Port Sandfield, Ontario
Port Sandfield is a community on Lake Rosseau in Ontario, Canada, located within and governed by the municipality of Muskoka Lakes.[1] It was founded in 1870, when a canal was built connecting Lake Joseph to Lake Rosseau. Alexander Peter Cockburn, a member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament and founder and first President of the Muskoka Settlers’ Association played a leading role in getting the canal funded. The canal was funded at the same time as a lock at Port Carling. The canal and lock allowed a fleet of steamboats to carry freight, mail, cargo and timber over the three largest lakes in the county of Muskoka.
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Port Sandfield was named after John Sandfield MacDonald, who was then the Premier of Ontario.[2] The swing bridge over the canal, built in 1924, is the oldest in the province.
The canal fell into disuse, but was rehabilitated in 1999.[3]
References
- "Alexander Peter Cockburn". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Archived from the original on 2009-09-25.
- "Port Sandfield established 1870". Historic Plaque. Archived from the original on 2009-09-27.
- Karen Longwell (2008-08-06). "Port Sandfield freight shed to be restored". Bracebridge Examiner. Retrieved 2009-09-26.