General Archives | Page 2 of 6 | "Are We There Yet?" Highway-Based Tourism In Kawartha Lakes

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 […]

Keeping Northwestern Kawartha Lakes Safe: Provincial Constable William Kennedy (1909-1986)

Provincial Constable William Kennedy was born in 1909, the same year in which the Ontario Provincial Police was formed. Hired by the OPP on August 16, 1937, Kennedy […]

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 […]

Keeping Kids Off the Road: Gate Separating Falcon Lodge From Highway 46

This gate was used to keep children and pets staying at Falcon Lodge from darting out onto busy Highway 46. “Remarkably as a kid, I took it for […]

Full Speed Ahead! Widening the King’s Highway (Highway 35 North)

By 1970, parts of Highway 35 North had become so well-travelled that they required widening. This Ministry of Transportation photo was taken between Norland and Minden, and shows […]

Making Road Trips Faster and Smoother: An Ontario Department of Highways Crew Spreads Mulch Pavement on Highway 46 near Lorneville

In 1914, a gentleman named George H. Payne wrote a letter to the editor of the Lindsay Post urging municipalities to purchase a grader for use on every […]

Steam Shovel at Work on Highway 35 North, Rosedale

Originally called the Cameron Road, the route running between Rosedale and Minden, Ontario, became known as Highway 35 on April 1, 1937. By the 1940s the section between […]

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 […]

Business Card Issued by Graham Beach Camp Grounds, Cottages, and Cabins

Chester Graham operated a private campground on Lake Dalrymple, about 20 kilometres northwest of Kirkfield. In addition to camping, Graham offered cottages, cabins, and boats for rent as […]

Robert Wires Discusses the Impact of Balsam Lake Provincial Park

Recorded at the Kirkfield Museum, February 26, 2022 Interviewer: Ian McKechnie Videography: Ekaterine Alexakis Duration: 1:58 Robert Wires sitting in front of white wall. Text on screen reads: […]

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 […]