Pickerel

History

Pickerel was a small lumbering community that got its start during the heady days of the Georgian Bay lumber industry. The area served as a strategic booming point, from where they floated saw logs down to the Georgian Bay and onward to Southern Ontario’s busy mills.

Prior to the arrival of rails, Bob Mowers built a house and operated a store that serviced the local jobbers, log drivers and later railway men. In 1908, the Canadian Northern Ontario Railway (later CN) finally reached the site. The station was complete and operational by 1910. Later on A.S, McConnell opened a second store.

In the early 20’s the Ministry of Natural Resources built a fire tower, along with a warden’s office and home. A post office opened on June 1st 1926. John Warren opened a third store near the Pickerel River. It housed the post office from 1930 until the store’s closure in 1969. Warren’s store had a dock, small boathouse and boat, which they used to bring in supplies from the outside. This boathouse also served as a church where Father Ryan conducted monthly mass. In the early 40’s, CN employees organized the “CNR Rod and Gun Club” and built approximately 14 cabins on the west side of the rail bridge.

During the summer, social activities took place in a large building known as “the hall.” The hall became a popular place for regular dances and get-togethers. Beside the club stood Manford York’s lodge and store, named “Yorkie.” York also ran a water taxi service during the summer. A Mr. Smith operated a small sawmill from the 1920’s to the late 1940’s. Later on, he opened a restaurant. A string of homes quickly lined the half-mile road.

As a result of all the new growth and activity, the community needed a schoolhouse. Teachers such as Amelia Rutledge, Lulu Weatherland, and a Mr. Taylor taught grades one to eight. By 1940 there were 40 pupils. When the Key Junction school closed in 1948, they transferred those children to Pickerel. A mere two years later the schoolhouse burnt down and classes moved around through different buildings, until they built a new school in 1960. Ironically they shut it down approximately six months later.

Surprisingly, even after the mill and station closed and they dismantled the fire tower in 1956, many residents remained. In 1956 the community still boasted 77 permanent residents. Five years later, 66 remained. The population eventually dropped to nothing.

Today Pickerel functions mainly as a summer hideaway for cottagers. John Warren’s descendants still own property in the area. The former Rod and Gun Club was renovated and is now a private club known as the Pickerel River Lodge. Many of the summer dwellers are people who grew up in the area and still maintain deep ties to the community.