b'HISTORIC SCUGOGby J. P er HvidsttenenHISTORIC SCUGOGb y J. Peteter HvidsHISTORIC SCUGOGby J. P er HvidsttenenHISTORIC SCUGOGb y J. Peteter HvidsAPPooppululaarrPPaarkrkAAPPooppululaarrPPaarkrkABef outdoorsswimmingwimmingpoolspoolsbecamebecameBefororeeoutdoorBefororeeoutdoorBef outdoorsswimmingwimmingpoolspoolsbecamebecameaff dable,,PPoplaroplarParkParkwaswasPPororttPPererrryyssafforordableaff dable,,PPoplaroplarParkParkwaswasPPororttPPererrryyssafforordableplacetotorrelaxelaxandandcoolcooloff!off!placeplacetotorrelaxelaxandandcoolcooloff!off!placeB ACK annumber ina ylargewas a luxur.yyffeewwcouldcouldaffafforord,d,PPororttPPererrryyandandarareaeawaswasB A CKININTHETHEDDAAYYwhenwhenaaprivateprivatesswimmingwimmingpoolpoolwaswasaaluxurluxuryyffeewwcouldcouldaffafforord,d,PPororttPPererrryyandandarareaeawaswasB ACK IN THE DAY when of aa privateprivateoptionss swimmingtowimming cool offpoolpool in the wassummersummer a luxur.inLakLakeeScugScugog,og,BirBirdsedseyyeeCentrCentreeParkParkthe B Ablessed umber of optionsenjotoyy scoolswimming with inPerry, at the CK INTHE withwith DaaAnnYumberumber whenof options to cool off in theblessedblessed withFFor to coolwimmingoffoffinin withthethesummer thethewweedseeds.summer.blessed withorathosethosewhowho ofdidndidn optionsttenjooff For those who didnt enjoy swimming with the weeds in Lake Scugog, Birdseye Centre Park offererededcrcrFystalorystal thoseclearclear whowaterwater didninin t a aenjolargelargey ssswimmingwimmingwimming withpool.pool.the LocatedLocated weedsinin inthethe Lakhearheare Scugttofofog,dodo Birwntowntodsewnwnye CentrPPororttPPeerer Parkrryy, , atat nor a ylargeopened swimminginin19401940 providing swimming, cabin rentals, a place f P er theoffered crystal clearStrwaterwatereet, Birindse eswimming pool.pool. proLocatedLocatedviding swimming,ininthethehearhear cabinttofof dodorentals,wntownto wnwna placePPorort tf or ry, atthe and noroffththerendendedcr ofofystalWWaterater clearStreet, Birdse eopened or picnics andpicnicsnorththendend ofofWWateraterStrStreet,eet,BirBirdsedseyyeeopenedopenedinin19401940prproovidingvidingsswimming,wimming,cabincabinrrentals,entals,aaplaceplaceffororpicnicspicnicsandandnorfamilyygatherings.famil gatherings.family gatherings. familItIty wgatherings.20ouldbebeaboutabout would 20yyearsearsbefbefororeeotherotherparksparksopenedopenedtotoprproovidevideeevvenenmormoreeoptionsoptionsffororfamilies.families.InInfact,fact,duringduringevvenen mormor Poplareeoptionsoptions Park infforor P or families.families.t Perr y; InIn Cedarfact,fact,duringduring Stone the It would be about 1960s2020yyearsears threebefbef morororee e otherother parksparksparks openedopenedopened with tosimilartoprproovidevide etheItlatelate would1950s,1950s, be earlearlaboutyy 1960s three more parks opened with similar facilitiesPoplar Park in Port Perry; Cedar StonefacilitiesPark,P oplarthe late 1950s, earlyGr1960s1960seenbank;thrthreeee andmormor Weellspringeparksparksopenedopened Park, aboutwithwith asimilarsimilar milesouth facilitiesfacilities ofthe same Parkinin.PPororttPPererrry;y;CedarCedarStoneStonethePoplar ParkPark, latejustjust 1950s,nornorthth earlofofyGreenbank; and Wellspring Park, about a mile south ofthe same villagevillage.Park, just north of Greenbank; and Wellspring Park, about a mile south of the same villageonvillage a 30acre parcel of land, origi-Park,PP oplarjustoplar norParkParkth ofwaswas Grooeenbank;wnedwnedandand andoperatedoperated Wellspringbbyy JimJimPark,andand aboutMarMar yya BairBairmiled.d. southTheTheparkpark of thewaswas samesetset on a 30 acre parcel of land, origi-Poplar celnall ownedParkPark by wasMarwas y ooswnedwned fatherandand Charlieoperatedoperated Howsam,bbyyJimJim andandand takMarMareny yoBairBairver d.d.b y TheThe the parkparkBair ds waswas aftersetset heononpassed aa3030acracr awaeeparpary. celofofland,land,origioriginallyyPoplarowned by Marys father Charlie Howsam, and taken over by the Bairds after he passed away. and Marbby Maryywwyererse efatherstillstillfarmingfarming Charlienearnear Ho Saintfield when they became own- o wnedownednall y Jim y Marys father Charlie Howsam, wsam,Saintfieldandand whentaktakenen theoovvererybecame bbyythetheBair Bairowndsds-afterafterhehepassedpassedaawawayynallyJim and Marers Jimandand prpr Maropery ty ere still farming the yynearsoldsold Saintfieldthethefarmfarm whenandandmomo thevvededy becameintointo Pown-ersJimof of thethe Marnear Saintfield when they became Poror ottwn-opery wtywerinine 1959,1959,still farming soso theers of the property in 1959, so park.thethey ysoldsoldthethefarmfarmandandmomovvededintointoPPororttersP er rofryy,, withthewith prananoperideaideaty totoin open1959,open aaso park. PerPerry, with an idea to open a park. a wimming pool that PerrWyW, withorkork beganbeganan ideaimmediatelimmediatel to open ayy park.ononbuildingbuildingasswimmingpool that measur y on building aasswimmingwimmingmeasur onbuildingWorkeded began100x40, immediatelandthat was underway Jim poolpoolbuilt thatthatWork began100x40, immediatelandwhilewhileythat was underway Jim built measur ed 100x40, and while thatbooth,thatwaswas washrunderwaunderwaoomsyy JimJimbuiltbuiltmeasured r ooms,change100x40,aarrefrefr andeshmenteshment while booth, washrooms changerooms,changerrooms,ooms,aarrefrefreshmenteshmentbooth,booth,washrwashroomsoomschange please turn to page 30 Pat SalterandandMargaretMargaretTTerrett,errett,twotwoPatSalterPatSalterMargaretT errett,twotwositsitPat Salter MargaretinstructorsofPoplarParksandsandswimming Terrett,of Poplar Park swimming instructorsofPoplar while whileParkParkpeoplespeoplesswimmingswimmingenjoyenjoy instructors instructorsaaswimswiminin the thesitsitof Poplarpoolsidepoolsidepoolsidewhilepeoplepoolside while peopleenjoyenjoyaaswimswimininthethelarge swimming pool.large swimming pool.large swimming pool.large swimming pool.FOCUS - SEPTEMBER 202129'