Braeside Camp was once a popular rest stop on the highway

Postcard Memories is a weekly series of historic postcard views and photos submitted by Marcel Rousseau. Some were previously published by the Orillia Museum of Art and History and in the book Postcard Memories Orillia. You can take a trip down memory lane with us each Saturday morning! 

“Stevenson’s Braeside Camp, No. 11 Highway,  9 miles north of Orillia.” That is the caption on this postcard from the 1940s.

Today the remains of these cabins can still be seen exactly nine miles north of the Opera House (old city hall), traveling the old route north, on the old section of Highway 11.  

From the present highway, one exits at the Sparrow Lake turn-off and proceeds to the par 3 golf course. A little beyond and on the left is the site of the one-time camp. 

The Braeside camp featured several rental log cabins, a gas station and restaurant.   

The two Lloyd-style wicker chairs, to the right of the front door, suggest the Stevensons provided a relaxing rest stop for their customers.  

The signs on the building tell us that “full service” in 1940 meant a place to stay, White Rose gas for your car, Sweet Caporal cigarettes, breakfast, and a Country Club ice cream cone.

Country Club was the brand name used by the Orillia Creamery located near the market square; every stopping place for miles around displayed the large Country Club ice cream sign.  

This ice cream was such a popular treat that in 1927 the Orillia Creamery churned out over 35,000 gallons of the sweet treat.