In 1879-80 George Morrison and his wife Elizabeth arrived from Oxford County, Ontario via Parry Sound, Nipissing Road from Rosseau to Nipissing village, by raft to the South East shore where he set up a homestead. This is really quite a story in itself as there was no direct transportation available at this time. This trip would probably have taken over two weeks to complete.
The Nipissing Road was a corduroy road - made up of logs placed side by side - it is still in existence today and it would take about four or five hours to complete this trip by car. The total distance they traveled would be close to 850 km from Oxford Cty to Parry Sound and another 150 km to Lake Nipissing, the rafted part would be about another 25 km.
Elizabeth was the first white woman in the area. There were just three dwellings and
Morrison's General Store in 1881, when Morrison was requested to open a Post Office in his
store. This was granted, as it was expected that a station of the Canada Central Railway
which was then under construction and would be in the area within a year.
Morrison named the Post Office 'Callander' after the birthplace of his parents in
Callander, Scotland.
The village was still called South East Shore for many years until the new name of Callander caught on.
George Morrison was first Reeve of North Himsworth (Callander). Later his son Ken was Reeve for 17 years. Father and son served as Reeve for a total of 41 years out of the first sixty years of the township's incorporation.