Name/Title
Village of Van Vlack Interpretive PanelEntry/Object ID
2020.723.1Description
Interpretive panel about the Village of Van VlackContext
John Barrett Van Vlack arrived in the area circa 1869 when he purchased 69 acres of land and began building the Village of Van Vlack. Van Vlack was a commercial fisherman, built a shingle mill, ran a general store and became the first postmaster of the Van Vlack Post Office. A picture of a postcard, postmarked VAN VLACK 1908" is included on the interpretive panel. A wooden bridge was built in 1872 with a grant of $400 from the County of Simcoe. The bridge allowed residents and visitors access to the beachfront which at the time was the areas main road. The decaying wooden bridge was replaced by a steel bridge in 1909. The steel bridge, known as the Main Street bridge or "Old Bridge" by locals was built in the same location where the bridge is located today, a few hundred feet west of where the original wooden bridge was located. By 1896, about 70 people lived in the village where a local school and Presbyterian Church opened in 1894. In the late 1800's, a bunkhouse was erected on the north bank of the Nottawasaga River to accomodate workers from the shingle mill and lumber mill across the river. The bunkhouse was referred to as the "Old Camp" or the "Roaring Camp" during the lumber era and was one of a few places used for public lodging in the 1920's.Acquisition
Accession
2020.723Source or Donor
Historical Advisory Committee, Town of Wasaga BeachAcquisition Method
Gift