Great Loop: Midland Ontario - A glimpse of the 17th Century
French Settlement from the 1640's
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
Beth stands outside the entrance to the settlement.
Inside, docents explain the everyday activities in which the settlers engaged.
Many settlers were occupied with the tasks of raising, preserving and preparing food.
Meals were prepared and served in this building
Corn bread was cooked and shared with visitors to the settlement
Buildings were tall to allow space for hanging and drying corn.
Mike and Beth outside the animal barns
The church in which the Jesuits brought Christianity to the Indians
The view from the rectory in which the Jesuits lived
A Canal in which cargo canoes could be brought into the settlement.
In this way they could be unloaded safely, inside the fort.
Stone blockhouses were built for defense
Timber was processed into dimensioned lumber for construction
Mike inside the church
The drying sheds were also used as meeting spaces or places where materials could be converted into useful items. Baskets for instance.
Corn, bull rushes, and other food stocks were stored and dried for use during the long winters. Three times their annual consumption were kept in case one of the building was destroyed by fire.
Beth is examining the settlement hospital.
Many crafts were practiced by the settlers. In this case, a docent is using techniques learned from the Indians to build a canoe. This is a birch bark canoe. The bark was locally harvested as were the other construction materials. The craftsman expected to have this canoe completed and launched in about 4 weeks.
Each of the buildings were built with a specific purpose in mind. In this case, the archeological information indicated that a blacksmith shop was in this location. A re-enactor used 17th century techniques to fashion items from iron. All iron stock was imported by ship to Quebec and then transported by canoe to the settlement. Cargo canoes could carry cargos of up to 1 ton in weight.
I would highly recommend a visit to Sainte-Marie among the Hurons. It was as striking as visiting Colonial Williamsburg in the United States. The exhibits and museum were top notch and provides information on how the first European Settlers, in this case French Jesuits, interacted with the local indigenous population.
21st Century Midland Ontario
Downtown Midland Ontario
This is a great stop for boaters. You can reprovision, enjoy the restaurants, purchase your morning coffee & pastry, visit the dentist, or get a haircut. The building with the clock tower is the library, which is blessed with free high speed internet!
Murals adorn otherwise empty walls around town.
Mini Cruise ships stop at Midland's deep water port.
Can you spot Amy Marie in the photo?
The local mill still manufactures Flour
A sign of the times. The local library has created a "Maker Space" to interest patrons in science, technology, engineering and math.
A bike path follows the shoreline on a former railroad grade. Residents of nearby houses have created gardens and decks in the space between the path and the water. Many are works of art!
Berthing Information
- We berthed Amy Marie at the Midland Municipal Marina.
- It was located in the center of town.
- Showers and restrooms were onsite.
- There was a very good restaurant across the parking lot as well as an ice cream stand.
- Bike paths originated at the marina and went for miles.
- Pump outs and Fuel were nearby.
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