Contributed by Sharon Bright, (nee McLean), April 2004
Sydney McLean a disenchanted farmer, desiring a change in life and a new challenge, left his farm in Harrow, Ontario, the most southerly town in Canada, and drove north to Muskoka looking for 1500 to 2000 feet of sandy shoreline for future development. He soon discovered that shoreline property was scarce in Muskoka, even back in January 1956. Not one easily discouraged,he contacted the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce where he met Howard Shaeffer, a local realtor, who asked if he would be interested in a larger block of land that had just come on the market. Sydney McLean indicated he would definitely be interested.
The "larger block" of land referred to by Howard Shaeffer was what is now known as Harp Lake and its surrounding woodlands. Irving R. Bacon, a professional artist and a former resident of Huntsville, owned the property. Mr. Bacon worked for the Western American cowboy, Buffalo Bill, and later on as Henry Fords private artist. At 80 years of age and living in Florida, he decided his life’s dream of returning and developing the lake property was too ambitious so he put it up for sale. Al that time, residents along Williamsport Road and from the settlement of Willaimsport called the lake, Near Cut Lako, because they used it as a short cut out to Highway 60. The lake occupied 250 acres, had three miles of shoreline and was surrounded by 800 acres of woodlands. Needless to say, it was a significantly larger property than Sydney McLean anticipated purchasing and developing, but he confirmed his interest.
Sydney McLean commissioned a plane and flew over the lake to survey potential entrances for future roads. Also needing reassurance that the Lake had a sandy bottom, he struck out through the deep snow on snowshoes carrying only a compass and a cup crudely attached to the end of a pick. Reaching the edge of the lake, his exhausting efforts were rewarded when he chopped through the ice in several locations and pulled up cupfuls of sand. A verbal offer to purchase was made by Sydney McLean by telephone and was accepted by Mr. Bacon. The development of Harp Lake and its surrounding property into a cottage and residential community was underway.
Sydney’s wife Ena was in shock for days when she learned about the purchase. But in keeping with her nature, she was Sydney’s constant support once a project proceeded, and as always, "took care of the books". Their children Roger and Sharon, at 19 and 13 years of age were ecstatic, envisioning utopia; with boating, swimming and fishing at their fingertips. No time was wasted, and Sydney soon left that flat land of Essex County to drive nine hours north to begin his new life in the rugged terrain of Muskoka. It wasn’t long before the local residents began to refer to him as "the pioneer". He was now gone from the farm in Essex County for weeks at a time.
Sydney made the decision to open up the first road into Harp Lake from the Williamsport Road. He reasoned that this would provide more privacy to the cottagers. Don Cottroll, a local resident who owned two bulldozers agreed to do the roughing out for the first road. The thick brush and rough terrain made this a slow, arduous task. Sydney walked ahead of the bulldozer notching the trees to be removed with an axe and marking boulder for removal or blasting. As careful as they were in dynamiting the boulders some stray rocks did make their way to unacceptable locations, one being found in the middle of a boat at the Innoll cottage the following spring.
The next summer, as soon as the asparagus crop on the farm in Essex County was harvested, Sydney and his family moved into an old farmhouse on a farm Mr. Bacon owned on the Williamsport Road. The family arrived in a car weighted down to the axles, pulling a horse trailer loaded with three horses, a dog and a cat. There was no hydro, telephone or plumbing in the house, except for a lap close to the floor from which water ran by gravity down a hill and into the old house. The only way to get into the lake property that first Summer while the road was being built, was by horseback, and if the weather held, by tractor and wagon.
Sydney faced his next challenge that fall and winter when he set up a crude logging camp back in the bush between the Droppo (#775) and Kennedy (#867) properties. Logs were taken from the east side of the lake, skidded through the bush and to the lake’s edge by horses. Being Sydney’s first logging experience, he watched with trepidation as the lake ice bent under the extreme weight of the lumber trucks as they transported their loads across the Lake to the old boathouse lot, now known as our boat launch area. The "law of the bush" was that logging ended by 4:30 p.m. each day, but because Sydney lived alone through the first few winters he would stay and continue cutting. Working alone, the reality of the "law of the bush" hit late in the day, when he was suddenly knocked unconscious by a falling limb but awoke and was able to walk out of the bush before nightfall.
Approval on his first Plan of Subdivision by the Town of Huntsville seemed to take an eternity. Desperately needing to sell lots to offset mounting debts, Sydney contacted his Member of Parliament, who got things rolling. He attracted potential buyers by occupying a booth at the Toronto Sportsman Show and by advertising in the Toronto papers. But again, more setbacks. Non one wanted to be the first owner on a new lake development. Syndey then cleared sites on building lots so potential buyers could better visualize the space, and their view of the lake. Family and a close friend bought the first two lots for three dollars and five dollars per foot, for a total of $3200 for 800 feet of shoreline.
The first couple to build a cottage on the Lake was Marjorie and Charlie Murray along with their son, Chad, teachers from Windsor, Ontario. Wishing to spend their summer months near their building site, Sydney and Ena offered to have them live with the family at the farm until their cottage was completed towards the end of the summer rationalizing that they would be more comfortable in their old house than in a tent. Their unassembled cottage had to be towed into their site by tractor. This cottage is currently owned by Mike Thompson. (73 Ena Dr.)
Sydney was anxious to build three cottages, one for the family and two others to sell. The log cottage currently owned by the Fletchers (#835) was built in 1959 for the McLean family. Sydney cut the logs for this dwelling, and split all the stone that housed the foundation, large fireplace, and the pathway. Edmund Pullen purchased the first of the speculative cottages which is now owned by the Symington Family (#823). The second was purchased by the McKeen family, long time family friends from Harrow (29 Ena Dr.)
Developing a large property on a shoestring was becoming a problem Sydney never entertained the thought of a financial partner, but when he was unable to increase the mortgage on the farm in Harrow to support the Harp Lake development, he was forced to turn to a private individual for a high interest loan. With his expenses escalating, he found it difficult making loan payments, and just before the loan was to be called, he was able to find a buyer for his beloved log home at a sacrificed price, and slaved off bankruptcy.
Eventually, Sydney was able to borrow $4,000 to purchase the 225-acre farm where he first settled his family from Mr. Bacon’s estate. The first Harp Lake corn roasts and picnics were hosted by the McLean family and held at the farm. As good fortune would have it, Sydney discovered a natural gravel pit on the property that enabled him to haul hundreds of loads and gravel needed to construct five and a half miles of road. After approximately twenty-two years of roadwork with usually only one helper, Bill David in the later years, and some antiquated equipment, the Town finally conceded the road had the proper width, the proper slopes and proper regulated corners, for them to accept responsibility for the roads.
As the lake developed, Sydney determined it was necessary that he and Ena be closer to the new entrance from Highway 60 and built a home near the outlet. They resided there until Ena passed away in 1987. Sydney passed away in 1996. The Laughlins and the McMillans are the current owners of Sydney and Ena’s property. (#327)
There is no way one can in a few pages capture the essence of the pioneering spiril that shaped Harp Lake. The lake became home for the McLean family. It was their joy and it became their life. They loved sharing in the excitement as new cottagers discovered the lake, developed properties and became neighbours. In recognition of the contribution that the McLean family made to the development of Harp Lake, the then Cottager’s Association designated the lake roads in their honour, Sydney Trail, Ena Drive, Sharon Drive, and McLean Drive.
