Events Archives | "Are We There Yet?" Highway-Based Tourism In Kawartha Lakes

Changing Times: Demolition of a Gas Station, Coboconk

At one time, Coboconk was home to half a dozen gas stations. Due to changes in technology and consolidation among oil companies from the 1970s onward, that number […]

The Dangers of Excessive Speed: Ontario Department of Highways Advertisement

This dramatic advertisement was developed by the Ontario Department of Highways in 1957 to warn motorists about the dangers of excessive speed. The ad was unique in that […]

Working Together for Safer Roads: Victoria Branch Garage Operators’ Association Safety Check Advertisement

The Victoria Branch of the Garage Operators’ Association organized yearly Safety Checks through the 1950s. Motorists who lived in Victoria County (now Kawartha Lakes) were encouraged to have […]

Safety First: The Ontario Department of Highways Urged Drivers to “Try Courtesy” During the Summer of 1937

The Ontario Department of Highways ran a series of newspaper advertisements over the summer of 1937 to raise awareness about responsible driving. The ads used the slogan “Try […]

Camping at Balsam Lake Provincial Park: The Early Years

Balsam Lake Provincial Park opened in 1967 and within five years had become one of central Ontario’s most popular parks. The first campsites were fairly rustic and scarcely […]

Roadside Tourist Camp, Norland

Roadside “tourist camps” began to appear in northwestern Kawartha Lakes during the 1920s and 1930s. Sometimes called “motor camps,” they were informal affairs – often consisting of little […]

An Early Motorist Goes Camping at Coboconk

It didn’t take long for outdoor enthusiasts to embrace the automobile! By the 1920s, when this picture was taken in Coboconk, campers were tying canoes to their cars […]

The Station Wagon: A Very Versatile Vehicle!

The versatile nature of station wagons made them synonymous with road trips through the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. They could accommodate several passengers with plenty of room to […]

Kim Tuckett Remembers the Trip to Falcon Lodge

Recorded at the Kirkfield Museum, February 12, 2022 Interviewer: Ian McKechnie Videography: Ekaterine Alexakis Duration: 1:29 Kim Tuckett sitting in front of white wall. Text on screen reads: […]

Places to Go, Things to See: The Kawartha Lakes Tourism Association’s “Travel Vacation Guide”

The Kawartha Lakes Tourist Association (KLTA) was “comprised of representatives of businesses large and small in the Counties of Peterborough and Victoria, as well as the municipal councils […]

Say Cheese! The Oliver Family Poses for the Camera

The Sunday afternoon drive was a popular activity from the 1920s through the 1960s. Families like the Olivers of Rosedale would make an occasion out of their jaunt, […]

Relaxing at Falcon Lodge, Balsam Lake

Lakefront lodges appeared throughout northwestern Kawartha Lakes during the 1940s and 1950s. Most featured a main lodge house surrounded by several smaller cabins. The main house at Falcon […]