Article by Meghan Taylor / Photography by Andy Zeltkalns

Wanda III isn’t the only piece of history from the Eaton family still being used in Muskoka. The Rosseau Lake College campus is a property that was first owned by the Ditchburn family and was purchased by John and Flora Eaton in 1906 as their summer retreat.

While the Ditchburn family had referred to the property as “the Pines”, the Eatons changed the name to “Kawandag” which means in Ojibwa “the meeting place of the pines.”

The log cabin near the main driveway of the campus is one of the first things visitors see when they arrive at the school. Constructed during the Eaton family’s ownership, the cabin served as Lady Flora Eaton’s sewing and art room. The Eaton’s mansion stood roughly where Brock House is today on the campus and was often bustling with guests. Lady Eaton’s cabin would have been her quiet escape from commotion of the main building.

The building has been used for many purposes during the lifetime of Rosseau Lake College, from an art room to a music room. Through the years, the building was modified multiple times to fit its new uses and was, at times, unused altogether. The exterior of the log structure invariably captures attention; inside, the ceiling and wall coverings destroyed the look of the log timbers, high ceilings with wooden beams and stone fireplace. 

Current head of school, Dave Krocker wanted to make use of the cabin and over the last year pursued returning the cabin to its former grandeur. Krocker reached out to Lena Patten, Rosseau resident and business owner, volunteer, fundraiser and parent of former students, to ask her opinion of what the school should do with the design and décor of the building.

Not only was Patten thrilled to hear the cabin would be revitalized but she also had a hidden treasure she knew would be at home in the cabin. Lena had acquired a parlour sofa of Lady Eaton’s after she was approached by the previous owner who knew its provenance.

“Someone approached me and said ‘Lena, you should have this because you’ll know a good home to put it in’,” shares Patten. “He didn’t want to throw it away or give it to just anyone. I was thrilled to death he thought of me because I’m connected to the village and I do like the historical side of cottage country.”

Patten stored the sofa but knew she wanted it to go back to the college at some point. Krocker’s renewal of the cabin as a welcome building provided the ideal opportunity. Patten felt the building’s previous modifications took away from the historic and natural beauty of the materials. Bringing the space back to its original walls would have more charm and warmth.

“When they uncovered the ceilings and the full fireplace, it was just magnificent,” says Patten.

Peeling back the layers of modifications created a space Krocker could use as an office, a greeting place for new parents and students and a meeting room. A sitting section for people to have coffee and chat in front of the fireplace was the ideal place for the RLC-blue upholstered parlour sofa. What was Lady Eaton’s space to escape from the day-to-day would now be one of the first places new students would see.

“Lady Eaton’s sofa went back home and it was the perfect place for it to go,” says Patten. “It’s so heavy. It’s solid wood. It’s a sitting sofa. Not a big, deep slouchy sofa. It’s where you sit and have a cup of coffee.”

In addition to the sofa, Patten had an early 1900s chair from a local cottage that she reupholstered to match the sofa in the college’s signature blue. An antique rug was also donated to help pull the whole space together.

“The cabin still needs a lot of work but I’d love the Eaton family to come and see it,” says Patten. “It’s in beautiful shape.”

Like many of the buildings and trappings of settlement life in Muskoka, Lady Eaton’s sofa and cabin have been revitalized and returned to use. Only time will tell what future adventures these items will encounter.