The summary is a copy of the powerpoint slides used for her presentation to the Society.

Based on a presentation by: Marsha Ann Tate, ABD
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania USA 16802
Email: mat1@psu.edu
As presented to Cobourg Historical Society

Early History

1797 – 1820’s

• Cedar swamp so originally avoided by settlers
• Early settlers (1797 – 1820’s)
  • United Empire Loyalists
  • Retired fur traders
  • British “official class” = ‘Half-pay pay’ officers
  • Strong military tradition

Cobourg 1850-1865

Prosperity to Poverty

• 1850’s: Prosperity
  • Town population = 6000
  • Fifth largest center in the province and most important central Lake Ontario port
• 1856: Opening of the Grand Trunk Railway
• 1860’s: Near Bankruptcy
  • Failure of the Cobourg to Peterborough Railway
  • Cost of town hall

From Iron & Steel to Rest & Relaxation

• Late 1860’s George K. Shoenberger & his Pittsburgh associates assume control of:
  • Marmora Iron Mines 50 miles north of Cobourg
  • The Cobourg, Peterborough, and Marmora Railway and Mining Company
• The Pittsburgh industrialists use Cobourg as their Canadian base of operations
  • The industrialists begin bringing their families and friends with them on their “business ” trips

Establishment of American Summer Colony

• Colonel William Chambliss
  • Son-in in-law of George K. Shoenberger
  • The “Ozone” tour
• Arlington Hotel
  • George Shoenberger & William Chambliss
• “Friends and family” in North and South

Reasons for Reasons for Cobourg’s Popularity with Southern and Northern U.S. Families

• Southern families
  • Cool and hospitable climate
  • Not required to spend vacation money in the northern United States.
• Northern families
  • “High quality ozone”
  • Business interests (e.g., iron and coal)

One of the large estates built 1857 – now called the Sidbrook property.

Additional Factors

• Geographic Location
  • Relatively close proximity to growing urban centers in the United States (e.g., Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Buffalo, Rochester)
• Transportation infrastructure
  • Readily accessible from the US via rail and water routes
  • Ontario Car Ferry Company Ferries carried: coal, other goods and passengers
• Marketing
• Accommodations

Cobourg’s US Visitors:

• Wealthy
  • Built large estates and often stayed from May until early September
  • The “American summer colony
• Middle and lower classes
  • Weekend excursions (Early part of 20th century)
  • Cobourg visit normally lasted only a few hours

Ferry in Cobourg Harbour ca. 1919. From Ontario Archives Item reference code: C285-1-0-0-140

Cobourg Summer Colony: From Hotels to Estates

1867-1880s

• Activities slower paced than later decades
• Activities hotel oriented
  • Most dances, ‘hops’ or soirees were in the hotel
  • Guests included prominent local and American families

1880’s-1920

• Large estates built
• Activities often “estate focused

Economic Ties

• Railroads
  • Ontario Car Ferry Company
• Infrastructure
  • Hospital, roads, water system
• Recreational facilities
  • Cobourg Golf Club
• Hotels & other tourist tourist-related businesses

 Social Ties

• Marriages between members of southern US families with members of northern US families
  • Marriages were highlights of the colony’s summer season
• Marriages between Americans and Canadian families

The Arlington Hotel on King Street. Now the north west of Victoria Park.

Social Events

• Plays
• Dances (e.g. hops)
• Band concerts (e.g. Shriners from New York state)
• Regattas
• Horse shows/races

Twilight of the American Colony

• World War I
  • Major social and economic transitions in both Canada and the United States
• Prohibition
• The Depression
• World War II

Original Powerpoint Presentation by Marsha Ann Tate – pdf format

All photos courtesy of Cobourg Public Library