Feature Article June 19, 2002
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Sunrise Beach Resort destroyed by fireby Will CybulskiFor the second time in less than four months, fire has taken its toll on area tourism facilities. Back on February 15, Myers Cave Resorts lodge was severely damaged by flames, and while it was originally thought that the historical landmark would have to come down, it has been undergoing an extensive rebuilding that is expected to be completed by the end of this month.
On Tuesday, June 11, fire again struck. This time, it was just after noon. The main building at Sunrise Beach Resort was the victim, and nothing of significance was left standing.
The resort, located on a sandy cove at the west end of Mississagagon Lake, commercially originated back in 1959, when its first proprietor, Ted Cannon, started building Glencannon Resort. During the years following, the establishment became well known to locals as a place for their weekend entertainment. I cant comprehend it, Cannon said when I spoke with him by telephone the morning after. It was a very restless night for my wife and me. The place held loads of memories for us. Over the years, it was a labour of love, and I cant believe that it is gone.
Cannon indicated that he purchased the original resort property from Charlie Tooley, back when, as he put it, Charlie owned the country around here. In 1960, he bought a further 200 acres from Russ Brown, who owned Twin Pines Resort. Cannon described his first efforts as pretty rustic, starting out with a tent, and later moving up to a frame cottage.
I guess I was a bit ahead of my time back then, Cannon stated. I thought the country needed a year-round facility, so I just kept adding on as I saw fit. He later expanded the place with a restaurant and store, and in 1961, had a large cement block recreation hall with swimming pool attached. From the name of the place, people used to mistakenly call me Glen, Cannon recalled. But it was a name that I carried over from my Dads hobby farm in Bolton. It was situated on rolling hills, so thats where the Glen part came from.
At age 71, Cannon is a retired teacher who lives in Thomasburg. He can still regale you with stories, and told me of a couple who were driving along Highway 7, and decided to seek a campsite to the north. They came in to my place and asked if I had a campsite, and I said not at this time. I had only two to start with. But I had them come in for a coffee, and then got on my bulldozer. By the time they were finished their coffee, I had finished making them a new place to camp.
Cannon and a couple of local elders pointed out that the resorts location was once a landing place for the now-defunct Star Of The East gold mine. When it was in operation, it was situated between Marble and Mississagagon Lakes, at the south end of the Head Road, and a road ran from the mine to the waters edge. There was an old wooden bench up on the beach, Cannon remembered, and a big hole in the ground. There were rumours that the place was once an Indian settlement, but that has never been proven, to the best of my knowledge.
Cannon packed in his hospitality career in 1997, when the business was taken over by Cliff and Carole Seguin, under the name of Sunrise Beach Resort. The Seguins ran the resort for three years, until it was purchased by Larry and Carole Zajdlik, its current owners. I spoke very briefly with Larry at the scene, to confirm that no one had been injured, and to offer, as a neighbour, whatever assistance I could. I attended the resort about a quarter hour after the Fire Department arrived, and by that point, the building was essentially flattened. Hydro One had workers present, and so did the Northbrook and Area Volunteer Ambulance Service, as part of North Frontenac/Addington Highlands first-response protocol.
The day was hot and muggy, and firefighters on site, in their bunker suits and facing extreme heat from the flames, certainly didnt have an enviable task. Heavy rains did finally arrive, but not until well into the evening, so some of the KBFD crew did not leave until around 9 p.m. A number of cabins and a residence on the property, separate from the lodge building itself, were untouched by the conflagration.
I was unable to obtain any information from either the Fire Department or the Fire Marshalls Office up to press deadline, but it is known that the FMO is investigating the blaze, along with the OPP. From my earlier years in law enforcement, I recall that the FMO was routinely called in for an investigation once a certain threshold of destroyed value was reached.
Hopefully, a more detailed report from the authorities will be available for next weeks edition.
