In 1896 J. R. Booth set out to build a railway from Ottawa to Parry Sound so that goods and grain from Canada's west could reach markets in the north east. For 40+ years one of the key stops along the way was Rock Lake Station (which became part of Algonquin Park in 1911). Beginning as an important source of gravel for the rail bed and later a layover spot for railway workers, Rock Lake soon became a mecca for camping and fishing enthusiasts interested in escaping city life. In its heyday,in the early part of the 20th Century the train was the lifeblood of this little community and trains would allegedly pass every 20 minutes or so. Nearby, the Booth family established a large estate in 1900, which anchored a lively community composed of leaseholders, loggers, and railway workers. Today only a scattered collection of summer leaseholds remain on Rock and Whitefish Lakes and the town site is now a public campground. Rock Lake Station brings to life the history and character of the people who settled here and for a time called it home.

It makes an important contribution in helping 21st C young women understand better what life was like for their grandmothers and great grandmothers 100+ years ago and get in touch with their collective feminist roots that are so easily forgotten in the hustle and bustle of our modern lives.