Ghost Towns of Muskoka - by Andrew Hind & Maria Da Silva (Paperback)

About the Book

The authors explore the tragic history of communities whose stars have long since faded, and the people who once lived, loved, and laboured in them.

Book Synopsis

Ghost Towns of Muskoka explores the tragic history of a collection of communities from across Muskoka whose stars have long since faded. Today, these ghost towns are merely a shadow -- or spectre -- of what they once were. Some have disappeared entirely, having been swallowed by regenerating forests, while others have been reduced to foundations, forlorn buildings, and silent ruins. A few support a handful of inhabitants, but even these towns are wrapped in a ghostly shroud.

But this book isn't only about communities that have died. Rather it is about communities that lived, vibrantly at that, if only for a brief time. It's about the people whose dreams for a better life these villages represented; the people who lived, loved, laboured, and ultimately died in these small wilderness settlements. And it's about an era in history, those early heady days of Muskoka settlement when the forests were flooded with loggers and land-hungry settlers.

Review Quotes

Their stories of hardships faced trying to make a life in the wilds of Muskoka are fascinating enough on their own, but when coupled with actual tangible evidence of their existence, the stories come to life.

--Kim Good "Parry Sound Beacon Star"

This is a great book for the history buff, with lots of notes included for reference.

--Joan Sutter "Shelf Life"

The authors state in their introduction that their book is intended as a resource for preserving the legacy of long forgotten communities. They hope that to read this book is to understand the development of Muskoka through the years and to gain insight into its unique character. I think they have succeeded. - Judith Ruan, Muskoka Magazine

About the Author

Co-authors Andrew Hind and Maria Da Silva are both from Bradford, Ontario, and have vacationed in the Muskoka District for many years. They share a passion for the area's rich history. Andrew Hind contributes regularly to the Muskokan, Musksoka-Almaguin Sideroads, and Muskoka View. Maria Da Silva writes for The Muskoka Sun and, with Hind, has written often for Muskoka Magazine. They are the authors of Strange Events of Ontario.