Grimsby Park: The People and the Changing CommunityBy 1874 the campground committee decided that Grimsby would be the permanent site of this annual event but better accommodation was needed. In September of 1874 steps were taken to organize a company to be named the Ontario Methodist Camp Ground Company and the park to be known as the Ontario Methodist Camp Ground. The executive of the new company included Noah Phelps - president, John Bowslaugh - treasurer and B. C. Fairfield - secretary. The Company purchased twelve and one half acres of property from John Beamer Bowslaugh and the land was divided into lots. Rather than sell the lots, they were leased for 999 years and the leases were renewable.Leasing was used to enforce the strict rules and restrictions on the camping community, which would not have been possible if the lots had been sold. The one-week camp was extended and the season ran from June until the end of September.A strict code of conduct was drawn up:* No liquor, in keeping with the temperance origins.* No "unseemly" language would be tolerated.* A 10:30 p.m. nightly curfew except Saturday. Everyone was expected to extinguish lights and maintain quiet after curfew.* Every resident was expected to attend religious services on Sunday.* No sports, boat or train service on Sundays.* No laundry was to be hung out on Sundays.In 1875 the Ontario Methodist Camp Ground Company received its charter. A significant change in 1875 was cottages in place of tents. They were built by Edward W. Bowslaugh, brother of John Bowslaugh. Edward owned the Grimsby Planing Mill located on the lakeshore near Grimsby Park. The cottages were built in the board and batten tradition with the boards running vertically. The doors, windows, eaves and balconies were trimmed with 'gingerbread' or fretwork, made using a fret saw. The decorative cottages were built on the original tent lots and as a result they were long and narrow (approximately 20 feet deep). People were proud of their cottages keeping them neatly painted and planted flowers in their gardens. Cottages did not have street numbers, but were known by names chosen by the family. A few examples of names used were Fernside, McKinley Lodge, Two Orphans and The Maples. The cottages were close enough so neighbours could shake hands while standing on their porches. This proved to be disastrous when fires occurred.The original campground meeting place was updated with new conveniences. The train stopped at the covered platform, now called "the station", a place where cottagers could sit and chat while waiting to see who would arrive. Visitors entered through the wooden gates of Grimsby Park and walked down the area close to Grand Avenue into the campground, which was now enclosed by a large six-foot high fence. Behind the row of poplar trees on the right were the bowling green, tennis courts and a sports field and on the left, behind another row of trees, the picnic grounds. The picnic grounds included tables, seats, cooking stoves and boat swings. Many conveniences were available to assist the summer residents including a grocery store and an outlet for purchasing straw for mattresses. Daily delivery of milk, ice, coal and wood were offered. A spring provided sufficient water for the residents and guests of Grimsby Park. The Montreal Telegraph Company had an office at Grimsby Park. Other conveniences included a telephone office, post office, checkroom, baggage room, bicycle livery and a photograph studio.Two hotels were built at Grimsby Park. The Park House, originally a restaurant and converted to a hotel, was a popular location for photographs as it had a very wide verandah. In 1883, Lakeview House Hotel was opened. It was more ornate than Park House and had fretwork trim similar to the cottages.While strolling through Grimsby Park you could see cottages among the trees or along shady lanes and avenues. The road in the Auditorium passed through an opening between two cottages. Like the tents that preceded them, the cottages circled the enclosure where the meetings had always been held and where the Temple would be constructed.A long wharf was built into Lake Ontario, forming a fine promenade and fishing platform, as well as a dock for the steamer that stopped daily at Grimsby Park. People came from Toronto by the steamer in large numbers. Over the years, a number of steamers docked at Grimsby Park including the Eurydice, the Greyhound, the S.S. Rupert, S.S. Hastings, S.S. Lakeside, Turbinia, Modjeska and Macassa.In 1877 water tanks were built at the northeast corner of the pavilion and water was brought directly to the cottages. A windmill located at the end of the pier originally provided the power for the water-works, which filled up two large tanks. In 1878 an engine replaced the windmill.In 1878 for the first time an admission fee was charged. The entrance fee was 5 cents; the season ticket was 25 cents. People were upset by this charge and it was abolished at a later meeting, although reintroduced at a later date. The Boys' Tabernacle was built around 1878. It was a place used for the early morning prayer meetings and classes of different kinds. Its principal use was to hold religious meetings for boys.In 1880 the admission was 10 cents, children were free and a season ticket was 50 cents. At a meeting on August 29, 1879, the decision was made to hold a Dominion Day demonstration including a concert and fireworks the following summer. Boathouses and bathing houses were built along the beach, rowing was very popular and for 25 cents you could rent a bicycle for two hours.Great care was taken to preserve the grounds in their natural condition.As promotional material stated "Grimsby Park is an up-to-date summer resort known as the "Chautauqua of Canada", with every facility for healthy enjoyment and sport." Harriet Phelps Youmans described Grimsby Park as: "It is the most beautiful place in the Dominion to spend the summer. Throughout the day it is pleasantly cool and refreshing, and at evening time it is a beautiful sight to see the avenues, auditorium, tabernacle and lake front brilliantly lighted by electricity."The Programme for 1886 provides the following information.Season tickets for 1886:- For Heads of families, occupying cottages, $1.00.- Members of families living in cottages, over 10 years of age, including servants or domestics, 50 cents.- Single admission each day, from August 14th to September 1st, 15 cents. All other days in July and August, 10 cents."There are ten acres of recreation grounds with Lacrosse, Lawn Tennis, Base Ball and Cricket. There is Boating, Bathing, and Fishing. Bath Houses and bathing suits are provided by the Company and may be picked up from the caretaker or his assistant where you can also hire a rowboat."Religious and intellectual needs were covered in the preparation of the summer programme, which included sermons, lectures, concerts, entertainments and classes in elocution and literature.Some of the most famous and brilliant platform speakers addressed the congregations at Grimsby Park. There was always an excellent mix of music provided by the best bands, as well as concerts by well-known singers in the country. John H. Ford, a photographer from Toronto, built his own cottage and used it as his summer gallery. In addition to photographs requested by individuals, he photographed every major gathering in the Park and sold copies of the photographs.Phelps, Bowslaugh and Fairfield were very loyal, busy men and were continually improving and adding to the summer resort.Grimsby Park was a paradise for children and young people. As Harriet Phelps Youmans described, "the Grimsby Park youngster is certainly the most contented, safe, happy-go-lucky baby in existence. He can dig all day in the clean sand on the beach, bareheaded and barefooted if he likes. He can toddle all around the campground and never come to grief. When he grows older he learns to swim and dive, and manage a boat like an old tar. He fishes off the wharf, and goes to the mountain for ferns, and sometimes, we are very sorry to say, he forages for fruit and other delicacies on forbidden grounds, as the farmers can testify."The Programme for 1888 stated:"Where are you going this Summer? Why to Grimsby Park of course. It has no rival in the Dominion. It is the most beautiful and healthful spot in Canada. Pleasantly cool by day, and brilliantly lighted by electricity by night. Grimsby Park is located in the finest fruit growing country in Ontario. The Directors have the strongest and most attractive Programme for 1888 ever arranged for in Canada. Our aim, the physical, moral, intellectual and religious welfare of all. This is being done in such a way, as to command the confidence of the public. The Chautauqua of Canada is marking out a line for itself, in recreation, in study and in the securing and developing of religious life and thought, that becomes at once an inspiration and not a dissipation. The Art Schools, Business College and Kindergarten School, and National School of Elocution and Oratory, demand special attention.Season Ticket for 1888:- $1.50, to parties living on the grounds, $1.00On and after June 1st, and until August 10th,- Single Ticket, for one admission only on day of date, 10 cents.- Single special pass ticket, good only on day of date, 15 cents.On and after August 10th, and until close of season,- Single ticket, (one admission only) on day of date, 15 cents.- Single special pass ticket good only on day of date, 25 cents.James Livingston, an entrepreneur and owner of the Grimsby Independent, operated a summer bus service from Grimsby to Grimsby Park. It ran hourly on the half hour from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m..In 1888, the Grimsby Park Temple was built after a committee studied the Mormon Temple in Utah. The 1888 programme described the Temple as: "The park Temple erected this season is a marvel of construction, grand and imposing. It will cover from 7000 to 8000 people; is from the ground to the top of dome 100 feet; the dome alone is 112 feet in diameter, without brace or truss of any kind; the piazza surrounding the dome is 372 feet long, 15 feet wide, supported by strong brackets; one hundred and eighty thousand feet of lumber, 3 and a half tons of nails were used in its construction. The City of Toronto can be seen from the top of the dome quite distinctly - 36 miles distant."In October 1894, the Hamilton, Grimsby and Beamsville Electric Railway (1894 - 1931) added a spur line that stopped at the Park. This provided additional transportation service during the day and into the evening.While the original focus of Grimsby Park was religion and continued to be through the final years of the 19th century, it gradually changed to include physical fitness, educational opportunities, cultural activities and entertainment. The strict morals of the Methodist Church were still enforced and alcoholic beverages were not permitted. The 1896 programme stated, "The moral and religious tone of the Park is that which the directors seek ever to make prominent. Anything unseemly in language or act is discountenanced and forbidden. Spirituous liquours of every kind are strictly prohibited. Amusements and exhibitions of a doubtful character are not tolerated. Regular hours of retirement are, as far as possible, enforced."1896 Park Regulations1. Bathers are required to wear dark bathing suits.2. Ladies bathing suits, or costumes are to include an ankle length skirt and black stockings. A wrap of some kind is to be worn until they reach the water.3. The Park gates close at 10:30 p.m.. After that hour no going out or coming in is allowed. After the electric lights are turned off quiet is expected throughout the entire grounds in cottages, tents and hotels.4. No trains or steamers are allowed to land passengers or leave the Park on the Lord's Day.5. No vehicles running for the purposes of gain, such as bus or stage, will be allowed to enter the Park on Sunday.6. No sale, barter or purchase of any kind, including cigars, is permitted on the Sabbath day.