As early as 1793, Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe realized the importance of defending Upper Canada from attack, and land was acquired from the local Ojibway Indian tribe near Penetanguishene to build a naval facility.
Post War of 1812 Years
The British navy, after suffering several defeats during the War of 1812, realized a strong presence would be required to defend the upper Great Lakes in the event of future hostilities with America. A supply depot would also be needed to move provisions and men between the forts located on Lake Huron and Lake Superior.
In 1817, twenty three years after Simcoe purchased the land from the Ojibway, construction finally began on the Penetanguishene base. The focus of the new base would be the maintenance of British warships, as well as smaller craft, and the major supply center for Lake Huron.
By 1820, the base was home to more than 70 personnel, including sailors, officers, and civilian workers.
A Naval Establishment
The Royal Navy used Discovery Harbour from 1817 to 1834, and during this time, the facility included a large naval store house, a wharf, blacksmith shop, a saw mill and a boatshop.
Two warships, HMS Tecumseth and HMS Newash, were constructed and stationed at the base. A fleet of schooners were also built, especially designed for the conditions of the Great Lakes, and put into service ferrying men and supplies as far north as Lake Superior.
Living Conditions at Discovery Harbour
In the 1800's, British society was still very much divided by class, which was reflected in the military.
Sailors at Discovery Harbour were housed in a barracks, which contained a fireplace on which to cook their meals, long tables for dining and activities, and hammocks to sleep in. As few as six, or as many as thirty men could be housed in the barracks at a given time.
Officers, such as the chief clerk, the surgeon, and the shipwright, were considered to be "gentlemen", and often provided with a small house on the base. In some cases, the wives and children of these men lived with them at Penetanguishene.
The Captain's house was the largest residence, and consisted of three separate structures. One served as the bedrooms, another was a living room and office, and the third was a separate kitchen building. Captain Samuel Roberts resided here, along with his wife, her sister, and a servant who was responsible for all cooking and cleaning.
The End of the Naval Presence
Financial cutbacks began to effect the navy at Penetanguishene by 1822. The complement of personnel was reduced, with Captain Roberts and the chief clerk had being transferred back to England. Only a handful of sailors remained, under the command of a single lieutenant. By 1827, the surgeon had also been sent back to Britain.
In 1834, all Royal Navy operations in Upper Canada had been suspended, marking the end of a naval presence at Discovery Harbour.
Arrival of the Army
While naval operations were decreasing in the 1820s, the British dispatched a garrison of soldiers to the base. Army personnel stationed at Drummond Island were transferred to Penetanguishene in 1828, and moved into some of the old naval buildings until their own facilities could be constructed.
A stone officers quarters was completed in 1836, as well as barracks for the troops, a parade square, administrative buildings, and a house for Lieutenant James Keating and his family. Keating, a veteran of the war of 1812, served as Fort Adjutant from 1828 until the closure of the base in 1856.
Decline of the Base
Financial pressures, and peace with the United States, led to the withdrawl of British troops from Penetanguishene in the early 1850s. For several years, the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment was posted at the base, but in 1856, they were withdrawn.
The government took over the base, and it served as a juvenile reformatory from 1859 to 1904. After this, it served as a hospital for the insane, and later, the officers quarters became a local museum.
Discovery Harbour Today
Today, only the stone officers quarters remain from the original base. However, most of the buildings have been re-created and placed in their original locations. Guided tours, with costumed staff, are available and one of the highlights of the base are the many period artifacts located within the buildings.
Replicas of the warship Tecumseth and the transport schooner Bee are located at the base, and visitors can board these vessels to experience shipboard life in the 1800's.
Located a two hour drive northwest of Toronto, the base is definitely worth visiting for anyone with an interest in Canadian military history.
Jason Gray - I was born and raised in the Toronto area, and am proud to be a Canadian. I have always had a strong interest in history, especially the ...
