Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post - Fire destroys cottage where Lightfoot penned tunes

charlene · 10-06-2010, 04:01 PM

Karen Longwell
|
Oct 06, 2010 - 11:49 AM
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0 .Historic cottage destroyed by fire

COTTAGE DAMAGED. The interior of the Harraby cottage in Windermere was scorched by fire on Oct. 2. Submitted photo
MUSKOKA LAKES - Fire has damaged another historic Muskoka cottage with a colourful past and a multimillion-dollar price tag.

The 100-year-old cottage, known to locals as Harraby, was damaged in an electrical fire on Oct. 2. The cottage is owned by SmartCentres developer Mitchell Goldhar,

The blaze is one of several to occur in Muskoka Lakes in recent weeks. The Belle Isle cottage built in 1902 burned down Aug. 18. There were also structure fires in Bala and Port Carling recently.

Muskoka Lakes fire crews were called to Harraby cottage at the end of Rostrevor Road in Windermere just before noon on Saturday, said acting fire chief Jim Schneider.

There were no injuries in the blaze and the owners were not at home at the time of the fire.

Three stations responded to the call, he said. The initial call came in as an alarm call, but when Windermere fire crews arrived they saw flames coming up through the roof.

“We bumped it up immediately to a structure fire,” Schneider said.

Members of the Port Carling fire station and a fire boat from Minett responded.

The cottage’s main entranceway and roof were damaged in the blaze, which was difficult to extinguish.

“It was a pretty stubborn fire because it was up in the walls,” said Schneider. Crews were able to save approximately two-thirds of the structure after spending six hours on scene.

Schneider said the cause of the fire was electrical and not suspicious in nature.

“I believe the place was struck by lightning from that storm we had the week before,” he said, adding the cottage’s main feed lines were severed. Schneider suspects that the power wasn’t restored until many days after the storm and when it was restored the severed wires likely shorted out and ignited.

When contacted by this newspaper, Goldhar said he purchased the Harraby property in 2005.

He was sad to hear the news.

“Obviously, it is a terrible thing. I am still trying to digest it personally. It is obviously a favourite place … it is very sad,” he said while he was driving to the property on Monday. He hadn’t yet seen the damage. “I have to say I am not looking forward to seeing it in this state.”

The original structure was built more than 100 years ago, but has been renovated a few times. Goldhar said he made some changes to the interior. The famously pink exterior was changed to an evergreen colour.

The property was well known on the east side of Lake Rosseau for its superb gardens, arched bridges leading to three tiny islands and a fur trading cabin built in 1872, where Gordon Lightfoot was said to have stayed. The cabin, two boathouses and garage were untouched by the fire, Goldhar said.

Goldhar said the cottage is his personal place he uses year-round. He noted the special quality of the property.

“Everybody thinks of it as being kind of a magical place,” he said.

Multimillion-dollar price tag

In 2005 the seven-acre property broke a real estate price record when it was listed for $9.8 million, according to an article in The Muskokan.

Former owners Eileen and Bill Bartels purchased the property in 1991 after Charlie Moon and Shelagh Louise Martin Moon lost it in bankruptcy.

Charlie Moon renovated the buildings extensively and put in additions, said Bill Bartels.

Gordon Lightfoot was Charlie Moon’s brother-in-law and a frequent visitor to Harraby, according to a Muskokan article from 2002. Lightfoot was said to have written songs in the log cabin on the property.

Bartels confirmed the log cabin was an original Hudson Bay trading post built in 1872.

Bartels managed the extensive gardens on the property. A helicopter pad was added by the current owner, he said.

Harraby derives from the Greek word for pleasure, according to the 2002 Muskokan article.

The current cottage was built by the Mackenzie family of Hartford, Connecticut, who owned it for 38 years beginning in 1905.

Walter Howard Burgess and his wife owned the property from 1943 to 1984.

With files from Andrew Wagner-Chazalon

10-06-2010, 04:01 PM	#1
charlene Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 16,001	Fire destroys cottage where Lightfoot penned tunes Karen Longwell \| Oct 06, 2010 - 11:49 AM \| 0 .Historic cottage destroyed by fire COTTAGE DAMAGED. The interior of the Harraby cottage in Windermere was scorched by fire on Oct. 2. Submitted photo MUSKOKA LAKES - Fire has damaged another historic Muskoka cottage with a colourful past and a multimillion-dollar price tag. The 100-year-old cottage, known to locals as Harraby, was damaged in an electrical fire on Oct. 2. The cottage is owned by SmartCentres developer Mitchell Goldhar, The blaze is one of several to occur in Muskoka Lakes in recent weeks. The Belle Isle cottage built in 1902 burned down Aug. 18. There were also structure fires in Bala and Port Carling recently. Muskoka Lakes fire crews were called to Harraby cottage at the end of Rostrevor Road in Windermere just before noon on Saturday, said acting fire chief Jim Schneider. There were no injuries in the blaze and the owners were not at home at the time of the fire. Three stations responded to the call, he said. The initial call came in as an alarm call, but when Windermere fire crews arrived they saw flames coming up through the roof. “We bumped it up immediately to a structure fire,” Schneider said. Members of the Port Carling fire station and a fire boat from Minett responded. The cottage’s main entranceway and roof were damaged in the blaze, which was difficult to extinguish. “It was a pretty stubborn fire because it was up in the walls,” said Schneider. Crews were able to save approximately two-thirds of the structure after spending six hours on scene. Schneider said the cause of the fire was electrical and not suspicious in nature. “I believe the place was struck by lightning from that storm we had the week before,” he said, adding the cottage’s main feed lines were severed. Schneider suspects that the power wasn’t restored until many days after the storm and when it was restored the severed wires likely shorted out and ignited. When contacted by this newspaper, Goldhar said he purchased the Harraby property in 2005. He was sad to hear the news. “Obviously, it is a terrible thing. I am still trying to digest it personally. It is obviously a favourite place … it is very sad,” he said while he was driving to the property on Monday. He hadn’t yet seen the damage. “I have to say I am not looking forward to seeing it in this state.” The original structure was built more than 100 years ago, but has been renovated a few times. Goldhar said he made some changes to the interior. The famously pink exterior was changed to an evergreen colour. The property was well known on the east side of Lake Rosseau for its superb gardens, arched bridges leading to three tiny islands and a fur trading cabin built in 1872, where Gordon Lightfoot was said to have stayed. The cabin, two boathouses and garage were untouched by the fire, Goldhar said. Goldhar said the cottage is his personal place he uses year-round. He noted the special quality of the property. “Everybody thinks of it as being kind of a magical place,” he said. Multimillion-dollar price tag In 2005 the seven-acre property broke a real estate price record when it was listed for $9.8 million, according to an article in The Muskokan. Former owners Eileen and Bill Bartels purchased the property in 1991 after Charlie Moon and Shelagh Louise Martin Moon lost it in bankruptcy. Charlie Moon renovated the buildings extensively and put in additions, said Bill Bartels. Gordon Lightfoot was Charlie Moon’s brother-in-law and a frequent visitor to Harraby, according to a Muskokan article from 2002. Lightfoot was said to have written songs in the log cabin on the property. Bartels confirmed the log cabin was an original Hudson Bay trading post built in 1872. Bartels managed the extensive gardens on the property. A helicopter pad was added by the current owner, he said. Harraby derives from the Greek word for pleasure, according to the 2002 Muskokan article. The current cottage was built by the Mackenzie family of Hartford, Connecticut, who owned it for 38 years beginning in 1905. Walter Howard Burgess and his wife owned the property from 1943 to 1984. With files from Andrew Wagner-Chazalon Attached Thumbnails