GELERT

NAME: Gelert COUNTY: Haliburton ROADS: 2WD GRID: 1 CLIMATE: Snow in winter BEST TIME TO VISIT: All year

COMMENTS: Gelert is located in Haliburton County, south of Minden where the Gelert Rd. and Sedgwick Rds. meet. REMAINS: 2 churches, school, 2 stores, old homes, town hall

Gelert began as a sawmill village and at times had been called Little Ireland, Snowdonville and Minden Station. It was first settled in 1860 and thrived throughout the late 1800s. In 1878 the arrival of the Victoria Railway gaved the town an extra boost. By the 1890's it had a post office, 2 general stores (both still stand), a shingle mill, a sawmill, a carpet mill, a blacksmith, a hotel, a carpenter, a shoemaker, a wagonmaker, churches and a shool. With the depletion of the farming soils (a common-hood on the Canadian Shield), and with the loss of timber stands due to forest fires, the village went into decline. The post office closed in 1969 and CN removed the rail lines in 1980. The village today is a mere reflection of what it once was. It has become run-down. Most of its buildings are in dis-repair mixed with excess junk hanging around. The cemetery at the east side of town does retain its charm though; as it is well-kept. Its Finnish past has been preserved there too (some of the Finnish settlers were a family by the name of Kaasalainen). Submitted by: Clayton Self

Schoolhouse Courtesy Clayton Self

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