About the Store

Stanton Bros. General Store on the shore of Sparrow Lake

Port Stanton is over 100 years old. Pioneer Captain Tom Stanton and his wife Ellen settled on the south shore of Sparrow Lake in 1890. He was a steamboat Captain for the lumber companies operating out of Orillia. He loved the beauty of the area on Sparrow Lake so he decided to move his family from Orillia to a log home built on the west shore in 1884.

The Stanton's lived there for six years then moved to what is known now as Port Stanton. His son's Frank and Albert Stanton formed the Stanton Bros. General Supplies Store and Steamship line to link with the new CNO Railway, which came to Sparrow Lake in 1907. Frank and Albert would take people from the train station in Port Stanton to all the other hotels and cottages on the lake. Their store, Stanton Bros. General Supplies, was the main spot on the lake to purchase groceries and supplies for cottagers and tourists.

Frank and Albert ran the store until 1950 when it was purchased by Mr. James Martin. James and his family renamed the business Martin’s Store and ran it until 2004 when his son, Ted Martin decided to retire.

Frank Stanton’s great grandchildren Bruce Stanton and Dianne Hounsome, the operators Bayview Wildwood Resort, purchased the store in 2004 and returned it to the original title Stanton Bros. General Supplies. Bruce’s son Jason was assigned to operate it, however after four seasons running the store Jason moved on to another career and the store is now the responsibility of Bayview Wildwood Resort.

This summer Laura Elliott will begin her first season as manager of the store, and she looks forward to meeting with all Port Stanton's new visitors and welcoming all our returning boaters and local visitors as well.

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