Eberhardt Photographs by Maple Leaf Film Service

Archive

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Town of Wasaga Beach

Harvey, Robert, Lorraine Eberhardt and Heather Cunningham (not confirmed) with the Eberhardt's Ice signs in the background

Harvey, Robert, Lorraine Eberhardt and Heather Cunningham (not confirmed) with the Eberhardt's Ice signs in the background

Name/Title

Eberhardt Photographs by Maple Leaf Film Service

Entry/Object ID

2025.4.7

Scope and Content

Eberhardt Photographs by Maple Leaf Film Service

Context

Charlie Eberhardt was one of Wasaga’s early entrepreneurs who moved to the area around 1905. Mr. Eberhardt caught fish and sold them to neighbours and summer visitors. He also operated an ice cutting business. The Eberhardt family lived at the corner of River Road West and Beck Street where Gough’s landing is now located. The photographs were taken at this location. There was a large barn behind their house where the ice was stored; covered with sawdust and woodchips. Part of the original barn was incorporated into the Gough's Landing condo complex when it was built. Ice blocks were cut from Marl Lake and Nottawasaga Bay in the winter to sell to locals and tourists to keep their food cold as refrigerators were not common then. The featured signs were used during the operation of the ice business. Customers would display a sign in there window for whichever size of ice block they wanted. Eberhardt's would deliver whatever size was displayed in the window. Charles also built a general store located at the northwest end of the Main Street Bridge. He then added a second floor and began renting rooms to tourists and year-round visitors. The top floor of the store eventually became a classroom for students. The Eberhardt family also ferried people up and down the river and across the bay from Wasaga to Collingwood. In later years they operated a taxi business and a miniature golf. Ivan Eberhardt took over the ice business from his father, Charles Eberhardt in 1952. Lorraine Pomeroy (Eberhardt), donor of the photographs, is daughter of Ivan and Bessie Eberhardt, sister of Robert (Bob) and Harvey Eberhardt and granddaughter of Charles (Charlie) Eberhardt. Lorraine's donation, along with a previous generous donation of $5000 to the Archives, is made in memory of her grandfather Charles Eberhardt and father Ivan Eberhardt.

Acquisition

Accession

2025.4

Acquisition Method

Gift

Dimensions

Dimension Description

folder dimensions (photographs are 3.5" x 5.75")

Height

3-3/4 in

Width

6-3/4 in