Editing Coboconk (section)

== Attractions ==

[[Balsam Lake Provincial Park]] (448 ha) and [[Indian Point Provincial Park]] (947 ha) are both minutes west of Coboconk. The former is a summer campground,<ref>{{cite web|title=Parks Ontario - Balsam Lake|url=http://www.ontarioparks.com/ENGLISH/bals.html|access-date=2009-08-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090716124542/http://www.ontarioparks.com/English/bals.html|archive-date=2009-07-16}}</ref>
while the latter is a natural environment conservation area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Parks Ontario - Indian Point|url=http://www.ontarioparks.com/ENGLISH/indi.html|access-date=2009-08-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223040107/http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/indi.html|archive-date=2010-02-23|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Coboconk jail.JPG|thumb|right|225px|Coboconk's jail now houses a gift shop]]
Coboconk is one of several places (including [[Tweed, Ontario]] and [[Creemore, Ontario]]) which lay claim to be ''the home of Canada's smallest [[jail]]'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Jail Trivia|url=http://www.coolquiz.com/trivia/canada/jail.asp|access-date=December 20, 2009}}</ref> a claim which it promoted on the welcoming sign on the south side of the village. At 4.57&nbsp;m by 8.84&nbsp;m (26.68&nbsp;[[m^2|m<sup>2</sup>]]), it is certainly amongst the smallest jails in [[North America]]. However, the absolute distinction belongs to the jail house in [[Rodney, Ontario]], which measures just 4.5&nbsp;m by 5.4&nbsp;m (24.3&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup>).<ref>{{cite book|last=Brown|first=Ron|title=Behind Bars: Inside Ontario's Heritage Gaols|page=96|year=2006|publisher=Dundurn Press Ltd.|isbn=978-1-897045-17-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ql01sEqKe_gC&q=Coboconk+4.57+5.84+metres&pg=PA96|access-date=August 5, 2009}}</ref>
The Coby Jail has {{convert|2|ft|m|adj=mid|-thick}} limestone walls mined from the local quarry. These along with the iron bars remain unchanged since the construction of the jail in 1884.<ref name="SLassoc"/> Inside the jail were two cells, in addition to the wardens office. The sole constable of the jail, Joseph Wakelin, was appointed in 1899 and retired in 1922.<ref name="jailspg8182">{{cite book|last=Brown|first=Ron|title=Behind Bars: Inside Ontario's Heritage Gaols|pages=81–82|year=2006|publisher=Dundurn Press Ltd.|isbn=978-1-897045-17-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ql01sEqKe_gC&q=coboconk+1899+-woodslee&pg=PA81|access-date=August 5, 2009}}</ref>

Local legend tells of a man named Lee who was locked up one night by the constable, who then returned home. Upon the constable's return, Lee was found sitting beside the jail, with no physical damage to the door or lock.<ref name ="jailspg8182" />
This legend, however, can be attributed to the builder of the jail, Albert Ryckman, who left several bricks in place without mortar with the foresight that should he be caught after a night at the local pub, known as the Pattie House, he could simply escape unnoticed. It is said that he made use of this escape route several times over the years.<ref name="SLassoc">{{cite web|title=Area History|website=Shadow Lakes Association|date=Spring 2005|url=http://www.shadowlakes.on.ca/areahistory.htm|access-date=January 19, 2010}}</ref>

The jail sat vacant for 50 years before being purchased by the Coboconk New Horizons Club in 1974.<ref name="SLassoc" /> It is now a designated heritage site<ref name="SLassoc" /> and museum,<ref>{{cite web|title=Kawartha Lakes Museums|publisher=City of Kawartha Lakes|year=2009|url=http://www.explorekawarthalakes.com/en/experience/museums.asp|access-date=January 19, 2010}}</ref> named Ye Olde Jailhouse.<ref name="2010 mapart">{{cite map|title=Ontario Back Road Atlas|year=2010|publisher=[[MapArt]]|isbn=978-1-55198-226-7}}</ref>

Balsam Lake is claimed to be the highest freshwater lake in the world from which one can sail to the ocean. [[Parks Canada]] recognized this feature by placing a historical landmark at the Coboconk docks. A celebration was held on the 2010 summer solstice, June 19, to unveil the marker.<ref>[http://www.mykawartha.com/community/article/833027--coboconk-stakes-a-claim Coboconk Stakes a Claim]</ref>