Balsam Lake's Dry Stone Walls

  

For the last 2 years I've had the great opportunity to spend a week up in Balsam Lake rebuilding sections of a historic wall. The walls were commissioned by George Laidlaw on his Fort Ranch property. Laidlaw was born in Scotland and emigrated to Toronto in 1855. He prospered as a grain merchant and wharf owner in the Gooderham & Worts Distillery District on the east side of downtown Toronto. Laidlaw was also a successful railroad barron advocating for narrow gauge railways building the Toronto Grey & Bruce Railway, The Toronto & Nippissing Railway, and the Credit Valley Railway. In 1871, Laidlaw purchased 6000 acres of land around the western shore of Balsam Lake and used the land to raise sheep and cattle. In 1880, Laidlaw hired a Scottish waller (Mr. Scott) to come and build the drystone walls that stretch around the property. Scott hired local labour to help construct the 3 miles of dry stone walls that still stand to this day. If you are ever in the Balsam Lake Ontario area, make sure you take a drive down Balsam Lake Dr. to see the walls. You feel like you are instantly transported to the UK once you turn towards the Laidlaw property. They are the longest stretch of dry stone walls in Canada. And with a large amount of them still standing, these walls are a great example of how properly constructed dry stone walls can last for over 100 years in our Canadian climate.