August 22, 2022

GHC DOING MORE TO HONOUR A.P. COCKBURN WEDNESDAY WITH HISTORIC INTERPRETIVE PANELS AT MUSKOKA WHARF IN GRAVENHURST

GRAVENHURST — The Gravenhurst Heritage Committee (GHC) has been busy of late designating more properties, locales and people of historical note.

Following wheelhouses at the Muskoka Discovery Centre and the Gateway to Muskoka archway, they’re back at the Muskoka Wharf Wednesday afternoon to continue their honours for a Muskoka pioneer.

Cockburn Square, named after the town’s founding father, mayor and Muskoka MP, will receive even more recognition with its own blue heritage plaque.

The popular port attraction at the Muskoka Wharf on Lake Muskoka where the Wanda II and Segwun ferry thousands of visitors up the lakes will be officially designated a site of historical interest.

Richard Tatley, a GHC member, historian and lake expert extraordinaire, calls Coburn “Muskoka’s greatest champion,” “Father of Muskoka District,” “Founder of the Muskoka Resort Industry” and “Founder of Muskoka Steamboat Service.”

He says Muskoka wouldn’t be Muskoka without Cockburn.

“Alexander Peter Cockburn was a businessman, politician, author and tireless champion of Gravenhurst and the entire Muskoka region.”

Cockburn was bornin 1837, but his legacy has lived on long after his death in 1905.

And that while Cockburn square, which was designated a few years ago with a few words on a laminated board as recognition, is a mere token of what the “great man” deserves.

If Tatley had his way, there would be a statue rivalling Gravenhurst’s other hometown hero Dr. Norman Bethune that dominates the main street. In fact he’s already been working on it only to have it put on the back burner by those who could help make it happen.

Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. the GHC will officially unveil two pictorial panels that have been up since June proclaiming in one the merits over 150 years of the Muskoka Fleet past and present; and in another a tribute to the man who chartered their course.

History buffs and politicians, including MP Scott Aitchison, have been invited to honour this pioneering visionary.

And all who covet and live off what is Muskoka are invited.