Bracebridge, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Bracebridge is a town
and the seat of the Muskoka District Municipality of Ontario
, Canada
.
The town was built around a waterfall on the Muskoka River
in the centre of town, and is known for its other nearby waterfalls (Wilson's Falls, High Falls, etc.). It was first incorporated in 1875. It was named after a book, Bracebridge Hall
by Washington Irving
, that the postmaster in charge of naming towns was reading at the time. The same novel also provided the name for nearby Gravenhurst
.
The town is the seat of the district government, a centre of tourism for the Muskoka area, and home to several historical sites, such as the Inn at the Falls, Woodchester Villa, and the Silver Bridge, which joins Manitoba Street with Ecclestone Drive. The Silver Bridge was repaired in 2002. Bracebridge is also the home of the Muskoka Cottage Brewery.
Graydon Smith is the current mayor.
The character of the town of Bracebridge is shaped by its proximity to Lake Muskoka
to which it is connected by 6 miles of the Muskoka River, and by the promise of abundant water power afforded by the great waterfall at the foot of the town. Early growth of the town occurred in proximity to the falls which powered the first factory. The arrival of the Grand Trunk Railway cemented the town's role as a transportation hub for the area.
Modern settlement of the town began in the 1860s, beginning at first with a few log huts. The Muskoka colonization road had been completed to the first falls on the north branch of the Muskoka River by 1862. Entrepreneurs began to take advantage of the area's water power. With the advent of steamship service on Lake Muskoka a few years later, Bracebridge prospered as the main distribution centre for the region.
By 1870 the village had a population of about 400, growing to reach a total of about 2,000 by the turn of the 20th century. The village was incorporated in 1875 and became a town under an Act of Parliament in 1889. In 1894 Bracebridge became the first town in Ontario to have its own hydro generating station.
The municipal boundaries of Bracebridge also encompass the smaller communities of Clear Lake, Falkenburg (ghost town), Falkenburg Station, Fraserburg, Germania, Lakewood, Matthiasville, Monsell (ghost town), Purbrook, Rocksborough, Springdale Park, Stoneleigh, Uffington and Vankoughnet.
Bracebridge also opened a new 3.75 Million dollar softball venue called Peake Fields at Verena Acres. This facility supports a Mens League, Women's League, and Minor Ball, as well as slow pitch. It was opened this summer on August 15.
The Mens fastball League has been running for some 35 years, and has produced 4 Ontario Intermediate Fastball Championships, and 3 Canadian Championships, with all local players.
theme park, established in 1955. It was inspired by the town’s location at 45 degrees latitude, halfway between the equator
and the North Pole
.
Bracebridge also contains Woodchester Villa, an unusual octagonal house.
, and St. Dominic Catholic Secondary School.
Nipissing University
and Georgian College
have a shared satellite campus in the town. Both Georgian College and Nipissing University have expanded their campuses (2008). Georgian has moved into the town's former swimming pool/recreation centre, the "Centennial Centre" on Wellington Street. Georgian's grand opening date was September 11, 2007. Nipissing University opened its doors next to Georgian the following year for the 2008 semester. Nipissing University has also completed a multi-million dollar, on campus, expansion of it's facilities by adding a 52 bed residence building. The residence also doubles as a hotel during the tourist busy summer months while school is out.
receives service six times per week by the Ontario Northland Northlander
line. Bracebridge also receives coach bus service departing from the Riverside Inn that takes passengers as far south as Toronto and as far North as North Bay. Bracebridge is the home and main hub of Muskoka Transport, a successful shipping and receiving company owned and operated by the Hammond family.
99.5 FM, a hot adult contemporary station that uses the on-air brand "Moose FM" owned by the Haliburton Broadcasting Group
. Local newspapers include Bracebridge Examiner, District Weekender, Muskoka Sun and Muskoka Advance.
The first newspaper in Bracebridge was the Northern Advocate begun in 1870 by Thomas McMurray. It was joined in 1872 by the Free Grant Gazette owned by E.F. Stephenson. The Advocate ceased publication in 1874 and was bought out by Stephenson. Competition resumed, however, in 1878 when Mr Gaffe and Mr Oaten founded the Muskoka Herald.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
and the seat of the Muskoka District Municipality of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
The town was built around a waterfall on the Muskoka River
Muskoka River
The Muskoka River is a river in the Muskoka District of Ontario, Canada.It rises in the highlands of Algonquin Park and flows southwest through a number of lakes including*Lake Muskoka*Lake Joseph*Lake Rosseau*Lake of Bays...
in the centre of town, and is known for its other nearby waterfalls (Wilson's Falls, High Falls, etc.). It was first incorporated in 1875. It was named after a book, Bracebridge Hall
Bracebridge Hall
Bracebridge Hall, or The Humorists, A Medley was written by Washington Irving in 1821, while he lived in England, and published in 1822. This episodic novel was originally published under his pseudonym Geoffrey Crayon.-Plot introduction:...
by Washington Irving
Washington Irving
Washington Irving was an American author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th century. He was best known for his short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle", both of which appear in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. His historical works...
, that the postmaster in charge of naming towns was reading at the time. The same novel also provided the name for nearby Gravenhurst
Gravenhurst, Ontario
Gravenhurst is a town in the Muskoka Region of Ontario, Canada. It is located approximately south of Bracebridge, Ontario. The mayor is Paisley Donaldson...
.
The town is the seat of the district government, a centre of tourism for the Muskoka area, and home to several historical sites, such as the Inn at the Falls, Woodchester Villa, and the Silver Bridge, which joins Manitoba Street with Ecclestone Drive. The Silver Bridge was repaired in 2002. Bracebridge is also the home of the Muskoka Cottage Brewery.
Graydon Smith is the current mayor.
History
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 1871 | 700 |
| 1891 | 1,419 |
| 1901 | 2,479 |
| 1911 | 2,776 |
| 1921 | 2,451 |
| 1931 | 2,436 |
| 1941 | 2,341 |
| 1951 | 2,684 |
| 1961 | 2,927 |
| 1971 | 6,903 |
| 1981 | 9,063 |
| 1991 | 12,308 |
| 2001 | 13,751 |
| 2006 | 15,652 |
The character of the town of Bracebridge is shaped by its proximity to Lake Muskoka
Lake Muskoka
Lake Muskoka is located between Port Carling and Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada. The lake is surrounded by many cottages. The lake is primarily in the Township of Muskoka Lakes, with the southeast corner in the Town of Gravenhurst. The Town of Bala, Ontario is located on the southwest shores of the...
to which it is connected by 6 miles of the Muskoka River, and by the promise of abundant water power afforded by the great waterfall at the foot of the town. Early growth of the town occurred in proximity to the falls which powered the first factory. The arrival of the Grand Trunk Railway cemented the town's role as a transportation hub for the area.
Modern settlement of the town began in the 1860s, beginning at first with a few log huts. The Muskoka colonization road had been completed to the first falls on the north branch of the Muskoka River by 1862. Entrepreneurs began to take advantage of the area's water power. With the advent of steamship service on Lake Muskoka a few years later, Bracebridge prospered as the main distribution centre for the region.
By 1870 the village had a population of about 400, growing to reach a total of about 2,000 by the turn of the 20th century. The village was incorporated in 1875 and became a town under an Act of Parliament in 1889. In 1894 Bracebridge became the first town in Ontario to have its own hydro generating station.
The municipal boundaries of Bracebridge also encompass the smaller communities of Clear Lake, Falkenburg (ghost town), Falkenburg Station, Fraserburg, Germania, Lakewood, Matthiasville, Monsell (ghost town), Purbrook, Rocksborough, Springdale Park, Stoneleigh, Uffington and Vankoughnet.
Sports
The town of Bracebridge built a state of the art Sportsplex in 2006 which contains a rock climbing wall, indoor track, eight-lane swimming pool and fitness studio. The town partnered with the Muskoka Limberettes Gymnastics Club to create a gymnastics facility in the same building. The Sportsplex is part of the same complex including the Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School and Rene M. Caisse Memorial Theatre.Bracebridge also opened a new 3.75 Million dollar softball venue called Peake Fields at Verena Acres. This facility supports a Mens League, Women's League, and Minor Ball, as well as slow pitch. It was opened this summer on August 15.
The Mens fastball League has been running for some 35 years, and has produced 4 Ontario Intermediate Fastball Championships, and 3 Canadian Championships, with all local players.
Attractions and venues
Bracebridge is the home of Santa's Village, a ChristmasChristmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
theme park, established in 1955. It was inspired by the town’s location at 45 degrees latitude, halfway between the equator
Equator
An equator is the intersection of a sphere's surface with the plane perpendicular to the sphere's axis of rotation and containing the sphere's center of mass....
and the North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
.
Bracebridge also contains Woodchester Villa, an unusual octagonal house.
Education
Bracebridge is served by several elementary schools, and two high schools: Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary SchoolBracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School
Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School is a high school in Bracebridge, Ontario. It serves approximately 1500 students, grades 9 through 12, from Bracebridge and surrounding areas in Muskoka; attached to it is the Bracebridge Sportsplex and the Rene M...
, and St. Dominic Catholic Secondary School.
Nipissing University
Nipissing University
Nipissing University is a public liberal arts university located in North Bay, Ontario, Canada, on a site overlooking Lake Nipissing. The university's unique character is defined by its location in Northern Ontario, and a large and highly respected faculty of education...
and Georgian College
Georgian College
Georgian College is an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology. Its primary campus is in Barrie, Ontario, with satellite campuses in Orillia, Midland, Collingwood, Bracebridge, Port Colborne, Orangeville, and Owen Sound....
have a shared satellite campus in the town. Both Georgian College and Nipissing University have expanded their campuses (2008). Georgian has moved into the town's former swimming pool/recreation centre, the "Centennial Centre" on Wellington Street. Georgian's grand opening date was September 11, 2007. Nipissing University opened its doors next to Georgian the following year for the 2008 semester. Nipissing University has also completed a multi-million dollar, on campus, expansion of it's facilities by adding a 52 bed residence building. The residence also doubles as a hotel during the tourist busy summer months while school is out.
Transportation
The Bracebridge railway stationBracebridge, Ontario railway station
The Bracebridge Railway Station is located in the community of Bracebridge in Ontario, Canada.It is stop for Northlander trains of Ontario Northland....
receives service six times per week by the Ontario Northland Northlander
Northlander
The Northlander is a Canadian passenger train operated by the Ontario Northland Railway in Ontario.It operates 6 days per week year-round in both directions and connects Cochrane with Toronto...
line. Bracebridge also receives coach bus service departing from the Riverside Inn that takes passengers as far south as Toronto and as far North as North Bay. Bracebridge is the home and main hub of Muskoka Transport, a successful shipping and receiving company owned and operated by the Hammond family.
Media
Bracebridge is served by the local radio station, CFBGCFBG-FM
CFBG-FM is a hot adult contemporary radio station broadcasting at 99.5 FM in Bracebridge, Ontario and is owned by the Haliburton Broadcasting Group....
99.5 FM, a hot adult contemporary station that uses the on-air brand "Moose FM" owned by the Haliburton Broadcasting Group
Haliburton Broadcasting Group
The Haliburton Broadcasting Group is a Canadian group of FM radio stations, located primarily in smaller markets in Ontario.-History:The company is named for the Haliburton region in Central Ontario, where majority owner and president Christopher Grossman, a longtime radio sales manager, trainer...
. Local newspapers include Bracebridge Examiner, District Weekender, Muskoka Sun and Muskoka Advance.
The first newspaper in Bracebridge was the Northern Advocate begun in 1870 by Thomas McMurray. It was joined in 1872 by the Free Grant Gazette owned by E.F. Stephenson. The Advocate ceased publication in 1874 and was bought out by Stephenson. Competition resumed, however, in 1878 when Mr Gaffe and Mr Oaten founded the Muskoka Herald.
Notable people of Bracebridge
- Irvin "Ace" BaileyAce BaileyIrvine Wallace "Ace" Bailey was an ice hockey player who competed for the Toronto Maple Leafs during eight seasons, from 1926–1933.-Playing career:...
, Hockey Hall of FameHockey Hall of FameThe Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
r - Patrick BoyerPatrick BoyerJ. Patrick Boyer is a university professor, author and a former Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament ....
(born 1945), politician - born in Bracebridge - Rene Caisse (born 1888), nurse, developed a cancer treatment, based on an Indian herbal remedy, which she name Essiac - born in Bracebridge
- Frank CarsonFrank Carson (ice hockey)Reginald Francis Carson was a National Hockey League forward from 1926 to 1934. He was born in Bracebridge, Ontario. Frank was one of three Carson brothers to play in the NHL, along with younger brother Gerry and older brother Bill. He won a Stanley Cup championship in 1926 with the Montreal Maroons...
, former NHL player - Roger CrozierRoger CrozierRoger Allan Crozier was a Canadian professional hockey goaltender who played fourteen seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals....
, former NHL hockey goalie - Marty GervaisMarty GervaisCharles Henry "Marty" Gervais is a Canadian poet, photographer, professor, journalist, and publisher of Black Moss Press.Gervais has also published plays, children's books, non-fiction and, a book of photography, A Show of Hands: Boxing on the Border...
, writer, journalist, historian - Kris KingKris KingKristopher King is a former Canadian NHL hockey player. He played 14 seasons in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Chicago Blackhawks...
, former NHL player - Deric RuttanDeric RuttanDeric J. Ruttan is a Canadian country music artist from Bracebridge, Ontario. Signed to Lyric Street Records in 2003, he made his chart debut on the U.S. and Canadian country music charts that year with the release of his single "When You Come Around"...
, Canadian country music singer/songwriter - Liisa SavijarviLiisa SavijarviLiisa Savijarvi was a Canadian skier.Her career in Alpine skiing started with the Southern Ontario Division Ski team in December 1978. She made many appearances at the Canadian Alpine Championships and the FIS World Cup...
, downhill skiier who competed at the 1984 Olympics1984 Winter OlympicsThe 1984 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIV Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from 8–19 February 1984 in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Other candidate cities were Sapporo, Japan; and Gothenburg, Sweden... - Mike Greene, broadcast radio legend who got his start at Moose FM