"The bronze plaque to be erected by the County in Innisfil Township and unveiled on Sunday, June 23rd, at 2:30p.m., is situtated on the Thirteenth Line, the Big Bay Point Road, just west of the old school, on the property of Mr. Hilton Webb. It is the first plaque for this township. Title for the plaque is "Mast for a Great Ship" and it reads: "Here grew some of the largest pines ever found in Ontario. In 1853 a 120 foot log was cut on the farm of Thomas Webb, Lot 23, Con. 12, one of three large pines whose stumps still remain. Hauled to the water by ten teams of horses, the log was shipped to England to become a mast for the "Great Eastern". This epic iron vessel, the first with both sail and steam, launched in 1858, was fourty years the largest ship in the world." When the first settlers came to Ontario, some of the finest stands of pine were in Innisfil township. After the Northern Railway was built a very active lumber industry grew up in the township. A mill at Bell Ewart at one time employed seventy men, and there were mills also at "The Point", Tollendal, Craigvale and other places. Many of the large pines were used for masts of ships and some were sent to Quebec to be carried overseas to shipyards in England. One of the largest ever shipped is said to have come fro Innisfil. In 1852 Thomas Webb bought one hundred acres, Lot 23, Concession 12, Innisfil Township, for $375. Mr. Harold Webb was born on this lot in 1901 and still lives there, although part of the farm has now been sold. Here in 1853 three large pines were cut for masts. One of the timbers was broken while being drawn to the lake for transportation to Quebec. The stumps of these pines can still be seen though now in a state of decay after 120 years. As a young lad, Harold Webb used to play on these stumps which at that time were over 40 inches across and about the same in height, and he remembers climbing on one of them and using it as a look-out when searching for cows. Tradition has it that the largest of these pines was used for the mast of the "Great Eastern" and that this was the largest mast ever cut for an ocean vessel. This famous ship was built on the Thames River, London, England, between 1851 and 1857, and launched in 1858. She was 692 feet in length and 82.7 feet in breadth. Besides 6,500 square yards of sails, she has two sets of engines, generating 11,000 horsepower, operating a single screw and paddle wheels. She displaced 22,500 tons. It was forty years before a larger ship was built. She had six masts and five funnels. Five of her masts were of steel, the sixth, of wood, is the one that is said to have been cut from Innisfil. Total height of the mast was 116 feet, of which 102.6 feet was above the deck. The mast was 2 feet 9 inches in diameter. This wooden mast caried the ship's compass. Misfortunes marked the ship's history, beginning with serious problems which delayed her launching, and a disastrous explosion which nearly wrecked her. After several unprofitable voyages to New York as a luxury passenger ship, she achieved success as a cable ship and laid the first successful Atlantic Cable in 1866. She became public display before being scrapped at Liverpool in 1889. (Her story has often been told and may be found in a book by James Dugan, "The Great Ship" published in New York in 1953 and also in "The Big Ship" by Patrick Beaver published by Hugh Evelyn, London, England.) The suggestion of this site was made by the Innisfil Historical Society, an active group with Mr. Hugh Jackson as President. The Simcoe County Historical Association greatly appreciates the suggestion and the work and co-operation of the Innisfil Society. They have the plaque mounted on a rock and set up on land donated by Mr. Hilton Webb. The Innisfil Historical Society is also making arrangements for the unveiling ceremonies on June 23rd." President - Ross Channen, Secretary - Miss Jean McNeice.
