Len Purcell Drive in Constance Bay is named after one of the first citizens who took up year round residence in our community. A gentlemen who truly loved our community and had many friends here.

     His real name was Lennox Reid Purcell. The surname, as we know it, is actually mispronounced. Of Irish decent, the Purcell name properly pronounced is "Per-sull".

     He was born to William Purcell and Sarah Jane Marshall in this small farm at Snake River just a few miles north of Cobden Ontario on highway 17. His father was widowed at a very young age. Left with two young children he subsequently married Sarah and in 1899 Lennox Purcell was born.

     Len attended school in S.S. #11, Westmeath Township and Renfrew Collegiate where he was nicknamed "The Badger" because he chose to wear a "coon skin" hat. He dropped out of school at the age of 14 when the first war in Europe broke out. Like many young people he was anxious to contribute to the war effort and went to work in a munitions plant while he waited until he became old enough to join the Air Force. When he came of age, he signed up for military service and entered basic training. The war ended just before he was scheduled to be shipped overseas.

     Following in the footsteps of two of his step-brothers, Len went west seeking his fortune. He spent time in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba, playing ball or hockey, where work was provided in exchnage for his love and knowledge of the games.

     Hard times brought Len back east where he eventually settled down, married and became very successful as the local "Fuller Brush Man".

     Len came to Constance Bay in 1929 after his marriage failed. Originally drawn to the area by his mothers relatives who were already established here, he quickly fell in love with Constance Bay.

     This photo, taken in 1929 is the only known photo of Len.

     Eventually Len teamed up with Fred Baldwin, helping him to develop the area. Fred repaid Len for his efforts by giving him four lots between Bayview Drive and what is now known as Baldwin Avenue, next to what we now know as Len Purcell Drive.

     We don't know when, but Len eventually built his first house in Constance Bay. The little house is still standing - located at the east end of Len Purcell at Bayview Drive. His sister, Margaret Green lived in the house behind Len's until 2002. She has been the source of most of this information

     Len was a real sports hound. He maintained a rink on Buckham's Bay that many folks came from the city to use. He was also well known for his skills with a pool cue. Ralph Davis (from the Ralph Davis Band) let it be known that he suspected Len frequently let people win just so they would be willing to play him again later.

     Len was convinced to leave Constance Bay twice during his lifetime. George Kirkpatrick who was the Head of the Phys Ed department at Ottawa Tech convinced Len to teach, but after one year, Len returned to the Bay. A few years later, Len's sister Margaret, convinced him to join her husband working in the mines down near Cornwall. Again, it wasn't long before Len was begging to return to, what he called, the "Beautiful Hills of Home".

     Len dedicated his life to our community and to the people who lived here. Many considered him as the communities "Constable" as he watched over peoples cottages through the winter months. During the summer he was a handyman. He built many of the Break Walls in front of the cottages and assisted the families who spent their summers here.






     On January 23, 1972 Lennox R. Purcell passed away. As much as he loved the "Beautiful Hills of Home", there was no cemetary here so he was interned at the Cobden Union Cemetary in the Purcell family plot next to his parents.

     Len Purcell left a lasting impression with many people who share his love of the "Beautiful Hills of Home" - the beautiful Sandhills.

     Knowing his love of sports, it is only fitting that the road our community centre and the community's only real sports facility is named in his honour.

   Constance Bay Road
     In the early years, the only way the Campers had into the Sandhills was to pass through Baird's yard (where the Dunrobin Road now joins up with Constance Bay Road). The Campers frequently stopped for a drink of water from Baird's well while the children visited with the farm animals. From there they had to follow Baird's Lane for 3/4's of a mile. This lane was frequently impassible due to the blue clay that surfaces from below the sand dune around this area.

     Mr. Baird was often called upon to bring out his Godfredson tractor to assist the Campers as they struggled through the muck.

     The worst portion of the road was located about the half way mark and was designated by an elm tree that marked the spot. By 2002 the only thing left of the old elm is just a large rotting stump.

     In the late 1920's the Township purchased the land from Baird and the Constance Bay Road as we know it was opened up. Although it was gravel for many years, it was passable and it allowed the area to grow.

     An alternate route which carried a toll was a treacherous path that ran from the Kinburn Side Road down to the end of Baillie Avenue at the Constance Creek.

     Once the campers got past Baird's Lane, or Constance Bay Road, they were still faced with the formidable task of getting to their cottage without getting stuck in the sand. It was not unusual for these heavily loaded vehicles to find themselves buried to the axle in the soft sand.

     During the 1930's and 40's gravel was spread over the sand along Bayview Drive in order to help prevent the cars from getting stuck. During the winter months Gerald Wilson was hired for the grand some of $3.25 a day to load his wagon with gravel and drag it across Horshoe Bay with his heavy work horses. The gravel was dumped at Hill 71 (the current St Gabriel's site) and spread on Bayview Drive during the summer months.

     In 1998, a group of citizens known as The Bay Action Team, got together and built this garden where the Constance Bay Road meets the Dunrobin Road. In the summer time, the garden is filled with roses and marks the most beautiful community that you will find anywhere.

     In the 1930's a lodge was built by the McGivor family where families could rent accomodations with meals during the summer months. It overlooked the Bay in the area that we now call the Holiday Hills. Eventually the lodge was abandoned and it was decided to subdivide and develop the Holiday Hills. This action was opposed by the council of the day that was made up mostly of rurals from outside the Bay. They felt the increased septic activity would seep into the water table and damage the Bay. When the next election took place all of the rurals lost their seats - taken by the cottagers. This created a great deal of animosity which was further fueled by the new council who frequently held their council meetings in Ottawa. To this day there is still some ill feelings between the rurals and the people of the Bay.

     By the 1940's Baldwin realized that the road around the Bay would have to be completed in order to provide access to all of his lots.

     Balwin teamed up with Mick Watters to bring in bulldozers and by the early 1950's Bayview Drive was complete.

     Watters went on to provide the Campers with the topsoil needed to cover the sand so the grass and flowers could begin to grow.

     It wasn't exactly the Hatfield and the McCoys - but it wasn't a good situation.

      It all evolved around the Holiday Hills. After many years the lodge that had been situated there was abandoned and it was decided to subdivide and develop the area. This action was opposed by the council of the day that was made up mostly of rurals from outside the Bay. They felt the increased septic activity would seep into the water table and damage the Bay. When the next election took place all of the rurals lost their seats - taken by the cottagers. This created a great deal of animosity which was further fueled by the new council who frequently held their council meetings in Westboro - making it almost impossible for the rurals to attend. To this day there is still some ill feelings between the rurals and the people of the Bay.

     Gwen White donated the following family documents that detail the cost of owning and operating a cottage in Constance Bay in 1948.

     This photo is beleived to depict the first cottage built in the Sandhills. It was located near the present day corner of Baillie Avenue and Constance Bay Road and was built in 1913.

     It wasn't long before Baillie Avenue saw cottages popping up all along the shore. Baillie Avenue was famous for having some of the finest beach to be found anywhere and was completely weed free during this period.