A.P. COCKBURN GETS MUCH MORE ADO AS FOUNDING FATHER OF MUSKOKA AND ITS TOURISM INDUSTRY

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — Cillian Fallis says he’s the “Segwun’s No. 1 fan.”

A poster of the ship hangs in his bedroom.

So there was no way he was going to miss a dedication to the man who made the lad’s dream of sailing the Muskoka Lakes a reality.

And while he’s disappointed at not getting out for a cruise again this summer due to boiler problems plaguing the 135-year-old vessel — North America’s oldest operating mail steamship lying in port as a background to the proceedings — the enthusiastic little Toronto resident made sure his family got out yesterday for the unveiling of two panels marking historic importance of Alexander Peter (A.P.) Cockburn.

A decent-sized crowd of 60 or so gathered in “Cockburn Square” at the Muskoka Wharf to celebrate “A.P.’s impact and importance on this Central Ontario community that dates back to 1866 when he settled here.

The visionary and one-time MP and MPP was instrumental in extending the railroad from Severn Bridge to Gravenhurst where he established his ship-building that at its height his company had 11 ships sailing the lakes out of its port in Gravenhurst.

Gravenhurst’s Municipal Heritage Committee (MHC), which a couple of years ago had square named to honour him, received further recognition for their favourite citizen by getting the town to erect two pictorial panels telling the story.

An appropriate endeavour given the man they claim ultimately founded the town as the Gateway to Muskoka opened the lakes to settlement and tourism.

MHC member and campaign driver Richard Tatley credits A.P. as the founding father of tourism, which today Muskokans welcome especially each summer.

Tatley has a new booking coming out this fall on Cockburn that details his rich past that brought on the bright future year-round and seasonal residents reap the prime months of the year.

District chair John Klinck said without Cockburn there would be no Muskoka Wharf and without it no recent prosperity. He said he circulated Cockburn’s bio around to staff to make sure they knew Muskoka’s pioneer story.

A little ironic given as news circulated that the Muskoka Tourism is closing its office in south Gravenhurst in October due to a lack of visitations.

Former MP Patrick Boyer, a fellow local author and historian from Bracebridge, acknowledged Cockburn opened north Muskoka, which led to a Huntsville rail company and Lake of Bays shipping that, too, exists today.

MP Scott Aichison, a local history buff himself he says, said his as Cockburn’s successor that he has been delighted to share his riding’s history as he travelled Canada this summer as a Conservative party leadership campaign.

Richard Tatley was beaming as MP Scott Aitchison and others helped unveil the two historic panels telling the story A.P. Cockburn and shipbuilding in Gravenhurst.
A nice crowd of more than 60 history buffs celebrated the story of Muskoka’s founding, its importance and resulting successes.
Cillian Fallis and his sister Maellie learn the important local history from grandma Sheila Robinson of Rankin Island.
Summer residents Julian and Quinn Fallis point to the man who “made Muskoka” long before they were born.

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