Returning to the site she frequented regularly as a child, Carol Marcus said the newly-unveiled Herlihey Park in Wilberforce is a touching tribute to her parents, Beatrice and Harold Herlihey, who played a key role in the hamlet’s growth in the early-to-mid-1900s.
For years, Harold was the general manager at Wilberforce Veneer and Lumber, which once sat on the same approximate footprint as the new seven-acre community park; Beatrice, meanwhile, was a schoolteacher and principal who also launched figure skating and swimming clubs that still exist today.
In 2017, Marcus and her late husband, Karl, donated the land overlooking Dark Lake, valued at $400,000, to the township to develop a park. Seven years on, Marcus was back in the community that helped shape her, and her sister Gloria, during their formative years.
“It’s so lovely for me to be here today, to see old school friends… and the transformation of this space,” Marcus said during the park’s unveiling Sept. 26. “I have a lot of memories from this place, my sister and I had a perfect childhood… we’re delighted to give something back to this community, something that can be enjoyed by all.”
Highlands East mayor Dave Burton said the Herlihey Park project has been a major focus for council, with the township putting money away since 2018 to support development. The federal government contributed $80,000 and the province gave $20,000 through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
He felt it was important the township spruce up the area, saying the land has a rich industrial legacy that shaped the Wilberforce community as we know it.
“From the early days of producing fruit baskets and hockey sticks to its role as a vital economic engine supplying hardwood and softwood veneer, the mill was a cornerstone of Wilberforce’s identity,” Burton said. “Despite facing many challenges, it remained a symbol of resilience and hard work deeply woven into the fabric of our history.”
There’s evidence of a sawmill operating around Dark Lake dating back to 1909, owned by James Sauder and Joseph Spears. The Herliheys got involved a short time later – Carol said her grandfather, Frank Herlihey, also owned and operated a mill on McCue Lake in Tory Hill.
After the Second World War, Jack Wallace became a partner and, together, the owners built the veneer plant, which for years served as the town’s largest employer, boasting 70 full-time workers.
In 1968, the mill was bought by Ted Samuel and Joe Klasner, who owned other wood-based operations in Orono. The site was operational until the mid-2000s and was torn down in 2012.
Marcus shared one story that always stuck from her father’s time running the plant.
“There was a break-in one night – Suzanne Klapow, the secretary, was there alone when two men came into the office asking for a job. She was in the middle of putting the workers’ pay in envelopes, but gave the men applications to fill out, which they did,” Marcus said.
“But then they saw all this money, held Suzanne up, locked her in the walk-in vault and when my dad returned from a Rotary meeting in Haliburton, he had to help her out.
“They called the police, who quickly apprehended the two men because they put all their correct details on their job application,” Marcus said, drawing laughs.
Burton said last week’s unveiling was the culmination of the park’s first phase, with more on the way. The Haliburton County Master Gardners are partnering on a multiyear natural regeneration of the site, while Burton said there are plans to install a pavilion and additional walking trails.
“Herlihey Park is much more than just a beautiful space – it’s a living tribute to our shared history, the community’s resilience and the generosity of the Marcus family,” Burton said. “Their gift has transformed this from a site of industry into a place of connection, reflection and recreation.”
