The Ketchecum Hunt Club
One Hundred Years on Catchacoma Lake
A history of one of North America’s longest-running hunt camps, from the 1860s to the 2000s.
A Legacy That Began in the 1860s
The Ketchecum Hunt Club is one of the longest continuously-running hunt camps in North America. Tracing its roots to the early 1860s, the book concentrates on the Club’s time on Catchacoma Lake, where the heart of the Club was a rustic cabin perched on a point overlooking one of the most beautiful beaches in a five-lake chain north of Buckhorn, Ontario.
From Steam Boats to Speedboats
Spanning 100 years from 1901, when the cabin was built, to 2000 when the Club left Catchacoma, the book describes the journey to camp: from the original two-day trek by steam boat, horse, wagon, and canoe… to the latter years when members could make the 45-minute drive from Peterborough and cross the lake in 15 minutes by steel boat with a 50hp motor.
The Men Behind the Club
The book contains in-depth biographies of the prominent Peterborough businessmen and professionals who were members throughout the century. These men shaped not only the Club but also the community, leaving a legacy that reached far beyond the shores of Catchacoma Lake.
Traditions, Tools, and Togetherness
Photographs, both colour and black & white, bring the Club to life. Readers glimpse the rustic cabin, rifles, clothing, meals, hunting trails, and, most importantly, the camaraderie that filled more than 200 pages of stories and memories.
John Martin’s Vision
This history is the fulfillment of the dream of a late member, John Martin. John was the driving force who encouraged authors Catherine Dibben and Barbara LaPerrière to research and write the book, creating a treasure for local cottagers, hunters, and historians alike.
John Martin loved life and he lived it to the fullest. Most importantly, he was a devoted family man to his wife Gail Ebbs and their daughter Kylie. He was an astute and highly successful businessman who shared his good fortune through his generous philanthropy. One of John's passions in life was hunting. He travelled the world to pursue game of all kinds, always in a responsible and ethical manner. He was an avid member of the Ketchecum Hunt Club for thirty years and recognized the significance of this extraordinary club. Through his enthusiasm and initiative, this book has taken shape to preserve the history of the club. We, the members of the Ketchecum Hunt Club, dedicate this book to his memory and to our everlasting friendship with him.
Still Thriving 160 Years Later
No one would have imagined that a group of men hunting deer in the 1860s, before Canada was even born, would create a legacy that still thrives more than 160 years later.
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