b'SCUGOGSSCUGOGS200200YEARYEARFIGHTFIGHTAGAINSTAGAINSTSCUGOGSSCUGOGS 200 200 YEAR YEAR FIGHT FIGHT AGAINST AGAINSTW E E D SW E E D SW E E D SW E E D SLake Scugog has a very long history offor purposes of commer ce, and lowering the water Lake Scugog has a very long history offor purposes of commerce, and lowering the water would expose thousands of acres of valuable land for Lake Scugog has a very long history ofwould expose thousands of acrce, and lowering the water Lake Scugog has a very long history offarming. Thankfully this pr es of valuable land for low water , difficult navigation,for purposes of commerlow water, difficult navigation,for purposes of commerce, and lowering the water farming. Thankfully this proposal died beforoposal died before it could be e it could be and heavy concentrations of weeds. would expose thousands of acres of valuable land for es of valuable land for low water would expose thousands of acrlow water, difficult navigation,implemented.and heavy concentrations of weeds., difficult navigation,implemented.farming. Thankfully this prfarming. Thankfully this proposal died beforoposal died before it could be e it could be and heavy concentrations of weeds. W eeds in both the river and lake continued to be an and heavy concentrations of weeds. implemented.Weeds in both the river and lake continued to be an As far back as one can r implemented.As far back as one can researesearch, the shallow waters ch, the shallow watersissue year after year , and in the summer of 1882, a local issue year after year, and in the summer of 1882, a local Weeds in both the river and lake continued to be an of the Scugog river and lake, have cr Weeds in both the river and lake continued to be an of the Scugog river and lake, have created preated problems for oblems for As far back as one can research, the shallow watersnewspaper rnewspaper reported, Aeported, A few years ago ther few years ago there were were no e no As far back as one can research, the shallow watersissue year after yearproperty owners, industries, navigation and even thoseissue year after year, and in the summer of 1882, a local property owners, industries, navigation and even those, and in the summer of 1882, a local of the Scugog river and lake, have created problems forweeds at the Port Perry docks, but now, from the foot of weeds at the Port Perry docks, but now, from the foot of of the Scugog river and lake, have created problems fornewspaper rwishing to use the lake for fishing and swimming. e were were no e no wishing to use the lake for fishing and swimming. newspaper reported, Aeported, A few years ago ther few years ago therproperty owners, industries, navigation and even thoseQueen St. to the Scugog Bridge weeds extend the entire weeds at the Port Perry docks, but now e property owners, industries, navigation and even thoseQueen St. to the Scugog Bridge weeds extend the entir, from the foot of , from the foot of weeds at the Port Perry docks, but nowJust how the lake got its r eputation as a weed infesteddistance, while along the shorJust how the lake got its reputation as a weed infested wishing to use the lake for fishing and swimming. distance, while along the shores they stand above the es they stand above the wishing to use the lake for fishing and swimming. Queen St. to the Scugog Bridge weeds extend the entire Queen St. to the Scugog Bridge weeds extend the entire body of water, is a story that began almost 200 years ago,waterbody of water, is a story that began almost 200 years ago,waterJust how the lake got its reputation as a weed infesteddistance, while along the shores they stand above the Just how the lake got its r distance, while along the shores they stand above the eputation as a weed infested with the construction of a dam at Lindsaybody of water uction of a dam at Lindsay. .Ironically , the refereference to the weeds between Queen with the constr, is a story that began almost 200 years ago,Ir onically, the r ence to the weeds between Queen body of water, is a story that began almost 200 years ago,waterwater. .But thats another story! St. and the Scugog Bridge of 1882, closely mirrBut thats another story!with the construction of a dam at Lindsay.St. and the Scugog Bridge of 1882, closely mirrors the arors the area ea with the construction of a dam at Lindsay.Ironically ence to the weeds between Queen Ironically, the r, the refereference to the weeds between Queen As early as 1857 concerns wer fr om the Queen St. wharf to the causeway, which the Lake , which the Lake As early as 1857 concerns were being aire being aired of the ed of the But thats another story! from the Queen St. wharf to the causewayBut thats another story! St. and the Scugog Bridge of 1882, closely mirr ea St. and the Scugog Bridge of 1882, closely mirrors the arors the area lowness of the water and the imperfect state ofScugog Enhancement Project is planning to roject is planning to rehabilitate ehabilitate lowness of the water and the imperfect state ofScugog Enhancement PrAs early as 1857 concerns wer from the Queen St. wharf to the causewayAs early as 1857 concerns were being aire being aired of the ed of thefrom the Queen St. wharf to the causeway, which the Lake , which the Lake navigation for steamers plying the water fr beginning in 2021.navigation for steamers plying the water from Port Perry om Port Perrybeginning in 2021.lowness of the water and the imperfect state ofScugog Enhancement Project is planning to rlowness of the water and the imperfect state ofScugog Enhancement Project is planning to rehabilitate ehabilitate to Lindsay . Often steamers, whether traversing with aFive years later , the editor of the Whitby ChrWhitby Chronicle onicle to Lindsay. Often steamers, whether traversing with aFive years later, the editor of the navigation for steamers plying the water from Port Perrybeginning in 2021.navigation for steamers plying the water from Port Perrybeginning in 2021.boom of logs, or an excursion heading up the lake forsuggested, The lake itself seems to feel that therboom of logs, or an excursion heading up the lake forsuggested, The lake itself seems to feel that there is no e is no to Lindsay. Often steamers, whether traversing with a to Lindsay. Often steamers, whether traversing with aFive years later, the editor of the , the editor of the Whitby ChrWhitby Chronicle onicle Five years latera day outing with hundr eds of passengers, got caughtfurther use for it, and is gradually drying up, having been a day outing with hundreds of passengers, got caughtfurther use for it, and is gradually drying up, having been boom of logs, or an excursion heading up the lake forsuggested, The lake itself seems to feel that there is no boom of logs, or an excursion heading up the lake forsuggested, The lake itself seems to feel that there is no up in the weeds. On one occasion in 1861, Capt. Geor gr own with weeds this year almost everywhere. e. up in the weeds. On one occasion in 1861, Capt. George gegrown with weeds this year almost everywhera day outing with hundr further use for it, and is gradually drying up, having been a day outing with hundreds of passengers, got caughtfurther use for it, and is gradually drying up, having been eds of passengers, got caught Crandells new steamship, Lady Ida, could not make its Crandells new steamship, Lady Ida, could not make its One of Port Perrys leading industrialists, William J. illiam J. up in the weeds. On one occasion in 1861, Capt. Geor One of Port Perrys leading industrialists, Wup in the weeds. On one occasion in 1861, Capt. Georgegegrown with weeds this year almost everywherway to Lindsay grown with weeds this year almost everywhere. e. , due to the Scugog river being overgrgrown own way to Lindsay, due to the Scugog river being overCrandells new steamship, Lady Ida, could not make itsTrounce, who operated mills along Port Perry lakefront, Trounce, who operated mills along Port Perry lakefront, Crandells new steamship, Lady Ida, could not make itsOne of Port Perrys leading industrialists, William J. with weeds. One of Port Perrys leading industrialists, William J. with weeds.way to Lindsay said, The waters of the lake had become so lowway to Lindsay, due to the Scugog river being over said, The waters of the lake had become so low, on , on ont, ont, , due to the Scugog river being overgrown grownTrounce, who operated mills along Port Perry lakefrTrounce, who operated mills along Port Perry lakefrFr ustration over the condition of the lake andaccount of the dam at Lindsay having been lowerFrustration over the condition of the lake and with weeds. account of the dam at Lindsay having been lowered, that ed, that with weeds. said, The waters of the lake had become so lowsaid, The waters of the lake had become so low, on , on river continued for years, with no solutions until insteamboats would soon have to abandon the lake. He did river continued for years, with no solutions until insteamboats would soon have to abandon the lake. He did Frustration over the condition of the lake andaccount of the dam at Lindsay having been lowerFrustration over the condition of the lake andaccount of the dam at Lindsay having been lowered, that ed, that 1877, when a pr oposal was made to drain the lake bynot think that parties at Lindsay had any right to utilize 1877, when a proposal was made to drain the lake bynot think that parties at Lindsay had any right to utilize river continued for years, with no solutions until insteamboats would soon have to abandon the lake. He did river continued for years, with no solutions until insteamboats would soon have to abandon the lake. He did lowering the Lindsay dam. The reasoning behind the easoning behind thethe water of the lake for their dirlowering the Lindsay dam. The r the water of the lake for their direct benefit to such an ect benefit to such an 1877, when a proposal was made to drain the lake bynot think that parties at Lindsay had any right to utilize 1877, when a proposal was made to drain the lake bynot think that parties at Lindsay had any right to utilize bold idea wasthe lake had become all but uselessextend as to utterly destroy the navigation of the lake.bold idea wasthe lake had become all but useless lowering the Lindsay dam. The r extend as to utterly destroy the navigation of the lake.ect benefit to such an lowering the Lindsay dam. The reasoning behind the easoning behind thethe water of the lake for their dirthe water of the lake for their direct benefit to such an bold idea wasthe lake had become all but uselessextend as to utterly destrbold idea wasthe lake had become all but uselessextend as to utterly destroy the navigation of the lake.Above photo, taken about 1915, shows the extent of the weeds along the Port Perr Please turn to page 26oy the navigation of the lake.Above photo, taken about 1915, shows the extent of the weeds along the Port Perry lakefront, today known as Palmer Park.(colourized photo)y lakefront, today known as Palmer Park.(colourized photo)Above photo, taken about 1915, shows the extent of the weeds along the Port Perry lakefront, today known as Palmer Park.(colourized photo)Above photo, taken about 1915, shows the extent of the weeds along the Port Perry lakefront, today known as Palmer Park.(colourized photo)FOCUS - SEPTEMBER 202025'