GHL was and still is a gathering place for family and friends. It is our “heaven on earth”. My parents cleared the land and built our cottage with the help of neighbours. That is what the community was about, helping out your neighbours and I am proud to say it is still happening. Back in the late 50’s my dad allowed the trappers to use the path beside our cottage to get to Mannings Bay. It was greatly appreciated as it saved them precious time. In order to get hydro to cottages my dad gave permission for Hydro to put two main Hydro poles on our land. Records show this and state the land is owned by us and not a Hydro right away. My dad was a very generous man and spent many hours volunteering for the good of the lake. His memory lives on with the renaming of the golf tournament and the trophy donated by my mom. From my memories I remember the cottage filled to the brim, the first time being able to drive our 3hp fiberglass boat out of our bay by myself, participating in the kite flying show, water skiing, watching family members and friends jump up and over a homemade ski ramp made by Eldon Creswell and Gary Jones (no I never jumped but many kids did back then), flying as a passenger in Ernie Spratt’s float plane to Henry’s in Georgian Bay to pick up fish and chips for many cottagers who were waiting in anticipation, climbing the Ranger’s Tower and wondering at the time why are we doing this – it is so high, being the first girl to jump off the cliffs – yes it is true, participating in the cross the lake swim before there were any age or gender categories (to train I had to swim from our cottage to Joe Bolyea’s to get my penny candy as a reward). Mrs Bolyea made the best sticky buns!!! What a wonderful store they had. I could go on and on as I have spent my whole life at the cottage and I am extremely fortunate that my husband and children are part of the GHL memories; memories to cherish and for upcoming generations to continue the wonderful tradition and make their own!
