Memories of Holliday’s Hideaway (Burnt River) and the Hearthstone (Fenelon Falls) with Marg Allen

By Belinda Wilson

Originally Published in the North Kawartha Times, circa 1985

Working in a tourist lodge is something that Marg Allen grew up with, long before there was such thing as a ‘tourist industry.’

Her father, F.J. Holliday, built Holliday’s Hideaway on Four Mile Lake in 1939 and until 1945 the Hollidays catered to visitors, staying either in the large lodge or one of the three cottages or the cabin. The slogan “Follow the Blue Jay to Holliday’s Hideaway” brought many people to the isolated lodge on Four Mile Lake. Because the war was on, and gas was rationed, many visitors from Toronto made the journey by bus.

The young Miss Holliday kept busy by waiting on tables, running errands and selling bait. She remembers the Sunday dinners—a special event that was advertised so that anyone could enjoy it. It included roast chicken, with dressing, potatoes, vegetables, and all the fixings and for dessert, there was homemade ice cream! All for 75 cents!!

In 1945, the Hollidays sold, and in 1946, they bought the Hearthstone, a boarding house on Highway 35A, where Marle Greene is now situated. Originally it was designed to accommodate workers from the sawmill/lumber company which was located on the present site of King’s Marina.

The Hollidays used the Hearthstone as a tourist lodge, and also rented out the 3 cottages and 4 cabins on the premises. Later, they also took in boarders from Allen Wood Products, and for $10/week, the boarders received 3 meals a day, 7 days a week, and also had their laundry done.

The Hearthstone was the meeting place of the Rotary Club, and Mrs. Allen recalls that the dining room table, which along with a few smaller tables, could seat 50 people, was often used as a ping-pong table.

At that time, the welfare of Fenelon Falls wasn’t dependent on the tourist industry, and each establishment worked independently, as there was no tourist association. There were few tourist lodgings around the area, and not many of those served meals.

Mrs. Allen recalled that one summer her meat supplier, Canada Packers, had an extremely good deal on buffalo meat. She bought quite a bit of it, prepared it and served it to the boarders, whom she says were none the wiser. Steaks were a treat, and the buffalo steaks were enjoyed by all of them.

One of the big changes in Fenelon Falls that Mrs. Allen remembers is the opening of the Fenelon Theatre in 1948. Prior to that, the property had been occupied by Deyman’s Furniture and Undertaking. Before the theatre opened, Lindsay was the closest place to go to see a show, and in those days, a trip to Lindsay was a special event, not like today.

The Hearthstone was sold in 1958, and Mrs. Allen left the tourist lodge business for other things. But her memory of the era remains clear, and her experiences and recollections enable us to further understand the early tourist industry, and to recapture the past.