What do absentee politicians, horse races, the queen’s birthday, and a deck fire on a great lake steamer all have to do with the beginnings of our town’s shipbuilding past? In today’s episode we will find out as we journey back to 1883 and the grand opening of the Collingwood Dry Dock! We also point out where you can still see this local landmark for yourself and invite you to come and see our brand new permanent gallery exhibit “Launch Day” which details one of the most exiting parts of that very same shipbuilding history. We are open, by appointment only, Tuesdays through Saturdays 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Call us at 705-445-4811 or email us at [email protected]to set up your appointment.

Episode Picture:

The Steamer Oneida in the Collingwood Dry Dock [Collingwood Museum Collection X986.31.25]

Research:

Barbara Arp, ed., Reflections An Historical Anthology of Collingwood (Collingwood: The Corporation of the Town of Collingwood, 1983), 78-79.

Leithead, Maggie. Collingwood Skiffs & Side Launches (Collingwood Museum, Collingwood, 1994), 9-10.