Our History

Salerno Lake is a lake in Ontario's cottage country

It was originally named "Devil's Lake" because it was a devil of a place to move logs from one end to the other with its 90-degree curve. The name was changed to Salerno Lake by the government of Ontario and published on a federal map in 1944. Salerno Lake was named after the Italian city of that same name. History shows that the Canadian Army played a prominent role in landing at Salerno, Italy in 1943. This naming allowed for a distinctive lake name and eliminated the common name "Devil". The name Salerno Lake was eventually approved by the Canadian Board on Geographical Names in 1953.

The IB&O Railway brought early tourists to Devil's Lake in the 1880s. The famous founder, Charles J. Pusey, had a huge cottage on the south end of the lake. Other cottagers “went over the hill” and built cottages all along the east side. This included the Highland Trail Lodge. Eventually, a road was pushed from Irondale to White Lake to service the farther ends of the lake. The water drains into the Irondale branch of the Burnt River via Devil's Creek at Irondale. Although most town lots in Irondale were never built upon, at its peak in 1891, the village contained a busy railway station, 2 general stores, a blacksmith shop and Sam Hancock’s hotel. Unfortunately, the mother lode never materialized, and the mines disappeared. The lumber industry lingered for a time, buoyed by the railway. The Standard Chemical plant in Donald created a sporadic demand for wood, but soon the best timber was but a memory. Locals also employed some creative ways to earn extra cash. In winter, blocks of ice were cut from Devil's Lake and lowered by slide down to the railway station. Here they were loaded on box cars & sent to Torontonians, in the days before electric refrigerators.

Our Lake's History
(written by our cottagers)

Do you recognize anyone in these old photos? Do you have historical documents, stories of the past or old photos of your cottage on Salerno Lake that you would like to share? If so, contact our SDLCA Communication Chair

On the north east side of the lake, back in the early 1940s. Kids are swimming and catching frogs.

Girl Guide Camp and Salerno Lake

Research from Tom and Joan Kott Tom and Joan Kott

The guide camp that was located on Procter Drive (the building was torn down in 60s). There were two camps. Happy Acres was located on the southeast side of the old 503 just after you cross the cement bridge. Back then, it was open fields. Camp Wabpashant was located near our cottage on Procter Drive. My Aunt Helen Sutton (nee Snor) was active in organizing the camp.

The first mention of camping at Irondale is in 1954. Sites were owned by two districts (not named) in Peel Division (in the Hamilton area). At this time, camps were held for 10-day periods, and that yea,r 70 Guides in total attended the camp.
1955, 246 Girl Guides attended the two district camps at Irondale
21 Guiders, along with a Camp Adviser and Training chairman, assisted in staffing these camps
1957, these sites were permanently established at Irondale
1960, the sites at Irondale are referred to as Camp Wabpashant and Camp Happy Acres
1961, both camps were filled to capacity
1962, Hamilton Area was split into two areas, and Peel Division now falls under White Oaks Area.
1964, Camp Wabpashant closed and all its supplies were donated to the new area camp, Camp Wyoka.

Also, the Guides in Port Credit seem to have used the camp more than others in the area. I have not found mention of which Guiders established the camp or when exactly it was established.

Kott Family (Snor) cottage boathouse and bunk, early 1930s. On the north end of the lake, the cottage has been updated, but the dock structure remains.

Irondale Devils Lake viewed from above Snor cottage

Irondale Grandma Snor 1930's

ALL-GO CAMP (1947) was operated by William and Lily Lancaster as a family summer business in the 1950s. The main lodge was built in 1947 and was used to serve meals and entertain camp guests. The lodge still stands today off of Salerno Road No. 7 (at the south end of the lake). In the late 1960s, William and Lily decided to sell the lodge and most of the 140 acres on which the camp was located to help them retire. They kept 3 lots that were located slightly up the lake from the lodge, which they adored because of the many tall pine trees located on that parcel of land. They nicknamed the property 'Pinepoint' and built a new family cottage, which was enjoyed by many Lancaster-Proud family members for the next 30+ years.