Ghosts of the Bay: A Guide to the History of Georgian Bay

by Russell Floren, Andrea Gutsche

Over 16,000 copies sold! Take a journey to Georgian Bay's forgotten past, with Ghosts of the Bay. Visit an eerie world of shipwrecks, abandoned boom towns and missions. These worn monuments emerge with their tales of adventure, scandal and folklore, revealling the lively and often brutal experiences of those who dared to make a life on these shores. Highlights over 140 sites, with archival photographs and 50 maps.

Genres: History

304 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1994

Reviews

[Taryn Fink · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always like to read a book about the area when I’m on Manitoulin Island during the summer. Ghosts of the Bay was interesting, as it did share some history of the area. However, I felt like there was a little too much trying to be a guide book to go certain places rather than sharing the history and “ghosts” of the places it talked about. Informative and interesting, but I think it would’ve been better if the book had chosen an identity: either a historical and informative narrative, or a book to use as a guide on a trip.

[Jack Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t trust my rating, I’m biased 😂. G Bay 4 lyfe

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The authors write a compelling story, but there were some errors that made me question how much else in Ghosts of the Bay was incorrect. For instance, the authors refer to Orville Wright as a "Great Canadian." Wright was an American who spent some time at a cottage on Georgian Bay. There were a few names of ship survivors that were incorrect as well. I enjoyed the vivid storytelling but I think some of the information in Ghosts of the Bay should be taken with a grain of salt.

[Bob Shepherd · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘discover the haunting vestiges of Georgian Bay’s forgotten past – now an eerie world of shipwrecks, abandoned fishing camps, lumber villages boom towns and missions . . . . tales of adventure, scandal and folklore . . . . natural history . . . . rugged beauty.’

-Very interesting book and lots of places yet to visit.
-The Who What When Where and Why of many shipwrecks and abandoned places.
-So many places went from nothing, to big towns, and back to nothing but abandoned ruins, all in about 25 years leaving nothing but intriguing names like Go Home Bay and Dead Island.