Claude Raymond 'Ray' Smith

Settler of township lot: Lot 9, Conc. 12,  McClintock Twp

Location: Map point is Parkway Cottage Resort on Hwy 60.

Land Acquisition: 1945 Patent from The Crown. Ontario Land Parcel Register - McClintock (Click here and go to Image 137).

Other land:

  • Lot 9, Conc. 12 - 1945 Patent from The Crown. Ontario Land Parcel Register - McClintock (Click here and go to Image 137). 1945 William James Brown part; 1946 William F Keith part
  • Lot 7, Conc. 13 Part - 1947 Patent from The Crown. Ontario Land Parcel Register - McClintock (Click here and go to Image 171). 1948 to James A Henderson; 1950 to Ernest John Kendall & Clifford Simon Saunders operating as Parkway Cabins

Dates of residency:

Interesting facts:

From PARKWAY COTTAGE RESORT Submitted by B. Ellis. Source: Facts and Fables of Oxtongue Lake, 2000 pg. 157

A gentleman by the name of Ray Smith purchased six acres of land on the Oxtongue Lake around 1948. On this site, he built cottages facing the lake and a main building to serve as living quarters, office and a small grocery store which faced the main road (Hwy #60). Thus, Parkway was created. Sometime in the very early '50s he sold to Mr. Stevenson, who later took on Mr. Kendall as a partner. They ran the business as partners for a few years. Mr. Kendall bought Parkway outright and proceeded to run it solely until May 1962, at which time he sold to Glen & Laura Warboys.

When the Warboys took over Parkway, there were 13 cottages, campgrounds, small gift shop and grocery store with a take-out window for fast food. Parkway was again sold in March 1990 to the Ellis family, and in 2000 Vern and Betty continue to operate and upgrade Parkway Cottages.

From KEITH STORY, Submitted by I. Keith. Source: Facts and Fables of Oxtongue Lake, 2000 pg. 98

The Keith family property is about 5.5 acres and is bisected by Tom Parris Trail. It was first acquired from the Crown by Ray and Mildred Smith, based on a survey, dated July 1943, at which time I believe they built the first log cabin, chicken house and tool shed. It was the first of a number of buildings Ray built in the community. It was our understanding that they were going to have a chicken farm to provide food for the "war effort." They obtained the deed to the property, "in consideration of the sum of $99.00 in June 1945. By then the War was over and in July 1945 it was sold to a school teacher, Mr. W.J. Brown, who in turn offered it for sale in the summer of 1946 because he said "Mrs. Brown did not like the bears looking in a her."

From GLEN & LAURA WARBOYS, Submitted by M. Service. Source: Facts and Fables of Oxtongue Lake, 2000 pg. 145

Glen. Laura and son Fred came to Oxtongue in May 1962  and purchased Parkway from Ernie Kendall. In 1965 with the help of Ray Smith and Norman Land they rebuilt the store and living quarters.

Preceding landowner: The Crown

Succeeding landowners, Source: Ontario Land Parcel Register - McClintock (Image 137):

  • 1945 William James Brown part
  • 1946 William F Keith part
  • 1952 Earl Ireland from The Crown

Image: Main cabin plus sleeping cabin both built by Ray Smith before 1953. Source: Facts and Fables of Oxtongue Lake, 2000 pg. 98

Regions