The Formation of Lake Scugog

William  Purdy, a mill owner in Gananoque, faced a sudden career shift after a  devastating fire consumed his mills. With his livelihood in ashes, Purdy  turned to a new venture, launching a stagecoach business along Kingston  Road, east of Toronto. The enterprise succeeded, and after selling it,  Purdy set his sights further north, settling in what is now Lindsay.  Alongside his third or possibly fourth wife, he began a new chapter,  constructing a sawmill on the banks of the Scugog River.

Purdy's ambitions for his sawmill demanded a reliable  water source, so he decided to build a ten-foot dam to ensure enough  flow to power the mills. The promise of government incentives, +a grant  of 400 acres and a bonus of $600 if the operation was running within  four years, 

spurred him forward. By September of 1828, his vision had  materialized, but not without issues.

As water filled behind the dam, pressure mounted, and  soon the structure gave way under the strain. The collapse delayed  progress by a year, but by spring 1830, Purdy was back in business. 

His new dam, seven feet taller than the original, successfully held the  water back, though not without consequence. The raised water level  flooded the Scugog basin, causing widespread destruction. Thousands of  trees drowned as the lake's surface area nearly doubled.

Environmental considerations were virtually  nonexistent at the time, and the stagnant water quickly became a  breeding ground for disease. Deadly fevers swept across nearby farms,  creating unrest among the local population. Unsurprisingly, the new lake  was far from welcomed by the community.

By the summer of 1838, the frustrated settlers had  reached their breaking point. Armed with axes, pitchforks, and anything  else they could find, they tore the dam apart. Despite the destruction,  no legal action followed. The dam's elevation was eventually lowered,  and Purdy's aspirations were tempered.

A few years later, the Board of Works took over the  project, constructing a new dam and a lock system for navigating into  Lake Scugog. This was completed in 1844, and a log flume was added to  the structure. In exchange, Purdy gave up any claims for damages caused  by the local residents. He retained responsibility for maintaining the  dam and flume as traffic on the lake began to increase.

Despite the initial turmoil, settlements gradually  formed along the lake's expanding shores, bolstered by the growth in  commercial boat traffic. The altered landscape, though initially  contentious, eventually paved the way for new opportunities in the area.

Interestingly, the name "Scugog" is believed to have  two possible origins. Some suggest it is derived from the Ojibwe word  for 'marshy waters,' while others believe it comes from the Mississauga  term meaning 'waves leap over a canoe.' Regardless of its roots, the  history of Lake Scugog remains closely tied to Purdy’s efforts, the  land’s transformation, and the people who lived around it.

Click here to view the historic Lake Scugog photo gallery: https://www.photosntravel.com/shop?Collection=Lake+Scugog+old

Jonathan van Bilsen is an award winning photographer, author, columnist and television host. Follow his travel adventures at photosNtravel.com