MELDRUM BAY—A piece of Meldrum Bay history was removed from its scenic harbour front setting Monday. The freight shed, which perched at the end of the wharf, was built in 1935 by the Owen Sound Transportation Company.
“The Owen Sound Transportation Company ran boats from Owen Sound to the Soo and all winter supplies used to come in there. There was also a passenger waiting room,” Dale Van Every, president of Dawson Citizens’ Improvement Association, explained. “It was later used as an office for Dawson Citizens’, Canada Customs and also as a games and reading room for boaters.”
The removal of the freight shed and the construction of a brand new wharf is the third phase of the harbour reconstruction project in Meldrum Bay with steps one, a new breakwall, and two, the creation of the exhibit building, a brand-new harbour front welcome centre and the freight shed’s replacement, already built.
Peggy Morrison, Meldrum Bay harbourmaster, explained that new finger docks were added to the marina in June and construction of the new, bigger, wharf also began Monday with a finish date set for the end of October. A new hydro and water system and pump out station will complement the new wharf and harbour front welcome centre.
“We can fit 20 boats on the slips, but there will be room for boats on the wharf too,” Ms. Morrison said.
“We had more boats this season than last season, and people were very happy with the docks,” the harbourmaster said. “With the kind of weather we had, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who didn’t have a good summer.”
