The Midland Boat and Canoe Company was listed among the merchants in a 1906 business directory. It was operated by W.H. Hacker and located at the foot of King St. in Midland, Ontario. Their biggest business was renting houseboats which they towed to permanent settlers scattered along the wilderness shores of Georgian Bay as back then there were not yet many cottagers. Later, this company became the Midland Boat Works which produced some very popular craft, one being the “Sea Jeep”, a sleek 18ft runabout from the 1940’s, which can still be found in some vintage boat sales listings. The Georgian Bay Heritage League is currently in possession of a 16ft runabout built in 1936 which was first donated to the Huronia Museum and then placed in our care for restoration. The outboard motor on its transom is a functioning 1931, 8hp Johnson.
The Midland Boat Works is now a very popular eatery called the “Boathouse”.