1872 Simcoe Gazetteer

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BRACEBRIDGE - A thriving village on the Muskoka River, in the township of Macaulay, Muskoka District, county of Victoria, in the immediate vicinity of the Free Grant Territory. The first settlement of the village dates only a few years ago, but the evidence of its prosperity and rapid growth are every where conspicuous. The water- power is first-class, and is utilized by grist, saw, planing, and woollen and carding mills. Other manufacturing establishments are also contemplated. The Northern Advocate and Free Grant Gazette, ably conducted journals, are published here. There are English, Presbyterian and Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist Churches in the village.

The scenery in the neighbourhood of Bracebridge is remarkable for its romantic beauty, hill, dale, lake, river, cataract, forest and farm are blended in picturesque variety, and tourists from all parts of the continent are recognizing the claims of the Muskoka Territory as a favorite resort for its healthiness, beauty and excellent sporting facilities.

Bracebridge connects with Gravehurst by steamers and Stages to Washago, thence by boat to Orillia and the Northern Railway. Also with the Midland Railway at Beaverton, and with stages at Rosseau for Parry Sound and the Nipissing and Maganatawan Territories. Distant from Gravenhurst 16 miles; Port Carling, 20; Rosseau, 33; and the head of Lake Joseph 42 miles.

Adam, John, carpenter....................... } Holditch & Gibbs, brick manufrs
Astley, R., painter................................ } Kennedy, Wm., shoemaker
Auger, Thos., saw mills....................... } Kent, D., North American Hotel
Ball, Rev. Thos., ch. of England.......... } Long, James, butcher
Barron, Rev. John, Presbyterian .......} Lount, C. W., magistrate
Bird, H. J., woollen factory.................. } Lount, J. E., clerk division court
Bridgland, S., M.D., druggist,.............. } Lowe, Charles, butcher
agent, Mon. Tel. Co.............................. } McFarlane, H., butcher
Boyer, James, township clerk............. } McMurray, Thomas, editor
Bowerman, Thos., painter................... } and prop. "Northern Advocate,"
Brimstin Bros., merchants.................. } insurance and general agent,
Brown, James, wagon maker.............. } merchant, &c.
Brown, Wm., ..........................................} Malpas Bros., general merchants
Browning, G.B., solicitor, ag't ...............} Mortimer, Charles, "Free Grant
Can. Per. Bldg. and Savings'................. } Gazette"
Society..................................................... } Myers, Thomas, general merchant
Burden, W. F., British Lion Hotel .........} "Northern Advocate,"
Byers, J. N., M.D. ....................................} Thos. McMurray, editorial prop.
Cheney, Frank, grocer............................} Perry, R. E., P.M., merchant
Clerihue, James, general merchant...... } miller
Clement, Jas., Dominion Hotel.............. } Robinson, Samuel, Royal Hotel
Clifford, R. W., Queen's Hotel................ } Ross, W. M.
Collinson, Thomas, black-.......................} Sibbald, Wm., painter
smith..........................................................} Slater, John, tailor
Cook, George, baker............................... } Spiers, J. H., painter
Cooper & Morton, sawmills................... } Stephenson, E. F., editor and
Daniels, Richard, stoves and.................. } prop. "Free Grant Gazette"
tinware ......................................................} Story, Charles, builder
Dill, J. W., general merchant.................. } Symington, Thos., builder
Farr, C. C................................................... } Tait, John
Fawcett, Rev. Primitive Methodist .......} Teviotdale & Hunt, general
Free Grant Gazette, E. F........................ } merchants
Stephenson, editor and prop.................. } Tomlin, John, H., painter
Hanna, Wm., book keeper...................... } Webster, Rev. John, Wesleyan
Harper, Wm., carpenter......................... } Wilson, Gillman, sawmill

FALKENBURG - A post-office in Macaulay Township, lot 2, 10th con., 6 miles from Bracebridge, and 68 from Barrie. The neighborhood was first settled in 1862 by Edwin Griffin, Sidney Tibbs, and Samuel Holditch. The Muskoka River, in the vicinity, provides almost unlimited manufacturing power.

Brown, Wm., plasterer............................. } Loughead, Robert, farmer
Clarke, Rev. John, Wesleyan ..........} Loughead, Samuel, farmer
Earnshaw, Joshua, farmer....................... } Low, David, farmer
Forsyth, John, farmer.................. } McNee, James, farmer
Galloway, David, shoemaker.................. } Miller, Robt., carpenter
Hamilton, A., farmer................................ } Moore, Francis, farmer
Holditch, Samuel, farmer......................... } Moore, Matthias, P.M.,
Jack, John, farmer.................................... } farmer
Jack, William, farmer ...............................} Palmer, John, farmer
Jackson, John, blacksmith....................... } Schafer, Samuel, farmer
Kirby, Nathaniel, farmer......................... } Stinson, Thomas, farmer
Levier, Chas., farmer............................... } Stinson, Robert, farmer
Levier, James, farmer............................. }