Crystal Beach Historical Tours

Name: Crystal Beach Historical Tours
Address: Derby Road, Ottawa, ON, L0S1B0, CA
Telephone: +19053578865

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Crystal Beach Historical Tours

Tours of the former Village of Crystal Beach, Ontario, based on the book "Crystal Beach: Out of the Park" by local author Gary Pooler.

See the sites, learn the history of historic Crystal Beach events and locations. Lunch/Dinner stops at local eateries.

11/07/2024

Come by the FEPL Centennial Branch, 6 p.m......authors speaking series....

10/19/2024

If you are from this area, you probably have heard the name Haun, one that is often overlooked in the annals of Bertie Township history. You likely know a Haun, have heard of a Haun, or or related to a Haun. Haun Road in Crystal Beach (originally named Winooski) is named for the Haun family, likely Charles Herbert Haun.
Long before there was a place called Crystal Beach, the entire area of south Bertie Township was known as Hauntown.
Although never officially named Hauntown, it was simply called that because the Haun family owned most of the lakeshore area farm lots from Point Abino in the west to the Windmill Point area in the east.
Matthias Haun Sr. was a U.E.L. settler who came to Canada from Pennsylvania in 1878. His son, Matthias Haun Jr. built the heritage-designated "Stone House" on Yacht Harbour Road in 1812 (see photo). That property was later owned by the Claus and then Lawson families.
Matthias Haun, Isaac, Haun, Alexander Haun, and James Haun are a few of the historic property owners along the lakeshore in south Bertie in the 1800s. It was only natural that the few residents in the area simply referred to the area south of Ridgeway proper as "Hauntown". Isaac Haun became the very first Reeve of Bertie Township in 1850.
The 150-acre plot of land that eventually became the village of Crystal Beach and the amusement park was once owned by Matthias Haun, Jr.
In 1876 Charles Herbert Haun, the son of James Haun and Catherine Elizabeth Sherk, established Haun's Planing Mill (the name Crystal Beach had not yet been coined). It was originally on the north side of Rebstock Road, west of Elmwood Avenue. (see picture of the original mill). The operation was later moved to the east side of Elmwood Avenue (see photo of the second mill).
During the building boom of Crystal Beach in the early to mid- 1900s, the was scarcely a home or cottage built that did not have Charles Haun or Walter Rebstock's wood or work within it.
Mr. Haun provided the earliest source of electricity to the amusement park and village via a huge electric dynamo which he had installed in his mill, engineered by Bill Matthews.
In 1903, his friend John E. Rebstock contacted him from Waynesville, North Carolina, where the Rebstock family had established a barrel factory. The barrels were for the huge Rebstock orchard back home in Crystal Beach. Rebstock required Mr. Haun's expertise for a mechanical issue, and Mr. Haun soon arrived in Waynesville and solved the problem.
While Mr. Haun was still in Waynesville, N.C., the town's very first automobile had arrived, but the new owner, nor anyone else could figure out how to start the thing up. Since Mr. Haun was still in town, he was summoned to help. He hopped into the vehicle, had someone crank it up, and off he went, racing down the street to the delight of the vehicle's new owner and the Waynesville townfolk. (***NOTE: This story is told in Many Voices 2 as having taken place here locally, however that is erroneous***).
In the establishment of the roots of early Crystal Beach, Charles Herbert Haun, who lived his entire life (1859-1930) in Hauntown, was to technology and construction what John E. Rebstock was to commerce and development. The two men and their sons knew each other well, and worked together for decades towards the betterment of the entire area of Bertie Township.

***all photos are courtesy of the Haun family, who helped me with information while researching my book, Crystal Beach: Out of the Park.***

***source for Waynesville, N.C. story: George J. Rebstock, "Life and History of John E. Rebstock", 1978.

10/18/2024

On November 7 @ 6:00 p.m. I will be speaking at the Centennial Branch of the Fort Erie Public Library as part of their author series.
Topics:
*The true origins of Crystal Beach, Ontario
*Myth-busting in Crystal Beach
*History of the Crystal Beach Stadium
*Reading from Chapter Six: Michael John O'Leary V.C.

If you have my book and would like it signed, please bring it, or I will have copies available.

10/12/2024

Me.....and Me.........

10/03/2024

Lots of great comments on my last posts.....entertaining as hell....I think I'll call this a flog (Facebook Log). I have a great life, great wife, great family. I am not a miserable old curmudgeon upset about not getting a gig in Crystal Beach. Been there, done that. Nothing fishy or sus either.....just a post on my observations of what I call "Beachonomics".
Two of my businesses involve writing/speaking about trying to keep the history of Crystal Beach as accurate as can be, and calling out those groups (ie...B.I.A......A.C.B....) who sometimes disregard our actual unique history to suit their business/marketing needs......(ie: changing the name of Bay Beach with a giant sign or renaming the historic Assembly Grounds the Grove).
My other business (music) involves trying to get those same groups who I just called out to book me for their events and/or establishments. They're all the same people. I'm not naive. I think I may have pi**ed someone off.......oops.....I knew this would happen, and it's all good.
Don't really need another gig in Crystal Beach. Just pointing out how it all works in the very small business environment I call the "Erie Road Bubble".......
Soothe your souls......enjoy the photo and video of my latest Giant Coaster scale model #2, serial #001.....😂.....Crystal Beach Forever....Forever Crystal Beach...!!!!!!!!

10/02/2024

Please allow me to explain my utter savagery in yesterday's post re: Casa Hugo.
I'm from Crystal Beach, been here most of my life. I have three businesses based out of Crystal Beach and Ridgeway. I always try to support local.
One business is the book that I wrote, Crystal Beach Out of the Park. Sales have been great, both locally and internationally online....made the Amazon.ca bestseller list under Sports Journalism. In chapter 8, I praise and promote the revitalization of Crystal Beach, as well as all the groups and business people responsible for the revival.
My second business is Crystal Beach Historical Walking Tours, based on events and history from my book. My clients are a mix of new people to the area, and from all around the Golden Horseshoe and Western New York. I take groups of 4, 6, 8, (even 20 people one time) past all of the Crystal Beach sites and businesses and answer questions. Some of my clients even patronize the local shops for a coffee or a cool one after taking the tour. Some local businesses like Yellow Door BnB have helped me with referrals.
My third business is music. I was the leader and frontman of Canada's premier Neil Young tribute, called Neo Young. I did solo, three-piece and five piece shows all across the province and here locally. (Neo Young has the attedance record for the Crystal Beach Sunday Waterfront Concert Series, drawing 2500 people.....twice).
This summer, I scaled down to a strictly solo acoustic act of mixed music and a few old NY favorites under my own name. Been doing this since the late 70s in university. I personally left my card regarding my act at five different pub/bar/restaurants in Crystal Beach and offered to do a FREE ( just to try me out) two-45 minute set show at Utopia, South Coast Cookhouse, Crystal Ball Cafe, Casa Hugo, and also applied to play at the Crystal Beach BIAs Thursday food trucks event.
I did not receive so much as even a response from any of them except one, and that place double-booked me with a karaoke singer on a Sunday morning (which I politely bowed out of).
The place that I posted about yesterday and its owner had an even ruder, more ignorant response when I sought a booking there. I have been relishing its slow demise ever since.

Everything that I do is for my family and my home village, Crystal Beach, and this newby shyster treats a local business like that?

Now you know where I'm coming from.

So much for supporting local.

10/01/2024

Hmm....Casa Hugo on Erie in Crystal Beach is closing permanently.....surprise, surprise.....No table service, order at the bar like McDonalds, cafeteria trays, bad entertainment, cash only, and lo an behold a monopoly on the only ATM around, (owned by the place), right in front of the place. Looks good on the d***he-bag.....but, alas, the BIA will welcome him right back in for his next "venture"........keepin' it real.

09/23/2024

Crystal Beach Historical Tours.....I had a great group from the Lakeside Books & Art book club on the walking tour....interesting questions and stories shared by all......

09/19/2024

Spoke to the Bertie Historical Society tonight about the history of the Crystal Beach Stadium.

09/08/2024

Went to the Post Office yesterday....received these two incredible pieces (one painting, one of his photos of Bay Beach) from old Crystal Beach friend Gary Insalaco. Heather loves poppies and hummingbirds, and I grew up in Bay Beach...what an incredible gift from him. We had trouble hooking up, so he mailed them to us from Crystal Beach to our P.O. in Ridgeway, LOL !!!!! Thank you my friend, from Heather and I....you are truly one of a kind...

08/12/2024

Gave this enterprising young man Bryson and his 2 employees a chance yesterday...excellent work and very polite...Lions Park area, Ridgeway.

07/28/2024

Lakeside Books and Art re-stocked my book again...it's selling great this summer. See Karin for a copy....contact me for a walking Historical tour of old Crystal Beach.

07/21/2024

Thanks to all the folks (locals, people from Ohio, Toronto, Miami) who stopped by to buy my book yesterday at Circle of Art......no local politicians stopped by though.

07/17/2024

I'll be at Circle of Art at Queens Circle in Crystal Beach on Saturday. Book-signing......bringing along the mini-Giant Coaster replica and a couple of special guests.

07/11/2024

Installed the lights....

07/11/2024

I have some free time (47 minutes), so I thought I would do another historical post about Crystal Beach....my last post was a share about Frank Ellis making the first Canadian parachute jump in Crystal Beach (see Frank's photo).
Our local history books are filled with photos of float planes landing near the Crystal Beach Pier, taking people for rides.
In 1893 there was even a hot-air balloon ascension in Crystal Beach, off the end of the rickety first pier.
However, very few remember the air-strip in Crystal Beach that was east of the Stadium grounds in the present-day Ryan Avenue area, (see 1920 aerial photo). This air-strip was used for the planes that needed to take off and land on solid ground, not water.
In the 1930s and 40s, parachute jumps into the Crystal Beach Stadium were a favourite event of the spectators.
On June 16, 1940 Robert Ballantyne of the Toronto Parachute Club jumped from a plane from 1000 feet and landed in the infield of the Crystal Beach Stadium.
He was piloted by Ray Chesney (yes of the Fort Erie Chesney family), who was quite a renowned pilot at the time. (see photo).

Crystal Beach has long been about the altitude.........

Gary Pooler (c) 2024

07/09/2024

Thanks to all who stopped to buy a book and see my Crystal Beach Giant Coaster model at Lakeside Books during Ridge Fest....wow, lots of offers to purchase it. Model #001 is not for sale, so I've just made the foam core template for coaster model (s/n #002). This one WILL be for sale...also made of giant coaster wood, same colour scheme and tracks as model #001, letter of authentication included. Inquire privately.

07/05/2024

Will be in front of Lakeside Books and Art tomorrow for Ridgefest, 9-3....Will be signing books, selling prints, unveiling the model Crystal Beach Giant Coaster that I'm working on.....keychains made from the Giant Coaster wood, too.....

Address

Derby Road
Ottawa, ON
L0S1B0

Telephone

+19053578865

Website

https://www.garypooler.com/

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