The community of Eagle Lake and residents of Haliburton County gathered for the unveiling of a new historical display at Eagle Lake beach July 27.
The Eagle Lake Women’s Society (EOWS), a group that’s been around since 1937, created the panels. They contain information about how Eagle Lake became the rhubarb capital of Ontario, the founding of the society and its charitable efforts, and the history of the hamlet and the International Cooperage Company, which played a leading role in the “new” settlement of Eagle Lake.
Society president Nancy McLuskey said, “what we have here is people putting aside their differences and coming together. We’d like to see the village continue that way.
“There are two panels that touch on the society itself, which has been fundraising in this village since 1937. Our major fundraiser is quilts. We also make pies, and do other things, to raise funds,” McLuskey said.
The panels tell the story of the rhubarb festival, and how Eagle Lake became the rhubarb capital of Ontario. Early British settlers introduced rhubarb to the hamlet as it could survive the harsh winters and thrive in the acidic soil of Eagle Lake.
The ELWS was always looking for engaging ways to raise community funds, and so one of the members, Ruth Still, proposed the idea of making Eagle Lake the Rhubarb Capital of Ontario. A Rhubarb committee was formed, and the founding members, Doris Pierson, Joyce Tait, Lillian Henry, Ellenor Bagg, Still, Yvonne Gazelle and Carol Ann Stamp, held their first meeting on May 21, 1992.
In 1993, the council of Dysart et al officially declared Eagle Lake “Rhubarb Capital of Ontario”.
Pierson said, “All of the good deeds the Eagle Lake Women’s Society have done in the community, it means a lot to me that it’s recognized. They work hard.”
Pierson added, “it’s all their history, all our accomplishments. They can pat themselves on the back for all their hard work.”
Fran Vickerman, a member of the ELWS, said, “seeing all the members that are here, I think they’re quite proud of the panels that have been set up for today.”
Marion Grant, another member of the ELWS, added, “seeing all the people that were here, I’m hoping everyone will appreciate the work that’s gone into it, and that they’ll stand for many years.”
The beach was chosen for the panels because of the efforts the ELWS put into building the beach for the rhubarb festival.
The ELWS is grateful for the funding support from Dysart et al, the Haliburton County Development Corporation, and Eagle Lake Community Church. It supports many local charities and national organizations, such as the Eagle Lake Church and Community Centre, school scholarships, Youth Unlimited, Rails End Gallery and Arts Centre, and CADS (Canadian Association of Disabled Skiers) among many others.
The motto of the society is, “one can do a lot of good in this world, if one does not care who gets the credit for it.”
