Feature Article February 20, 2002
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Myers Cave Resort hit by fireby Will CybulskiOne of the more familiar landmarks in this area, Myers Cave Resort, at the foot of Marble Lake on Road 506, had its main lodge fall victim to a midday fire on Friday, February 16. Although the structure suffered extensive interior damage, it is still standing, and lodge owners Inca Vos and John Chow are optimistic that the 110 year-old building can be saved. Its heartbreaking, said Inca. I really love the old lodge and all its history, so I hope we can convince the insurance company to consider rebuilding it.
Inca said that she looked out the window of her home adjoining the lodge at about 11:30 a.m., and thought that snow was flying about. When she realized it was smoke, she tried to call the fire department, only to find that the main telephone connection inside the lodge had been severed by the fire. Luckily, Dean Salmond, a member of the Kaladar/Barrie Fire department happened to be passing by, and he put in the call for assistance to his counterparts.
Department Chief Casey Cuddy reported that 18 members attended the scene. The day after the fire, Cuddy was at the site with the adjuster from the insurance company. Chief Cuddy indicated that his investigation is complete, and that the cause has been attributed to the electrical system. The main part of the building was gutted, with the fire originating between the basement ceiling and the bottom of the first floor. The remainder of the lodge sustained smoke damage. Its an old building, said Chief Cuddy, and there was no insulation between the inside and outside walls, so they act like a chimney.
Of particular concern to John and Inca is the fact that their tourist season is just a few short weeks in the offing. We have the place booked already, said Inca so we are going to have to get busy.
In addition to the resort, Inca has a dog grooming business Myers cave Dog Grooming. She also writes the Pet Corner, a monthly column featuring pets from the Humane Society who need homes, and last year, was the Cloyne correspondent for The News. She was appreciative of the fast response by the Fire Department, and impressed with the concern shown by people who enquired after her and her familys well-being.
The lodge building has quite a local historical interest, having been built in 1892 by Charles MacGregor, who was twice Reeve of Barrie Township in the early 1900s. After MacGregors death, the homestead was taken over by his daughter Lillian, who was married to Joe Perry. The Perrys subsequently opened their home to tourists, and an old register from the lodge shows a William Washington of Scarborough, Ontario as the first guest in 1921. As the business grew over time, other buildings were put up, including a barn, dance hall, and cottages. Another of the original structures on the property, a log ice-house, still stands today to the west of the main lodge.
