camp and Evergreen Lodge (closed). Further west of Fernleigh were Pine Ridge Cottages, Twin Pines Resort and Salmond’s Resort. Each of these are closed. Salmond’s Resort was purchased and renamed Lancaster’s Resort and continues to be active. More information about lodges is available in the CMCA book Lodges: Past & Present in North Frontenac (2017). Two boys’ camps operated in the area as well: Camp Kilmarock and Camp Kasawamak. CMCA published a book entitled Camp Kaswamak (2018) which describes in detail Tobin’s Boys’ Camp (1935-1964).
Camp Kasawakamak
For a comprehensive description CMCA has produced an 74- page book entitled Camp Kasawamak (2018). The information for this book came from the dedicated effort of Elaine Crawford of Buffalo New York working with the CMCA
Co-ordinator, Brenda Martin over a two- year period. Elaine’s husband, Jim was a camper for many years, then a counsellor
at the Camp and the Director the year it closed. Former campers and staff who worked there, provided photos, stories and even the Camp Newsletters which made it possible to produce an excellent documentation of Camp Kasawamak.
We would like to acknowledge the contributions made by the following individuals: Jennifer Annunziatt, Phyll and Roger Barth, Judith Bisantz, Elaine Crawford, Howard Hutton, Robert Rich Junior, Barb Kenney (Fraser), Kate Kremer, Paul Lyons, Vernon Lyons, the late Kay Stoesser and sons, Bruce and Dick Stoesser, Lois Weber (White), and Lee Anna White.
Camp Kasawamak was located beside Fernleigh Lodge on the north shore of Lake Kashwakamak. It operated 1935-1964 under the Directorship of Joe Tobin and his family of Buffalo, New York. He wanted a “health camp”, with strong religious overtones and to teach life lessons. The Camp was built by local workers in the winter of 1934 and opened in the spring of 1935.
Most staff and boys were from Buffalo area; they travelled to Kaladar by train on the Canadian Pacific Railway system bringing with them a trunk holding possessions they would use from June to mid-August. Camp cost $300 for the season. Campers travelled from the train station in trucks and their trunks were in another truck. The CPR was a reliable source of transportation during this period. The camp boys would receive packages from their parents and could send letters home as well. If a package was put on the train at 6 a.m. in Buffalo, it would reach Kaladar by 6 p.m. that night and vice versa.
Many of the boys came from families where their parents were professional lawyers, doctors and business owners. In the 1950s parents were concerned about polio, so they often sent their children out of town for the summer months. Parents saw it as an opportunity for their son(s) to have enrichment, athletics, and incentives to work hard, become responsible and experience nature while under the supervision of well-trained counsellors. The religious aspects of the Camp were also appealing. Strong friendships were made not only from the camp but with those at Fernleigh Lodge who came year after year; some continued into adulthood.
The Camp had a strong religious tone and good conduct integrated into the curriculum. The Camp K culture was described as: to enjoy nature and leave it as good or better than you found it.
The Camp Staff were a combination of Buffalo teachers as counsellors and instructors, Tobin’s sister-Mamie as head of the kitchen and substitute “Mother” to the campers, with local people to assist with meals and laundry, and Jack Fraser and his wife, Evangeline as assistants for curriculum activities like woodworking and cooking.
The daily schedule was 7:30 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. with Sunday devoted to church activities and writing letters home. There were special days at Camp for celebrations and for visits from parents who brought treats for all. The Camp program created an environment of learning, hard work, competition, fun and companionship. The activities were designed to have the boys learn new things and to improve skills.
Considerable time was spent on water activities. Swimming was given a high priority as no camper would leave Camp K without learning how to swim.
The last season of the Camp was in 1964. It was purchased by Dr. Bergstrome, who had a medical practice in Napanee and served the Fernleigh community on weekends. When the Camp closed, Bergstrome rented the cabins for a few years. The property was sold and is now private residences.
Twin Oak Lodge
The founding owner of Twin Oak Lodge was born in Bavaria in 1900 and immigrated to Canada in 1913 with his parents and ten siblings. Having been sponsored by Mathias Myers, the family landed at Ellis Island and travelled for three days from Clarendon Station, carrying all their worldly goods. They settled on a farmstead on land that later became known as Weiss’ Point on Kashwakamak Lake.
Tony Weiss gained lodge experience by working at Salmond’s Resort. He made plans to have his own lodge; with help from family and friends, Tony built the main lodge and a few cabins.
In 1935 Twin Oak Lodge was established along the north-east shore of Kashwakamak Lake. His older sister, Theresa (Weber) was the first cook at the lodge preparing hearty and delicious meals that became well-known in the area. The Lodge offered its guests the “American Plan” which included all meals. With excellent meals, great fishing, comfortable cabins and weekend dances, Twin Oak thrived.
The lodge was passed to Tony’s daughter, Mary and her husband, Arnold McNeil; another daughter, Rose (Tooley) worked there all her life. The lodge is still active as Mary and Arnold’s daughter, Carla and son, Donald continue the family business.
Evergreen Lodge
Special thanks to Dave and Betty McKittrick, Roger and Sharon Lyons, Leonard and Janet Bryan and Pat Gummer for the pictures, postcards, memorabilia and information about Evergreen Lodge.
Irving Smith built Evergreen Lodge in the late 1930s. It was 52 acres in size with one mile of shoreline. He operated the lodge for about five years; then the lodge sat empty for approximately five years; then Grant and Gert McKittrick bought it and sold it to Bruce and Eileen Rowland in 1967. The Rowlands ran it for five years. Fred and Jack Haight owned it after Rollins, then a Riley family. In 1989 Leonard and Janet Bryan bought the property and it was severed into lots and sold. Some parts of the lodge are still there.
The lodge offered hunting and fishing, boats for fishing and guides. There were five log cabins with accommodation for two people in a small cabin and four in a double cabin. It was operated using the American plan at a cost of $35/week to stay, $1/day for boat and $1/day per horsepower for motor, $1/night for fishing guide and $5/day for guide. Dave McKittrick said one day he took two Canadians onto Fawn Lake. He motored them around all day and cleaned their fish and got paid 27 cents!
Most of the clients were Americans and came from Ohio and Pennsylvania. There was a tuck shop, a grill, and bait available.
They had corn roasts, fish fries, shore dinners and some dances for entertainment. They had a nickelodeon on the porch off the dining room.
Dave, his brother Lee and his parents Gert and Grant were the principal workers with Geraldine Lyons, Bev Murdoch and Iva McKittrick doing the kitchen and housecleaning duties. Dave used to go over to Fernleigh Lodge and get bait from Jim Martin as well as white gas when they needed it.
After hunting season each November, the lodge closed; the family moved up the road to the white house which is across from the entrance to Fernleigh Lodge (residence of Joe Tubby).
Roger and Sharon Lyons restored the live main part of the lodge building and made it their home.
Camp Kilmarock (Fernleigh)
Information provided by Scot Glass, Syracuse, NY
Camp Kilmarock was 244 acres located along Turtle Lake (Swamp Lake) west side of the North Road in Fernleigh during the 1930s-1949. It was a summer camp with religious expectations for American boys (ages 7 -15) owned and directed by William Claflin Warner.
The buildings included: a Homestead for meals and meetings, lodge room, dining room, kitchen, infirmary, camp office, recreation hall, library, and creative arts centre, a trading post. Outdoor facilities included: swimming, archery, boating, horseback riding, and overnight camping trips. The focus was upon socialization, growth and achievement as demonstrated on proficiency tests. Individual recognition and incentives were built into the program of Athletics, Aquatics, Creative Arts and Camp Lore.
The cost was $8 for medical insurance, plus $240 full season (8 weeks) or $35 weekly with a special rate if there were two or more boys in the family. Transportation was provided from Washington July 5th and return August 1st; second trip August 2nd and return August 30th.
