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The Inn at the Falls

Our Experience :: History :: Past Activity :: Story of Sarah

Location: Bracebridge, Ontario
Date: November, 18, 2006
Members: Amanda, Brenda, Donny, Jay and Rachel
Equipment: 3 Digital cameras, 2 camcorders, 3 voice recorders, 1 digital thermometer, 1 EMF detector, 1 audio enhancer, 2 walkie-talkies

THE STORY OF SARAH

*Taken from information sheet given at the Inn at the Falls*

"Sarah Lillius Fraser Kirk, better known as Lillius lived at 1 Dominion Street, Bracebridge with her husband Edward Kirk in the early 1930's. She originally lived in the Old Fraser house at #152 Shire Street in Bracebridge across from Kelvin Grove Park. She had sex children at 1 Dominion Street with Edward. From the oldest to youngest, they were Winifred, Gordon, Dorothy, Audrey, Harold, and Phyllis. Around that time (1932 - 1934) the bridge now known as the Silver Bridge was built. The Kirk's eventually sold 1 Dominion Street and built a house on Muskoka Road by the Legion, but Lillius did not want to leave, and it appears she never has. Although she lived to a ripe old age, around 70 years, she is now buried with her husband somewhere in Toronto. The Kirk children had a few children themselves. Winifred had a boy, Gordon had a boy and girl, Dorothy who married a Wallace had 2 boys, Audrey had 2 boys, Harold had a girl and 2 boys, and Phyllis had 3 girls.

Sarah Lillius was not Edwards first wife. Helena Kirk who is now buried at the Presbyterian United Church Cemetery off of Santa's Village Road by William's Park, died while she was pregnant with their first child after falling down the stairs at Edward's and Helena's house, NOT 1 Dominion Street. Sarah Lillius's children would not find out that Edward was married to another woman before their mother until much later - and apparently they were not happy about the secret!
This information was given to us by Glenna Fraser Pate, Sarah's niece. Lillius' brother William Fraser and Bertha May McMurray were Glenna's mom and dad.

By the way, the portrait in the Dining Room is not of Sarah. It's a painting by a French painter by the name of Bougereaux, 1825 - 1905."