As we bid farewell to an interesting but vexing 2021, we look back on an unprecedented year of disruption and change. At Woodland the usual meetings and greetings were postponed or, at best, limited. Events were stymied by the virus and/or poor weather. The ebb and flow of cottage life underwent new and different settings. For many residents, the Beach became their new online learning base or their work-from-home base with the unusual benefit of staying longer at the Beach than ever before. Many former cottages were replaced with permanent structures. As well, our community lost some of our long-time Woodland family.
With limitations on what could be planned to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Woodland Beach, the History Committee (Marg Robertson, Sheila Ryan, Tracey Price) of the Woodland Beach Property Owners’ Association set its mind to options for a centennial project. First, ‘Woodland Beach – The Family Beach – Celebrating 100 Years 1921-2021’ signs were added at each of the three entrances to the Beach. Then work began in developing this website, complementing the publication of ‘Footprints in the Sand – Woodland Beach Memories’, the book that the History Committee published in 2016, chronicling in detail the scope of the Beach history. Monthly draws were held for Beach logo tee-shirts, awarded to the contributors to the website stories.
As one would expect, many changes have occurred over the 100 years. We share a unique and special past. The auroras no longer dance in the northern sky, the megaphone call to join the Association meetings are no longer heard and the Beach summer constable no longer mingles with the youngsters hanging out at the Ship-A-Hoy. The early settlers would not have conceived of a cottage phone line, bikinis or a 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt. Our post war community could not envision windsurfers, cell phones, the World Wide Web, electric cars or the significant effects of climate change. Some things do not change though including all the memories made at the Beach, generations of families remaining as residents of the Beach and a welcoming of new residents.
The community has been fortunate over the years to have had such willing participation and numerous volunteers. A shout-out to all who have served us so well in safeguarding Woodland Beach.
So here we are at year’s end and at the end of the Beach’s first one hundred years. We have come a long way indeed. The History Committee members thank you for your interest in our website and special kudos to those who shared family histories, thoughts, photos and memories. Also, the Committee thanks all who volunteered their time and energy in helping us to celebrate and document Woodland’s past at the the two History Days in 2014 and 2016 and sharing material for our book, ‘Footprints in the Sand-Woodland Beach Memories’. (Note that while copies are no longer available for purchase, copies are available at the Elmvale and Midland libraries and the Simcoe County Archives.)
Woodland Beach has blessed us with an enduring invitation – the sparkling waters, warm summer months, beach walks. magnificent sunsets and a seasonal playground. We wish the same good fortune for the coming generations.
In 1919 the Reverend Wilfred Aldridge slowly rested his canoe’s oars, surveyed the beautiful, sandy shoreline and ‘found a beach to his liking’ His wife, Nelly, named the beach ‘Woodland’ as the pine forests led down to the sand beach. We have all been the beneficiaries of their vision.
**On January 1, 2022 the website (woodland100.com) will be available for viewing but will no longer be interactive.