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Continued from page 27 where participants could enjoy swimming, boat- ing and picnics in front of the hotel. While Seven Mile Island was under the owner- ship of Mr. Stinzel, he also developed a registered plan of subdivision for 19 lots along the north- west shore of Lake Scugog. On May 2, 1919, Alex Ross Wilson and his wife Mary purchased Seven Mile Island from Thomas Stinzel and began to develop the proper- ty into what would become a magnificent estate. Mr. Wilson amassed his wealth as part owner of his brother’s company, Andrew Wilson & Co., which manufactured the very popular "Bachelor" brand cigars. In 1923 the business was taken over by the Imperial Tobacco Co. Ltd., although Mr. Wilson continued as its president until 1929. After leaving the tobacco company, Mr. Reflecting Pool at Wilson’s Seven Mile Island about 1939. The 62’x14’ pool, with a fountain in the middle had an adjoining stone tea-house, walkways, statues and stone benches. LWA OS Sas Horn @ . Livexuyog, Ont~ The beautiful inground swimming pool, surrounded by an omate fence and two hangerooms located near the main residence. 30 FOCUS - JULY 2010 This elevated picture, taken about 1930 shows the south end of Seven Mile Island with Lake Scugog and part of Scugog Island in the background. Wilson became vice-president of Consolidated Press Limited of Toronto, publishers of Saturday Night, The Canadian Home Journal and the Farmer's Magazine. Over the next few years they assembled a number of small parcels: of land abutting the area, until they had accumulated approximately 91 acres. It was during the Wilson’s ownership of the Seven Mile Island that this relatively undeveloped land, was turned into an estate showplace. The Wilsons immediately started work on enlarging Delmont Cottage, adding a number of buildings to the property, constructing numerous floral gardens, a swimming pool, tea house, reflecting pool and an elaborate boathouse with a dance hall on the upper level. The property boasted beautifully manicured lawns, rose gardens, bridges, ponds and an elaborate pergola leading to the mag- nificent 26 room mansion. Mr. Wilson hired talented Scottish stonemasons to erect huge stone pillars, the shape of cigars, at the entrance to the property and also construct stone fences and walkways throughout the property. The crafts- men came to the estate to do this work after completing the construc- tion of Casa Loma in Toronto. While residents of Seven Mile Island, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson became quite involved within the commu- nity. They were known for their gen- erosity, purchasing new uniforms for the Port Perry Band on one occasion,