The 1930s 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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Margaret Valentine Remembers Her Family’s Service Station

Recorded at the Kirkfield Museum, February 12, 2022 Interviewer: Ian McKechnie Videography: Ekaterine Alexakis Duration: 3:42 Margaret Valentine sitting in front of white wall. Text on screen reads: […]

Homemade Baking In Rosedale: Alta Oliver and Her Famous Pies

Alta Oliver, whose husband operated a well-patronized service station in Rosedale, was famous for her homemade pies. Granddaughter Linda Oliver remembers: “Grandma baked pies and sold them to […]

Statement of Account Issued by Brentnell’s Garage, Victoria Road

Durant cars were popular in Victoria Road, with Charles H. Davey (1883-1953) being the local Durant agent prior to H. Brentnell becoming a dealer in “Durant Service and […]