Our outdoor Implement Shelter houses large pieces of equipment including harrows and disk ploughs. Most of these particular pieces would have been pulled behind arm tractors, but earlier they were pulled by horses. It also houses our Blacksmith Shop which was constructed to display early blacksmith tools.

Originally located on Canal Street East, the Boyd Carriage House is the only building that remains of the Boyd family estate. The estate was founded by Mossom Boyd and was built in stages around the cottages of Thomas Need, founder of Bobcaygeon.

The carriage house was constructed circa 1840 and was used to house the wealthy Boyd’s various horses, carriages and cars.

In 2015 W.G. Jackett and Sons Construction moved the pillars from the Need St. entrance of the Mossom Boyd Property in Bobcaygeon. The pillars were then reassembled at the entrance of Kawartha Settlers' Village by a team of dedicated volunteers led by George Coene.

The shanty was built in 1910 by Silas Crowe on commission by W.T.C. Boyd, son of “Lumber King of the Trent” Mossom Boyd. W.T.C. wanted a log shanty replica as a curiosity building for his guests from Europe. The Shanty was built on the Boyd Edgewood Estate, Canal Street, Bobcaygeon and relocated to Kawartha Settlers’ Village in 2005.

Since 2003, local grade 3 students have been coming to the Children’s Settlers’ Garden. They plant vegetables seeds that would have been common in a settler’s garden of the past. This includes the Three Sisters consisting of maize, climbing beans and squash, grown originally by the First Peoples of North America. No pesticides are used and watering is minimal. The produce is donated to the local Food Bank.

The newest addition to Kawartha Settlers' Village, the Discovery Trail offers an outdoor glimpse into the history and nature of our area. With interpretive signage, and a vast array of flora, fauna and wildlife, a visit to KSV isn't complete without taking a stroll through the Discovery Trail.

Original to the Murphy property (but re-built), it is used as a utility building and display space for special events. Attached is K.S.V’s Snack Shack which we use to serve food out of during events. The Drive Shed would be where farm implements would be stored.

John and Ellen Duggan came to Canada with three daughters in 1835. After renting a homestead farm for a period of time, they purchased this house in 1851 for approximately $400. Their log cabin was donated to Kawartha Settlers’ Village and is maintained by the friends of Duggan house, who continue to work on the restoration.

The most interesting and rare feature is the pantry door which appears to be four boards together. However, when the door is opened, it is revealed to be one piece of wood which is made to look like several boards.

A Methodist church built in 1885. In 1960 it was sold to a local farmer who used it as a barn and chicken coop. In 1996 it was donated to the Village and restored as close as possible, to its original simple beauty. Fairbairn Church can be rented for weddings or services.

The Fire Hall is a replica of the original Bobcaygeon Fire Company Hall, built prior to the 1900’s. It was situated on Bobcaygeon’s middle island, just north of the locks. When the Fire Hall was built, the Fire Company used horse-drawn steam engines and hand pumps. In 1934, the original hall was torn down to make way for a new Post Office. Special thank you to the City of Kawartha Lakes Parks, Recreation & Culture Division for providing funding for the repairs to the Fire Hall.

Donated by Frank and Joyce Poole as a quiet spot of reflection and remembrance.

The General Store was originally Jimmie Hill’s Harness Shop on King Street in Bobcaygeon. The Village transformed the harness shop into a General Store to showcase the items on necessity that would have been available to area settlers. Often, the general store contained the post office, and the barber shop and provided essential goods and a social gathering place for the local settlers.

This Colonial-Georgian Revival home was built for Robert Henderson and his family between 1910 and 1913, by William Grant, a local builder and Trent Waterways Supervisor. Henderson was a prosperous blacksmith who worked out of his adjacent shop on Front Street in Bobcaygeon. The original waterfront location had a beautiful view of the dam and river. Special thank you to the City of Kawartha Lakes Parks, Recreation & Culture Divison for providing funding for the repairs to the Henderson House.

Visit the honey house and witness a real life bee hive in operation. Don't worry, they are safely behind glass, where they can come in and out and operate as a regular hive. It gives viewers an up close and educational glance into the life of bees and their importance to our environment. It has easily become one of the most popular exhibits at the Village.

This jail cell is circa 1874. The jail did not have a roof at that time and was generally only in use on Saturday nights. Shortly after Bobcaygeon was incorporated as a town in 1876, this cell was put in the Town Hall, currently the Lion’s Hall on Main Street.

This house was built in 1864 by Irish immigrants Thomas and Ester Junkin. Since the 1830’s many of their relatives from Northern Ireland had set up various homesteads in the area of Upper Canada. They built a shanty and eventually upgraded to this larger log home where they raised their seven children. The house features a uniquely shaped summer kitchen that also doubled as a barn and shed during the winter. The house was lived in by Junkins until the 1960’s and is now maintained by the Junkin Family Society.

This is a replica of a pioneer log house that serves as a children’s playhouse. The material for this cabin was donated by Robert and Kim Prescott.

The Kimble House, originally built around 1865 by Ross Kimble on County Rd. 49, was later inhabited by Levi Kimble and his family. In 1960, it was moved to Highway 36 and renovated. In 2011, after learning it was set for demolition, Settlers' Village acquired it to expand youth program space. Moved to KSV by Peter Katcher, it was renovated in the winter of 2011-2012 and began hosting school and summer camp activities in 2012. It was named in honor of its original owner, with repairs funded by the City of Kawartha Lakes Parks, Recreation & Culture Division.

The Muir House was originally located in Digby Township. It was built by Robert Muir in 1868, when his son John married Irish immigrant Minnie McDill. In 1976, the house was moved to Lindsay and became the temporary home of the Lindsay Museum. In 2002, it was moved to the Village to be used as a display area and gallery.

The Murphy family settled in Bobcaygeon in the 1860’s after arriving from Ireland. In 1873, John and Mary-Ann Murphy purchased this farm plot and by 1900, it was a prosperous dairy farm operated by their son, Gerald. In the 1930’s, when installing pasteurization equipment was required the farm was forced to close. Today, the barn’s granery and hayloft house many of our special events as well as displaying our large collection of tools, implements and household effects.

The Orange Lodge was an important part of the Protestant social experience. The local Orange Order Branch 1410 was founded in 1874 and this lodge building was built in 1891. In 1995 the building was moved to the Village and remains one of a few active Lodges in the province.

This oven was built by the Friends of the Duggan House to resemble an oven that pioneers would use outdoors in the summer. A fire was lit in the oven, once the coals are hot, they are pushed back. The heated clay bakes pastries, breads and biscuits. The base of this oven was built using local rock and the top was constructed out of locally donated clay.

The pavilion is a post and beam style, rustic building recently constructed as a gathering place at KSV. It offers an open air gathering space for picnics, weddings and events. It also has large doors than can be opened or closed to assist with weather conditions. Since it's erection in 2016, this building has been a great asset to KSV in allowing for an additional covered usage space.

Our School House was originally part of an early 1900’s cottage located on Sturgeon Lake. It was restored as a pioneer school house utilizing desks and materials from older schools no longer in existence, see the board on the wall with pictures of old local schools. The School House is a vital part of our Summer Camp and our Elementary Day programs.

This log shanty is a reproduction of the original type of building constructed by the settlers in the area. Bruce Smith constructed this shanty using axes, logs from locally grown cedar and masonry materials for the “fireplace” and chimney. When settlers first arrived to farm a plot of land, they would first stay in a canvas tent. Eventually, they would build these temporary houses to live in for the first winter or until they could build something larger. Upon moving out of these cabins, they would then be used to house animals or storage.

Completed in 2018, this Harry Van Oudenaren Museum was donated by the Van Oudenaren Family. This building houses a collection of items collected and maintained by Harry himself. Harry has made a large contribution to the Village and Bobcaygeon as a whole by preserving history through photos and artifacts. Seeing his collection compiled in his museum is a true wonder.

European interest in Bobcaygeon began with fur trapping during the 1600’s and continues to be an important part of local recreational life. This cabin was a guide shack for Fiesta Village Fishing Resort in Bobcaygeon.

The waterwheel and replica grist mill project was completed in 2011 representing the importance of water powered equipment in pioneer life.

When Kawartha Settlers' Village was originally created, there was a strong desire for an operational windmill on the property. Lorne McKenzie came forward and offered one he had on his Red Rock property. Al Ingram approached Bruce Smith with the task of reassembling the old windmill, which was in pretty rough shape. After an entire summer of bending old metal and refurbishing the old mill, Bruce Smith was able to bring a local artifact back to life where it now stands at Kawartha Settlers’ Village.

Wood was plentiful in the early days and many of the items that the first settlers needed were made at home – bowls, rolling pins, tables, stools and shovels! Goods that could not be made at home could be bought or ordered through a merchant in town. Carpenters and blacksmiths often worked side by side (as are our buildings), each completing part of the project – barrels with iron hoops, wheels and rims, wagons and sleds! Build in 2009, this building is a replica used to house our historic woodworking tools.

The Wray House is the oldest building at Kawartha Settlers’ Village, dating back to the 1850’s. It was built by the Wray family and lived in by four successive generations until Russell Wray donated it to the Village in 1998. The Settlers’ Village Quilters Guild restored the home, maintaining many original details like the bark ceiling logs but also updating it to facilitate their needs.