One of the most interesting tasks I handle as an ever-expanding historian in Innisfil is to answer any queries that come to our [email protected] inbox.
Now, don’t for a minute think I have all the answers to genealogical or land ownership questions. But the really good thing is I have my sources.
Bill Warnica is my go-to guy for family mystery searches, with Bill Kell for land, crop and southern Innisfil queries. Plus, I can now identify older Innisfil citizens in every village who are my information sources. So, that said, I attempt to answer or at least direct the inquirer toward the answer.
In early 2018, one such email query was submitted by David Lennox, of Cookstown, Northern Ireland. Lennox was quite curious to know more about Cookstown, Innisfil. Happily, I mailed him Glimpses of Cookstown by Joan McLean, as well as Memories of Cookstown. These books and an innate curiosity turned out to be the impetus Lennox needed to come visit Cookstown, Ont. Of course, a major roadblock named COVID slowed down his well-laid plans.
But, in 2024, we communicated again — he was really coming this time. So, on June 26, after a flight to Toronto, Lennox arrived on the GO train for a day in Innisfil. To be sure we knew what each other looked like, we exchanged photos — it almost felt like a dating app.
What a fascinating day we had, starting off with lunch at The Cove Café, and then a sightseeing tour of Big Bay Point with accompanying stories of Point Endeavour and steamships disembarking with early tourists to Big Bay Point’s grand hotel. Along the Lake Simcoe shoreline we continued, stopping for a photo moment at the Innisfil Historical Society’s 50th-anniversary photo frame and stories of Lord Simcoe camping at the nearby Innisfil Park sandy beach.
On we travelled to the town hall, a splendid sight when first viewed. Lennox commented time and again about the size of buildings, the space around homes, but where are all the cows?
Mayor Lynn Dollin warmly welcomed us and graciously gave Lennox a parting Cookstown hoodie. One topic of conversation between the two involved the possible twinning of the two Cookstowns in the future. Former mayor Brian Jackson had also pursued this idea, but nothing official was completed; perhaps this can still occur.
By late afternoon, rain had really started in earnest, but still, a walk in St. John’s Cemetery and a stroll down Cookstown’s main street occurred. Lennox’s photo was taken near every Cookstown sign. Evening found us back on the 9th Line enjoying dinner and listening to spirited Irish tales.
Because a significant number of Innisfil’s earliest pioneers were emigrants of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, it was fascinating to hear about the founding stages of Cookstown, U.K. Settlers from Scotland and England were encouraged to come to Ulster by being given grants of land to develop. (Does this sound familiar?)
One of the key founders in Northern Ireland was Dr. Allen Cooke, who was credited with establishing the beginnings of Cookstown there in the 1620s. Cooke was granted a charter by King Charles I to hold weekly markets and twice-yearly fairs. The sale of grain, flax, linen and livestock greatly added to the local economy. Cookstown’s main street, more than a mile long and 130 feet wide, confirmed it to be the town with the longest main street in Ireland.
Lennox worked in a cheese factory, and I was soon convinced his prowess as a salesperson had led to his success. He spoke with such pride and knowledge of all things connected with his Cookstown heritage. He spoke of the area of Mid Ulster, which is centred around Cookstown in County Tyrone, a district containing some excellent farmland bounded to the west by the Sperrin Mountains and to the east by Lough Neagh.
Northern Ireland farms are generally around 70 acres in total, often divided into as many as 17 fields, all of various sizes and configurations. Mainly, large equipment is hired to harvest crops. Northern Ireland’s idea of large equipment compared to Canada’s large equipment would make a startling contrast. Cookstown is a bustling market town still today, with a deep sense of history. Lennox clearly proved to be one of its strongest advocates.
In partnership with the Cookstown Chamber of Commerce, the Innisfil Historical Society has launched a project titled Cookstown Oldies. As referrals come in, a list of men and women who have lived in the village or surrounding area for a minimum 50-plus years is being compiled, with the end result aimed at a photo of all ‘Oldies’ to be taken at the Innisfil ideaLAB & Library’s Cookstown branch Community Room on Friday, Oct. 25.
One of the unique aspects of Cookstown has been its geography, spread over four townships, except for the central point, the village. As of 1991, it is entirely Innisfil. However, its postal area still heads off to all four corners.
