Joseph E. Atkinson (publisher Toronto Star) spent two months each summer at Bigwin Inn from the mid 1930’s to 1947. Mr. Atkinson (known in our family as Holy Joe) was a Methodist. He and my Grandfather were good friends. Mr. Atkinson was extremely generous to St. Patrick’s Church Glenmount as a kindness to my Grandparents.

Father Francis Marrocco (later Bishop Marrocco) was a curate at St. Mary’s Church, Huntsville. My Grandfather and Uncle John used to drive to Huntsville each Saturday afternoon in July and August to pick up the Priest, bring him to their cottage for Saturday dinner and to stay overnight. Cars were uncommon in 1930. The Priest then celebrated 9AM mass, came back to the cottage for breakfast and was transported back to Huntsville. 

In the 1940’s there was a penny slot machine in the corner of the Glenmount teahouse. Mr. Atkinson and Father Marrocco used to hoist up my Aunt Therese and her best friend and next-door-neighbour Elizabeth Clark (daughter of Toronto Star War Correspondent Gregory Clark) to put coins in the slot machine. The two beautiful little girls were too short to reach the handle otherwise. Many of our neighbours were absolutely horrified at the site of two little girls gambling abetted by a Catholic Priest and the virtuous Publisher of the Toronto Star.

My own personal recollections of St. Patrick’s is when we saw the Bigwin Ferry pass our dock on Sunday morning we quickly piled in the car and sped down Glenmount Road to beat the Ferry. If we arrived after the Ferry, there were no seats and we had to stand for the entire service.  Bigwin guest’s donations supported St. Patrick’s summer church. When Bigwin began to decline, so did the church attendance and subsequently the donations which sustained its operation.

St. Patrick’s Church, the Glenmount Hotel, Store and Teahouse were sold off in 1976. St. Patrick’s Church was transformed into the Lake of Bays Sailing Clubhouse. The Lake of Bays Sailing Club was founded in 1964 by Commodore Bob Dolphin. The Board of Directors included: Doug Cooper, Jim Hahn, Bert Lennard, Hugh McFarlane, Dan Poyntz and Peter Thompson. The original Club was located at Bigwin Inn, in two rooms on the lower sundeck adjacent to the Round Room. The Club operated in July and August and started out with just two Albacores for 30 junior sailors. 

In 1984, the Club purchased the Glenmount Teahouse property and turned it into what now is now known as the “Sailing Club dock”.  The dock is used to store sailboats in summer and lakeside yoga on Saturday mornings. 

In 2002, the clubhouse foundation, structure and floors were deemed unstable. The structure was moved off its foundation and an expanded foundation was built to accommodate boat storage, workshop, washrooms, multi-purpose gathering space and a kitchen. The renovations allowed for more space for instruction for the junior sailing program and instructor and administrative offices. The basement is dedicated to the memory of Brian “Frog” Schaal. The upstairs kitchen is dedicated to Matthew Peebles.

Over 3000 youngsters have enrolled over the years in the Junior Sailing Program. Kids and teens from around Lake of Bays have learned to sail in programs based on the Canadian Yachting Associations standards. The Lake of Bays Sailing Club is a non-profit organization which encourages sailing, racing and sponsors the annual Lake of Bays Regatta. In addition to the various sailing activities there are also many social events for both Junior and Senior members. The Lake of Bays Sailing Club has fostered many lifelong friendships.

This summer the Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation is proud to present St. Patrick’s Church Glenmount with a 2022 Built Heritage Award. This award is in recognition of the preservation of an historic and greatly appreciated Lake of Bays building.

Written by Gloria Woodside and Paul Shoniker.

Sketch of St. Patrick’s Church by Michael Woodside.