Editing Lake Scugog (section)

==History==

The lake has had a history of water level changes. Originally, it was essentially two lakes connected via a broad channel flowing through a [[marsh]]y area along the north end. The lake was flooded approximately ten feet when William Purdy and his sons [[dam]]med the [[Scugog River]] at [[Lindsay, Ontario|Lindsay]] (Upstream from the current dam and locks) in 1834 to power his [[grist mill]].<ref name="history p30">{{citation

 | last = Kirkconnell | first = Watson
 | title = County of Victoria, Centennial History
 | page = 30
 | publisher = Victoria County Council
 | year = 1967
 | url = http://www.canadiangenealogy.net/ontario/victoriacounty/eastern_concessions.htm#Annals
 | accessdate = 2009-07-30
}}</ref> During this period of high water levels through the 1930s, today's so-called islands of Washburn, Nonquon (now Seven Mile), Ball, Platten, and the enormous centrally located Scugog came into existence as islands. Today, these form part of the mainland, with the exception of Scugog Island, which is generally maintained as an island by man-made channels around the swampy south end of the island.

The stagnant waters of the lake caused a wave of deadly fevers in the surrounding farms, and the new lake limits quickly became very unpopular with the local residents. On one day in the summer of 1838, settlers from the countryside surrounding the lake rose up and using axes, flintlocks and pitchforks, tore the dam apart, lowering the lake once more.<ref name="history p31">{{citation

 | last = Kirkconnell | first = Watson
 | title = County of Victoria, Centennial History
 | page = 31
 | publisher = Victoria County Council
 | year = 1967
 | url = http://www.canadiangenealogy.net/ontario/victoriacounty/eastern_concessions.htm#Annals
 | accessdate = 2009-07-30
}}</ref> No charges were laid due to the general anger towards the water height by residents, and because of a deal reached between Purdy and the [[Ministry of Government and Consumer Services (Ontario)#Public Works|Board of Works of the Province of Canada]], on December 18, 1843. Mr. Purdy was forced to lower the elevation to something approximating its natural maximum spring high-water level, a reduction in the height of the previous dam by about three feet. The Board of Works constructed the dam and a lock for navigation into Lake Scugog, which was completed in 1844 and included a [[log flume]].<ref name="history p32">{{citation

 | last = Kirkconnell | first = Watson
 | title = County of Victoria, Centennial History
 | page = 32
 | publisher = Victoria County Council
 | year = 1967
 | url = http://www.canadiangenealogy.net/ontario/victoriacounty/eastern_concessions.htm#Annals
 | accessdate = 2009-07-30
}}</ref> In exchange, Purdy relinquished all claims against the damage done by residents, and maintained the dam and flume.