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Click Below to read P.K. Smith's Diary, which begins
"About this time (1914) Walter Malin got into the habit of dropping
into the office occasionally to talk about his..."
Part 1 of Diary Part 2 of Diary
Click Here to read more about Cam's journey
in restoring historic Oiseau Bay Eco-Landing.
Click Here to learn more about spectacular Oiseau Rock from
the Friends of Oiseau Rock web site.
Click
Here to find out about the natural wonders and day trip opportunities of
the spectacular Ottawa River region through the Roots and Rivers.
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Cam
Hilborn, Owner and Operator of Oiseau Bay Eco-Landing (left), has devoted
the past decade to lovingly refinishing and restoring the beautiful log
cottages and cabins of Oiseau
Bay. He has spent
countless hours reviving these unique buildings to reclaim their historic
splendor: restoring the original wood and stone elements, refinishing
antique bathtubs and woodstoves, and tracking down historical pieces to
complete the overall ambiance of the place.
Cam spends his free moments hiking
through the trails and watching the wildlife around him. He feels a strong
connection to Oiseau Rock, the stunning rock face that juts into the Ottawa
River in the background of Oiseau Bay Eco-Landing. When asked
how he decided to make this place his life, Cam
answers without hesitation: "I love this place, and I love sharing it
with other people who can appreciate it as well."
Originally, Oiseau Bay Eco-Landing was the wilderness getaway for a Mr.
P.K. Smith (left, with boat), a wealthy businessman from Ohio
who fell in love with its natural beauty and seclusion. From 1914 to 1958,
P.K. operated a hobby farm and sawmill at Oiseau
Bay, operated by a
homespun hydro-electric dam. During this time, he built a series of
impressive cottages and log buildings scattered along the Ottawa
River's edge. In the 1970s, after P.K.'s passing, the Oiseau
Bay property came into
Cam Hilborn's family.
Whilst waking up the first morning at Oiseau
Bay (left), P.K. Smith
wrote in his journal that he "made the resolve to never again spend a
year shut up in the office." Today, Cam
retells that story with a smile: "I know exactly how he felt."
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