HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-07-20, Page 19r;
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A natural, protected harbor has made Bayfield the largest
yachting centre on the west side of Lake Huron. Four
marinas handle the more than 600 boats that dock in the
harbor each season. (Shelley McPhee photo)
Villagepast well remembered
By Helen Owen
Bayfield Historical Socie-
ty, a popular and well
patronized group, has links
with the Local, Architectural
Conservation Advisory Com-
mittee and the village Ar-
chives Room.
It dates back to January
1965 when a preliminary
meeting was held at the
home of Brig. and Mrs. F.
Clift, and it was agreed at
that time to form the
Bayfield branch of the Huron
County Historical Society.
Present at that first meeting
were Brig. Clift and his wife,
Mr. and Mrs. John Land,
Mrs: F. Oddleifson, Mrs.
Gairdner, Carl Diehl, Ethel
Poth, Ruth Hayman, Vina
Parker and Arthur Elliott of
the Bayfield Bulletin.
'By the time the group held
its third meeting it was plan-
ning ahead, a policy which
has been maintained ever
since and one which has
enabled the group to ac-
cumulate much 1e a1
material and personal input.
At the Goderich Hobby Fair
in August 1966, a display pro-
vided by the Society earned
a plaque and red ribbon. The
talents of Flo Oddleifson
were not overlooked, as a
result the group were able to
produce Hasti-notes, and
later, a set of unique street
signs.
In 1969 a representation
was made to the Village
Council and the society ac-
quired a number of the local-
ly made Gemeinhardt chairs
which are now in the Ar-
chives Bloom. Apart from
participation in exhibitions
the collection of interesting
books, documents, letters
and diaries, which were
ultimately catalogued and
stored in the Archives, Room,
continued to mount.
The membership expand-
ed and the minute books
reveal the wide variety off
subjects which were ad-
dressed. The corffent varied
from detailed historical data
relative to the village, its in-
habitants and their occupa-
tions, to delightful personal
recollections of grand-
mothers - and great grand-
mothers! The subsequent
gift of a tape recorder enabl-
ed this valuable material to
Turn to page 3 •
B4SheBeOleF.hee .
e ,leek a aft *do
throw the water with a
wiliiweIts 'tune or gulet
e_f1103klaiift eArtar WrAftrau
ttie'bustle ;and bustle of the
deity l fe,"ti fora Weekend -
attbe Bayfieldfiarbor
• The _quaint vtilag of
Bayfield .with itsneharbor
is a beloved swpt[ner'slaven
for peoplle-who°enjoy,natural
beauty 'rind the easy life,
sailing along • the shining "
waters of Lake Huron.
Each summer the tiny
village of 500 people becomes
the biggest sailing and
yachting centre on the west
side. of Lake Huron and over
2,000 .sailors and boating
enthusiasts enjoy the quaint
atmosphere, the excellent
harbor and the clean, good
living that Bayfield has to
offer.
Where the Bayfield River
and Lake Huron meet is one
of the province's finest and
most picturesque harbors.
Nestled amongst stately
cedars and wrapped by
protective ::banks, the deep,
glassy, watered harbor has
been a favorite summer
resort since the early 1900's.
Today, four marinas in
Bayfield handle the " more
than 600 boats that dock in
the harbour each season.
Ranging in size from 20 to 43
feet, and costing anywhere
from $20,000 to $200,000, the
beautiful, shining crafts are
the floating, summer homes
for. the Canadian and
American sailors who
frequent the Bayfield har-
bor. Despite the big price
tags on the .boats, the initial
costs are replaced by the joy
of sailing through the clear
waters of Lake Huron, where
wind is still a free com-
modity, and the security of
docking in a harbor that is
well protected and generally
free from obstructions or
shales.
The marinas in the harbor
have emphasized a friendly,
easy going pace of life and
top notch facilities for the
boaters. Harbour Lights is
the _ largest of the four
marinas in Bayfield with
more than 270 slips for
seasonal use, as well as
dockage space for visiting
boaters. Occupying the
entire west shore of the
harbor, the marina features
a licenced restaurant, tennis
courts, a pool, laundry
facilities, motel and cam-
ping grounds and many
other facilities.
Harbour Lights has at-
tempted to maintain and
promote the natural beauty
of the area and the marina
has added its own special
touch to the landscape with
picnic tables, grassed slopes,
and attractive wooden
docks.
Come for
a Sale
in Bayfield
at
Sale on
now -
selected
spring and
summer
merchandise
20%-50°1
off
Bayfield's Original Fashion Store
Specializing in Feminine attire
and Exclusive Handknits
Main St. Bayfield, Ont. 565-2588
Hours: Monday thru Saturday 10 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Sunday 12-5:00 p -m.
Friday and Saturday Evenings
"Fall Collections Arriving Daily"
tie of er 440 4: of ttie
bade; South Owe
i " fi.n-.
il�boats, '
ii iimarima
Bayfield has"
Bill Visor& a Bit ioIt
for over a decade, The
marina also rents mut_
canoes, small day sailers,
motor boats and row boats;
A third spot, South- Side
Marine consists Of 41
government owned . -docks
that are leased tothevillage.
Thiry -five of the slips are
kept far seasonal use arae s i
are rented out ta visiting
boats. People bOseutthese.
slips teke part :m a - "txa
operative effort to keep cavi;
down by maintaining the
docks and doing much of the
work themselves.
The Bayfield River Cot-
tage
ottage Colony and Marina is
the smallest of the four and
their 27 slips are always full
for the season. The marina
was purchased five years
ago by eight partners who
bought it to get the utmost
enjoyment from sailing.
The marina also has 10
cottages that are rented out
each summer.
More than 125 sailing
enthusiasts belong to the
Bayfield Yacht Club and
many more join in the club's
regattas, sail pasts and
challenging race schedule.
Races are held each Sunday
during the summer months
and attract some of the best
known crafts in yachting
circles.
The dub also features a
Junior Offshore Group,
where boaters can learn
more about the racing cir-
cuit through seminars, and
races aimed for family fun
take place.
The Bayfield harbour has
come a long way since the
early 1900's when boathouses
rented out canoes and -
bathing suits, and since the
first pleasure craft marina
was built in, 1951 and Alf
Scotchmer put up 15 docks
for his friends.
Wharfinger Tom Castle
was there then, and he is still
at the harbor today,
checking the fog horn and
the dockage, the custom
duties and the lights.
Born and raised on the
lake, and taking on the job as
harbor manager, just as his .. ~•
father did, Tom simply said,
"It gets in your blood."
Sailing is a fever, a great
way to relax after a tough
week, a time for friendship
and for solitude. •
The Bayfield harbor and
the village complete with its
boutiques and shops, old
homes and rural at-
mosphere, appears to be a
perfect Sliot. to unwind, put
up the sails and head out to
open water.
GIFT STORE
Silver -Antique Jewellery
Stamps for
Collectors
and more!
THE VILLAGE GUILD
Open May to October - Seven Days a Week
July, August 10 am -6 pm
May -June -September -October 10 am -5 pm
MAIN STREET BAYFIELD 565-2766