We are not going to mince words – we are HUGE fans of writer Andrew Hind! Andrew specializes in history and travel and has focused much of his work on the rich history of the Muskoka region. His brand of storytelling is chock full of fascinating facts and true local stories, and his books are so well written that history lovers can practically place themselves in times past. If you haven’t read “Muskoka’s Most Haunted” – you’re missing out!
Ghost Towns of Ontario’s Cottage Country – $25.99
Available at Chapters/Indigo/Coles or Amazon
Andrew’s latest book “Ghosts Towns of Ontario’s Cottage Country” released by Dundurn Publishing, explores the history of thirteen ghost towns from across Muskoka, Parry Sound, Nipissing District, north-east Ontario, and even Algonquin Park. Parry Sound District is particularly well represented, with six communities: Maple Lake/Swords, Royston, Spence, Whitehall, Seguin Falls, and Byng Inlet. More than 80 photos help bring these communities back to life. Andrew says his goal is to “uncover the stories of these communities and the people who hitched their futures to them to preserve their memories for posterity.”
We did a short Q & A with Andrew about his love of the genre.
Q: Why is history such a passion for you?
Andrew: I’ve loved history for as long as I can remember. I was fortunate to have great teachers in high school who not only allowed but encouraged me to explore my interests well beyond the bounds of the normal class syllabus. History is more dramatic and interesting than anything the fiction writer’s mind can dream up. History is a teaching lesson, informing us about who we are how we got here.
Q: I’ve noticed that history groups on social media are HUGE – would you agree that there is a huge appetite for local history?
Andrew: There does seem to be an interest in history when it is told accurately and in an entertaining fashion. That’s very encouraging and I have personally been the beneficiary of numerous very supportive people who read my books and entrust me with their family memories and photos.
Q: Summer is coming – what are your favourite historical places to visit?
A: If we are talking about historical places in Parry Sound District, there are many – indeed, I am planning a companion to my book Explore Hidden Muskoka focusing on locations in Parry Sound. I love the Magnetawan Historical Museum and its adjacent locks. The exhibits are great, and its just so peaceful. I’m also very partial to the little Humphrey Museum and the great Nipissing Museum.
Can’t say that we blame him!
Here’s an excerpt from “Ghost Towns of Ontario’s Cottage Country”. The book is available at Chapters/Indigo/Coles or Amazon.
“Ghost Towns of Ontario’s Cottage Country by Andrew Hind. Published by Dundurn Press. Copyright 2023 by Andrew Hind. Reprinted with permission.”
The tragic story of Betsy Cairns reflects just how thin the line between life and death was in a backwoods community like Spence. In 1873, Betsy and her husband, William, occupied a modest log cabin. William went off hunting one day to supplement the meager food he had harvested from among the tree stumps of his farm field, kissing his pregnant wife and infant daughter goodbye as he walked out the door. He never returned, dying in a tragic shooting accident. Alone and with a family to feed, Betsy did not have the luxury of mourning William for long. Instead, she married George Ross and moved to his house, saying goodbye to the cabin into which she and William had invested so much of their dreams for the future. Betsy decided to leave part of her old farm as a village cemetery, with William as the first person to be interned there, buried in the corner of what was once the patch of forest he had cleared to raise crops. Many of the headstones to follow would bear similarly tragic stories.
