cottage stories
janet hale’s story
We arrived on Paudash Lake at the urgings of my brother, Mike and my sister in law, Donna in 2015. Our family is from Montreal, Quebec and we had always been on a lake in both the winter and summertime. Our family had sold the family cottage on Lake Mephramagog, as many of the siblings had moved to Ontario and everyone was getting tired of the 7 hour drive back to Quebec.
Mike and Donna scouted the lakes of Northern Ontario and settled on Paudash Lake. It met their criteria of being a clean lake, a big enough lake for boating and discovering the nooks and crannies of the lake, a marina and a restaurant you can boat to, on the lake. They, I’m sure will tell you their story! Sadly the restaurant is no longer on the lake.
eugene ruthven’s story
I am the grandson of Louis and Jean Ruthven. They had bought the land we call "Ruthven Island" - where Ruthven Road runs - in 1940s. They ran a cottage resort from the 1950s to about 1965. They ran a store and had diner space some of the time. Read the rest of our story along with some photos from the past.
Mike thomas’ story
When did you (your family) come to Paudash Lake? 1962
Why did you come to Paudash Lake? A neighbour had a cottage on the lake in joe Bay and invited our family for a week-end
What are your special memories on the lake? Jumping off Blueberry Mtn.; Corn roast at Anchorage; Candy store at Anchorage; lots of fishing; getting lost in the fog on the lake one night; regatta with water skiing, boat races and diving board competitions.
kelly stewart’s story
My full name is Kelly G. Stewart. I was born in 1955. I came to the lake in 1956, when Hwy 121 (now 118) was extended along the north side of the lake. My parents bought a North Bay lot for next to nothing on condition that they build a cottage within a year.
One of my first memories was walking the shoreline from Paudash Beach to the lot they had purchased and staying in a tent. Soon after I have a memory of my Mom lifting me up to my Dad who was in the top bunk in the cabin he had built using old wood skids he had saved from work. The actual cottage came a few years later, after our cottage road was put in and a Viceroy prefab could be built. That cottage and cabin still stand today.
Harvey bischof’s story
From the time I was quite young, first my aunt and then my parents owned cottages; I grew up loving cottage life.
Twenty years ago, after about five years of looking longingly at cottage real estate magazines, we realized we could probably afford a little place in some relatively affordable area. We bought the very first cottage we looked at, here on Paudash Lake, and have not regretted it for a second.
The fact we’re located on a shallow, muddy bay never stopped the kids from spending whole summer days in the water, coming out only when we forced them to because their lips were turning blue.
your story here
Send us your Paudash Lake story and we’ll add it to our collection for everyone to enjoy.