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Bishops Corner
as compiled by Garry Bishop
Bishop’s Corner is located on Concession 17 , Lot 1, Township of Hilton. 
It was named after the Bishop family who originally settled on this lot.
Harry ( Henry  ) Bishop later built a house on Concession 16,Lot 1 which 
was the Bishop homestead.

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Richmond Bay / Richmond Point
as compiled by Garry Bishop
Located off the “U” Line between the “W” and the Base Line.
Named for the family of James Richmond who lived in that area

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The Brule
per  Russell and Eleanor Adcock
A piece of property located on the Base Line between the M and N and 
the P Line. There was a fire there and burned the property. 
It was known as the Brule which is French for ‘Burn”

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Pecks point
as compiled by Garry Bishop
located on the east side of Milford Haven bay.

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Koshkawong point/river
the point is located on the west side of the Milford Haven bay
the river is on some maps as Milford Haven river.
It runs from the twin lakes to Milford Haven.

Source Glyn Smith papers from museum 
Koshkawong , later changed to Kaskewan means ‘ place where something is 
peeled off’
Was going to be renamed to Pembroke after a county in England 
but never officially changed

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Collins point
located in the middle of Tenby bay
Lot 16 concession VII

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Whitman point
located between  Tenby bay and Worsley bay

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Sterling Bay
a bay inside of Worsley bay
named after a family that lived there

source Glyn Smith papers in museum
named for Archibald Sterling who lived on the west side of the bay 
prior to 1844.

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Whiskey point
a point in Sterling Bay


Whiskey bay
a bay at the end of the 5th side road

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Milford Haven
Ontario Historical article 1961
Major Rains named Milford Haven after a sea side resort near his boyhood home.
area was called Pecksville for some time when the Rains store was run by Sam Peck.

Source St Joseph Island Pioneer Dec. 1987
Named by Major Rains after a favorite seaside town back in Wales 
where he was born.

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Rainsmere Hotel
see St Joseph Island Pioneer article from volume1 issue 3

source St Joseph Island Museum
One of the first hotels to be managed by a woman.
Built between 1892 and 1986, it had 20 bedrooms, several dining rooms,
sitting rooms and kitchens.
Catered to river travellers.

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Llewellyn Beach
 see St Joseph Island Pioneer article from volume1 issue 3

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Hilton Beach/ Marksville/ Hilton
Source St Joseph Island Pioneer volume 1 issue 2 , Dec. 1987
  Around 1847, after copper was discovered in Bruce Mines it was 
reported that there could be copper and other minerals on St Joseph 
Island. Hoping to get in on this bonanza Major Rains with  his eldest 
sons Tudor and Owen decided to try their luck. One foggy night while 
they werein the bush on one of their many quests for the elusive minerals they 
became lost. After spending a miserable night in the open they set 
out in the morning to find their way out . After a futile hunt for minerals the
three weary prospectors emerged on the eastern slope of the Island 
overlooking the North Channel. It was so hilly that the Major told his 
sons that the folks who lived down in the village by the shore should 
call it Hill Town. Thus the settlement was so named. The name was
later shortened to Hilton.

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Tenby Bay
Source St Joseph Island Pioneer Dec. 1987/Bayliss book
  Named by Major Rains after a place in Wales of the same name

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Carterton
Source St Joseph Island Pioneer Dec.1987
One of the older post offices was opened at the 10th Sideroad and 
the P Line by the Carter family, one of the first families to settle in 
that area.

Source St. Joseph Island Historical Society
Location of a small settlement at the corner of the 10th Side Road 
and the P line. A Postal station was located there at one time. The 
Carter Homestead established in 1879 is situated on the northeast 
corner and is said to be the highest farm in the Province of Ontario.

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Sailors Encampment/Campment Matelot
Source St Joseph Island Pioneer Dec.1987

Ships on the St Marys River were deterred from travelling upbound 
to Sault Ste. Marie by adverse winds and the rocky shallow bottom 
of the passage between St. Joseph Island and Neebish Island 
above Mud (Munuscong ) Lake. Cargoes of the earlier sailing ships 
had to be transferred to rafts or smaller boats and scows, which 
then carried the cargo on to the Soo. Many of these vessels 
travelling late in the season often became frozen in the ice and had 
to spend the winter in the river. It is hard to establish the date or 
which ship caused the area to get its name. As early as 1854 it was 
called Sailors Encampment of the Canadian side and Campment 
Matelot on the American side. The earliest known ship carrying 
cargo for Sault Ste. Marie was the British brig “ Wellington” in 1817. 
She became frozen in the river for the whole winter.

source Bayliss book
  The name of Campment Matelot is mentioned in a letter of 
1839

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St Joseph Island/Payentanassin/Caribou
source Bayliss book
St Joseph Island was called Payentanassin by the local Indians

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Rains Lake/ Loch Rains/ Adcocks Lake
source Bayliss Book
Major Rains named the lake Loch Rains
located on lot 5 , Concessions 5 and 6

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Scotts Mill
source Bayliss Book
located on Collins Creek in 1835
ran by Major Rains , Scott and Thompson
thought to be the first mill on the Island

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Sawmills
Browns mill - located on lot 16 , concession w
Campbells mill - located on lot 7 concession 15
Dicksons Mill
Kents mill - located on lot 30 , concession A
McFarlane mill - located on lot 21 , concession G
McGuggan mill - located in town plot of hilton - later stone lumber co
McQueens mill - located on lot 6 , concession 9
Whichers mill - located on lot 9 , concession 10 and lot C , 
concession 16
Woods mill - located on lot 1 , concession 17 and lot 11 concession K

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Cemeterys
Anglican
  lot 35 on Huron Concession
  lot B concession 16

United
  lot 8 on concession O

Non- denominational
  lot 5 concession 3
  lot 10 concession E

Catholic
  lot 12 on concession A

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Schools
C line school lot 11 concession A
I line school lot 20 concession H
Jocelyn school  lot 36 on Concession A
Kaskawan school lot 1 concession 10
Maple hill school lot 10 concession H
Mountain school lot 11 concession N
Tenby bay school lot 6 concession 4
Trainors side road school lot 21 concession 13
W line school lot 14 on concession W

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Bampford's Creek
  located on lots 10 and 11 on K line
  crosses 10th side road on lot 10 on K
  runs into Two Tree River
  early settler in area was A. Bamford

source Island Clippings april 1999(Eleanor Adcock)
Bampfords Creek crosses the 10th Side Road just north of the K-Line. Frank 
Crowder informed me that a Mr. Bampford cleared land for a farm on the 
property that he owned on the 10th Side road. Before long, he was offered a 
job on a boat, which he accepted. Apparently, he didn't return to the 
Island. Hector Nelson told me that a Mr. Bampford was a lighthouse keeper at
the first lighthouse near St. Joseph Island. It was on a small Island. He
followed his father who had preceded him as keeper of the same lighthouse. 
Hector remembers this much because the first Mrs. Bampford was a sister of 
his Grandmother White, (La Blanc).


(My thanks to Mr. Crowder and Mr. Nelson for the above information.)

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Blind Line
  source St Joseph Island Historical Society
  The Blind Line is a road extending between the 10th and
  5th Side Roads. It was established in place of an undeveloped
  portion of the I line which would have run through a large
  swamp

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Dunns Hill
Island Clippings , October 9 1998 , Eleanor Adcock Dunn's Hill was named 
for the Dunn family who lived there for may years. It is on the Base Line in
Hilton Township.
The Dunns were early pioneers on St. Joseph Island  who came 
from the Guelph area of Ontario. Along with the parents there were 
several sons who lived there. I don't know if there were any 
daughters. I do know how many lived their lives out on the farm at 
Dunn's Hill other than Will and another whose name may have been 
Alex. They had a fine home which included a bathroom , something 
almost unknown in pioneer homes. They had a large barn with a 
stone foundation. No buildings remain now.
The last of the family to live there was Will, with his second wife, 
Lou ( Cooper ). They farmed and had a herd of cattle and other 
livestock. 
Mrs. Dunn was bedridden for the last five years of her life due to a 
stroke.Will lived to be over ninety. I think they both died in the 
1930's

Island Clippings , Oct. 16 1998 by Eleanor Adcock
The Gravel Pit on Dunn Hill/ McEwans pit/Nobels/Dunn
The Gravel Pit on the Dunn place has changed its name with each 
owner of the property. Mr. Noble was the first to open a pit on the hill 
near the barn. He sold gravel for the road work done on a long 
stretch of the Base Line.
  Bob and Grace Noble came from Guelph in the early 1930's, 
she to care for Mrs. Dunn who was bedridden and he to help Mr. 
Dunn on the farm. Mrs.Noble was niece of Will Dunn. They were in 
their fifties with a grown-up family when they came. None of them 
came to St Joseph Island other than to visit their parents. Mr. and 
Mrs. Noble remained on the farm for a few years after the Dunn's 
died. Shortly after the end of World War 2, they retired and returned 
to Guelph. The Dunn farm was sold to Edgar Cain and the Cain 
family lived there for a few years. The next owners were Mr. and 
Mrs. McEwan who also sold gravel from the pit for several years. 
Gilbertson Enterprises, the present owners still use the pit and have 
greatly enlarged it.
Note: Alf Still has reminded me that the name of the last brother to 
live on the farm with Will was not Alex but Sandy

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Burnt Point:

Island Clippings , Oct. 16 1998 by Eleanor Adcock
  We have determined the location of Burnt Point. It is shown 
on the 1940 map of  St. Joseph Island  and the area north of her, put 
out by the Department of Mines and Resources. It is on the west side 
of Whiskey Point, jutting out into Whiskey Bay. We don't know how 
it burned but my husband Russell and Merl Reed agree that it must 
have happened a long time ago. 
Russell sys there were no large trees on it when he was a boy. He is 
81 years old.

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Caufields Lake / Little Lake
Island Clippings , Dec 11/98 by Eleanor Adcock

Brian Figures phoned me with some more information about 
Caufields Lake.
He says that his grandfather , Russell Ward, often told the story of 
how he helped stock the lake with bass. Mr. Ward and Mr. Whicher 
of Whichers Mill went out to what is know as "The Wreck" near 
Milford Haven and caught the bass which they delivered in wash 
tubs to the lake.

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Trainors Side road
Island Clippings , Dec 11/98 by Eleanor Adcock

Trainor's Side Road in Hilton Township connects the W Line ( now 
part of the Highway 548) with the Base Line. It was named for the
Trainor family that lived on the farm many years ago that it passes by.
Patrick and Elizabeth Trainor with their four children came to 
St Joseph Island from a farm between London and Goderich in 
Huron County on a boat called the "Ontario" in 1883.
The Trainors originally came from Belfast in Antrim County, Ireland.
The family road in a wagon from the dock at Hilton over the old 
Kaskawan road to the farm that Mr. Trainor had purchased for 
$130.00 and on which he had built a log home.
There they began farming. The property that Mr. Trainor had chosen 
to settle on is about half way between the Kaskawan Road and the 
Base Line and was considered a good location for farming.
The oldest child , William , was ten years of age when they arrived 
on St Joseph Island.
Three more were born on the Island. Besides William there were 
Gordon , Edith ( who became Mrs. Dan See), Russell, Mildred and 
Sandy.
About four years after they arrived the old log school was built 
just across the road from their home, near the north end of the
Little Lake. This school was to serve the W Line , Milford Haven 
and the U Line areas. At first Mrs. Trainor attended to the wood 
fires to heat the school. When the boys were old enough they took 
over that job. Mrs. Trainor and woman friend left their mark in the
area by each planting some pine trees. Mr. and Mrs. Trainor's 
intentions on coming to the Island were to secure land for their sons. 
William was a purser on the Premier when he married Mabel 
Duncan whowas postmistress in Marksville ( Hilton Beach) for 15 
years. In 1923 William became Crown Land Agent , succeeding Mr. 
W.C. Whytbourne.He also held the office of Justice of the Peace 
and was rural mail carrier.
My thanks to Norma Brownlee, one of the large family of Mr. and 
Mrs.William Trainor, for help with the above information.

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Axworthy Lake /Otter Lake
Located on lots 40 and 41 on A Line

source Island Clippings april 1999
Submitted as follow by Barbara Davies is additional information that she 
has received about Axworthy's Lake.
Earlier this month, I received a call from Ken McAlister regarding 
Axworthy's Lake. He had just been reading your article about it and the fact
that it was supposed to be bottomless. In a discussion with Bruce Daynard, 
Bruce told him that Axworthy's Lake was supposed to be "bottomless" also. 
Daynard was told by either his father or grandfather that one spring some 
years ago (possibly in the late 40's or early 50's) a "ton of fish", which 
appeared to be deep-water fish, were found floating in the lake, all dead. 
No one could figure out where they came from, but the lake was littered with
them. In discussing this with Babe (George) Brownlee, he told me that some 
time in the early 50's, the Ministry was asked why they didn't stock the 
lake as it was so clear. The Ministry was supposed to have said they didn't 
because there did not appear to be any outlet to Lake Huron. Axworthy's Lake
is at least 20 Ft. higher than Lake Huron and from the lake to the channel 
it is all down hill. It would appear that it gets its source from 
underground. Hands Lake on the top of the "Mountain" is like this also.

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All Tribes Camp
Located on the Hilton Road
Lot 5 on the “N”
All denominational religious camp operated by Millie Troyer

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Bamageseck Bay
Located between St. Joseph Island and Campement d’ Ours Island
Lots 1-3 Concession “V”
Likely named for the early settler in that area.

 Clark Bamagesic phoned to confirm that Bamageseck Bay 
does reach from Camp D'Ours Island Bridge past the former 
Joe Aikens' farm. He also informs us that his grandfather, 
Robert Bamagesic had owned all of the property along that 
bay as far as the Sportsman's Restaurant. Thank you Mr. 
Bamagesic for your help with this one.

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Base Line
Runs from the “K” line to the “U” line
Named because it was used as a base for the original survey
( French survey prior to Molesworths survey in 1855)

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Big Point / Grande Pointe
Located on the north east side of St. Joseph Island
Concessions Y and Z and Grande Point
Bound by Moffat Bay on the north and McMenomy Bay on the south
Called Grande Pointe proir to Molesworth’s survey in 1855

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Botchfords Bay/Botsford Bay
A small bay located in McMenomy Bay
Lot 2 o n concession W
Named for American family of Botsford

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Boulanger point / Belangers point
Located on the northwest tip of St. Joseph Island
Lots 1-2 concession A

Source Glyn Smith papers in museum
Named after Andrew Belonger  who settled there in 1876

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Brickyard
Located in Botchfords Bay inside of McMenomy Bay
Site of a brick making factory
Operated by AG Duncan – source Alf Still
Lot 2 on concession W

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Browns Bay
Located inside of Tenby Bayl
Lot 16 consession VII

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Campment D’Ours Island
Located on north east  side of St. Joseph Island
In Bamageseck  Bay and Desjardin/Gawas Bay
Had this name when Molesworth came in 1855

Source Glyn Smith papers at museum
Means encampment of bears

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Caradoc Point
Located on east side of St. Joseph Island
East of lot 6 concession XII

source Island Clippings April 1999 (Eleanor Adcock)
Caradoc Point is on the south side of Mosquito Bay where the land juts out 
into Lake Huron from the southeast end of St. Joseph Island. According to 
the Grolier Encyclopedia, "Caractacus, or more correctly, Caratacus is a 
Latinized form of the Celtic Caradoc, which occurs in Welsh place names and 
was the name of one of the Knights of the Round Table." Since Major William 
Kingdom Rains named nearby Milford Haven and Tenby Bay after places in his 
homeland, Wales, it seems reasonable to assume that he also named Caradoc 
Point.

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 Cheese Factory
Located in Hamiltons Bay
Operated by Mrs. Geo Reed ( mother of Jim Reed )

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Chicken point
Located east of Richards Landing
Lot 13 on concession D

source Island Clippings april 19 1999 ( Eleanor Adcock)
Mrs. Ernie Eddy called to tell us that Chicken Point is off the end of the 
15th Side Road where it would be if it were cut through to the shore of the 
North Channel. She does not know how it got its name.

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Coles Hill
Located on the I line
Lot 14 concession H
Original lot owned by David Cole

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Court point
Located on lot 27 on Neebish Concession
likely named for Frederick Henry Court, the original settler of this lot.

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Hay Marsh / Hay point/ Cranberry Marsh
Located on lots 54-55 concession A
The Hay Marsh 
Source Island Clippings May 1999 - Eleanor Adcock

The Hay Marsh is a vast, low lying area along the southwest shore 
of St. Joseph Island, in Concession A, Jocelyn Township. There are 
higher points that project into the St. Mary's River; they are 
mostly tree - covered. The main area of the marsh is covered with 
a variety of grasses and brush, while some areas nearer the shore 
produce mostly reeds and rushes. The marsh is covered with up to 
2 ½ feet of water, depending on the levels of Lake Huron and the 
St. Mary's River.

Hay Marsh reaches from Diboll's Bay on the upper end to the 
Military Reserve at Fort St Joseph and consists of the shorelines
7of about 18 lots and up to three-quarters of a mile of their depth. 
It is habitat to wildlife such as deer, moose and waterfowl. Although 
it is all privately owned, there are permanent residents on the marsh. 
Access is mainly by boat.

Many acres of wild hay grow there, most of which is of no value for 
domestic livestock. There is one variety called blue-joint hay, that 
was quite a useful and nutritious hay for the pioneer farmers, as 
well as for the farmers all along the west side of the Island in 
the drought years.

Hay Point 
Hay Point is the large point at the upper end of Hay Marsh.

The Cranberry Marsh
Areas of the Hay Marsh produce wild cranberries naturally. There is an 
area bordering on a small lake or pond that is called a floating bog. 
It is springy to walk on and it is said that there are many feet of 
soft mud underneath. So, hunters and cranberry pickers, beware.

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Deer Lake
Located on Big point
Lots 14-15 concession Y and Z

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Elliots Bridge
A bridge over the Koshkawong River on the 2nd Concession
Built by Claude Elliot

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Everens point
Located on lot 15 Neebish Concession

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Brandon House
Source Island Clippings Nov 3 1995 by Eleanor Adcock
The Brandon House which was built in Richards Landing for a hotel 
in 1868 was purchased by two men, Mr. Tookey and Mr. Burton of 
Sault Ste. Marie in 1920 to be turned into a creamery. In 1925 it 
was sold to Model Dairy of the Sault who operated it as a creamery 
before closing it down, after which the building was used as a 
residence. Hector Nelson and Frank Crowder remember that Joe 
Charmbers an employee of Model Dairy operated the Island 
Creamery. Lyle Rains was the butter-maker.
In 1935 Mr. J.S. Tranter, whose operation of the “upper ferry” the 
Magic Carpet had been taken over by the Ontario Government that 
year purchased the building and reopened the creamery under the 
name of St. Joseph Island Creamery. His butter-maker at first was a 
Mr. Legault from Sudbury. Hector Nelson told me that he started a 
freight bus that year and transported the butter to Sault Ste. Marie 
for the creamery. Mr. Tranter operated the creamery for about 20 
years. In the 1940’s Emerson Smith went away and took a butter-
making course and he was the butter-maker until the creamery was 
sold to the Co-Operative Creamery at Bruce Station. According to 
Sharon Nelson who very kindly lent me her book which contains 
her interview with Mrs. Stan Tranter during her grade 8 year the 
creamery was sold in 1955. Perry Coulter told me that when the 
Algoma CO-OP purchased the St. Joseph Island Creamery they 
bought all the wrappers for the well-known high grade St. Joseph 
Island butter and continued to use them for as long as they were in 
operation. They continued to buy St. Joseph Island cream as well.
I remember when during the late 1930’s Mr. Clyde Cumming of 
Richards Landing who drove the truck to pick up the cream from 
all over the Island came as far as Milford Haven to pick some up 
from my grandmother Garside and Aunt Nellie. Aunt Nellie who 
will be 102 this month and lives in London Ontario had a small 
herd of cattle and a good cream separator that turned out nice 
thick cream. When Russell and I lived on the farm near her in the 
late 1940’s/ early 50’s we also sold cream to the St. Joseph Island 
Creamery. There were more people farming on the Island in those 
days.
The Brandon House – turned – creamery building was torn down in 
the summer of 1968.

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Fisher Bay
Located north west of Gravel Point
Hilton Beach is located in Fisher Bay

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Fishers Corner
Located on highway 548 at the boundary between the village of 
Hilton Beach and Hilton Township on the W Line.
The Fisher family were the first settlers/landowners of the lots on 
Gravel Point.

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Fosters Hill
Located in the Village of Hilton 
Beach 
South Street

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Gawas Bay / Desjardins Bay
Located between Campement  d’Ours Island and St. Joseph Island 
Desjardins were a family that lived in that area
Gawas is an Indian name

Source Glyn Smith papers from museum
Means sandstone bay

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Sam Wright’s fields
Compiled by Garry Bishop
Located on lot 22 on the P line where the Kaskawan River crosses the P line

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Pinks Marsh
Located off the U line on lots 4-5 concession XI

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Dicksons mill /Dixons mill /Fountain Park

Compiled by Garry Bishop 
Located on lots 6-7 on concession H (off the Blind Line)
The mill was operated by David Dickson
It was powered via a large water line coming from a swamp/lake on the property. 
They could turn a valve and the water would go up in the air about 20-30 feet.
Link to Dickson Mill web site Dickson's Mill
 

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Dan Greys farm
Located on lot 18 on P line
Dan Grey purchased the lot in 1919
Previous owned by
Alex Grey 1886
JE Murphy 1907
Alex Grey 1910
Traders Bank of Canada 1914

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Town plot of St Joseph and Hilton
Source Survey notes of T.N. 
Molesworth 1855
Sjhs No. 500135
Source Report of Survey of the townplots of St Joseph
And Hilton by T.N. Molesworth

Goderich
30th August 1855

Sir
Having on the 14th day May 1855 completed the survey of St. 
Joseph Island into farm lots, on the 15th May according to 
instructions dated 18th April 1854, I moved camp from Lot 6, 
Concession B, St. Joseph Island to the Town plot of St. Joseph 
and on the 16th commenced it subdivision into town and park lots. 
Completing this survey on the 23rd June on the 25th I moved camp 
to the townplot of Hilton St. Joseph Island 
From the 26th to 30th June I remained awaiting instruction the 
irregularity of the mail steamer having caused a delay in the 
arrival of letters.
And on 2nd July according to instructions dated 11th June 
1855 I commenced the survey of the Townplot of Hilton 
completing the survey on the 28th of the same month and 
discharging most of my men on that day.
On the 30th July I commenced my return to Goderich arriving 
on the 4th August and paying off my chainbearer on that day.

Description of Townplots
St Joseph
It is situated on the westerly side of the Island on a 
channel between St Joseph and Neebish Islands- about one 
third of a mile wide – and of considerable depth- forming one 
of the great outlets for the boaters of lake Superior in their 
passage into Lake Huron – and being in reality a narrowing of 
the latter Lake. The waters in their passage through this 
channel having a very perceptible current.
  This channel is the main route for the steamboats and 
sailing ships in passing from Lakes Erie, Huron and Michigan 
to Lake Superior. There being only one other channel – that 
on the Northerly side of the Island.
  There were six steamers and propellers passing this 
channel weekly during the present season.
  This channel – in front of the townplot forms a safe 
and commodious harbour – very accessible at all times – with 
good anchorage – and in front of Water St. – between lots 16 
and 33 – the largest steamboats can come within 100 feet of 
the shore.
  The surface along Water St. Rises abruptly from the shore 
between lots 10 and 43 and is very stony being covered with loose 
stones may of considerable size principally limestone. St. Mary 
Street being on the summit of the bank the greater part of the 
interior of the townplot is level or nearly so and having a stiff soil of 
red clay retains the water on the surface and is consequently 
covered wit cedar, balsam, hemlock, tamarack, birch,- there being 
a little maple on a few rising spots – this surface would when 
cleared become dry and possess a good soil.
  The town of St. Joseph being situated on the great line 
of traffic with Lake Superior with I believe at a future period be 
the most important on this Island and will offer great facilities 
to the inhabitants for sending their produce to the upper or 
lower lakes.

Hilton:
Is situated on the North-Easterly side of St. Joseph Island in a 
bay formed by the projection of Pointe au Gravier and the 
opposite the shoe of the mainland of Canada which is about 4 
miles distant its harbour is not so well sheltered as that of St. 
Joseph – but  is still sufficiently safe for vessels of any size – 
as the lake is so contracted in front that it is never sufficiently 
rough there to injure a ship at anchor.
  The wharf constructed there has about 400 feet long – 
at the extremity of which the water is nine feet in depth – 
shoaling gradually to the shoe – and deepening outside. The 
Bruce Mines and Wellington mines are situated on the north 
shore – opposite – about 6 miles distant and at present form 
the principal market of the few persons settled at Hilton. The 
surface of the townplot rises gradually from the water – is 
very stony – being covered in many places with boulders of 
large size – some of these are Trap but mostly limestone. 
South of Walnut St. There is an abrupt ascent of about 40 
feet in perpendicular height nearly parallel to the line of water. 
Above this the surface ascends gradually the summit being a 
line between lot 124 and 376 and descending again towards 
West St. And Park Lot 1.
  The soil is a red sandy loam, rather stony, but of fair 
quality. The timber mostly maple and beech. The surface 
between 5th and Cedar Streets is flat and covered with Cedar 
and Spruce – as are also Park Lots 8,9,10,11, and 12, which 
are flat and swampy but not wet.
  The townplot is prettily situated and there is a good 
tract of land lying around it. It commands extensive and very 
fine views of the North Shore of the Lake and groups of 
surrounding islands.
  The Canadian Mail Steamers to the Sault Ste. Marie 
passed opposite Hilton weekly and sometimes calls there 
with passengers or freight.
  The settlement of the place having been commenced 
by Mr. Thompson. It will increase more rapidly at first than the 
town of St Joseph and if the mining companies opposite 
should be successful and their works carried on extensively 
they will always afford a good market for the produce of Hilton 
and neighbourhood as the country around the mines 
themselves is too barren to raise much produce for the 
population there.

To the Honorable the Commissioner of Crown Lands
Toronto
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your very obedient servant
T.N. Molesworth

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Rains Point: (Hentlan): 
Rains Point is on the south end of St. Joseph island, near the 
mouth of the St. Marys River. It is part of the Military Reserve 
that includes Fort St. Joseph and is a short distance east of 
the Fort. Before and during the usage of the Fort, Indians 
brought their furs from farther north to the fur traders at this 
location in the spring. Several hundred of them would 
converge on the area and stay until it was time to go north 
again to trap. Although the site had been chosen by the North 
West and other companies before 1812 for a village to be 
named St. Joseph, their plans had fallen through. Years later 
in 1839, Major Rains, who had been living at Milford Haven, 
moved his family to this location. He named it "Hentlan" for a 
friend in the "Old Country". However, it became known as 
"Rains Point" and that is the name it is known by today. The 
source for information about Rains Point came from "Historic 
St. Joseph Island" by Joseph and Estelle Bayliss.

Source Glyn Smith papers at museum
Hentlan was to be named for a priest that Rains knew in 
England

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Harmony
Source Glyn Smith papers in museum
Village of Harmony , located near junction of I line and A line 
was named by James Milton Anderson , premier and Minister 
of Education for Saskatchewan. The reason he was allowed 
to name this hamlet was because he taught at the Harmony 
School in the 1890’s

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Jocelyn

Source Glyn Smith papers in museum
A need arose for the naming of another post office on the Island.
Christopher Young was one of a collective of local residents who 
couldn’t decide what to name it. There was talk of using another 
local family’s last name but it was discovered that the name was in 
use elsewhere. The federal post office sent him a list of English 
names and asked him to select one. He chose Jocelyn. The 
township was later named Jocelyn as well. 

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Worsley Bay
Source Island Clippings April 19,1999 (Eleanor Adcock)

Worsley Bay is the large bay in Lake Huron, off the south end of St. Joseph 
Island between Koshkawong Point on the east and Whiskey Point on the west 
with Burnt Island to the south.

The bay is named for naval officer, Lieutenant Miller Worsley of the Royal 
Navy. Lieutenant Worsley was in charge of the troops on the famous armed 
schooner, "Nancy'. Captain McIntosh was the commander of the boat when they 
received news of an American raiding party in the area. Lieutenant Worsley 
ordered provisions removed from the "Nancy" and placed in two bateaux, which
were to be well hidden. As the Americans approached the "Nancy" in 
Nottawasaga Bay, Lieutenant Worsley ordered her set on fire rather than 
surrender her to the Americans. He and his party then made their way in 
secret to the British fortress at Mackinac. The commander there had already 
sent the Americans packing and only two squadrons of seven, were left in the
area. They were the "Tigress" and the "Scorpion" left to obstruct the 
British line of communications and supplies to Mackinac. The other five 
returned to Detroit. It was Lieutenant Worsley who devised a plan to capture
the "Tigress" and the "Scorpion". Lieutenant Worsley was supreme commander 
of the men who set out in four large rowboats and several Indian canoes. 
When a scout sighted the "Tigress" partly hidden at Burnt Island, they made
their way in darkness were able to take the Americans by surprise. They sent
the prisoners to Mackinac and with the American colours still flying and 
keeping his own red-coated men hidden, Worsley set out to capture the 
"Scorpion", which was only 15 miles away. Coming close to the ship, they 
fired a volley and boarded the "Scorpion". This was a very important victory
in saving Canada for the British and the Canadian fur trade. The captured 
ships were renamed "Comfiance" and "Surprise". Both "Historic St. Joseph 
Island" by Joseph and Estelle Bayliss and "The Sword of Old St. Joe", 
Historical Sketches by H. J. L. Woolley, B. D. tell the story of Lieutenant 
Worsley and his daring but clever feat in 1814 in more detail.

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Watsons Creek
Source Island Clippings April 19 1999 Eleanor Adcock
I have found Watson Creek on the map. It flows across the U Line into Tenby 
Bay. A Watson family did live on the U Line in early days. They moved to 
Detour and started a fuel dock for boats. 

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Bethel Church
Source Island Clippings April 19 1999 - Eleanor Adcock
Hector Nelson phoned to inform us that Bethel Church was situated where the 
15th Side Road crosses the Hilton Road on the south side of it. The lumber 
from the church was removed and used to replace a burned out home. 

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Rousseau Point
Source Island Clippings April 19 1999 - Eleanor Adcock
Hector also told me that the point near the south end of the A Line was 
called Rousseau Point. He said the late Wm. Fremlin of the pioneer Fremlin 
family told him this.

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Maple Point
Source Island Clippings May 1999 - Eleanor Adcock

Maple Point is a sandy point about mid way along the shore of Hay Marsh. 
It is mostly covered with maple trees

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St Joe Island Fruit and Land Company
Source Sault Star , see 600194

A.G. Duncan and several partners started this Company.
They planted an orchard next to the Fisher Property. (off Base Line)

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SJHS Number 600229
Date Jan 2000
Source Shirley Lukala
Folder Church – Catholic Mission of Our Lady of the Lake at Gawas Bay


Jan 2000
Reply to Historical Society Query
I read with interest the article in your January 7th Issue of the Clippings regarding 
information on a Catholic Mission of Our Lady of the Lake at Gawas Bay around 
1900.
I remember my father, Sam Brownlee and my Aunt Isabelle telling us about the old 
red house located at that time on property they purchased in July, 1934. The Red 
House was very large and housed the Mission, a Post Office and their living 
quarters. The priest who resided there in the early 1900’s when my Dad and Aunt 
Belle were young, was Bishop Jacobi. He had two servant boys, and held services 
at the Old Red House. Bishop Jacobi had a large garden and also chickens and 
cows. Aunt Belle spoke of visiting their home as a girl.
In my original deed, it refers to the house as the Jacobi House and Lot, so the 
house was still standing in 1934 when my father purchased it. I have a post card 
picture of the house taken around 1934 or 1935.
We believe the house was torn down and used to build part of our present house as 
it was heavy plank, which is in the main area of our home.
The property was purchased from a Lewis Oliver Armstrong right after the 
depression. Armstrong was a retired railway official who lived in the Village of 
Desbarats. He also reserved the sandstone rights. I remember my father saying he 
talked to Mr. Armstrong on many occasions and he said the first man with $100 can 
have this land. So my Aunt Belle and dad borrowed the money from Household 
Finance (Aunt Belle borrowed it in Detroit) The next time Mr. Armstrong came over 
and said he still wanted to sell the property, my Dad said here’s the $100. I want to 
purchase it. So it was finalised on St. Joseph Island, July 10, 1934.
I also remember the huge cross which was situated in the centre of an evergreen 
tree area just down the road from the Gibb’s residence and across the road where 
the Nelson lots are. I remember Aunt Belle talking of a little Native girl being buried 
there. I never saw any other markers or crosses. The Cross was very high.
This was all part of Lot 25, Concession G at that time, but they later divided it. Ours 
is now 2.5 acres.
We have more information on the first settlers (my grandparents) at the now Kucher 
property which I will record at a later date.

Shirley Lukala

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Riverside (Brick) Hotel
source - excerpts from Bruce Martins book
located on Lot 15 on Neebish Concession. In operation circa 1850 to 1900.
likely owned by the Rains family.

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Article to Island Clippings by Eleanor Adcock:


 Did you know that there was a camp for older boys at Sterling
         Bay from 1930 to 1937?  It was called the Mississaugi Boys Camp.
         They had previously camped on the Mississaugi River for several
         summers but the Sterling Bay site became the permanent one for
         the summers.
              Mr. Herb Twining of Ann Arbor Michigan already had a camp for
         younger boys at Birch Lake Michigan.  In 1930 he purchased the
         Sterling Bay property from Mr. Nels Espeland, who then became the
         caretaker.  This property had, years earlier been the saw-mill
         community of Mr. Pete Chesterfield and consisted of four two-storey
         homes and a store which became the camp storehouse.  The site is
         bounded on one side by Sterling Bay and on the other by Whiskey Bay.
         The camp had a well equipped kitchen and a large dining hall with
         two large tables to seat approximately 30 people.  It was staffed
         with a cook, Mr. Jack Whitely from the Bruce Mines area; Mr. Lloyd
         Melville , the guide, from Rydall Bank and Louis Anderson, local, was
         the truck driver and handyman.  The first camp manager was a Mr.
         Pierre Pulling who lived at the camp with his wife and young son.
              The camp was equipped with 15 sixteen foot freighter canoes
         and a stake truck for their land transportation.  While in camp,
         the boys, 16 years old and over, practiced baseball and played
         against the big boys of Hilton Beach.  The big experience every
         summer was a long canoe trip.  Every summer except one when they
         canoed to Michipicoten Island, they canoed to James Bay.  Another
         exception was when they chartered a boat to Hudson Bay and islands
         north of Hudson Bay.
              Because the Mississaugi Boys, Camp came into being during the
         Great Depression which dragged on, many of the Well-to-do Americans
         were not so "Well off" anymore and fewer were enrolling for camp
         and Mr. Twining was forced to close it in 1937.    Mr. Espeland died
         in 1937 and Russell Adcock was caretaker for the property until
         1946 .  During the 1950s the buildings and contents were severely
         vandalized.  The property was eventually purchased by developers
         who made it into the Sterling Bay Estates Subdivision.