Grand Trunk Railway System and Muskoka Navigation Co. brochure c.1898

Superb 19^th century tourism brochure for the ‘Highland of Ontario Muskoka Lakes' issued by the ‘Grand Trunk Railway System and Muskoka Navigation Co.’

Extremely rare!

Front cover is photo of a lakeside gazebo, people lounging in it while, in front of it, ladies are looking out over a lake. Back cover is lush vegetation hanging over river, titled ‘Shadow River, near Rosseau, Lake Rosseau’.

The "Official" Grand Trunk Railway photographer was the famed Frank W. Micklethwaite, of Port Sandfield, Muskoka, and Toronto, Ontario. The National Archives of Canada contains the Frank W. Micklewaite collection of glass negatives. Covers are likely by him and most, if not all of the numerous printed half tone photographic images illustrated throughout were certainly taken by Micklethwaite.

Some of the contents:

• History and description of Muskoka Lakes
• Photo of “Solid Comfort” Camp - Lake Muskoka'
• Photo of boats ‘At Beaumaris – Lake Muskoka’
• History of Highlands of Ontario - Jackson's Point, Big Bay Point, Strawberry Island. Orillia, Gravenhurst…(photo of child bather at Jackson's Point, Lovers in canoe on Shadow River)
• Photo camping party on Lake Rosseau
• The Muskoka Navigation Co.
• Muskoka and Hay Fever
• Fishing and Shooting
• How to reach Muskoka
• Photo Bala Falls, deer strung up after hunt
• Magnetewan River
• Burks Falls, fish to be found in different lakes, recommended fishing guides for Muskoka Lakes and Magnetewan River
• Photo of houseboat on Magnetewan River
• Lake of Bays
• Advantages of Muskoka for Astronomical Work
• Hotels in Muskoka District
• Travel Agencies
• ....

Centrefold is large folded map of Muskoka Lakes District, including part of Georgian Bay, the Lake of Bays region, Kawartha Lakes District, and the Magnetawan River; issued by the Grand Trunk RY System, printed in color on vellum paper, size 16.5" x 12".

On one side of map sheet, covering 8 panels:

• MAP OF MUSKOKA LAKES DISTRICT including Part of Georgian Bay, The Lake of Bays, Region, Kawartha Lakes District, and the Magnetewan River

On other side of map sheet, 3 smaller maps:

• Map of Eastern Section of GEORGIAN BAY (2 panels)
• Map of “The Highlands of Ontario” MUSKOKA LAKES. ROSSEAU, JOSEPH, MUSKOKA. (4 panels)
• Map of Huntsville and LAKE OF BAYS Muskoka District (2 panels)

The brochure was printed by WM. C. Gage & Son, Printers and Engravers, Battle Creek.

Folded as issued. Each physical page is made up of two numbered panels. There is a total of 24 panels, 12 pages, including covers

Note there is a tiny paper separation occurring where the vertical and horizontal fold lines meet not affecting the map image, to enable the map to be folded flat size to fit inside the dimensions of the brochure. The map is glued in, not stapled. 

The two staples show slight oxidation with no paper discoloration and are tight front to back. There is cracked paper loss on the vertical fold affecting the front cover image. Horizontal smudge at top of right front cover.

8.5" x 8.5" (unfolded)

Frank William Micklethwaite (1849–1925) was a prominent Canadian photographer, professionally known as F.W. Micklethwaite, whose photographs of Toronto and the Muskoka area form an important and unique photographic record of the province of Ontario's history in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Micklethwaite specialized in outside views and landscapes, as well as architectural and commercial photography, and he was one of Toronto's best known photographers. His images of Toronto have been credited for making the 19th century streetscapes come alive. 

WIKIPEDIA

Grand Trunk Railway, early Canadian railway line, incorporated in 1852–53 to build a railway connecting the key cities of the Province of Canada (the area now known as Ontario and Quebec) with the American seacoast city of Portland, Maine. By completing its final link in July 1853 between Montreal and Portland, the Grand Trunk became North America’s first international railroad. The main line within Canada, from Montreal to Toronto, opened in October 1856. The Grand Trunk Railway eventually became the main railway system of Quebec and Ontario.

During the period from 1867 to 1905 the Grand Trunk concentrated on taking over smaller, competing lines and on building rail connections to the rail system of the northern United States. The Grand Trunk was also in competition with the Great Western Railway until the two merged in 1882. Eventually, a western branch, the Grand Trunk Pacific, was constructed, but this new rail network proved so unprofitable that it passed into government receivership in 1919. As a result of the liabilities incurred by its Pacific subsidiary, the Grand Trunk Railway was nationalized and became part of the Canadian National Railways in 1923.

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