b'Mariposa, on the north shore of Lake Scugog. Here a man named Hoover brooded over the Millerites* gospel until he gradually fancied himself superhuman and above natural HISTORIC SCUGOG laws. He therefore announced, in the autumn of 1842, that he would walk on the water from Port Hoover across Lakeby J. Peter Hvidsten Scugog to Caesarea, a distance of about five miles. On the day appointed, hundreds of Mariposa pioneers gathered at the Port Hoover wharf to watch the attempt. Hoover seemed to have a sudden weakening of faith, for he fastened a wooden box on each foot; but as even this failed The Preacher fancied himselfsuperhuman and above natural laws.to hold him up, he waded out and hid behind one of theit will be announced when the cloud has been piles of the wharf.removed, and then I will do it. The urgent demands of the crowd finally broughtBut his skeptical spectators, who felt deceived by him back to shore, where, amid the hoots of small boys,the preacher, never returned or assembled again.he made this explanation: My friends, a cloud has risenIt just goes to prove:You can fool some of the before my eyes and I cannot see. I cannot walk uponpeople some of the time . . . but you cant fool all the water today while this cloud is before my eyes. Soonof the people all of the time. The above story is based on an article published in the Victoria County Centennial History, by Watson Kirkconnell, M.A.* The Millerites were the followers of the teachings of William Miller, who in 1831 first shared publicly his belief that the SecondAdvent of Jesus Christ would occur in roughly the year 18431844.D URING THE EARLY part of the 18th century, churches wereScugog History At Your Fingertipsvery scattered, especially in the back townships. This required preachers to venture by horseback into the back country each summer, where they would hold camp meetings.Pioneer devotees would gather in open groves for a week of prayer, singing and exhortation. Tents and shanties would be put up and fitted with rude tables and beds, a platform built for the preacher and rows of logs set out as seats for the faithful. In the light of the evening services, bonfires flared and flickered, as the preacher began his shouting from the platform, with the remorseful groaning on the seats just below him. The Village of Prince Albert A series of short stories Learn the history of some Stories of long forgotten In 1842 a preacher named Miller began to teach thatwas the most important residen- from a variety of Port Perryof Scugog Townships mostparts of Scugog Twp., includ-the world would come to an end on February 15,1843. Thetial, commercial and industrialand Scugog area booksiconic and historic homesing the development of Seven belief spread like wildfire among the weak minded. Farmerscommunity in Ontario Countyand publications over theand the importance of theirMile Island; Beechenhurst/burnt their rail fences as firewood, confident that theirfrom the mid-1840s until 1872,past 150 years. Sixty storiesformer owners. This is a re- Kent Estates; the Scugog Float-The Village was the secondfeaturing historic, humor- vised and updated editioning Bridge; Port Perrys Grain usefulness would soon be past.largest grain center in Canada.ous, and tragic incidentsof the original published inElevator, and Birdseye Center One of Millers converted followers, near Port Perry, gaveLearn about the rise and fall ofthat will at times make you2002, with many of the oldCabin Park. Book features away a 100 acre farm and all its equipment. Sarah Terwilligarthis small village nestled on thesmile, and at other timesphotographs having beenhistorical photographs of these of Oshawa made herself wings of silk and jumped off theboundary of todays Port Perry. shed a tear.colourized. lost treasures.front porch, expecting to ascend to heaven.Available on Amazon.cajust go to Amazon search, type in the title, But the choicest anecdote comes from Port Hoover, inOrder your copy today - delivery is usually within a few days.Sketch by C. W.JEFFREY34 FOCUS - MARCH 2022'