Mount Horeb (ghost town)

Mount Horeb is in the City of Kawartha Lakes just north of the ghost town of Fleetwood in the old Township of Ops.

It began as a farm community in the 1820s with familes like the Skuces. It was situated on a hill that caused horses to pant after climbing its grade with carriages towed behind them. By the 1860(a)s it had a population of 50. The 1st school was built around 1850, and a Methodist church in 1861. There was also a post office, a blacksmith, stores, homes and 2 hotels on or near the hilltop. The Feirs opened a large grist mill at Feirs Mills just east of Mt. Horeb. It still stands as a Bible Camp these days.

The post office opened in 1863 by postmaster William Smith and it lasted until 1914 with William Reynolds as postmaster. 1914 marked the year when rural route delivery was implemented by the Royal Mail (Canada Post).

By the 1880(a)s the pop. had grown to 100 and now also had a tannery, and an insurance salesman and a fur dealer. By then it was a true village. These days little is left in the hamlet accept a church, school and a few homes.