The Country Cabin Mail Order Products History Books

THE COUNTRY CABIN Mail-Order Products Catalogue Preview our selection of regional history books below, then make your choices on the order form. Print and mail your order with payment or VISA information. For security reasons we are unable to receive your credit information on-line. For quick delivery, call us at (613)332-3651 or toll-free at 1-866-332-3651. Please have your VISA information ready. All prices are in Canadian dollars.
HISTORY BOOKS
	Ghost Towns of Muskoka by Andrew Hind & Maria Da Silva This book explores the tragic history of a collection of communities from across Muskoka whose stars have long since faded. Today these ghost towns are merely shadows of what they once were. Some have disappeared entirely while others have been reduced to foundations, forlorn buildings, and silent ruins. But this book isn't only about communities that have died. Rather, it is about communities that lived, vibrantly at that, if only for a brief time. It's about the people who longed for a better life; the people who lived, loved, laboured and ultimately died in these small wilderness settlements. And it's about an era of history, those early, heady days of Muskoka settlement when the forests were flooded with loggers and land-hungry settlers. ISBN 978-1-55002-796-9, 272 pages, paperback, NHB $24.99
	The Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore An Illustrated History of Railway Stations in Canada—3rd edition by Ron Brown Across the country, stations have been bulldozed and rails ripped up. Once the heart of communities, stations and tracks have left little more than gaping holes in the landscape. This book revisits a time when railways were the country's economic lifeline, and the station our social centre. ISBN 978-1-55002-794-5, 192 pages, paperback $29.99
	English Bloods In the Backwoods of Muskoka, 1878 by Frederick de la Fosse, Edited by Scott D. Shipman Farming in the Canadian backwoods in the late 1800s was a prospect that enticed many young Englishmen to cross the Atlantic. One such fellow was Frederick de la Fosse, whose well meaning uncle paid £100 per annum for his young nephew to serve as a farm pupil in the northern reaches of Muskoka. Some years later, de la Fosse, under the pseudonym of Roger Vardon wrote an illuminating and humorous biographical account of the trials and tribulations of the “English Bloods,” the local epithet attached to these young lads attempting to hone farming skills never intended to be agricultural. And, in so doing, de la Fosse chronicles the realities of pioneer life in the area. In the original text, published in 1930, a number of names were changed to conceal identities of the local people. Editor Scott D. Shipman has spent over eight years in researching the authentic names and overall background for this totally new edition of English Bloods. The richly descriptive text written by the keenly observant and erudite de la Fosse is complemented by archival visuals and annotations for today’s reader. ISBN 1-896219-96-9, Size 6 x 9, 256 pages, paperback, NHB $24.95
	Lanark Legacy NINETEENTH CENTURY GLIMPSES OF AN ONTARIO COUNTY by Howard Morton Brown This book is an authoritative history of an important Eastern Ontario county. The author has plumbed deep the sources of Lanark County’s history to provide a detailed account of its development before 1900. His narrative dwells on typical and unusual aspects of frontier life to reveal how the society and economy of the area were transformed during its first century. The book covers early settlement, the origins of place names, the Ballygiblin riots, life in the county town of Perth, the development of the industrial towns of Almonte, Carleton Place and Smiths Falls, and a variety of aspects of local life throughout the county. GSPH, 8" x 9 1/2", 290 pages paperback, ISBN 978-1-897113-62-2 $24.95
	Almaguin Chronicles Memories of the Past by Astrid Taim The Almaguin Highlands rising high above sea level just north of Muskoka, was once coveted for its majestic white pine and silver birch. This book paints a lively picture of what the area must have been like in the early days, from the lumberjacks to the boatbuilders whose steamers and tugs traversed the waterways. ISBN 978-1-55002-760-0, 190 pages, paperback $24.99
	The Sky's the Limit by Joyce Spring The intrepid women bush pilots profiled in this book have flown from British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador, and in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Their stories are exciting, occasionally funny and always absorbing. The first woman pilot to be hired by Air Inuit says, “We sure have come a long way and the ride was an awful lot of fun.” Natural Heritage Book ISBN 1-897045-16-6, Size: 6 x 9 paperback, 182 pages. $24.95
	The Old Log School by Gavin Hamilton Green Gavin Hamilton Green was well-known to Goderich visitors as the “racy, entertaining and genial proprietor” of Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe. His writings describe the colourful, sometimes wily ways of the pioneer history of Colborne Township and Huron County. Natural Heritage Book ISBN 0-920474-71-3, Size: 6 x 9 paperback, 192 pages. $12.95
	Timber Empire The Exploits of the Entrepreneurial Boyds by Grace Barker In 1834, 19 year-old Mossom Boyd arrived in the backwoods of Upper Canada. Initially trying his hand at farming, he soon took over a small sawmill at Bobcaygeon on the Kawartha Lakes—and built himself a "timber empire." By the 1870s Boyd was exporting millions of feet of pine lumber annually from a greatly expanded mill. From timber limits extending north to the farthest headwaters of the Trent in Haliburton County, he sent logs tumbling down wild rivers to face the saws in Bobcaygeon. As the pine began to run out he made an imaginative effort to tap the virgin forests of the Muskoka River watershed and beyond. Fox Meadow Creations 144 pages paperback, Size 8 x 10, ISBN 0-9681452-7-2 $26.95
	Downtown Ontario Unusual Main Streets to Explore by Ron Brown Many of Ontario’s cities and towns were settled by truly innovative and sometimes wealthy and eccentric pioneers. They wanted their homes and communities to stand out and be noticed. And outstanding they are, whether it is because of the stunnning architecture, the strange location or the intriguing story behind them. Some of the places thrived and grew, others eventually became little more than a main street, but all of the ones presented in this book have a fascinating story to tell. Let Ron Brown, well-known expert on Ontario’s past, lead you on an exciting and informative tour of Ontario’s most unusual cities and towns. Polar Bear Press. 192 pages paperback, Size 6 3/4 x 9, ISBN 1-896757-24-3 $22.95
	Marilyn at French River and Other Ghostly Sightings by Terry Boyle A beautiful, young starlet finds relief from her troubled Hollywood existence at an inn on the French River in the 1950s. After her tragic death the staff, and some visitors, see the ethereal blonde in the room Marilyn occupied. They are convinced she has returned to stay forever. This inn is just one of the public places where you may see a spirit. Take a trip with Terry Boyle, well-known historian and folklorist, who tells the stories behind each place and explains what he and others actually saw and heard. Polar Bear Press. 192 pages paperback, Size 6 3/4 x 9, ISBN 1-896757-18-9 $22.95
	Let's Dance A Celebration of Ontario's Dance Halls and Summer Dance Pavilions. by Peter Young Let's Dance! is a nostalgic musical journey, recapturing the unforgettable music of youth and lasting friendships, the days when the live mellow sounds of Big Bands wafted through the air. Throughout the 1920s to the '60s, numerous legendary entertainers drew thousands of people to the hundreds of popular dance veues right across Ontario. From the days of jitney dancing through the introduction of jazz and the Big Bands era to the sounds of some of Ontario's best rock groups, people of all ages came to dance and some to find romance on soft summer nights. A Natural Heritage Book. ISBN 1-896219-02-0, Size 8 x 10, 232 pages soft cover. $ 26.95
	Parry Sound Gateway to Northern Ontario by Adrian Hayes Parry Sound, at the mouth of the Seguin River on Georgian Bay, traces its history back to William Beatty Jr. and the purchase of timber rights. From the heyday of lumbering, through mining ventures, the period of Prohibition, the arrival of the railway and the impact of the Great Wars, the unfolding years are all accompanied by an intriguing mixture of colourful personalities, politics and scandal. The story of this growing community has a richness that few Ontario towns can match. Today Parry Sound embraces its entrepreneurial heritage, its hockey history, its commitment to the arts and its place as a popular tourist destination. ISBN 1-896219-91-8, Size 6 x 9, 272 pages, paperback, NHB $24.95
	Don Messer The Man Behind the Music by Johanna Bertin Revealed for the first time—secrets and stories from the remarkable life of Canada’s first radio and television star! Illustrated with rare photographs and meticulously researched, this book is an affable, comprehensive narrative interwoven with personal anecdotes from his friends and relatives. Don Messer's growing-up years, early band years, public life, and family life are intimately examined. Few knew him personally. Most knew him through his music, which even for Don was an all-consuming element. The author relates what Don Messer’s life was like from the moment he first picked up his brother’s violin as a young child. ISBN 978-0-86492-531-2 280 pages, paperback $19.95
	The Lumberjacks, 3rd Edition by Donald MacKay This book is a national history of the lumberjacks, loggers and raftsmen who opened Canada to the world and is a very readable contribution to literature of the world of iron men who pioneered the tough and perilous business of logging. Rare archival photographs, maps and illustrations, with anecdotes on a vanished breed. Natural Heritage Books. ISBN 978-1-5502-773-0, Size: 7 x 10 paperback, 319 pages. $24.99
	Lake Opeongo Untold Stories of Algonquin Park's Largest Lake by S. Bernard Shaw S. Bernard Shaw is no stranger to lovers of Park and Ottawa Valley lore. Numerous stories and books have established him as an enthusiastic and indefatigable chronicler of the region's history. With this book, let Bernard Shaw tell you the stories of Algonquin's great and endlessly fascinating Lake Opeongo. Includes lots of maps and photos. ISBN 0-896182-82-8, Size: 8 1/4 x 9 1/2 paperback, 110 pages. GSPH $19.95
	Sinking of the Mayflower Lost November 12, 1912 by Stephen Weir Explore the mysterious demise of the stern-wheeler Mayflower on a stormy night in November. Examine the lives lost, the survivors and the tragic series of events surrounding the sinking. GSPH !SBN 0-919431-42-9, Size: 6 x 9 paperback, 160 pages $12.95
	The Canoe in Canadian Cultures Edtitors John Jennings, Bruce W. Hodgins and Doreen Small The canoe is a symbol unique to Canada. One of the greatest gifts of First Peoples to all those who came after, the canoe is Canada's most powerful icon. Included are a collection of essays by paddling enthusiasts and experts. Natural Heritage Books. ISBN 1-896219-48-9, Size: 6 x 9 paperback, 312 pages. $24.95
	Canoeing a Continent On the Trail of Alexander Mackenzie by Max Finkelstein A highly personal account of the travels of Max Finkelstein as he retraces, some two hundred years later, the route of Alexander Mackenzie, the first European to cross North America in 1793. Natural Heritage Books. ISBN 1-896219-00-4, Size: 6 x 9 paperback, 298 pages. $25.98
	Redbloods & Rednecks Discord and Rebellion in the 1830s by Charles D. Anderson From the birth of the Orange Lodge to the Battle of the Windmill, the eastern Ontario counties of Leeds-Grenville became notorious for political violence in the 1820s and '30s. This book explores the political and social motivations of the warring factions in this mostly rural, isolated community. In the years leading up to the Rebellions of 1837, three successive elections were set aside as a result of mayhem at the poll. GSPH ISBN 1-896182-45-3, Size: 6 x 9 paperback, 263 pages. $19.95
	Bon Echo The Denison Years by Mary Savigny This book documents the era when famous artists, intellectuals and theatrical personalities visited the strikingly beautiful Lake Mazinaw area in Ontario's rugged Land O'Lakes district, both to play and to work. A Natural Heritage Book. ISBN 1-896219-30-6, Size: 6 x 9 paperback, 130 pages. $16.95
	Pearls & Pebbles Catherine Parr Traill edited by Elizabeth Thompson Through the eyes of Catherine Parr Traill, the noted chronicler of pioneer times, we see the life of pioneer women, the disappearance of the forest, the corresponding changes in the lives of Native Canadians and the richness of her natural world. A Natural Heritage Book. ISBN 1-896219-59-4, Size: 6 x 9 paperback, 210 pages. $21.95
	Almonte The Life of Juan Nepomuceno Almonte by Frank Cosentino Juan Nepomuceno Almonte dined with monarchs and rulers. He was Mexico's ambassodor to England, Spain, France and the United States where he championed his country's cause against Manifest Destiny and the American expansionist policies. When the communities of Ramsayille and Victoriaville were denied permission by Canada West to merge under the single name of Waterford, officials chose the name Almonte, an odd choice, but in keeping with the period when Canada was wary of the same threat of invasion and annexation. A Silent Praise book. ISBN 0-9687746-0-1, Size 6 x 9 paperback, 120 pages. $12.95
	Tallying the Tales of the Old-timers by Joan Finnigan Award winning storyteller, Joan Finnigan, once again travels up the line to record more tales of the Ottawa Valley. Told with humour and warmth by the people who lived them, these stories celebrate many of the colourful characters and goings-on that are found in every concession in the region. GSPH ISBN 1-896182-95-X, Size 8 1/2 x 9 paperback, 270 pages. $29.95
	In Search of the K & P The Story of the Kingston & Pembroke Railway by Carol Bennett and D. W. McCuaig The author has recorded the saga of the K & P in this book. The Trials and tribulations of the promotors, the hilarious experiences of the passengers, and the dedication with which the men of the line carried out their duties, are all remembered here. A Juniper Book ISBN 0-919137-04-0, Size 8 1/2 x 11 paperback, 123 pages. $15.00
	In Search of Lanark by Carol Bennett, photography by D. W. McCuaig A historical overview of old Lanark county and its towns, villages and townships. This revised edition contains 160 photos of fine old stone houses, log cabins, churches and rail fences in one of eastern Ontario's most beautiful counties. A Juniper Book ISBN 0-919137-02-4, Size 8 1/2 x 11 paperback, 119 pages. $11.95
	Renfrew County People & Places by Carol Bennett, photography by D. W. McCuaig This book is as a result of driving all the back roads of Renfrew County by photographer D. W. McCuaig. This is neither a guide book nor a history, but an exploration of the county with snippets of the early history of each community and township. A Juniper Book ISBN 0-919137-18-0, Size 8 1/2 x 11 paperback, 213 pages. $20.00
	Valley Irish by Carol Bennett, photography by D. W. McCuaig This book is a documentation of the Irish settlement in the old District of Bathurst (part of modern counties of Carleton, Lanark and Renfrew), drawing on the history of the nineteenth century Ireland to explain why the people left their native land, and how these events affected the Ottawa Valley. In addition this book profiles a cross-section of the old families of the area. Invaluable to the genealogist. A Juniper Book ISBN 0-919137-07-5, Size 8 1/2 x 11 paperback, 114 pages. $11.95
	Invisible Women by Carol Bennett McCuaig This book chronicles the experiences of women in the history of Eastern Ontario. Women have played a major role in the settlement and history of the area, yet until recently they have been virtually invisible. In local histories women are conspicuous by their absence yet they were the backbone of our society. A Juniper Book ISBN 0-919137-34-2, Size 8 1/2 x 11 paperback, 150 pages. $20.00
	Eganville — Jewel of the Bonnechere by Carol Bennett This book traces the history of Eganville from 1825 to 1991, when the village celebrated its one hundreth birthday as an incorporated village. A Juniper Book ISBN 0-919137-23-7, Size 8 1/2 x 11 paperback, 238 pages. $20.00
	When the Sugar Bird Sings The History of Maple Syrup in Lanark County by Claudia Smith In Lanark County, the Maple Syrup Capital of Ontario, spring is the sweetest season. From buckets and horse-drawn sleighs, to modern pipeline operations, this book recounts the growth and development of this important Canadian industry. Personal anecdotes and archival photographs from long-time residents illustrate this delighful history. ISBN 1-896182-47-X, Size: 8 1/2 x 8 1/2 paperback, 105 pages. $18.95
	The Mazinaw Experience Bon Echo and Beyond by John Campbell This book traces the presence of human habitation on the shores of Mazinaw from its earliest beginnings to the present, from the aboriginal people who believed the cliff top to be a sacred place, to the rugged lumbermen whose zeal cleared out the mighty pine, to the settlers who struggled to create new lives for their families. A Natural Heritage Book. ISBN 1-896219-50-0, Size 6 x 9 paperback, 170 pages. $24.95
	Browning Island, Lake Muskoka Cottagers Remember the Good Old Days edited by Robert Attfield Recollections dating back to the early 1900s: food chilled by blocks of ice cut from the lake; excursions up the lake on elegant steam boats; and a floating store that called at the dock every week. More than just a charming, sometimes poignant, often humorous peek at cottage life in another era. ISBN 0-9681452-3-X, Size 6 x 9 paperback, 192 pages. $19.95
	Along the Trail in Algonquin Park by Ralph Bice The Old Man of the Woods, Ralph Bice of Kearney, Ontario, is an endless source of stories and recollections involving his beloved Park. His personal experiences, his impressions and his razor-sharp wit combined with his love of nature have resulted in the most personable of all Algonquin Park histories. A Natural Heritage Book. ISBN 0-920474-19-5, Size: 6 x 9 paperback, 170 pages. $14.95
	Photographing Canada from Flying Canoes by S. Bernard Shaw This is the story of the pioneers who photographed Canada from the air and laid the foundations of our nation. Until these heroes returned from World War I and ventured into “unexplored territory” in primitive flying boats, only southern stretches of the Dominion and some waterways had been surveyed and mapped. Their work led to Canada's current leading role in aerial survey and remote sensing, and aircraft they specified initiated Canada's pre-eminent position in aerospace manufacture. ISBN 1-894263-42-1, Size 8 1/4 x 9 1/2, 294 pages paperback. $ 34.95
	Logging on the Schyan by Vernon Price In 1938 Vernon Price took a boat from Deep River across the Ottawa River to the Depot on the Quebec side where the Schyan River enters the Ottawa. Hitching a ride on a tote wagon which delivered supplies to logging camps the enterprising 22-year old arrived at Willie McCool's Camp and was taken on. This book is a collection of memories and photographs of that winter's logging. GSPH ISBN 1-894263-36-7, Size: 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 paperback, 88 pages. $12.95
	The Underground Railroad Next Stop, Toronto! by Adrienne Shadd, Afua Cooper, Karolyn Smardz Frost This richly illustrated book examines the urban connection of the clandestine system of secret routes, safe houses and "conductors." Not only does it trace the story of the Underground Railroad itself and how people courageously made the trip north to Canada and freedom, but it explores what happened to them after they arrived. And it does so using never-before-published information on the African-Canadian community of Toronto. Natural Heritage Book 1-896219-86-1, Size: 8 x 8 paperback, 92 pages. $14.95
	The Queen's Bush Settlement Black Pioneers 1839-1865 by Linda Brown-Kubisch The Black pioneers who cleared the land and established the Queen's Bush settlement in that section of unsurveyed land where present-day Waterloo and Wellington Counties meet, near Hawkesville, are the focus of this extensively researched book. Set in the context of the early migration of Blacks into Upper Canada, this work is a must for historians and genealogists. Natural Heritage Book 1-896219-85-3, Size: 6 x 9 paperback, 340 pages. $26.95
	Broken Shackles Old Man Henson. From Slavery to Freedom Edited by Peter Meyler In 1889, Broken Shackles was first published under the pseudonym of Glenelg. This reprinted version contains the recollections of a resident of Owen Sound, an African American known as Old Man Henson, and documents the journey to Canada from the perspective of a person of African descent. Henson was a great storyteller and the spark of life shines through as he describes the horrors of slavery and his goal of escaping its tenacious hold. Natural Heritage Book 1-896219-57-8, Size: 6 x 9 paperback, 219 pages. $22.95
	Fast Sailing and Copper-bottomed Aberdeen Sailing Ships and the Emigrant Scots They Carried to Canada, 1774-1855 by Lucille H Campey By considering the significance of ship design and size, the author opens a new window on our understanding of emigrant travel. Instead of concentrating on the extreme cases of suffering and mishaps, to found in anecdotal material, Campey's approach is to identify all of the emigrant sea crossings to Canada made on Aberdeen sailing ships. Natural Heritage Book 1-896219-31-4, Size: 6 x 9 paperback, 209 pages. $23.95
	The Frances Smith Palace Steamer of the Upper Great Lakes 1867-1896 by Scott L. Cameron A narrative of the steamboat days on Georgian Bay in the nineteenth century, one which encompasses storm and shipwreck, violence and death, family antagonisms and business calamities and national events--including the Riel uprising of 1870. Natural Heritage Book 1-897045-04-2, Size: 6 x 9 paperback, 265 pages. $28.95
	Vanished Villages of Middlesex by Jennifer Grainger Once home to over 60 flourishing villages, Middlesex County, in the heart of south-western Ontario, has a rich history just waiting to be discovered. The author has produced a valuable document chronicling the "rise and fall" of these pioneering settlement--great for nostalgia buffs, armchair adventurers, genealogists and curious daytrippers alike. 1-896219-51-9, Size: 6 x 9 paperback, 382 pages, NHB .$26.95
	Vanished Villages of Elgin by Jennifer Grainger Elgin County located on the picturesque north shore of Lake Erie, at one time was home to more than forty once-flourishing villages. These former village settings were the scene of much excitement—shipwrecks, War of 1812 skirmishes, rowdy taverns, eerie hauntings, deafening steam engines thundering on new rail lines, robberies, and even a murder or two. While the area was dominated by the aristocratic colonizer, Colonel Thomas Talbot, these local villages were also settled by United Empire Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution, entrepreneurial town builders and American industrialists, and Scottish, Irish and German immigrants building a new life in the wilderness—all contributors to the development of southwestern Ontario. ISBN 978-1-55002-812-6, 213 pages, paperback, NHB $24.99