b'HISTORIC SCUGOGby J. Peter HvidstenPort Perrys historic wharfsThroughout the early days of Port Perry there have been numerous docks, or wharfs, constructed along the Lake Scugog waterfront. One of the earliest wharfs of the 1850s was located on Lots #122 and #123, located approximately where todays dock is located.From the 1850s until the early 1870s this wharf was used as a steamboat landing and loading point for the numerous industries that lined the lakefront for commercial purposes. These included export and import of lumber, grain and the many products produced by the mills.In addition to the business uses, the wharf was also an important gathering place for excursions. Hundreds of residents would gather at the wharf to board one of the many paddle-wheelers that steamed up the lake to Washburn Island for picnics and celebrations.By the early 1870s the lakefront had become a disgraceful mess. Mud and weeds infested the entire length of its rubbishRailway lines can be seen here, stetching out onto the Port cluttered shoreline, creating an eyesore for the village and aPerry wharf, where a steamship awaits loading or unloading.health hazard to its residents.Following the arrival of the Port Whitby and Port PerryThe permanent wharf was constructed by building Railway, the railway company undertook a massive project tocribs of large timbers from the shore into the lake, improve its facilities. The project not only helped clean up theand then filling the space between the cribs and despicable condition of the lakefront, but also added to thethe shoreline with brush. Next the crews set to work commercial viability of the railway and steamships. with a dredger outside the timbers, throwing the In the spring of 1873, under the capable leadership of Mr.dirt removed from the lake on top of the brush. This Baxter R. Kimball, superintendent of the railway, large crews ofmethod of construction allowed them to raise the men began construction of a wharf which would stretch morelevel of the wharf as high as desired, creating a 320 than 320 feet out into Lake Scugog. foot structure. It was on this new wharf the company laid railway lines.When completed, steamships bringing lumber and other products to Port Perry, or picking goods up for delivery to Lindsay and points north, were able to dock right along side of the wharf to meet rail cars which lay waiting to load or unload their cargos. It also became the main docking point for steamships and the embarkment point for excursions up the lake.Exactly when the deck of this large wharf was dismantled is uncertain, but 115 years after it was built, more than thirty hand-hewn logs, cribbing from the large wharf, were removed from the lake in front of Palmer Park. Each of the logs measured 16x16 by 40 feet long.The second, and more familiar wharf located on Port Perrys lakefront, is still in use to this day. Construction began on The steamship Victoria is seen here approaching the new Port Perry wharf. Herethis dock, partially funded by the federal logs, lumber and other products bound for the train, were loaded and unloaded. government, got underway in June 1914 54 FOCUS - DECEMBER 2020'