Tornadoes in Cottage Country

From an on-line news story:

Farther west in the Haliburton and Kawartha Lakes area, 23,000 people remain without power. Crews have been brought in from neighbouring areas to help cut trees and re-string power lines.

This is Maple Lake country and it is a mess. Power out for almost a week. I got home from there  about 3:30 this a.m. and I tried to contact my folks tonight to see if they've gotten power back but they don't appear to be there. I hope that's so.

My aunt graciously offered to house my folks at her cottage-- which does have power.
I hope they took her up on it. Toughing it out was okay for a couple of days but it  ends up being really difficult when one is not prepared for extended no power or water. Generators are good to a point--if you can find one to buy.

The worst I saw in my less than two days there was that St Peter's Church on Maple Lake has had it's trees ripped right out in front of the church. It's just shocking. It looks as if they were just swept right away. Really old trees that  were part of the loveliness of  the church...it's very sad.

The positive, from what I could see is that most of the cottages look okay--undamaged. But the landscape has most certainly changed.

I'll add pictures tomorrow. I wish I'd taken more "before."

Comments

[Cyn]

Bonnie: I just read your note as I've been away and I need to contact my Dad to pass along your queries. He lives on Maple Lake about 4 months of each year and passes by the church almost every day. Perhaps he's seen the Melville family name in the area. It sounds awfully familiar to me. I will email you privately after I'm able to speak with my dad.

[Bonnie Connolly]

I just happened to type in the name of St. Peter's Anglican Church, Maple Lake this morning. I was shocked to see the damage done by the tornado. My great-great grandfather was buried in the church cemetery there, (James Melville, b. 1832 Stirling Scotland, died 1887 Maple Lake, Ontario. I wanted to get in touch with the church pastor there to see if he may have any old records of the church, and info on him. This was the first posting I saw. So sorry for all the people that were affected by this tornado. Apparently, the writer of this article is from the area, at least has a father still there. I am still looking for information on James Melville. A flower was placed by his gravestone last spring, and I wondered if there were any Melvilles still there, or someone who may have know of him. Please write. Bonnie