Ted was born in Vancouver, BC. His family returned to Bobcaygeon when Ted was a young boy; he was brought up in the business and joined Gordon Boat Works full-time after graduation.
Ted took over all operations and ownership in 1944 when Charlie retired. In the post-war years, the wooden boat business was thriving. In 1952 Ted sold the business to Earl Gordon from Toronto (no relation).
In 1962, partnering with brother Jack and a couple of investors from Toronto, Ted opened Midway Marina on the shores of Pigeon Lake. He took over sole ownership in the mid-60s.
Midway was the home of Bobcaygeon Marine Rentals (BMR). A partnership between Don and Eloise Pierson and Ted and Joyce Gordon, BMR was the first houseboat rental company in the Kawarthas.
Midway was sold in 1975 when Ted retired. Ted eventually sold BMR in the early 80s.
Production line inside Gordon Boat Works, building tenders for the Royal Canadian Navy war effort.
During World War II, Gordon Boat Works built tenders for the Royal Canadian Navy. The boat works was considered an essential business. This kept Ted on the home front rather than joining the RCAF with his brothers Jack and Ralph.
Herbert J. Kerr showroom
Peterborough, ON Ted managed the business and took over all operations and ownership in 1944 when Charlie retired. In the post-war years, the custom boat business was thriving. The company also expanded its focus on sales and marketing by selling through the Eaton's Catalogue and displaying boats in the Herbert J. Kerr showroom in Peterborough. The wooden boat business was a going concern.
The Eatons Collection 1947/48
Canoe
The Eatons Collection 1947/48
Skiff
The Eatons Collection 1947/48
Custom Cruiser
"The Louada-IV" (Circa 1950)
This is one of the many Louada's custom-built for Louie Cadeski in the Gordon Boat Works workshop.
"The Joyce"
Fastest Boat on Pigeon Lake
The Joyce was built by Ted in 1958/59 in the garage of the Gordon Home on the corner of Anne and Front Streets in Bobcaygeon; it was a family project. We all did our time holding the counterweight to bend the copper nails, sanding, and just helping. Joyce was a runabout powered by a Buchanan 6-cylinder marine engine (possibly a Buchanan Rocket 6). She was launched in the summer of 1959.
In the design stage Gib, Tom's son and Ted's uncle, worked with Ted. Gib built a 1/2 hull model to scale. Sadly, the model was lost.
"The Patricia"
Fastest Boat on Pigeon Lake
Jack, with the help of his wife Pat, built the Patricia in 1956 while stationed at the RCAF Staff College in Toronto. They used the playroom of their house as a workshop. The boat was 16' and powered by a 60HP Mercury outboard.
It was a tight fit getting her out through the playroom window!
"The Winco"
Fastest Boat on Pigeon Lake
Ralph built the Winco over the winter of 1948/49 in the basement of their home in Ottawa while stationed at RCAF HQ. In the spring of 1949, he hired a contractor to expose and open the basement wall to extract the boat. The design was similar to a hydroplane, powered by an inline, 4 cyl, 60hp, cast iron Willy's Jeep engine.
Midway Marina
1962 -1975
In 1962, partnering with brother Jack and a couple of investors from Toronto, Ted opened Midway Marina on the shores of Pigeon Lake. He took over sole ownership in the mid-60s.
Midway was a full-service boatyard, including an Outboard Marine-certified sales and repair shop. There were over 40 slips, some covered and some open. It provided comprehensive facilities for maintenance and storage for Pigeon Lake watercraft as well as a fuel dock, pump-out facilities, a snack bar, and picnic areas.
Ted also built some molded plywood 14 and 16 runabouts. Sadly this was at the end of the wooden boat era
Bobcaygeon Marine Rentals
BMR
Midway was the home of Bobcaygeon Marine Rentals (BMR). A partnership between Don and Eloise Pierson and Ted and Joyce Gordon, BMR was the first houseboat rental company in the Kawarthas. The houseboats were a "scow" design built at Midway and powered by the newly designed inboard/outboards (IOs). The fleet consisted of six houseboats. With a mid-May to mid-September rental season, they were often booked up to a year in advance.
Midway was sold in 1975 when Ted retired, and BMR was moved further down Pigeon Lake. Ted eventually sold BMR in the early 80s.