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

On the Road Again After Taking a Trip Down Memory Lane

Located in the village’s former Presbyterian church, the Kirkfield & District Historical Society’s museum is more than just an exhibit space; it’s a gathering place for the community. […]

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 […]

Fun & Frivolity: Coboconk’s Wonderland Dance Hall

Many a Saturday night road trip in northwestern Kawartha Lakes ended at the famous (or infamous!) Wonderland Dance Hall on Highway 46. Opened in 1939 by Nate and […]

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, […]

Are There Rooms Available? Kirkfield Lodge Hotel Register, Pg. 112

The Kirkfield Lodge was originally built to accommodate guests visiting Sir William and Lady Mackenzie at their palatial estate on the north side of Highway 46 in Kirkfield. […]

Coboconk’s Famous Pattie House

The Pattie House had been a fixture in downtown Coboconk for about half a century by the time this photograph was taken during the Great Depression. Apart from […]

Finding a Place to Park: Automotive Traffic on Nelson Street in Downtown Kirkfield

Highway 46 was known as Nelson Street within the village limits of Kirkfield. By the early 1930s, it was seeing more automotive traffic as cars grew in popularity […]