Eugenia, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Eugenia is a small community just north of Flesherton, Ontario
and 1½ hours north of Toronto, Ontario. It is in the Municipality of Grey Highlands, part of Grey County
. Eugenia is best known for its hidden lake called "Lake Eugenia
" and Eugenia Falls.
. The settlement of Eugenia began in the 1850s and continued to expand through to the 1880s to reach a total of about 200. Early visitors were attracted to the area by a large water falls, Eugenia Falls. Prospectors were also attracted for the chance to get rich by panning for gold. After a fair sized gold rush, it was discovered that the "gold" was in fact pyrite
, or fool's gold. The name of the village came from the wife of Napoleon III, Princess Eugénie. At its inception, Eugenia had several mills on the Beaver River, a few stores, a carriage factory, and other trades including a blacksmith, shoemaker and a carpenters. There were also two churches, one Presbyterian and one Methodist along with a school. Unfortunately, none of these establishments exist anymore, but some of the buildings remain. When no rail system was built to Eugenia, the population stopped growing and people moved away.
The village of Eugenia now has:
come weekly to the lake. As of 2010, most habitable regions around the lake have been sold and developed creating high real-estate prices.
into the lake, including zebra mussels which have now spread throughout the lake.
runs through the village, there is a large network of trails and nature preserves. The falls are also noted in many books, magazines and entertainment programmes because of their beauty along the Niagara Escarpment
.
Flesherton, Ontario
Flesherton is a community in the Municipality of Grey Highlands, in Grey County, Ontario, Canada, located at the junction of Highway 10 and Grey County Road 4...
and 1½ hours north of Toronto, Ontario. It is in the Municipality of Grey Highlands, part of Grey County
Grey County, Ontario
Grey County is a county and census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The county seat is in Owen Sound. The population was 92,411 in 2006. It is located in the subregion of Southern Ontario named Southwestern Ontario...
. Eugenia is best known for its hidden lake called "Lake Eugenia
Lake Eugenia
Lake Eugenia is an artificial lake considered to be the "Hidden gem of Grey County". Located in Eugenia, Ontario, the lake is an hour and a half away from Toronto and several kilometres north of Flesherton.-History and Geography:...
" and Eugenia Falls.
History
The community is best known for Lake Eugenia and Eugenia Falls as well as the Beaver RiverBeaver River (Ontario)
There are five rivers with the name Beaver River in the province of Ontario, Canada.The Beaver River in the Regional Municipality of Durham is a tributary of Lake Simcoe and has its mouth at the community of Beaverton at...
. The settlement of Eugenia began in the 1850s and continued to expand through to the 1880s to reach a total of about 200. Early visitors were attracted to the area by a large water falls, Eugenia Falls. Prospectors were also attracted for the chance to get rich by panning for gold. After a fair sized gold rush, it was discovered that the "gold" was in fact pyrite
Pyrite
The mineral pyrite, or iron pyrite, is an iron sulfide with the formula FeS2. This mineral's metallic luster and pale-to-normal, brass-yellow hue have earned it the nickname fool's gold because of its resemblance to gold...
, or fool's gold. The name of the village came from the wife of Napoleon III, Princess Eugénie. At its inception, Eugenia had several mills on the Beaver River, a few stores, a carriage factory, and other trades including a blacksmith, shoemaker and a carpenters. There were also two churches, one Presbyterian and one Methodist along with a school. Unfortunately, none of these establishments exist anymore, but some of the buildings remain. When no rail system was built to Eugenia, the population stopped growing and people moved away.
Modern Life
Currently, the population of Eugenia remains unlisted because of how small it is and the number of temporary residents. Eugenia has become a cottage region due to its lake and proximity to Toronto. This boom was started in the 1950s when locals began to take advantage of the lake. This lake was man-made in the 1900s as a reservoir for a hydro-electric dam which operates to this day. The Beaver River provides a steady flow of water, and it is also along this river where Eugenia Falls can be found.The village of Eugenia now has:
- A carpenter
- Two general stores
- "Top O' The Rock" Grocery Store plus Deli, Bakery, Subs, Pizza, Fresh Meals To Go, LCBO Agency Store, Beer Store Retail Partner
- "The Flying Chestnut" Restaurant
- Furniture maker
- United Church
- Public Park including baseball diamond
- Hair Salon
- "The Pickle Man" booth/store
- Bed & Breakfasts
- The Guest House at Eugenia Falls http://www.eugeniafalls.ca
- The Treehouse Bed & Breakfast at Lake Eugenia http://www.bbcanada.com/thetreehouse
- Bed and Brunch at Lake Eugenia http://www.bbcanada.com/bbrlake
Tourism
Cottages
Lake Eugenia is host to about 400 cottages, all ranging in different sizes. Cottages began to show up as rough cabins in the mid 1900's for locals to have a quick get-away. Now, people from all over Southern Ontario including Toronto and the GTAGreater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
come weekly to the lake. As of 2010, most habitable regions around the lake have been sold and developed creating high real-estate prices.
Fishing
Eugenia Lake attracts numerous fishers due to the range of fish available in the lake. The main species of fish that can be caught in the lake include Largemouth and Rock Bass, Perch, Sunfish and Bullhead catfish. Unfortunately, this fishing industry has brought invasive speciesInvasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
into the lake, including zebra mussels which have now spread throughout the lake.
Gold Rush Days
Every year in memory of the false gold rush, Eugenia hosts "Gold Rush Days", a weekend long celebration throughout the community. The festival features food vendors, artists (visual and musical), car shows, a silent auction and full meals.Nature
Eugenia is very popular for naturalist and cottagers. Because the Bruce TrailBruce Trail
The Bruce Trail is a hiking trail in southern and central Ontario, Canada.-General:The trail follows the edge of the Niagara Escarpment, one of the thirteen UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves in Canada, for almost...
runs through the village, there is a large network of trails and nature preserves. The falls are also noted in many books, magazines and entertainment programmes because of their beauty along the Niagara Escarpment
Niagara Escarpment
The Niagara Escarpment is a long escarpment, or cuesta, in the United States and Canada that runs westward from New York State, through Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois...
.