Researched and written by Dr David Colby.;xNLx;;xNLx;Additional research by Murray Delmege, Stew McLaren, John Price and William Stephen.;xNLx;;xNLx;;xNLx;Parks are for people, too.
Ronde Eau named by explorers and Sulpician Fathers Dollier de Casson and Rene de Brehaut de Gaulinee.
Wilkins Expedition from Niagara to relieve the British post at Detroit was forced ashore by a violent Lake Erie storm with a loss of 70 men and 20 boats.
McKee Purchase put all lands in southwestern Ontario under British administration.
Rondeau peninsula was designated as Crown Land.
500 acres at Pointe aux Pins was designated as a British Naval Ordnance Reserve for timber and for fortifications to protect the harbour of Rondeau and the town of Shrewsbury.
Land lease patents issued to Col. John Prince (1796-1870) for two parcels of land totaling 3600 acres for 21 years for the purpose of hunting.
Administration of the British Naval Ordnance Reserve (500 acres at Point Aux Pins) was transferred to the Department of the Interior as Ordnance Land.
Under orders from the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Provincial Land Surveyor Henry Lowe divided Rondeau into 17 lots intended to be sold as farms.
Canadian Confederation.
Lot one (58.5 acres) was sold to Isaac Swarthout which eventually became the Bates lands.
The first permanent residence in Rondeau was built beside Bates commercial fishery.
Isaac Swarthout was designated as ranger and caretaker of Rondeau.
Mark Soper succeeds Isaac Swarthout as Caretaker and Ranger.
15.5 acres across from Erieau designated as Dominion Lighthouse Reserve under administration of Canadian Department of Marine (later Public Works Canada).
Algonquin is founded as a National Park and remains so designated until 1913. Note however that it was always under Provincial control.
After a petition from residents of Kent County, Rondeau was designated a Provincial Park by the Liberal Government for the purpose of providing cottaging opportunities. 40 cottage lots were surveyed at the outset with the requirement that permanent cottages be built on 21-year leases intended to be perpetually renewed. The park is administered by the Ontario Department of Crown Lands.
Isaac Gardiner is appointed as Rondeau Park's first Superintendent.
The first Rondeau Pavilion was built on Rondeau Bay and the original home of the Superintendent was constructed. Algonquin and Rondeau became the responsibility of the Attorney General.
Order in Council approves transfer of 500 acres of Canadian Department of the Interior Ordnance Land (part of lot 11, lot 12, lot 13 and lot 14) to the Government of Ontario for administration by Rondeau Park. The transfer was registered June 30.
Algonquin & Rondeau returned to Crown lands.
The house built in 1884, within Rondeau Park since 1894, was sold to Dr Septimus Thompson. The Coll Fishery was established inside Rondeau Park.
The Ontario Department of Crown Lands reorganized as the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests. A Conservative Government elected in Ontario.
More cottage lots surveyed inside Rondeau Provincial Park.
A new Rondeau Provincial Park Act received royal assent on 7 March, repealing the Act of 1894 but reaffirmed the role of cottages in Rondeau Park. "…the lease for any term of years of such parcels of land in the Park as he deems advisable, for the construction of buildings for habitation during the summer..."
Provincial Parks Act sets aside land not useable for agriculture or settlement. Again, the Lieutenant-Governor in council was empowered to make Regulations for leasing parcels of land in the Park and similar procedural requirements for making effective such Regulations were set out (s. 7, s. 8). Rondeau Park transferred to Department of Public Works. The Hon. Howard Ferguson appointed Minister of Lands, Forests and Mines.
Algonquin National Park is renamed Algonquin Provincial Park.
United Farmers Government elected in Ontario.
Rondeau transferred to Department of Lands and Forests.
53 more cottage lots surveyed in Rondeau Provincial Park.
Annual Report of the Department of Lands & Forests praises the 130 Rondeau cottages and indicates need for more lots to be surveyed. Deer cull mentioned in Superintendent’s report. Conservative government elected in Ontario.
125 more cottage lots surveyed in Rondeau Provincial Park.
Department of Lands and Forests opened model home in Rondeau to promote cottage lots for leasing. The gas station was built in Rondeau.
The Rondeau Park Leaseholders Association was formed with the objective of working with the Park Superintendent to keep the unspoiled beauty of Rondeau an attractive place for bathing, fishing, boating, duck hunting, camping, cycling and many other activities.
Department of Lands & Forests had exhibit at the Canadian National Exhibition soliciting cottage lots for leasing in Parks. The Rondeau Yacht Club was built, riding stables were opened.
Liberal government elected in Ontario.
Lakeside Dance Pavilion opened in the park.
A Conservative government is elected in Ontario.
More cottage lots surveyed in Rondeau Provincial Park.
More cottage lots were surveyed in Rondeau Park.
The Hon. H.R. Scott appointed Minister of Lands and Forests.
Lands and Forests Minister H. R. Scott moved the province's jurisdiction from the high water marks to the low water marks, meaning anything above the water itself was no longer claimed as Crown property.
St Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church is constructed.
In 1952 an amendment to the Parks Act placed both Rondeau and Ipperwash under the aegis of the Department of Municipal Affairs but the amendment was never proclaimed.
Grace Anglican Church is constructed.
The Hon. Clare E. Mapledoram was appointed Minister of Lands and Forests. A cottage removal policy was released as a Department of Lands and Forests memorandum on July 23 bearing a reference to a study entitled “Algonquin Provincial Park – Long Term Plan of Restoration to its Natural State.” Rondeau Park was not mentioned in this memorandum. No policy changes were communicated to Rondeau leaseholders until sometime after 1956. Rondeau Park Superintendent R.A. McLaren received a letter from Aylmer District Forester J. Keith Reynolds stating his intention that cottages be removed from Algonquin and Rondeau (see 1958-1960). Passing of the 1954 Provincial Parks Act created a Division of Parks within the Department of Lands and Forests. This heralded a new and aggressive program to create more parks, primarily on the Great Lakes and northern tourism highways. Nothing in the statute establishes or authorizes a cottage removal policy for Rondeau Park.
The number of Rondeau Provincial Park cottages reaches its maximum of 451.
Nine new leases were issued in Rondeau Park for year ending March 31, 1956 according to the 1955 Annual Report of the Minister of Lands & Forests. Six contained renewal clauses. September 10 a circular went out from the Deputy Minister of Lands and Forests enunciating what was referred to as the new policy of leases not to contain renewal clauses.
The first Rondeau Pavilion was torn down to make way for the Park Store. The Coll Fishery inside Rondeau Park ceased operations.
The Department of Lands and Forests purchased their first cottage at market value ($5,500). It was located at 6 Water Street and was demolished in 1958.
At the Rondeau Park Leaseholders Annual General Meeting July 6, Aylmer District Forester Dr J. Keith Reynolds announced in response to a question “No change is contemplated to the policy of renewing Rondeau cottage leases as they expire. Leases will be renewed, but no new leases will be granted.” Contrary to Reynolds’s remarks, by this time leases were being issued without renewal clauses.
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