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• Hewitt Bernard 1825-1893
  Born in Jamaica, Bernard immigrated to Upper Canada in 1851 and settled in Barrie, where in 1856 he established a law practice. He was chief clerk, 1858-66, in the office of the attorney general for Canada West, John, A. Macdonald, and later became his brother-in-law. Bernard accompanied Macdonald to the Charlottetown Conference (1864), and was the secretary of the Quebec (1864) and London (1866-67) Conferences, at which the groundwork was laid for Confederation. A lieutenant-colonel...

• Nine Mile Portage, The
  Site of eastern terminus of an Indian portage from Kempenfeldt Bay to Willow Creek and thence by the Nottawasaga River to Georgian Bay. In the winter of 1813-14, a force under Lieut.-Colonel Robert McDougall followed it on the way to relieve the isolated British garrison at Michilimackinac. That summer it was developed as a rough wagon road and till about 1829 was in frequent use for transport of supplies to Penetanguishene and the western military and fur trading posts.

• Andrew Frederick Hunter 1863-1940
  This distinguished historian and archaeologist was born in Innisfil Township, graduated from the University of Toronto in 1889 and was editor of the Barrie Examiner 1889-95. His extensive exploration of archaeological sites throughout Huronia stimulated public interests in the history of that area. He supplied much valuable information for Thwaites' 73-volume edition of the "Jesuit Relations". Hunter was secretary of the Ontario Historical Society 1913-1931 and wrote many scholarly articles. His "History of Simcoe County...

• Simcoe County Court House and Gaol
  In 1837, the Simcoe District was established and authority was given for erecting a district court-house and gaol at Barrie. The gaol was begun in 1840, the courthouse a year later, and both were completed in 1842. An important county judicial and administrative centre, the courthouse was enlarged in 1877 and demolished in 1976. The gaol, designed by Thomas Young of Toronto and constructed of Lake Couchiching limestone by Charles Thompson, a builder and steamboat...

• Steamboating on Lake Simcoe
  From the 1830s to the 1920s, steamboats played a significant role in developing the region around Lake Simcoe. They carried passengers, freight and mail to ports around the lake and hauled lumber to mills. As railways came to dominate regional transportation, steamboats catered increasingly to tourists and excursionists. The growing popularity of private motorboats contributed to their final decline in the 1920s.