Cobden, Ontario

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For other uses of the name, see Cobden.

Cobden is a small village in the Whitewater Region, Ontario. Located roughly halfway between Renfrew, Ontario And Pembroke, Ontario on Highway 17. Cobden is the home town of Susie Laska, profesional hockey player for the NWHL.

Cobden as seen from the south-east

1 History
- 1.1 The Astrolabe
- 1.2 Founding and development
2 Demographics and Culture
3 The Cobden Connection
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

The area around Cobden was originally inhabited by the Nibachis, a sub-division of the native, Algonquin speaking, tribes of North America.

[edit] The Astrolabe

In 1613, French explorer Samuel de Champlain, traveled through an area very near Cobden while exploring the Ottawa River. Due to the Chenaux Rapids, Champlain and his men were forced to portage. They presumably took shore in Browns Bay near present day McKenzie's Hill. In 1953 a large rock was found in this area bearing a chiseled inscription. Though the inscription was hard to read it was determined that it said "Champlain Juin 2, 1613". Champlain's trail from this point is debatable. He may have cut straight across land to the southern tip of Jeffreys Lake, or he may have veered south skirting the far side of what later came to be known as the Champlain Trail Lakes. It is known that he eventually made his way to Green Lake and at this point, according to several 17th century authors, Champlain lost his Astrolabe. It stayed there for 254 years, until it was found in 1867 by Edward George Lee, a 14-year-old farm boy helping his father clear trees near Green Lake(now Astrolabe Lake). Edward Gave the Astrolabe to Captain Comley, a Steamboat Captain on Muskrat Lake; Lee never received the ten dollars Cowley promised him, and Cowley sold the astrolabe to his employer, President of the Ottawa Forwarding Company, R.W. Cassels. The Astrolabe eventually passed to Samuel V. Hoffman of the New York Historical Society in 1942, remaining there for 47 years, until acquired by the Department of Communications for the Canadian Museum of Civilization in 1989.

In 1990 A special celebration was held in Cobden in honour of the astrolabe's return. The brainchild of local citizen Harold Dobson, who had gathered thousands of signatures to support bringing back the astrolabe, the event featured Fireworks, Music, and Dance. Also to commemorate the event, a time capsule was sealed outside of the local post office, to be opened in another 310 years. The site of the Astrolabe's discovery is now host to both a recreational water park, Logos Land, and a golf course, The Oaks Of Cobden. The home of Edward Lee still stands and is now the base of operations for Doddridge Piano Tuning. The town arena is named after the Astrolabe and the town flag bares its likeness. To find the design of the flag a contest was held. A local school teacher Stan Keon organized the event.

Although it cannot be conclusively proven that the Astrolabe found near this Lake indeed belonged to Champlain, the following facts should be taken into consideration.

-The bottom portion of the Astrolabe is engraved 1603, the same year Champlain was commissioned "geographer Royal" to Henry lV on his first voyage to Canada

-Champlain's reading at Gould's Landing erred by 1 degree. Subsequent readings recorded at Alumette Island also erred 1 degree

-Apart from this reading at Alumette Island Champlain does not enter readings for the remainder of his expedition

-It was not unusual for Champlain to omit recording events and conditions in his journal. He was considered a laconic journalist who only dealt with facts he considered important

-Finally, by 1611, the astrolabe had been largely replaced by the vernier scale which was considered to be far more accurate

[edit] Founding and development

Early Years Cobden's very existence is a circumstance of location. As Pembroke and Ottawa grew so, it seemed, did the gap between them. in the 1800's the easiest route between the two was the Ottawa River. However, the presence of rapids near Portage du Fort necessitated a land route. At this time the area was mostly a vast forest untouched by Europeans. A few settlers had put down near muskrat lake, (John Parsons, John Sheriff, Spencer Allen, Robert Allen, and others) but for the most part there had been little activity since Champlain's visit in the 17th Century. Then in 1849 Jason Gould built a road from what came to be called Goulds Landing to what would become Cobden on Muskrat lake. One could catch a steamer down the lake and then go on by road to Pembroke. The traffic on the road couldn't help but cause growth. In 1850 Gould built a Post Office and named the fledgling settlement Cobden after Richard Cobden, member of British Parliament, whom Gould admired. by Oct 2nd, 1876 the railway had crept its way to Cobden. The community started to expand from the lake towards the railway station further inland. Main Street began to take shape, The Cobden Sun, The Bank of Ottawa, black smith shops, a bakery, general store, mill, surgeon and jewelry store. In 1880 A public school as opened to accommodate the strain on nearby S.S.No 1. Cobden was soon the biggest community in Ross Township and became an Incorporated Village in October 1901.

1901-Present Cobden has been the victim of many fires. This has destroyed almost all of the original buildings. Main Street has suffered worst from fire including one in 1913 which destroyed the Cobden Sun building and many historical records. A hydro electric dam began operating at the falls south of Cobden. It supplied the town, off and on, with power until it was destroyed, April 12, 1934, in a raging flood. Large blocks of ice ripped the dam apart and poured over highway 17 tearing away sections of pavement. The plant operator, Mr. Bill Wall, was stranded in the upper section of their house until flooding subsided. The town then started receiving power from a station in Calabogie. Council elections in 1949 were dominated by the issue of whether or not to hold another plebiscite on establishing a waterworks system. A previous plebiscite had come out 82-56 against. But times were changing quickly after the war a new council was elected and the next vote was 124-46 in favour and by the early 1950's Cobden had water. The waterworks system required constant mantenance up until a major retooling in the 1980's. The visibly dominating water tower was built in 1988 replacing the original (built in 1951).

A bigger school was needed by 1903. The present day school, Cobden District Public, was built in 1938 and initially served as a high school until Opeongo High School was built.

Today, Cobden’s location on the busy Trans-Canada Highway, known as Highway 17, makes it a convenient stopping place for the many travelers passing through the area.

[edit] Demographics and Culture

In 1991 Cobden had a population of 1026. In 1996 Cobden had a population of 1020, this is a decrease of .58%

Occupying 1.85 km of land, Cobden has a population density of 551.351 people per square km

Cobden is host to its own annual fair and is held in late August each year. Established in 1854, The Cobden Fair offers several days of activities that include exhibits, cattle and horse shows, midway rides and a demolition derby. During the holiday season, it has its own Santa Claus Parade. From May until October, located at the Cobden fairgrounds, and offering fresh local grown produce, homemade baking and a wide assortment of crafts is one of the best farmers' markets in the Ottawa Valley.

[edit] The Farmers' Market

Organized in 1991. The Farmers' Market is an outdoor market that runs from May to October. It offers a wide variety of crafts and foodstuffs and everything must be grown or hand made locally. The market has recently moved from the Memorial Hall grounds to the Fair Grounds but the Christmas Market, the grande finale for the year, is still held in the Memorial Hall

[edit] Cobden Park

Overlooking Muskrat Lake the park occupies what is thought to be the spot where Champlain met the Native Chief Nibachis. A plaque was erected in the 1960's commemorating this. The lands for the park were donated by Thomas Robinson and his wife in 1904. In 1988 extensive work was carried out on the beach portion of the park by the Civitans.

[edit] Bruce McPhail Memorial Airport

Home to The Champlain Flying Club, the Cobden airport is just south of the village on Highway 17.

[edit] Logos Land

Located about 5 miles east of Cobden, Logos Land is a religious based water park. Built on the site of the Astrolabe's discovery Logos Land Features 5 water slides, paddle boats, mini-golf and a representation of Noah's ark which was recently outfitted with a[[Pizza Hut] Express/sunshine caffe marking the first franchise to bless the population with its presence. The water park is open mid-June to Labour Day, but Noah's Ark is open year-round.

[edit] Mussie

Mussie is a Nessie-like creature said to reside in Muskrat Lake. It most likely doesn't exist, and if it does, is more likely a sturgeon.

[edit] Storyland Canada

Storyland once featured 200 animated characters set in 40 different fairy tale scenes surrounded by a natural woodland environment. Though the park has fallen into disrepair it still features two large playgrounds, paddleboats, mini-golf and picnic areas. The Champlain Lookout offers a panoramic view of the Ottawa River. Open daily Victoria Day to Labour Day.

[edit] Quotes

"It's not that hard giving directions in Cobden." -Harold Dobson

[edit] The Cobden Connection

There are three communities named after Richard Cobden; Cobden, Ontario, Cobden, Illinois and Cobden, Victoria in Australia. In 1989 the Cobden in Illinois held a get together and invited people from the Cobden in Ontario. Things must have gone well because in 1990, for the celebration of the Astrolabes return, Cobdenites from Illinois and Australia visited. In 1991 Cobden Australia hosted their own reunion and a contingent of 26 Ontario Cobdenites attended. Cobden, Ontario held a reunion again in 1996 with accommodations and entertainment provided for 106 Cobdenites from both Cobdens. And to make the celebration complete, one of Richard Cobden's descendants attended with his wife, all the way from England. Australia Hosted another reunion in 1998.