Collection F2620 - George Leonard collection

The fonds consists of photographs taken between 1900 and 1950. Almost all of the buildings have either gone or have been so altered as to be almost unrecognisable now; the same might be said of the people. The mills and the rafting and dredging company were principal sources of employment at one time. In the early part of the century these went out of business. After that there seems to have been some tourist trade but not nearly enough to make much local employment. By the time the photograph of the section hands was taken they were very nearly the only regularly employed working men in the village. There was, of course, some farm work available on the surrounding farms, but most men had to depend on commuting to Kingston for work, if there was work to be found. For many years the railway provided the best access to Kingston and the station was an important part of the community. High school students, for example, travelled daily to Kingston by train to attend school. The opening of the highway made motor traffic a much more viable option for commuters and brought the little self contained village closer to the bed room suburb that it has now become. Various views of Collins Bay including cutting ice on Collins Bay, the grist mill, Langly's store, Elm Lodge, 1884 school, Collins Bay Station, Jubilee Women's Institute, Opening Hwy.33 etc. Also include a playbill from "Dust of the Earth".