Madawaska Club at Go Home Bay has deep roots in area

The Madawaska Club was founded May 5, 1898, with a rudimentary clubhouse and the following summer, the building of individual cottages took place.

Joe Nault was the club’s caretaker and carpenter.

Professors W.H. Loudon, C.H.C.Wright, Dean Galbraith, Professor F.H.Wallace, Dr. James Ballantyne, and Professors W.H.Fraser and J.C. Robertson of the U. of T were the founders.

Loudon sold all his friends on a vigorous life on the Bay. The 25th, 50th and 100th Anniversaries of the club have small pamphlets published celebrating the activities of the members.

The Go Home Bay post office was founded June 15, 1899. Professor C.H.C. Wright served as postmaster until 1940.

Loggers would send timbers down the Musquash River and meet steamers at Go Home Bay, which would transfer timber to the various mills around the Great Lakes and then “go home," hence the name.

Joe Nault built the clubhouse and a number of the cottages. The cost to build was $65 per cottage.

Apparently, that year there was a lumber dispute with the United States and prices were low. First-grade two-by-fours and joists were $8.50 per thousand feet. I paid $12.50 for a two-by-four pressure treated eight-foot board last week!

Steamers plied the bay from Parry Sound to Penetang with a stop at Go Home wharf. The City of Toronto, followed by Midland City, Waubic and others in turn, connected the rail lines to the water routes and made it possible to reach the magic islands of the Georgian Bay.