14

Fishermen
Circa 1880
Pelee Island, Ontario


Credits:
Pelee Island Heritage Museum

15

These same families were active in the cultural life of the island with songs, recitations, dialogues, speeches, debates and music performances held for the entertainment of the residents. Islanders, also, enjoyed being physically active and participated in dances, sports and games. John Finlay's son was treasurer of the Dancing Club for South Enders and Edward Wardroper hosted tennis competitions at his court on his farm.

The inception of the Pelee Fishing Club was described at the turn of the century by an islander:

"In the fall of 1879 a party of young men from Sandusky and Cincinnati, composing a fishing party, encamped at the North end of the island. A severe storm came up, blew down their tents and flooded them out. They came to Mrs. Thaddeus Smith [whose home was adjacent to the camp site] and begged to be taken out of the storm, being sick of tenting it. Among these was Charles L. Mills of Sandusky, who continued to board with Mrs. Smith for four or five years, spring and fall. Mr. Mils met a fellow fisherman, Mr. John Maginis jr., of New York City, who, with a party of friends was stopping at Dr. F. B. McCormick's. Mr. Maginis told Mr. Mills that they wished to organize a fishing club with a permanent location of their own and invited him to join them. The club was organized, and the site for the house selected at the extreme Northwest end, the very place where Mr. Mills and his young friends had camped years before. In 1883 the Club House was erected [the wood was planed in the mills belonging to George Pullman, and the pre-fabricated sections brought to Pelee on a vessel belonging to Captain Jack McCormick], and their first meeting was held that fall. John Maginis jr., was made President and Charles L. Mills, Vice President and General Manager of the club's business. Included in the membership list, in the early years, were the names as given below: Judge Walter P. Gresham, who was Secretary of State under President Cleveland; Benjamin Campbell, Ex-Marshall of Illinois; J.R Jones, former Minister to Brussels; Colonel V.C Turner, of Chicago; Robert T. Lincoln [son of Abraham Lincoln]; Chester A. Arthur, former President of the United States; General Schofield; General Phillip Sheridan; Marshall Field and George Pullman of Chicago." Lydia J. Ryall, Sketches and Stories of the Lake Erie Islands, Perry Centennial Edition, 1913, pp. 274-77

16

Pelee Club House
1889
Pelee Island, Ontario


Credits:
Pelee Island Heritage Museum

17

From these early years Vin Villa was advertised as a place for summer boarding to suit parties wanting a quiet retreat to fish, boat and swim. A registry of the boarding house has survived from 1894 after the death of Adelia and from the time the house was occupied by Thaddeus, his daughter Minnie Bird and her husband Edward Wardroper jr. Guests of the house came from a variety of places including Kingsville, Leamington, Windsor, Chatham, London, Napanee, Toronto, Montreal, Sandusky, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Cincinnati, Ypsilanti, Lexington, Boston, Philadelphia, etc. The registry of boarders was discontinued after 1920.

18

First A.M. McCormick Store (on right), West Dock
Circa 1895
Pelee Island, Ontario


Credits:
Pelee Island Heritage Museum

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McCormick, A.M.
Circa 1900
Pelee Island, Ontario


Credits:
Pelee Island Heritage Museum