History Situated at the gateway to Georgian Bay’s picturesque 30,000 Islands, this little town of Penetanguishene, with a population of 9,500, is steeped in history starting as far back as 1610. Sometime between 1610 and 1614 the first European, Etienne Brule, a Frenchman paddled from Quebec and wandered among the Hurons. For the next 200 years or so the area was settled by the Jesuits and destroyed by the Indians, settled again and destroyed again. Eventually the French settlers won the day and established a fur trading depot. In 1793, John Graves visited the area and saw Penetanguishene’s potential as a Naval base to maintain warships, and to protect the newly-developed northwesterly trade and exploration routes. The resultant naval and military base of “Discovery Harbour” was built as an important sanctuary for the British during the war of 1812 with the United States. The Navel Base was closed in 1834 although the military base remained open until 1856, and both remain today as museums. In the mid 1800’s, families from Quebec, attracted by promises of cheap and fertile land, joined the French-speaking settlers already in the area who had by this time mixed with the Métis, Ojibwa, and Huron Indians. Later as the logging industry began to develop, more settlers arrived, and Penetanguishene became the local market and meeting place for these individuals. A railroad was built between Penetang and Toronto to transport the goods from the now thriving lumber industry and grain brought from the lake head to local elevators. Many of today’s area families are descended from these Quebecois settlers, giving the town a marked bilingual culture and native presence. Penetanguishene Real Estate The logging port has been transformed into a town dock for pleasure craft, and the inner harbor boasts six marinas hosting more than 2500 pleasure boats of all sizes. The countryside is just that. There are working and hobby farms, luxury estates, cottages and a diverse waterfront with homes and cottages ranging from a couple of hundred thousand to millions of dollars. The homes in town are as diverse as those in the country - elegant century old estates to modern subdivisions. There is a manufacturing base mostly supplying the automotive industry. Local entertainment includes a Junior “C” Hockey Team, Live Theatre, Skate Board Park, and a large range of competitive sports of all kinds and for all ages Schools and churches are plentiful and operate in both English and French languages.
If Penetang, as we locals call it, sounds like a place you'd like to explore, I'd be glad to assist. Get local market insight and a smooth transaction, whether you're looking for a cottage or an estate. Call me today at 800-840-6668, 705-720-0231, or use the form below to send an email! Scott |