Flash Fire Destroys Cedar Villa Lodge

“Fire Claps” Alert Owner, Relatives

Originally Published in the Lindsay Daily Post, August 21, 1978

“The main lodge of Cedar Villa Lodge, located on the shore of Balsam Lake about three miles north of Rosedale, was completely destroyed by a flash fire of unknown origin which broke out on the second floor of the building around 5:00 am on Sunday [August 20, 1978].

Owner John Merriman, who purchased the lodge in 1977, was awakened around 5:00 a.m. by what he described as “fire claps” or explosions. The same noises also awoke his sister and brother-in-law who were sleeping in a suite located at the southwest corner of the main lodge and managed to get out unharmed. Fortunately, they were the only people in the lodge at the time of the fire.

“Had the fire happened last weekend there could have been a loss of life as we had a number of senior citizens sleeping in rooms of the main lodge,” commented Mr. Merriman.

Fenelon Opts Out

The owner tried to get the Fenelon Falls Fire Department to come but as Mr. Suggitt explained, Somerville Township is not a part of the Mutual Aid System.” Mr. Merriman then phoned the Somerville Fire Department which arrived on the scene in about 10 minutes, but according to Mr. Merriman, valuable time had been lost. “It is just possible that the kitchen area could have been saved had the Fenelon Falls Fire Department been able to respond,” said Mr. Merriman.

Bexley Township Fire Department was also called but by then there was little firemen could do but attempt to save other buildings such as the laundry building which is located about 200 feet from the main lodge. According to the owner, the fire was noticed at 5:00 and by 5:30 the whole of the main lodge was engulfed in flames.

The fire alarm went off after he had described as those puzzling fire claps. “I know of no reason why there should have been explosions,” explained Mr. Merriman who, before the 120 by 80 foot building was completely involved, had been able to get into the first floor of the lodge and salvage some furniture including an expensive stereo set.

Both Mr. Suggitt and Mr. Merriman described the heat as being terrific. When asked what he would consider a dollar value to put on the loss, Mr. Merriman said, “I don’t know but it would cost me $250,00 to replace the building without the contents. He then commented that if it all works out as he expects, the lodge will be replaced by a dance hall. [There had been a popular dance hall on the second floor of Cedar Villa’s Boat House, but the lodge was not rebuilt after the fire.]

Cedar Villa Lodge was opened for business in 1927 with a main building that was 50 by 40 feet. Through the intervening time additions have been made to the building until it had reached the present 120 by 80-foot dimensions.