Port Sandfield got its name in honor of then Premier John Sandfield MacDonald of Ontario.  At the same time when it got its name a canal was made to connect Lake Joseph and Lake Rosseau.  In 1876 the first bridge was built to cross the canal.  Later in 1884 a resort called the Prospect House was founded by Enoch Cox.    

     Originally known as Helmsley, Rosseau was not really known about until Mr. W. H. Pratt built Rosseau House in 1870 at the north end of Lake Rosseau.  It was Mr. Pratt who didn't like the name Helmsley and asked that it be renamed Rosseau, when he requested a post office be opened.  Even though the name Rosseau was used the name was not officially changed until 1926, when the village of Rosseau was incorporated.  

     Skeleton Lake is believed to have gotten its name from the remains of two human skeleton's found on the rocks along the north shore that surveyors came across.  Settlers asked an Indian Chief about the remains and were told that his people had camped on the site one winter.  Normally the area had plentiful fish and deer, but none was to be found that year.  His people had to move camp but many were already weak.  A 14 year old boy could not move and was left behind but his mother, a young widow stayed with him so he would not die alone.  The Lake was named in their memory a tribute to a mother's devotion to her son.  Skeleton Lake is known for its clarity.  The bottom of the lake is limestone caused by the impact of a meteor.  

     The Three Mile Lake area was mostly a clay based soil, the deep heavy soil is more fertile than any where else in Muskoka.   The Sheas, Morleys, Sufferns, Gotts, Pickerings are known as some of the first settlers near Three Mile Lake, on land that is known as Jake's Point.  December 1866 an orange lodge known as Gotts No.229 was built.  The lodge was later known as Three Mile Lake and kept its original number.  Methodists built a church at Ufford and Presbyterians built a church at Dee Bank.  At Dee Bank there was a store, hotel and sawmill.  John Shannon built a grist mill in 1871 and it was known to be one of the largest in the area at the time. There was also a school and church built in the late 1800's.

     In 1869 William Torrance, Joseph Coulter and George Jestin from Eramosa near Guelph in Ontario went to the area to investigate the Free Land Grant the government was offering.  They all returned a year later with their families and supplies and each bought 100 acres of land for 75 cents.  William Torrance became the first postmaster so the community was named after him.  Rail service to the area arrived in 1906.  "Queens Walk Road" as the community calls it is the only stop that Queen Elizabeth II made in West Muskoka when she visited in 1959.

Accommodations

Cottage Resorts

Clear Lake Village Resort

     Walkers Point received its name by 1879 when four members of the Walker family from Gananoque, Ontario started farms there.  

     Windermere was named after a famous lake in England.  Thomas Aitkens, Francis Forge and David Fife are responsible for much of what Windermere's development.  Mr. Aitkens was the founder of Windermere House and post master for the community, later his son William would take over from him.  Mr. Fife was also in the resort business and Fife House was later torn down around 1970.  Mr. Forge was a successful farmer and worked for Timothy Eaton who had a summer home in Windermere.  The men are honored in a memorial window in the Windermere United Church.