WITPH? - 1. This Should Not Be Here, Should It????
Why Is This Pavement Here?
Highway 35 opened in 1931 but with a number of differences from what we see today.
It is now a 195.6 km link between Highway 401 to the south and Highway 60 west of Algonquin Park to the north. The highway has been described as one of the most scenic in Ontario due to the many scenic views along its winding course.
The highway began as trails connecting settlements to the north while the southern sections were formed by the joining up of various concessions and side roads.
While the Highway existed from Lindsay north to Fenelon Falls and beyond in 1931, it was 1938 before it was finally extended south to Newcastle. By then most of the northern route had been connected as well.
Initially the road was gravel, with paving occurring in segments. Paving was not begun on the section between Lindsay and Pontypool until 1958. The bypass at Pontypool was opened sometime in the 1960's. The bypass missing most of the bog from Tower Road to Mount Horeb Road must have occurred in the same time period, or the pavement remnants on this hidden little spur into the bog wouldn't have been here.
When placing these caches, we parked near the end of the stub just off of Tower Road and hiked along the old pavement.
A bit farther along the old road, something here is out of place.