b'THE GAPContinued from page??Initially two routes were proposedone along theing for the best route to connect the two townships.town-line between Manvers and Cartwright, acrossInitially two routes were proposedone along the1/8 Page the Scugog River into Mariposa, and a second, fromtown-line between Manvers and Cartwright, acrossSize - 3.25 x 4.55 the \x1e rst concession north of the town line to a point inthe Scugog River into Mariposa, and a second, fromMariposa Township opposite.the first concession north of the town line to a point in The rationale for a bridge was to bene\x1e t the farmersMariposa Township opposite.from Mariposa and Ops, who trade their stock atThe rationale for a bridge was to benefit the farm- Janetville Station, in Manvers Twp. A bridge across theers from Mariposa and Ops, who trade their stock atScugog River would save considerable time getting toJanetville Station, in Manvers Twp. A bridge across themarket in the summer, and avoid the dangers of Scugog River would save considerable time getting toshipping stock across the river on the ice in the winter.market in the summer, and avoid the dangers of ship-While it appeared that the project was proceedingping stock across the river on the ice in the winter.favourably, others, although in favour of the bridge,While it appeared that the project was proceedingwere less enthusiastic of the location chosen.favourably, others, although in favour of the bridge, In May the following year, James Casey learned thatwere less enthusiastic of the location chosen. members of the Ops Twp. council disagreed with theIn May the following year, James Casey learned thatlocation of a bridge, claiming it would divert shippingmembers of the Ops Twp. council disagreed with the1/8 Page trade then going to Lindsay.location of a bridge, claiming it would divert shippingSize - 3.25 x 4.55Another Valentia farmer, James M. Swain, preferredtrade then going to Lindsay. even a different route, suggesting a location furtherAnother Valentia farmer, James M. Swain, preferredsouth which crossed the Scugog River near Stoneyeven a different route, suggesting a location furtherPoint. He argued that the site he preferred had ansouth which crossed the Scugog River near Stoney The Port Perry \x1f oating bridge, constructedabundance of gravel pits and good stone for buildingPoint. He argued that the site he preferred had anto connect Reach Twp. to Scugog Island is thethe bridge approaches. He also contended that theabundance of gravel pits and good stone for buildingbest known bridge spanning Lake Scugog. Theriver at the location had a \x1e rm solid bottom and wasthe bridge approaches. He also contended that thebridge was built to provide settlers on oppositeabout 200 yards shorter, which would save thousandsriver at the location had a firm solid bottom and wassides easy accessacross the lake. of dollars.about 200 yards shorter, which would save thousandsBefore the bridge,access to neighboursIronically, four months earlier, a report in the of dollars. on the opposite side of the lake was by Bowmanville Canadian Statesman newspaperhad Ironically, four months earlier, a report in the Bow- Red marking shows the approximate location for areported, It has been found impractical to build a newspaper had reported,proposed bridge to connect Mariposa and Ops withbridge across Lake Scugog from Stony Point on manville Canadian StatesmanIt has been found impractical to build a bridge across Manvers and Cartwright Townships. the south,to a point south of Valentia on the Lake Scugog from Stony Point on the south, to a pointnorth, a length of 3,800 feet. Mr. J.G. Sing, District south of Valentia on the north, a length of 3,800 feet.small boats or barges during the summer months, or inEngineer, said, it is extremely doubtful if a stationery Mr. J.G. Sing, District Engineer, said, it is extremelywinter, wagons and sleighs across the frozen lake.roadway would withstand the action of ice.doubtful if a stationery roadway would withstand theWork got underway on a \x1f oating bridge connecting the Despite the differences of opinion on the best route,action of ice. two townships during 1856. The Scugog \x1f oating bridge farmers continued to voice their support for a bridgeDespite the differences of opinion on the best route,went through numerous repairs, rebuilds and changesacross the river. They felt it would help form closer farmers continued to voice their support for a bridge1/4 Page over the next \x1e fty years, but to this day, the bridge providesrelations between the farmers of the four town-across the river. They felt it would help form closer rela- Vertical rapid access to the east side of Lake Scugog and beyond. ships who reside on either side of the river.tions between the farmers of the four townships who reside on either side of the river.Size - 3.25 x 4.55Half a century after the \x1e rst wagon crossed the rickety In addition, concerns were raised by residents as farIn addition, concerns were raised by residents as farwood \x1f oating bridge at Port Perry, discussions began aboutsouth as Port Perry, who worried the proposed solidsouth as Port Perry, who worried the proposed solida bridge at the north end of Lake Scugog to connect bridge would hold back the water and \x1f ood landsbridge would hold back the water and flood landsMariposa Twp. with Cartwright and Manvers across the along the banks of the river and lake south to the town.along the banks of the river and lake south to the town. Scugog River. It was later reported that Port Perry residents hadIt was later reported that Port Perry residents had The originator of the idea was James Casey, a successful changed their minds, feeling that there was an advan-changed their minds, feeling that there was an advan- farmer near Valentia. He circulated a petition through tage in being able to keep the water at an even depthtage in being able to keep the water at an even depththe townships of Mariposa, Manvers, Cartwright and Opsall year round.all year round. in early 1912, securing more than 330 signatures in favour of This was the last report regarding a bridge across This was the last report regarding a bridge acrossthe bridge, and forwarded the petition to the government. the northern section of Lake Scugog. Unlike the The Scugog \x1f oating bridge, circa 1880, which In August that summer, The Port Perry Star reported Scugog bridge linking Port Perry and Scugog Island,the northern section of Lake Scugog. Unlike the Scugogconnected Port Perry to Scugog Island. the Dominion Government was in the district surveying the bridge from Manvers to Cartwright bridge linking Port Perry and Scugog Island, the bridge(colourized photo by JPH) for the best route to connect the two townships. never materialized.from Manvers to Cartwright never materialized.46 FOCUS - SEPTEMBER 2022'