Settler of township lots: Lot 16, Conc. 12, Stanhope

Location: Map point is the location of Government House at Hawk Dam.

Land acquisition: Peter Grozelle did not purchase this land. He was the Dam Keeper at the Hawk Lake Dam.

Dates of residency:

• 1911 Census of Canada, Stanhope

Interesting facts:

According to this article in the Oct 29, 1897 edition of the Lindsay Canadian Post, Peter Grozelle arrived to work at the Hawk Lake Dam in 1897.

• On the Quebec Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1968, Ste Philomene, 1849 Parish Register, Pg 12, Baptism No. 64: Name is Pierre Degrosseliers, son of Joachim Degrosseliers & Genevieve Rochon.
• On the 1901 Census of Canada, Ontario / Victoria South / Lindsay C-3 / Page 10, Family 103: Occupation is Carpenter on this census.
• Ontario Death Registrations, Reg# 34002-16. Cause: Heart disease, 5 years.

In the early 1900s when the reservoir dams were being built, the area was remote and inaccessible. Cottaging was unheard of. Damkeepers - the men hired to oversee the maintenance of the dams - had to live nearby in order to fulfill their duties. The Damkeeper in the Hawk Lake area was responsible for overseeing the dams on several lakes, namely: Hawk, Mud, Trout, Crab, Paint and Kennisis. He travelled to each by canoe. In 1908, two years after the control of the reservoir lakes was transferred to the federal government, a house for the Damkeeper was built on Big Hawk Lake. By 1923, improved roads allowed the Damkeeper to live away from the lake and the house was no longer used, except as a workers camp for various dam repair projects. In 1941, the house and barn were put up for sale and in July of 1942, the property was sold to Mr. Robert Butler of Woodville for $300. Information source: Stanhope Museum

Preceding landowner: The Crown

Succeeding landowner:

Link to Settlers of Algonquin Highlands family tree