Return to Paradise

My wonderful 90 year old cottage, built by my grandfather,  was left hanging 6 feet in the air.  I need to get it down before it falls down.

I have found a new contractor, Colin Hunter  from HGTV and here's what he had to say:  https://youtu.be/8cKO5lKwpDA

Colin estimates about $50,000 to complete the work, then fees to GFM, but if we could raise more, we could maybe pay off some of what the previous contractor didn't pay.  That would be amazing! One of the earlier contractors is out of pocket $16,000, another is out $2500. 

Now that would really be a good news story!   

Here’s a link to my CBC story about the "con"tractor that might interest you:   https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/muskoka-cottage-rental-contractor-issue-1.5786472?fbclid=IwAR0bjrqX5Hl_gQkzur6ja-fD3HsItJwKRKy4ai_CkJYjUkyyspOKqBKUn1k

Let me tell you a little history of the cottage and its importance to the family

The original piece of the cottage was built in 1931 by my grandfather, Julian Smedley, one of my favourite people. Even though he lost most of his right tricep to gangrene in the first World War but he could still do so much. He could build anything - Cottage, garage, cage for my iguana, jewelry box - he was my hero. Grandfather even built the fieldstone fireplace and chimney from rock he, my grandmummy and aunt collected from surrounding fields. A lot of work, but the end result is glorious. 

Grandfather was an Anglican Minister in Bracebridge, Port Carling and eventually he was sent to Port Arthur. However, he had whole summers off so the family would drive down from The Lakehead and spend those months on Lake Muskoka.

My mother turned 5 years old, the year the cottage went up, but it was only the first year of many enjoying the cottage. I started coming to the cottage when I was 6 months old. My mother and I spent the entire summer there with my granddad and grandmummy. And we returned year after year. Granddad taught me how to bait a hook, catch a fish and then clean it for cooking. Grandmummy taught me how to know what berries were ripe to pick for eating and to bake in pies and what mushrooms were edible and which to leave alone..

A public beach lay next door beside the Government dock; we considered it our own. It had a nice gentle, sandy slope out. When my brother and sister came along and we got older, there were 2 docks to jump off on one side of the beach and a huge rock on the other. A great place for a water fight; a child’s version of heaven.

There was also a stone barbeque built on the point beside the beach (near the big rock). I don’t know if my granddad built it, but there it was, and close enough for many BBQ dinners.

 As the first grandchild, I was the light of my grandfather’s life. He made me feel like I was the most important person in the world. My great hope is to honour his memory by saving the cottage and preserving it for my children and grandchildren.

Thank you for anything you can do to help my family get this cottage on the ground!  


Liz