Rosedale Bridge
The Natural Bridge Behind Fenelon Falls
For generations life in Rosedale has centred around the pleasures of living beside the waterway. By the beginning of the twentieth century, there were a few cottages in the vicinity. The village grew as a tourist community, with multiple service stations, many waterfront lodges, and restaurants catering to the retail trade. Up to 1960, the village was literally the gateway to Balsam Lake, as boats would have to stop at both the locks and the swing bridge. As the canal and Highway 35 both became busier, this often led to lengthy delays on both routes.
In 1962, Highway 35 was rerouted slightly to the east, as the bridge over Rosedale River became a much higher, fixed span—ending the need for boats and automobiles wait as the bridge was cranked open or closed. While this change made things much more convenient for those passing through Rosedale, the business community was never quite the same again. The shops of the main street were no longer on the thoroughfare, and many of them struggled to survive without this regular traffic. A comparable business section was never created on the new Highway 35.
Rosedale’s swing bridge had been a place where visitors and local residents would gather—to talk to the bridge master, fish off the adjacent dock or spend time with the guests at one of the nearby lodges. While it is not a centre of social activity like its predecessor, the new swing bridge still provides a platform to appreciate the beautiful sight of sunset over Grand Island, or watch boats on the river—typically seen from an automobile. It remains the archway for boats passing into Balsam Lake.
