An Invitation

Members of the Lake community (and any guests) are cordially invited to a 5-a-7 on Saturday, September 5, at the new little house with the red roof. In case of rain, make that Sunday, September 6, rain or shine.

As parking at the bottom of our hill is dicey at best, it is recommended that you park up the hill, or come by boat.

While this is a housewarming, gifts are unnecessary and, in fact, discouraged...we have enough stuff!!

We look forward to seeing you and to showing off our bijou residence.

-- Willie Wanklyn & Kathleen Hugessen

Lyme Disease in Mille Isles

 Allan McDougall emailed this morning to report 

"...my daughter Kathryn contracted Lyme disease from a tick bite at the Lake last month. She was treated as soon as she returned home and the case was reported to Quebec. They responded that there have been four confirmed cases of the disease in Mille Isles this summer."

For more information on the disease in Canada, its prevention and treatment please visit:

http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/diseases-conditions-maladies-affections/disease-maladie/lyme/index-eng.php

Bob's For the Birds...and More!

During the late morning of Sunday, August 11, we were visited by three egrets (known as "eommon" egrets and completely white). Smaller than the great blue heron, but not by much!  They perched in the tops of the pines on the north end of the Island for a good half-hour.  They then swooped down towards Presqu'Ile and returned to the Island and landed on the great rock on the shoreline facing Anne Est.  Haven't seen an egret here for many years.

This evening (Thursday, the 13th) I am watching two adult beavers on the rocks at our end of Green Mountain's point.

Willie W. says that he saw a bald eagle recently at the Lake. This is the second sighting of the same, this year!

Seems to be more fish feeding than in past years, but that could be wishful thinking...

Residents on both sides of the Lake are reporting more evidence of spring peepers.  If so, then the bass are hurting.

The moose are in poor condition because of ticks.  I have seen moose droppings along Kirkpatrick, but no evidence of the same in my wanderings at the Lake.

Always on the lookout,

Bob

Special Lake Anne Conservation Information Session

Learn about nature conservation initiatives in our region

Date: Saturday, August 29^th

Time: 2:00 – 4:00 pm

Location: Gaudreaus' cottage

 

Please RSVP to Stephanie Hunt-Foster at: johnsteph@sympatico.ca or 416-722-4497

 

The Township of Gore is renewing its strategic plan which includes goals related to nature conservation and watershed protection. Mathieu Madison, the Township’s Manager for Environment and Sustainable Development, has offered to come and speak to the Lake Anne Club to share information about regional nature reserves and conservation initiatives.

As you know, beyond Lake Anne itself, we are stewards of more than 1,400 acres in a height-of-land area within three different watersheds and five different townships. In addition to the forest, this land is home to a wide range of flora and fauna, including black bear, wolves, bobcats, eagles, various weasels (pine martin through to ermine) and lynxes. 

As stewards of this hinterland, it is incumbent upon us to learn about what the local governments are thinking in terms of nature conservation and what tools they can provide to us as land owners in terms of learning about our land, biodiversity, watershed protection etc.

Mathieu will be making a presentation about the Township of Gore’s goals to promote nature conservation and give examples of conservation initiatives in the region. He will also talk about resources that are available to organizations like the Lake Anne Club to help us achieve conservation goals.

-- Stephanie Hunt-Foster

A Glimpse of the Past -- I

The Wood Family and Other Early Settlers at Lake Anne

A personal remembrance written by my mother Audrey Johnson 
[additions by Derek]

Jack Wood's farmhouse was situated near the Rainbow River on the road which leads to the landing. In 1941, when I first came to Lake Anne, the remains of the house were still standing and the fields were open right through to the Gustave Road. 

Willy Wood's house lot was on the corner and a trail ran between the two places. Willy was the father of Gilbert and Chesley. He was struck by lightning while resting on an iron cot near his fireplace and was killed. 

George Wood, a brother, took the two boys to live with him. George's farm is presently owned by our neighbour Pitsiladis [and runs from the crest of the hill north of Mary’s lake down to the chemin Mille Isles ouest]. Willy Wood's house was removed by Joe Seale and became the Singer house. [The house is presently owned by Bryan Hollingworth who has made extensive renovations but kept the rustic nature of this historic site.]

Further down the Gustave Road, toward the highway, was the Thompson Farm. There was a log cabin standing there until about 1980. 

The next farm belonged to Bob Carruthers, who was married to Sarah, a sister of George Wood's. George and Sarah were brought up on a farm on the other side of Rainbow River, at the bottom of "Jack's Mountain". Their father was also called Jack. He was the original settler. Austin used to row across the Lake and help "Old Bob" by bringing in the cows, making hay, and mucking out the stables. The farmhouse was situated on the south side of the road just before the Palmer entrance.

Their barn was directly across the road from the house. When I first went there, the land was cleared in front of the house down to the first turn and across the road up to the top of the hill from where you could see "the Morin Hills". Bob also had a field overlooking the Lake, behind the Hugessen and Palmer properties, where his cows used to graze. We used to climb up there from the Lake and have a picnic. 

* * * * * 

About the Author
by Derek Johnson

My mother Audrey Kerrigan first came to Lake Anne upon marrying my dad Austin Johnson, right after the end of WW2. Born and raised in Montreal, she was a graduate of McGill University. Although the lake was much more woodsy, dare I say primitive, than her family country place in Knowlton, she spent as much time thereafter at the lake exploring her surroundings in all four seasons. She was prolific in pursuit of her artistic interests whether photography, needlepointing, knitting, or writing…and was active in many sports including tennis, swimming, sailing, and cross-country skiing. 

She often remarked how fond she was of her own father, who always had some game at hand even if he had to make it up. So Mother was the first to get the Xmas decorations out, to paint the Easter eggs and draw multiple maps to help children find treasure hidden all around the property. This tradition only stopped for a few years, until she could start again with her grandchildren; in that sense she never really grew old, but kept her youthful spirit alive for most of her life. I admired her.

Much of what I know about the history of the lake comes from my Mother or Father. Mum kept a daily handwritten journal of personal events and sightings at the lake for more than 25 years, all cross -referenced by subject and all before word processors. A wonderful read!