In 1825, some 2000 Irish immigrants arrived in the area where the city of Peterborough Ontario is today, about 10 km from the town of Bridgenorth. 67 of those families drew lots across the lake from Bridgenorth and settled what is today Ennismore, originally named Gore of Emily. In the days when these Irish families found the other side of the lake so very beautiful, it was the beginning of the steamboat days, and canoes and paddle boats were the mode of personal transport. While to the south east Chemong Lake blocked the road to Peterborough, a 3945 foot row across to Bridgenorth was doable most of the time in the summer and once winter arrived, they had unlimited, albeit dangerous access across the frozen lake.
To the north east and north west lay Buckhorn Lake and Pigeon Lake. To travel to Peterborough without having to cross Chemong Lake, meant going around the lake, adding 24 km to the journey. So, when the horse drawn wagons became more important than canoes and steamers, those scenic waters surrounding Ennismore became a major problem.
In 1844 a ferry service was financed by council but proved to be too expensive and was short lived.
In 1869, municipalities around Chemong Lake got together and eventually managed to finance a floating bridge. From 1870 to 1949, a floating bridge would control access to Ennismore. The bridge also made township history, as it was so scary that aside from the existing locals, other people simply refused to use it. Stories of life with a floating bridge abound in the book and talk about ice destroying huge sections every year that needed rebuild, hair raising cattle drives, buggy and early car rides on stormy days across a heaving structure often awash under huge swells induced by the wide open fetch of the lake. “Cows and horses, and later cars, slid off the dancing, tilting bridge into the water of Chemong.” One account tells of waves high enough to wash over the car and a passenger having to walk ahead making sure the bridge was still there.
For the most part, strangers simply did not go to Ennismore to visit or to settle for 79 years! That was instrumental in coloring the language, kindling the wit of the Irish story teller and shaping the legends that still live on.
“Although the bridge never drowned people directly, it did so by default. Each spring and fall there were times when the bridge was impassable and the ice of Chemong unsafe. At these times the muddy waters of Chemong took their victims.”
On Christmas day of 1897 Nancy and David Gifford, in their teens, did not make the crossing.” Jim Gifford was not born until 1903 but the memory of that Christmas tragedy haunted his family and formed part of his heritage. Nancy and David would have been his aunt and uncle had they lived. Jim Gifford went on to become reeve of Ennismore and later warden of Peterborough County.” He did not rest until he was able to scour the political countryside for the money to tear out the old floating bridge and build a new causeway.
On June 23 1949, 8000 spectators watched as a new causeway was opened, connecting Ennismore to Bridgenorth. Rebuilt a few times and improved upon, this causeway is still the connection today.