Barrie Ontario in Simcoe County should be on every tourist visitor’s list as a winter and summer “must see beach ski, ice fishing and historical destination”. Today, Barrie has a truly beautiful beaches along the waterfront on Kempenfelt Bay Lake Simcoe. Barrie is steeped in the early history of Canada’s development.
Barrie was known as the Ice Capital of Canada and a major military route for the War of 1812, One of the most significant trails is the symbolic 9 Mile Portage Trail and Heritage trail to Fort Willow in Minising where the canoe route to Georgian Bay would normally start.
Each of the sections below represent a slightly different but inspirational understanding of the growth of Barrie Ontario from a portage route on Lake Simcoe, to a lumber centre, a fresh water ice supplier to the world, and a major rail stop-off point when heading across Canada. Now Barrie is a premier resort and tourism destination with year round recreation. Barrie has been credited with the first women's hockey game, inspiring the future hockey teams such as the Barrie Flyers and now the Barrie Colts. See current Barrie travel & tourist news for current tourist activities, events and festivals.
Editor Comment: I may be a little biased as
I live here, but Barrie is one of the best. RNT
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Barrie Historic Railroad Town
It has been said Barrie and Winnipeg were the roughest and toughest towns in Canada during the
late 19th, and early 20th century. Days have long past from the gritty railroad era, however the
historic setting and buildings along the Barrie waterfront prevail as a new GO transit station rises
beside a newly renovated historic Allandale Station. Allandale Lakeshore (under contstruction) will be the new GO name, within walking distance of
downtown Barrie. Discover more photo's Barrie's beautiful beach waterfront..... a year round recreation fun destination. |
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 Canada's
Ice Capital
It is hard to imagine Lake Simcoe Ice as being a high demand commodity
in the late 1800's. The Lake Simcoe Ice and Fuel company was one
of the main suppliers of ice to the city of Toronto...mainly because
of the high quality. Electricity eliminated the delivery of fresh
ice to the "Ice Boxes". Ice was stored along the shoreline
by Mary Street. Now kids play with the ice blocks at the annual
Barrie Winterfest.Now kids play with the ice blocks and build forts
and ice houses at the annual Barrie
Winterfest. The Barrie-Lake Simcoe region was home to many many
different locations where Ice was being harvested. See Lake
Simcoe Ice Company and a bit of the history of ice as a commodity
in Ontario. Barrie's rail conections provided the main point of
departure for the ice to southern destinations. |
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 Andrew
Frederick Hunter 1863-1940
Location: On the SE corner of Mulcaster Street
and Collier Street
Text from the Plaque
This distinguished historian and archaeologist was born in Innisfil
Township, graduated from the University of Toronto in 1889 and was
editor of the Barrie Examiner 1889-95. His extensive exploration
of archaeological sites throughout Huronia stimulated public interest
in the history of that area. He supplied much valuable information
for Thwaites' 73 volume edition of the "Jesuit Relations".
Hunter was Secretary of the Ontario Historical Society 1913-1931
and wrote many scholarly articles. His "History of Simcoe County",
published in 1909, was one of Ontario's earliest and best regional
histories.
Photographer: Alan L Brown Web
Site Click Here
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 Simcoe
County Court-House and Gaol
Location: Up on the hill on Mulcaster Street across
from McDonald Street
Text from the Plaque:
In 1837 the Simcoe District was established and authority was given
for erecting a district court-house and gaol at Barrie. The gaol
was begun in 1840, the court-house a year later, and both were completed
in 1842. An important county judicial and administrative center,
the court-house was enlarged in 1877 and demolished in 1976. The
gaol, designed by Thomas Young of Toronto and constructed of Lake
Couchiching limestone by Charles Thompson, a builder and steamboat
owner, is one of the few in Ontario based on the nineteenth century
radial design concept. In 1862 the east wing and outer walls were
constructed, and the present roof and lantern replaced a portion
of the originally castellated central section. The gaoler's residence
was added in 1902.
Photographer: Alan L Brown Web
Site Click Here
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Hewitt
Bernard 1825-1893
 Canada's "First" First Lady a Former Barrie Ontario Resident
Barrie’s First Lady in the British tradition would be Susan Agnes Bernard MacDonald the second wife of Canada’s first Prime Minister, John A Macdonald. Bernard’s mother moved to Barrie from Jamaica in 1864 to settle in “Barrie Simcoe County in the heart of the United Empire Loyalist area.” Her brother James Bernard (see historical plaque) was a personal friend of John A. and was instrumental in the recordings of the Confederation Conference in 1864. See Canada's First Ladies The second proposal from John A. to Agnes was successful after the Confederation agreement was signed in Britain and the wedding followed in London England on February 16, 1867. During Doors Open Barrie, a waterfront trail tour reveals many historical facts about Barrie and area in an informative living history dialogue.
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 Location: In Centennial Park, Lakeshore Drive,
Barrie
Text from the Plaque:
Born in Jamaica, Bernard immigrated to Canada and settled in Barrie,
where in 1856 he established a law practice. He was chief clerk,
1858-66, in the office of the attorney-general for Canada West,
John A. MacDonald, and later became his brother-in-law, Bernard
accompanied MacDonald to the Charlottetown Conference (1864) and
was the secretary of the Quebec (1864) and London (1866-67) Conferences,
at which the groundwork was laid for Confederation. A Lieutenant-Colonel
in the militia, he served as aide-de-camp to two governors-general,
Viscount Monck and Baron Stanley of Preston. He also served as deputy
minister of justice, 1868-76. Bernard died at Montreal in 1893 and
is buried at Ottawa.
Photographer: R. Taylor Web
Site Click Here |
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Nine
Mile Portage |
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Location: In the SW corner of the small park on the south side of Dunlop
Street across from Owen Street
Text from the Plaque:
Site of eastern terminus of an Indian portage from Kempenfeldt
Bay to Willow Creek and thence by the Nottawasaga River to
Georgian Bay. In the winter of 1813-14, a force under Lieut-Colonel
Robert McDouall followed it on the way to relieve the isolated
British garrison at Michilimackinac. That summer it was developed
as a rough wagon road and till about 1830 was in frequent
use for transport of supplies to Penetanguishene and the western
military and fur trading posts. |
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Photographer: Ron N. Taylor |
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 Steamboating
on Lake Simcoe
Location: Near the breakwater at the west end
of the park on Lakeshore Drive, just west of Mulcaster Street
Text from the Plaque:
From the 1830s to the 1920s, steamboats played a significant role
in developing the region around Lake Simcoe. They carried passengers,
freight and mail to ports around the lake and hauled lumber to mills.
As railways came to dominate regional transportation, steamboats
catered increasingly to tourists and excursionists. The growing
popularity of private motorboats contributed to their final decline
in the 1920s.
Photographer: Alan L Brown Web
Site Click Here |
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Barrie History Anecdotes and Facts
HMCS Barrie (K138)
Barrie Ontrio had a ship named after her the HMCS
Barrie Her Majesties Canadian Ship Barrie was first commissioned
in WW11 and built in the Collingwood Shipyards:
A Picture and story hangs in Barrie City Hall-Downtown Barrie.
More information on Barrie hotels, attractions, events and festivals
in Barrie Ontario Canada |
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| Barrie Ontario Quick Links |
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Barrie Current History
January 2012: Golden Skate: Barrie Couple take novice ice dance title in Moncton
Jumping up from 12th place last year, the youngsters out of the Mariposa
School of Skating in Barrie, Ont., delighted the audience on hand with an
effervescent program. Using music from Cirque du Soleil and Make 'Em Laugh
from Glee, Collins and Seymour ... You may see this couple in the Barrie Sports Hall of Fame |
