1

Victoria Day at the Beach
Victoria Day, 1899
Port Bowmanville, Ontario

Credits:
Shaw Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

2

Around the mid-1890s a great amount of interest was shown in Port Bowmanville as a summer resort. When school was finished, families from Bowmanville and surrounding areas moved to the shore of Lake Ontario and stayed there all summer long until school re-opened. It was here that they celebrated family, community and the town's natural beauty.

3

The 'Oliver Mowat'
early 1900s
Port Bowmanville, Ontario

Credits:
Shaw Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

4

Three mast schooner
early 20th Century
Port Bowmanville, Ontario

Credits:
Clarington Museums and Archives postcard collection

5

Steamer Argyle and Elevators
early 20th Century
Port Bowmanville, Ontario

Credits:
Clarington Museums and Archives postcard collection

6

At the turn of the last century steamers such as the 'Argyle' and the 'Garden City', catered to sightseers wanting day trips abroad, usually to Toronto and back. Sailing was also a very popular acitivity that most people participated in.

7

Pleasure Craft
circa 1898-1900
Port Bowmanville, Ontario

Credits:
Shaw Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

8

Sailing
1898-1900
Port Bowmanville, Ontario

Credits:
Shaw Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

9

Sailboat
circa 1900
Port Bowmanville, Ontario

Credits:
Shaw Photograph Collection, Clarinton Museums and Archives

10

Moored Pleasure Craft
Summer 1914
Port Bowmanville, Ontario

Credits:
Shaw Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

11

Port Bowmanville was divided into an East and West side by a channel and eventually a pier. Residents could make the long trek on foot around the channel from one side to the other or, after 1910, they could enjoy regular ferry service on a small craft.

12

Camp Aurangzebe
circa 1895-1900
Port Bowmanville, Ontario

Credits:
Shaw Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

13

At first visitors and residents camped directly on the beach in tents and cooked meals outdoors. One of the earliest families to camp on the beach was that of Bowmanville resident and photographer Henry Tait. He and his large family named the camp 'Camp Chatter' due to the many jovial conversations that occurred during the summer. It is said that the Tait family settling in gave impetus to summer camping at the Beach and eventually the erection of cottages along the east and west beachfront sides of the channel.

14

Camp Chatter
1901
Port Bowmanville, Ontario

Credits:
Shaw Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives