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Maw’s Island -A Retreat Into the Past

By: A bunch of people...Astrid Taim’s original article, pictures from David Plumb and Jeffrey Edwards, some organizing by David and Halina Dales; and finally, something from

the archives of Gordon Sinclair.

Maw’s Island stands today as it has for over 100 years. A small tree covered private island,

that hides an original rustic early 1900’s cottage.

The island will take you directly back to an earlier dignified and even romanticized era. If it is a

modern “Muskoka type” retreat that you crave, this is definitely not the place for you.

For those of us who love Almaguin, it looks like the perfect place to do a little bit of fishing and

a lot of chilling out.

Since I’m a specialist at chilling out, I always notice places like Maw’s Island. Mostly, I wonder

what kind of people would have chosen to come to such a remote and undeveloped area in the

1890’s. There were no roads and no amenities. After an endless train trip up north, you had

two days of sheer joy: a very rough buckboard trip over rough roads/trails; followed by a hike

on the second day, across a farmer’s field to the lake and rowing over with all your supplies to

the island.

Well, I found out a little bit about the early cottagers. Be assured that they were completely

normal in an “early days” Restoule sort of way. There was a sharp eyed aggressive lawyer

who regenerated his soul in this original wilderness; two spirited young ladies; and, even a

gentleman calmly fishing off the dock who you didn’t want to rile up. Germans in the First

World War found this out when the gentleman rushed their gun emplacement and destroyed

their stronghold. He was wounded in the attack, recommended for a Victoria Cross and was

presented ‘The Distinguished Service Order’ by King George V.

The current owner, David Plumb, Alan Cockeram’s grandson, and Jeff Edwards forwarded old

pictures of life on the island. The photos go back as far as 1898 and range into the late 1930’s.

A great historical record of the early days of cottaging on Restoule Lake.

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Maw’s Island or Homewood Island in 1898 as first seen by Henry Maw

A closer picture of Maw’s Island taken in 1898

As luck would have it, the late Astrid Taim, a local historian and author, wrote of “The Maws of

Restoule” in her excellent book, “Almaguin, A Highland History”.

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Astrid Taim did a great job of describing the early inhabitants of the island. I am including an excerpt

of her work below mixed with some pictures of those times. All the pictures were provided David

Plumb and Jeffrey Edwards.

Excerpted from “Almaguin A Highland History” by Astrid Taim

‘It was by chance that Toronto lawyer Henry Maw, first came to Restoule at the turn of the century.

The trip was arranged for the purpose of collecting a deposition from a local resident. Just what kind of case he was working on and who the individual was that Henry Maw came looking for, remains a mystery. But as it turned out, having to take the stage coach from Powassan to Restoule was worth the inconvenience to the lawyer. Never in his wildest dreams did Henry Maw ever think he would find himself surrounded by such raw wilderness, the type that threatened to envelop both him and the coach. Henry found it simply captivating. Not wasting a moment after collecting his deposition, he hurried back home to Toronto to make plans for a family vacation in Restoule.

Born in 1850 in Elora, Ontario, Henry Wilberforce Maw was the son of the staunch Methodist Robert Maw. After Henry graduated from Osgoode Hall, he began practising law in Toronto and eventually joined the law firm of Dewart Maw and Hudson. That fated trip to Restoule had been on behalf of the firm and his excitement over the new frontier and its possibilities, no doubt attracted the interest of the other partners. At the first available opportunity Henry Maw gathered his family together and made the travel arrangements to Restoule. Accompanied by his wife, the former Elizabeth Jean Mclean of St. Thomas, Ontario, their daughters Irene Mclean and Dorothy Hildegarde (according to family members, she hated the name Hildegarde and positively fumed at anyone who called her that). The first summer was spent in what was known as Lakeside Cottage. (on Commanda Lake)’

Picture from 1898 located past the cemetery and water spring.

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Lakeside Cottage as it looked in 1920.

Shoreline of Commanda Lake – some ducks were relaxing!

Again in 1920...by then sporting a spiffy looking boathouse.

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Commanda Lake circa 1920, boathouse in foreground.

‘There is some speculation over whether Henry Maw ever owned the property, or just rented it. Interestingly enough, when Restoule held its centennial in 1996, celebrations were centered around this 100 year old-plus landmark, presumably because it was one of the oldest buildings in the community.

When the government decided to sell off more land to the public, Henry Maw was waiting in line. The lawyer set out to purchase two islands at the west end of Restoule Lake, as well as a small point of land on Lake Memesagamesing. The islands selected by him were ideal for the privacy they offered. Apparently he felt it would finally give him the chance to enjoy the marvelous scenery he had fallen in love with, in complete solitude. Henry Maw [went on to become] not only one of the most well known lawyers in the province's criminai court system, but also the busiest. Now, above all else, he wanted peace and quiet during his time away from the office. The islands became his sanctuary. There were actually several islands on Restoule Lake for sale. Island 'A,' or Dry Island, was the biggest. Slightly smaller at 10 acres, was Island 'B' or Green Island and next in line, was Island 'H. Henry purchased Green Island and Island 'H,' the latter on which he built the family cottage. Although he named the island Homewood (sometimes [spelled] Holmewood), it wasn't long before local residents started calling it Maw Island.

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Henry Maw's granddaughter, Elizabeth Marchant Maw-Cockeram, felt that her grandfather built the cottage on Homewood for two reasons. One was because it had an ideal cove for mooring boats and the second being the minimum of clearing required. Island 'H' had been ravaged by one of the forest fires that swept through the region near the end of the last century. According to records, it appears that Island 'B' was the only piece of land in the Restoule area that was spared from any fire damage. The name Green Island is thought to reflect its escape from this fate. But before any cabin was actually built, the Maws and their guests camped out in tents.’

Henry Maw taking some time to read.

‘A rowboat was used by the family to reach the island, although in later years when Irene and Dorothy were older, the girls opted for a canoe. ‘

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‘With the help of a local resident by the name of Tom Smith, along with his sons, John and Robert, Henry Maw finally got the cottage built section by section beginning sometime around 1902 and 1904. The first section included a front room with an impressive fireplace and softwood floors.’

Tom Smith and sons during construction. The Smith’s and Maws would socialize on

occasion.

I suspect these guys were tougher on their weakest days

than I was on my strongest.

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Cottage fireplace as seen in 1917. Fireplace as it looked in 1938.

‘ Next came a dining room, then a small bedroom with a musician's loft above it and finally a kitchen and pantry.’

The loft circa 1938. Cottage interior 1938.

‘ Despite the more primitive living conditions, Henry Maw expected a certain amount of civility from his family, especially the young Irene and Dorothy.

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During one winter after the cottage was completed, he had a piano delivered to Restoule and then taken down the lake by sleigh to the cottage. The girls, who took lessons and practised faithfully during the school year, were now expected to give up their entire summers and play piano for their father while they were on vacation. Irene and Dorothy grew to hate their father's piano and years later the chance to retaliate came quite unexpectedly. At the beginning of 1922, the 62-year-old Henry Maw left the firm of Dewart Maw and Hudson, and went into partnership with Capt. Norman S. MacDonnell, under the name of Maw and MacDonnell. This turned out to be a very short-lived partnership. While taking his summer vacation that year, Henry came down with what was termed at the time as acute indigestion and on the afternoon of July 6,1922, died suddenly. His wife was at his bedside. The couple had been at the cottage on Homewood Island for just one week. Sometime later, there is no record as to exactly when, Irene and Dorothy returned to Homewood Island. Although their sense of loss was heightened by the surroundings that had made their father so content, it also brought back rage. Rage over the loss of numerous idyllic summers spent hammering away at the ivories. Standing before the loathsome musical instrument, the sisters got an idea! Finding an axe, Irene and Dorothy took turns in hacking Henry Maw’s beloved piano to pieces. Dumping the piano's keys, wires, and numerous other inside components into Restoule Lake. The sisters decided to save a few pieces of the piano's wooden shell to make shelves for the cottage. A reminder perhaps for the girls, that justice had finally been served. At least, that is how Elizabeth Marchant Maw-Cockeram remembered her mother Dorothy, telling the story. However, despite being at odds with Henry over the piano, and what earthly purpose did it serve to play it during summer vacation, his daughters admired their father. So much so that Irene decided to follow in Henry Maw's footsteps and pursue a career in law. As her niece Elizabeth remembers, Irene eventually became one the first female lawyers in Ontario.’

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The following pictures show the many great times for the Maws and for Maw’s Island.

Sunday visitors Maybe some fishing.

Did we mention fishing? Whoops, canoe caught on a snag.

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Exploring between the lakes. Hiking rarely included clear paths.

Exploring at the Chute. Labelled as a beaver dam.

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The log slide from Crooked Lake The falls at Restoule. to Restoule...now long gone.

Enjoying the horses at Grawbarger’s farm.

‘As for sister Dorothy, she married Alan Cockeram, who later became Lieut-Col. Cockeram and ,who during peacetime, took over the Irish Regiment of Toronto. In 1940, Cockeram made his political debut as Conservative M.P. for South York, only to resign the position voluntarily so that Rt. Hon.Arthur Meighen might become party leader in the House of Commons. The CCF captured the seat in a by-

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election, but in 1945, Col. Cockeram returned it to the Conservative fold winning by a strong majority vote. After the Second World War, the cottage on Homewood Island remained just as important as it always had and the Cockerams added one more section to it. Another dining room, this time of knotty pine, was added onto the south end, complete with a fireplace.’

Alan and Dorothy Cockeram Alan & Dorothy chilling out

with a little fishing

Alan and Dorothy Cockeram

on Homewood.

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‘Today the island cottage continues to remain in the hands of the family, Henry Maw's greatgrandson. The son of the late Elizabeth Marchant Maw-Cockeram, David Plumb and his wife, Judy Diehl have continued the tradition of keeping the place as a retreat. ‘

Well...with that we end Astrid Taim’s article and we appreciate her writing.

More on Alan Cockeram

But somehow the above does not adequately speak to who Alan Cockeram was and the

contribution he made to Canada.

Although he obviously enjoyed politics, he was first a military man at a time when his country

was in dire need of his type of leadership.

My words couldn’t adequately describe his actions during World War 1 so I am including the

official dispatch describing the actions that saw him awarded the Distinguished Service Order.

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Alan led a distinguished life. By the time of WW2 he was still very involved with military

leadership. None other than the famed Canadian Journalist Gordon Sinclair wrote of him on

July 25th 1940 in The Toronto Daily Star. On the next page, you will find the start of Gordon

Sinclair’s article.

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Toronto Daily Star July 25, 1940

COCKERAM, DSO, NEARLY VC, FOR

BATTLEFIELD BRAVERY

Wiped Out Gun Crew One Day—In Hand-to Hand Fight

the Next

RECRUITS THE IRISH

By GORDON SINCLAIR

Of the 245 seats in Canada’s House of Commons, one is held by a woman, one by an

officer serving overseas, and eight by officers who are mobilized but not yet abroad.

Of these nine statesmen in khaki, only one commands a battalion, and that one not

only commands one battalion but is second in command of another.

Before this month ends, this colonel will resign his command and take major’s rank

and pay as second in command, because the unit where he is second is on the active list and

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the other is not.

Step up then folks and meet Lt-Col Alan Cockeram, DSO, who holds two of the

biggest military jobs in Toronto……and one in Ottawa.

The colonel is at present commander of the second battalion, Toronto Irish Regiment,

and second in command of the Toronto Irish Regiment in the Canadian Active Service

Force…..and when people call him “cocky” it’s not altogether a nickname. It might be a

pretty good description.

In civil life Alan Cockeram is a mine executive and his growling laugh has been heard

up and down the north woods from the Arctic circle to here and back again.

Yesterday we had to confess that the commander of the Irish Regiment, Lieut-Col HB

Duthie, was not Irish, but a Scotch Canadian. Now it’s horrible to repeat that the second in

command is English; straight English, with no Irish mingled in at all. D’Arcy Hinds must be

blushing.

Alan Cockeram was born in Topsham Devonshire, came to Canada in 1913 and

immediately joined the Canadian Bank of Commerce at Bloor and Yonge. The next

year…the fateful year of 1914…Cockeram was transferred to Brockville and there he got a

commission in the 41st Brockville Rifles, a unit still in existence but not yet mobilized.

Enlisted as a Private

That commission came along in midsummer, a few weeks before the outbreak of war,

and just as soon as war did come, Cockeram chucked it up and enlisted in the 21st battalion

(Kingston), as a private.

Cockeram quit the commission because that was the quickest way of getting overseas

and he did get overseas in May 1915. Four months later the battalion was ordered to France

and through the ranks came the colonel to order that Cockeram stay behind and study for a

commission.

He refused. Maybe that was mutiny or treason or what not, but anyhow Cockeram

said he didn’t want a commission because that meant delay in getting into the big show and

delay was the one thing he couldn’t tolerate.

“If I am alive six months from now I’ll apply for leave to study for a commission,” he

said by way of compromise.

He actually waited seven months, was just as lively as he is now…if not more so…

and went back for that commission in April ’15. By the end of August Second Lieutenant

Alan Cockeram was back in France with the First Devonshire Regiment, but the 21st didn’t

like that a little bit. They complained that one their bright young men had been hijacked and

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it was time he came back home.

“But Cockeram is an Englishman” somebody said. “so what…we saw him

first.” Cockeram returned to Canada’s 21st Battalion in February 1917, and at both Vimy

Ridge and Hill 70 things began to pop for both himself and the outfit.

How He Won the DSO

If this war has proved nothing else, it has established that the best you can get is the

worst of it when asking an officer how won his medals. It’s known that Cockeram was

recommended for the Victoria Cross, but wound up with the Distinguished Service Order, and

the citation for that order follows:

“To Lieut Alan Cockeram, 21st Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, for

conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in leading his platoon in an attack. On reaching

his objective he came under heavy fire from a machine gun. Taking two men with him, he

immediately rushed forward, personally killed the gun crew and then noticing that a booby

trap was attached to the gun, he threw it backwards, on which the trap exploded (a booby trap

is a bomb left to catch the unwary). During this operation Cockeram was wounded but

refused to leave his platoon. Later in the day while on reconnaissance with two non

commissioned officers, he met a party of the enemy, all of whom were killed.

On the following morning this officer led his platoon in the open against a strong

enemy counter-attack and after hand-to-hand fighting in which he personally accounted for

several of the enemy, he was severely wounded. (A bomb hit him in the face). The attack

was repulsed. Cockeram’s fearlessness throughout was most marked.”

So that’s the way it all reads in the King’s records…but it would be fun to hear the

colonel say it in his won way.

Later during the war Cockeram was wounded again and mentioned in dispatches. He

was demobilized as captain, and company commander in May 1919, and except for acting as

staff captain to the infantry brigade headed by Col HJ Dawson of Kingston, Cockeram had no

further military connection until 1929.

The Irish Regiment claimed him at that tiem as major and company commander. This

fighting regiment, war born and with the swank motto in Garlic “We clear the way,” had been

dormant 10 years.

Reverts in Ranks Again

When it was reorganized, Cockeram went in immediately, but was about to retire in

1936 when the commander, Lieut-Col WH Stanley, MC, was killed by a Toronto street

car. Cockeram took over the regiment with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was succeeded

by the present commander, Lieut-Col Duthie in 1938, and put in charge of the reserve

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battalion.

As soon as war came along Col Cockeram hollered to get in…but fast. He reverted in

rank to major to become second in command and when the order recently came to raise a new

battalion, Cockeram was the man to do it.

Already he has his officer personnel pretty well lined up and more than 200 men have

been signed on. In connection with this battalion, Cockeram runs the show…and we mean

runs it. He has the appointments under his personal control…all of them. Among other

things he suggested Lieut-Col LH Nelles, DSO, to succeed him in command and this change

will be effected Monday.

We asked the colonel about ambition. What did he aim to do with this

battalion? What did he aim to do about himself?

“For the battalion I want…and I’ll get…a unit any man can be proud of. I want to

recruit, train and equip this unit in kilts and then turn it over, intact and in good spirit, to my

successor. Then I want to go back to the original battalion.”

A tall order but the odds are 20 to one it will be accomplished by Thanksgiving day,

or sooner.

I have no idea how well Alan was known around the lake back in the 30’s and 40’s but I hope

he found the peace and quiet needed to “regenerate the soul” for his military life.

There are a few remaining pictures of the Maw’s from the early days and I am including them

at the end of this article.

Overall as I am finding out over time, you may see some person quietly fishing around

here...but don’t ever assume anything. They could be someone with a fascinating background.

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1938 looking north west from Maw’s Island

Irene and Dorothy paddling. One more photo of Alan and Dorothy

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The women of Maw’s Island...1930’s?

A float plane visits in the 1930’s.

Alan’s brother Bob was the first to

land a float plane on the lake.

This photo may or may not be of

Bob and one of his planes.