The Sparrow Lake Historical Society is dedicated to preserving and promoting local history in the area of Sparrow Lake in the heart of cottage country, Ontario. Drop-down links from the top headers on this page will take you to all the history of the lake and the Severn River waterway.

About two dozen members attended our annual Potluck Dinner on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019 to hear presentations by Eric Lansdell and Bob Graham about early Sparrow Lake resident, Cecil Wesley, and his First Nation’s heritage. The annual General Spring Meeting of the Sparrow Lake Historical Society at Severn Bridge Community Hall, 1035 Southwood Road has been cancelled because of a viral pandemic.

Summer 2023 Newsletter
Summer 2022 Newsletter
Winter 2020 Newsletter
Spring 2020 Newsletter
Summer 2019 Newsletter
Spring 2019 Newsletter (part one)
Spring 2019 Newsletter (part two)
Winter 2018 Newsletter
Summer 2018 Newsletter
Spring 2018 Newsletter
Summer 2017 Newsletter
Spring 2017 Newsletter
Summer 2016 Newsletter
Winter 2016 Newsletter
Summer 2015 Newsletter
Winter 2015 Newsletter

Photo at Left: Mnjikaning Elder Mark Douglas at SLHS meeting Sept. 27, 2014 speaks about the heritage of his First Nation at the narrows between Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching, national historic site of the 5000-year-old Fish Weirs, one of the oldest human developments in North America.
Photo at Right: Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton gives a presentation about the Trent-Severn Waterway at a SLHS meeting Sept. 29, 2012.

Sparrow Lake Historical Society was established in 1984 by David Stanton and incorporated in 1992 as an affiliate member of the Ontario Historical Society. The purpose of the Society is to record and tell the local history of the lake and it’s environs, from Severn Bridge to the east, the Big Chute to the west, and all the Severn River in between, concentrating on the early saga of the many summer resorts and lodges on Sparrow Lake and the pioneer families that established them. In 1995, David Stanton envisioned this website as “a museum” using the “explosive technology of the internet” to record valuable historical information. (The original html website has been converted to basic standards by his son, Steven.) Please take a moment to look around, and enjoy your stay!

PayPal donations of $15 or more will be acknowledged with annual membership to Sparrow Lake Historical Society and regular newsletters and updates by email.
Please forward website corrections and additions to webmaster Steve Stanton via email to stanton34(at)rogers.com.
Official Historical Society business can be addressed to President Sara Clipsham – saraclipsham(at)gmail.com.