Minesing in Simcoe County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Officer's Cookhouse

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 6, 2024

1. Officer's Cookhouse Marker

Inscription.
This site is believed to have housed the Officer's Cookhouse.

Bone remnants found here show that while most of the soldiers' meat was from domesticated animals, soldiers took advantage of local hunting and fishing when they could. Some of the animal bones display evidence of saw marks from when they were butchered. Other bones show scrape marks from forks and knives. The waste bones also had occasional “nibble” marks from rodents, hinting at the animal pests that shared living space with the soldiers.

Although researchers found some fine tableware ceramics, there were many thicker, coarser ceramics that would have been used for mixing and baking.

A total of 896 bones and bone fragments from 44 different animals were found in the officer’s cookhouse. These were mainly from cows, pigs, goats and sheep, but several species of birds and ducks, and some fish bones were found.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Anthropology & Archaeology • Forts and Castles.

Location. 44° 23.741′ N, 79° 49.332′ W. Marker is in Minesing, Ontario, in Simcoe County. It can be reached from Grenfel Road 3.6 kilometers north of Sunnidale Road (County Road 40), on the left when traveling north

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. The marker is located on the Historic Fort Willow grounds at Fort Willow Conservation Area. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2714 Grenfel Road, Minesing ON L0L 1Y3, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Ontario Cottage Country

and specifically in Georgian Bay Country.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Officer's Quarters/Commandant's House (a few steps from this marker); Indigenous & Settlers' Gardens (within shouting distance of this marker); Stable and Yard (within shouting distance of this marker); Barracks/Cookhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Blacksmith (within shouting distance of this marker); Barracks/Storehouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Blockhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Willow History (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Minesing.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Historic Fort Willow

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 6, 2024

2. Officer's Cookhouse Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 6, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 102 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 7, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.