The Boathouse facts for kids
The Boathouse is a cool building located at 116 Gordon Street in Guelph, Ontario. It's a single-story wooden building right next to the Speed River. It was built around 1930 for Edward Johnson, a famous opera singer. Over the years, the Boathouse has been used for many things. It has been a place to keep boats, a snack bar, a dance hall, and even a headquarters for Navy Cadets. For over 130 years, the Boathouse has been a main spot for fun water activities in Guelph.
Contents
The Boathouse Story
Early Days: The 1800s
People think the very first boathouse was built in 1876 by a person named Mr. O Coulson. In 1879, Edward McKeague started a boat rental business there. By 1885, William Johnson took over. He was the uncle of the famous opera singer, Edward Johnson. The boathouse needed the Gow dam to create a pool of water in the river for boats.
In 1895, the Speed Canoe Club was started. Its members met every Thursday evening in a hall above William Johnson’s boathouse. They would canoe about a mile and a half up the river to Victoria Park. When they returned at midnight, they would link their arms and canoes together. They sang as they paddled back to the boathouse. The Speed Canoe Club was very popular. Between 1895 and 1900, it had 250 members!
The 1900s and Changes
The Boathouse building you see today, built in 1930, wasn't the first one. Guelph’s first Boathouse was built way back in 1876. At that time, James Johnson, Edward Johnson's father, managed the boat rental business. In 1885, his brother William took over. William helped create the Speed Canoe Club. This club, located by the Speed River next to the Boathouse, became one of Guelph’s most active social and sports groups. It's still a popular place for boaters today!
During World War II, the Navy League of Canada used the Boathouse. It was the main base for the Sea Cadets until 1993. After that, the building started to fall apart. The Sea Cadets moved to a new place. The city then planned to tear down the Boathouse to make more parking spots.
But some people in Guelph wanted to save the building. They felt it was an important historical place. So, some restaurant owners made a deal with the city. They agreed to fix up the old building. In return, they got to rent it for a long time at a very low price. A newer part at the back, used for storage by the Sea Cadets, was removed. Only the original 1930s building remained.
The Boathouse Today: 2000s
In June 2011, The Boathouse celebrated two big events. First, it marked 135 years since it was first started. Second, it celebrated 15 years since it reopened as an ice cream shop and tea room.
Many people love the Boathouse because it's not a big chain restaurant. It’s a small, local business. You might often see the owner chatting with visitors. She makes everyone feel welcome and answers questions about the Boathouse.
To celebrate the Boathouse's special milestones, owner Brenda Tremblay talked about how much she cares for the place. In 1997, it cost $100,000 to fix up the historic building. She also made a good 10-year rental deal with the City of Guelph.
Today, the Boathouse is a lovely tea room. It's open every day. You can get ice cream cones there, plus a full menu of fresh, light lunches.
Food and Fun at The Boathouse
The Boathouse offers many tasty options like wraps, salads, and small meals. Most plates cost less than $11. It's open from 9 AM to 4 PM. They also have great choices for vegetarians and people who need gluten-free food. Everything is made with fresh ingredients.
Ice Cream Parlour
The Boathouse has an ice cream parlour with 20 different flavors that change often. They serve ice cream from Shaw's Ice Cream. They also have vegan ice cream options from Fairly Frosted Bakery.
The Tea Room
Inside the Boathouse, there's a cozy and fancy tea room. You can choose from over 30 kinds of loose and herbal teas. They even have a special Boathouse Exclusive Blend and unique white teas.
Canoeing and Kayaking Fun
You can rent canoes and kayaks right from The Boathouse! This service is run by Speed River Paddling Inc. They are open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 AM to 7 PM. They close for the winter season. You can rent canoes and kayaks whenever you like.
Canoe rentals cost $15 per hour on weekdays and $18 per hour on weekends. For longer trips, there's a $30 half-day rate (2–5 hours). A full-day rental (5+ hours) costs $40.
Kayak rentals are $12 per hour on weekdays and $15 per hour on weekends. A half-day rental (2–5 hours) is $25. A full-day rental (5+ hours) costs $35.
