About Jackson's Landing
The Turn of the Century…Steamships and Sun Bonnets
Jackson’s Point changed dramatically in the 60 years following Jackson’s death in 1836, evolving from a remote community of struggling settlers into a thriving and desirable resort location which came to be known as “Ontario’s first cottage country.” A busy rail line connected Jackson’s Point with Toronto and Canada’s main railways. The new cottages built at the Point were described in the Canadian Summer Resort Guide published at the end of that century as an “ideal summering place only two hours railway journey from Toronto”. More significantly, the east lawn of what is now Jackson’s Landing had become the home dry dock for one of the most famous ships in Canadian literature, the steamer “Enterprise” soon to be known as Stephen Leacock’s “Mariposa Belle”. The eastern end of the property extended almost 200 feet beyond the shore to accommodate a massive marine railway built on the lake bottom that could haul steamers out of the lake for repair or winter storage.
Steamer Enterpise loading and unloading passengers
The marine railway and drydock served all of the large steamers on the lake and the busy harbour provided their link to the fast growing city of Toronto. A new railroad wharf was built, extending far enough into the harbour to allow up to four freight cars to be loaded from ships, or ice sleds in the winter, while passenger steamers picked up passengers at the main dock nearby.
Weekend steam excursions from Toronto had become so popular by the early 1900's that a second railway was built from Toronto to Jackson’s Point, providing more frequent passenger service by electric trolley.
Reservations: Call 1-905-722-7752 or email info@jacksonslandingbb.com