27
May
2010
2010
Ferndale House in Muskoka
This is the point of land on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka where the Ferndale House once rested. It was later called the Canadian Keswick Conference Centre and it burned down in 1946. There is now a very large mansion and boathouse on this property. (Photo coming soon) Check the cool little gazebo up on the point overlooking the lake. Click to see a large photo.
Please click on the photo for a 1280 pixel size
the gentleman that owns this place also owns Mattamy homes. I take care of a place across the bay . I believe it is the largest one standing cottage in muskoka. It houses several bedrooms and fireplaces. I miss seeing the old resort that use to stand there were the cottage now rests.
Gorgeous shot…don’t know anything about the point of land other than it makes for a great photo!!!
Hope you and Cindy are well…
Cheers
Can you tell me if any of the original Canadian Keswick Conference buildings are still standing and is Mattamy Homes still planning on developing this site??
My family had a cottage right across the bay from here and the picture looks like it could have been taken from the dock. Leslie Carr, can you tell me which cottage you take care of? Is it by any chance the small white one on the water(used to be green when we had it)My parents sold it in about 1987(?) and I have deep regrets! I would be so interested to hear about the family who owns it now and if they would ever be open to my sister and I coming to see the place for a few minutes for a walk down memory lane. Also if it ever came up for sale would be very interested!
My husband & I are visiting Ontario for the very first time & decided to drive up to Port Carling today to check out some family history. My great-grandfather was Frederick Penson (younger brother of Seymour). Their father was Richard George Penson. We were in awe of the beauty of Port Carling & had a great time tracing some family roots there. They were the founders of Ferndale House which was one of the first hotels started in the Muskoka Lakes in the late 1800′s. We have found the people of Ontario very friendly & helpful. We definitely plan to come back & spend more time here! My grandfather was Jack Penson, son of Frederick. My mom, Norma was Jack’s(I think his real name was John) oldest daughter. Jack’s family(11 children) was raised in Grande Prairie, Alberta & Norma’s family(10 children) pretty much all live in Telkwa, B.C. So as with most families were basically spread across Canada now.
This is the spot where I asked my wife to marry me!!
I know CKC very well. Spent 2 weeks of almost every summer there from 1961 – 1974. My father lead a youth week there every July for young people from German Baptist congregations in Ontario, Illinois,Michigan, New York and Wisconsin.
When I saw it some years ago it was a derelict property with the old Conference hotel and chapel damaged by water and weather, and many other buildings already torn down. I was, to say the least, saddened by what I saw compared to what I had locked away in my memories. What a gorgeous place it once was! I do remember the green cottage across the bay from CKC, and that cottage’s dock. We used to row a conoe over to the dock to say hello.
If the former CKC property is now private, then it belongs to Peter Gilgan, the CEO of Mattamy Homes. I believe Peter still lives in Oakville, ON. It’s not likely that it will ever be a CKC, but knowing the business man Peter is, it could end up being developed as a resort similar to The Rosseau in Minett, ON.
Naomi, I hope you see this. My great grand father was Seymour Penson. We are related!! I wish I knew how to get in contact with you.. I know mostly about Seymour but not enough about Richard. I don’t know if you know this, but they are buried in the Port Carling cemetery…
If you come back to Ontario I hope we can get in touch!
Cheers,
Karen – your long lost relative!! x
Worked the summer at CKC ( 1957 ) Great memories, all good. Went back to take a look three or four years ago, could not even find the drive way. What a sad mess, for such a beautiful place in it’s day. Could write a book on all my experiences that summer. My pay for ther whole summer $100. Still went home happy.
I worked at CKC in the summer of 74 and 75 as a housekkeeper. The best two summers of my entire life! I loved seeing some of the old pictures and the great memories I had there. We only made $1.65 an hour but it felt more like a vacation than anything. I had made good friends and we had so much fun. It was sad when I went back in the early 90s to see everything that had all grown in…I could hardly find the road to the girls dorm! Even the asphalt for the main driveway was all treed. So sad. Loved going into Howards for ice cream and the roller skating events. Water skiing with the Moller’s was a blast….Tim Gamble who was a Bus Boy is now CEO of Thunderbird Film Production out in BC….amazing. I will never forget such really great times. Remember last nite of the summer and how crazy it went with the girls dorm getting egged and the boys dorm getting floured….Oh those were the days!
Karen Hanna: I hope you come back to this site I am Naomi’s cousin – I beleive you are the grand daughter of Ruth. I am a bit of a family tree geek and would love to here from you…My email is lornapicken@yahoo.ca