Echo From The Past

In the early part of the 19th century there were various inns and “ferry” landings operated on Rice Lake for the convenience of the travelers and immigrants going to the back country. We have already mentioned Fothergill leasing lot 27 (Ley Point) for ferry rights, and Tidy’s Inn on lot 16.

In 1820 the Hamilton Court granted to Lieut. John Wm. Bannister of Otonabee the ferry privileges on Rice Lake, Otonabee and Trent from lot 16, and to John Williams the same privilege from lot 8 (Chs. Burrison’s) and Lemuel Brunley lot 2, con. 1, Alnwick township.

The best known of these inns was that at Sully (just west of Harwood) made famous by Mrs. C. P. Traill. In “Pearls and Pebbles” she describes the “motley group of emigrants that shared the only available room in the log-house which did duty as tavern on the shores of Rice Lake”.

In the “Backwoods of Canada” is her well known account of their trip out from Cobourg, across Rice Lake and up the Otonabee in 1832.

”Within the sight of Sully the tavern from which the steamboat starts that goes up the Otonabee, you see several well-cultivated settlements; and beyond the Indian village the missionaries have a school for the education and instruction of the Indian children…certain it is that the introduction of Christian religious is the first step towards civilization and improvement; its very tendency being to break down the strongholds of prejudice and ignorance, and unite mankind in one bond of social brotherhood…there are some fine settlements on the Rice Lake, but I am told the shores are not considered healthy, the inhabitants being subject to lake-fevers and ague, especially where the ground is low and swampy…if, as is possible, in the course of years these inland waters should be made available for boats and larger craft than Indian canoes, such lands as lie near them will become valuable, but the time may be far distant.