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. 

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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!