Pike Creek Kayak Club number two Clyde the Canon – part one of three title adventure
March 27/ 2022
Now, mostly older guys, average age 74, the PCKC is a steadfast group of long-term enduring friendships.
One of the originals, Bob W, lived in Halifax Nova Scotia at the time of his father’s death. He notified us because the majority of us knew his father Clyde very well.
His dad loved boats and was a great influence to most of us, we learned how to navigate, the ins and outs of boating and how to travel, not only through our local waters but also through the Great Lakes and beyond.… and too many places in the US, via the inland waterway.
Bob’s older brother, Mike W, had become quite wealthy with his electronic business in Atlantic Canada. He was a frequent boater to Georgian Bay and the “North Channel” often spending entire summers there. Mike eventually purchased “Okeechobee lodge”… water access only, a wonderful location on the entrance to Baie Fine.
The lodge was quite extensive with single-family cabins multiple guest cabins, central large complex with a great room kitchen, dining areas, lounge, and a bar. It had large decks overlooking the vistas of Georgian Bay. It also included many docks as well as “the boathouse” with its own bar and lounge.
This was a frequent gathering place for guests returning from their boarding excursions prior to changing their clothes, then going for dinner.
It had a large open patio on the roof overlooking not only Georgian Bay, but a great view down the Baie Fine. Mike and Bob’s parents were given a permanent cottage on the property.
With the news of Bob’s father’s death, we held a meeting about what kind of remembrance we could come up with as a fitting memorial. We all agreed that, whatever we came up with, it should be placed at Okeechobee Lodge. After some discussion, we came up with the idea of a cannon. Cannons cannot be missed and are often seen in parks and war memorials. I was given the job of searching the Internet for such an object. Another member, Alan H had great connections with a steel foundry in the Windsor area.
In Canada’s centennial year, there were many projects to commemorate the occasion. One such endeavour was located in Amherstburg Ontario, site of Fort Mauldin, which was very active in the war of 1812-14 with the US. They began a campaign to build a replica of the ship “HMS Detroit” which fought in the war. Unfortunately, it was defeated in the battle of Lake Erie by the American Fleet. It was captured and burned.
However, the project was started and fundraising began. The HMS Detroit was a six-gun brig launched in 1798. She was equipped with 6×6 pounder guns. Replicas of these cannons were made by the foundry in Windsor and donated to the project. As luck would have it the foundry still had the moulds for these cannons… accurate reproductions of the original armaments of HMS Detroit.
Unfortunately despite great efforts by many people, the project went bankrupt and was never completed.
End of part one