“NEW BAY HOTEL” Miners Bay Ont c.1920

This Real Photo Post Card is unique, as it shows a transitional aspect to the buildings at Miners’ Bay. As well as raising questions, it provides several clues, and requires some re-thinking of the time line of the Main Lodge building. The AZO grid on the back of the card indicates a production date of the early 1920’s, but the picture itself could be a couple years older.

The Tracy family took over the Miners’ Bay property in 1920, and soon thereafter named the business Bay View Hotel. Perhaps the title of this post card is in error, or more interestingly, perhaps this card pre-dates the Tracy purchase of the property. Research is ongoing!

The scene shows the Boat House, believed to have been constructed around 1920. Also shown is the south end of the Main Lodge, and the Galloway farm house (now MBL Staff Cabin # 5). Behind the Farm House, the barn (now the MBL Rec Hall) is visible.

Connecting the two is a low “dog trot” type building that may have housed the Lodge Kitchen. This structure does not appear in any other known photographs, and was likely only used for a couple seasons.

Shortly after, (likely by 1920), it was demolished, and the second half of the Main Lodge was added – filling the space between the original Lodge and the Farm House. There appears to be a sign in front of the buildings.

The Miners’ Bay Church, constructed in 1906, is not visible in the picture, but sits just to the left of the flat area above the present day location of MBL Lakefront Cabins # 7 & 8.

Russ Wunker

April 2019