The Greater City of Sudbury

Minnow Lake is a part of Greater Sudbury
|Minnow Lake Days|History|Restoration Group|Business|Minnow Lake|


Minnow Lake

History of Minnow Lake

Minnow Lake Days Festival

Local Business

Minnow Lake Restoration Group

Things to do at Minnow Lake

An old Minnow Lake Sawmill

A sawmill on the shores of Minnow Lake (then known as Black Lake) was constructed as soon as the railway reached Sudbury in 1883. For over 30 years the mill processed lumber from the rich forest that covered the landscape, much of it sturdy white pine. A few stumps of these large trees can still be found in the area behind the Carmichael arena on the Blueberry Hill trial. The sawdust, slabs and other residue from formed a peninsula out into Minnow Lake from the site of the mill at the bottom of Downing Street that can still be plainly seen today. Later primitive ore smelting methods would destroy much of the remaining vegetation and deposit heavy minerals into the soil and water. The area was a pretty bleak place in the very early days.

French Noble and Sudbury Pioneer
Regardless of the environmental damage, there were those who held great faith in the future of the Sudbury area. One of these individuals was an actual member of the French nobility. His full name was Count Nicholas Julian Frederic du Caillaud. In the early part of the last century he owned virtually all of the land east of the train station and Tom Davies Square including the Flour Mill and Bell Park areas. His property extended along the entire length of the north shore of Lake Ramsey, including all of what is now considered the Minnow Lake area.

A world traveler and author of many books, the Count cut a dashing figure with his long beard, swallow tail coat studded with beads, tall hat and high boots. He always carried a cane or long stick. He made an annual trip across the Atlantic to visit Sudbury each summer, and was his intention to settle here in retirement. He said, "Sudbury is a small town with a great future". Unfortunately, on his death in 1919 his family, back in France, let the property go, and the Barry Family became the second owners of much of the Count’s property in the Minnow Lake Area. The two islands in Minnow Lake are named after the Count, the larger island is Du Caillaud, and the smaller Romanet.

Barry Store

William and Maurerite Barry were the best know Minnow Lake residents for many years, and for good reason. William was an active politician serving as reeve of McKim township, and he also ran for Federal election. He subdivided much of the land in the area and also in what was to become New Sudbury. Mrs. Barry named virtually all of the streets, many after her children (7 of their own and over 30 foster kids).

Before she died Mrs. Barry was interviewed by the area councillor Ted Nicholson with John Lindsay and Ian MciIraith (summer student).  The interviews can be accessed here in two 30 minutes in length sections:

https://youtu.be/PYCCW75jjKo

https://youtu.be/6inWkt8g5Vc

 

The Barry's donated land for church buildings of all faiths and for other public uses. They opened the first post office and operated the largest general store in the area, shown in this photo with their residence to the left of the store in the background. The building still stands today, however moved somewhat from its former location. The Barry residence, which became vacant when Mrs. Barry died at age 89 in 1999, has been preserved as an historical site, and is now occupied by the offices of Financial Decisions.  It is planned that a portion of the property will eventually become a park to add to the public space along the waterfront and to recognize the contribution of the Barry family to this area.

The original Barry House

Webmaster

Best viewed in 600x800 resolution