Kate, Belle and Tillie Abbott, the proprietors of Maryboro from 1913 to 1962, were daughters of Henry Abbott, an emigrant from Grenada County, Ireland. He arrived in New York City in 1852, on route to the Kingston area where he worked as an agricultural labourer and married Isabella Dodds on July 18, 1859. They operated a farm in Olden Township, where their son William was born. In 1867, Henry travelled on foot with his dog, Sailor, to Hickory Beach, on the north shore of Sturgeon Lake in Verulam Township. There he bought property from Mossom Boyd, who owned the Bobcaygeon mill, built a log cabin and brought his family the following year.
The Abbotts farmed at Hickory Beach, and raised their children: Catherine Anne (Kate), Margaret (died as an infant), Richard, Mary, Isabella (Belle), Frances (Fannie) and Margaret Matilda (Tillie). Richard drowned in Sturgeon Lake during a log drive on July 1, 1874. A few years later Henry broke his leg on a sling used to raise hay into the mow, leaving him unable to farm full time. They resided temporarily on another lot at Hickory Beach before buying a property in Fenelon Falls, adjacent to the present day cemetery, where they continued farming of a limited scale.
Kate, Belle and Tillie did not marry. Kate and Tillie both travelled to New York City to visit their Aunt Fannie, who had arrived there in 1852 with their father. Tillie worked in the laundry at Peterborough’s Nicholls Hospital, while Kate returned to Fenelon Falls and operated a bakeshop on Colborne St., at the present location of Cheryl’s Hair Salon. Belle attended Model School near Minden, and taught at Secondary School 7, known as the Scotch Line School, near Minden, as well as Number 2 Anson and Number 3, between 1896 and 1903.
In 1906 Henry died, leaving the property in Fenelon Falls and household furniture to his unmarried daughters, and willed that William should provide them with wood, cattle and wheat, even if they left the home. On April 26, 1913, William purchased Maryboro from Tom Cashore, enabling the three sisters to open a lodge. In 1922 Kate died, but Belle and Tillie continued to operate the lodge. In their later years they often only occupied Maryboro Lodge in the summer, living with their sister Mary Kelly in the winter, because the lodge, lacking insulation, was very cold. They left Maryboro in 1958, moving to Waterman’s Nursing Home on Adelaide St. in Lindsay. Belle died on March 3, 1963 and Tillie on March 9, 1965.
Belle and Tilley could be quite assertive, were very proper and were dedicated to the Fenelon Falls Baptist Church, especially its mission society. They gave generously to many charities. The Abbott sisters made friends easily, both among their neighbours and guests, who fondly recall their generosity and Belle’s sense of humour.