Kingswood Acres - 50 years young

Miss Mary King, a remarkable woman, acquired the land destined to become Kingswood Acres some 50 years ago. This tract of land has 85 properties and is about a mile of shore running north from Tiny Concession 19 to Sandy Bay Road. Kingswood from the air is triangular in shape and heavily treed with a fabulous view of the lighthouse on Christian Island.

In earlier times Champlain, Brule, perhaps even Father Brebeuf would have canoed past a cedar forest which would later become Kingswood, and, there is ample evidence of a populous Huron settlement. Latterly, the "Nancy" and American frigates from the 1812 conflict sailed by on the way to Penetaguishene. Much later, the ships from the thriving harbours of Midland and Collingwood passed through the channel between Kingswood and Christian Island. Today, the boat traffic is pleasure craft with the occasional coast guard vessel.

The area originally was a cedar forest before a fire wiped out those ancient trees. Today, only two of these original trees survive in a heavily wooded area of Kingswood. In the early spring and late fall, you can still see the stumps of the original forest, some still bearing the charred scars of the old fire.

Miss King laid down her plan of subdivision in 1952 under the name Syram Developments and began selling properties to very special people whom she interviewed personally to insure they were compatible. She was making sure, as much as possible, Kingswood residents got along.

Jerome Charlebois, a local resident, and Mary King built many of the cottages, some under contract, some on speculation. Early buyers told their friends who also bought. In fact, a number were all from the same church, including the minister. Kingswood residents have married and died here, a testament to their love of the area.

Miss King had rules. She would not allow a tree to be cut without her permission and you can still see where a structure was built to accommodate nature. Miss King would get involved by helping residents build, pounding nails, painting, staining, a truly hands on developer.

She was a conservationist and I’ve heard stories of chipmunks and mice sharing her home. She was an eccentric ruling Kingswood in the early days. Sometimes she was at odds with residents and every one who knew her had a story about Miss King. One I liked was when, to the amazement of a property owner, without warning, she slid down a hill like a child, holding the bottom of her coat like the rope on a toboggan. That was Miss King; oh, by the way, she completed Kingswood on her 80th birthday.

Second, third, fourth and now even fifth generations of the original Kingswood residents still enjoy Miss King’s legacy. Children still scramble over the rocks along the shore the way they did 40 years ago.

The Kingswood Acres Beach Association still meets on the Victoria Day and Labor Day weekends as they have since the fifties, though the issues have shifted from the road and the hill to taxation. But there’s still lots of time to chat and get caught up afterward.

Mary Winona King, born November 5, 1901, died on Ascension Day, May 25, 1995. Thank you Miss King for your wonderful Kingswood.