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The Founding of Westport

Sawmills built by Sheldon Stoddard and the Manhard brothers in 1828-29, during the construction of the Rideau Canal, fosterd the development here of a small settlement. Grist-mills and wharves...

Sawmills built by Sheldon Stoddard and the Manhard brothers in 1828-29, during the construction of the Rideau Canal, fosterd the development here of a small settlement. Grist-mills and wharves...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Fort Drummond

This small redoubt, or square fortification, and the U-shaped advance battery, named in honour of Sir Gordon Drummond, were built in the late spring of 1814 to defend the main portage road from...

This small redoubt, or square fortification, and the U-shaped advance battery, named in honour of Sir Gordon Drummond, were built in the late spring of 1814 to defend the main portage road...

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  • alan brown

First Mennonite Settlement

Following the American Revolution, Mennonites living in Pennsylvania began to come to the Niagara Peninsula in search of good farm land. A small group settled on land west of Twenty Mile Creek in...

Following the American Revolution, Mennonites living in Pennsylvania began to come to the Niagara Peninsula in search of good farm land. A small group settled on land west of Twenty Mile Creek in...

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  • alan brown

Founding of St. Marys

When opening Blanshard Township for settlement in 1839, the Canada Company made an arrangement with Thomas Ingersoll, a brother of Laura Secord, to build mills at "the Little Falls" of the Thames....

When opening Blanshard Township for settlement in 1839, the Canada Company made an arrangement with Thomas Ingersoll, a brother of Laura Secord, to build mills at "the Little Falls" of the...

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  • alan brown

The Founding of Colborne

A store established here about 1819 by Joseph Abbott Keeler, a prominent early settler, provided the nucleus around which a small community began to develop. Within ten years a distillery and a...

A store established here about 1819 by Joseph Abbott Keeler, a prominent early settler, provided the nucleus around which a small community began to develop. Within ten years a distillery and...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Paisley

In 1852, shortly after this region was opened for settlement, the government reserved land for a town here on the Elora and Saugeen Road, at the confluence of the Teeswater and Saugeen Rivers....

In 1852, shortly after this region was opened for settlement, the government reserved land for a town here on the Elora and Saugeen Road, at the confluence of the Teeswater and Saugeen...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Hastings

By 1825 James Crooks, a prominent entrepreneur and land speculator of West Flamborough, had acquired over 400 ha here at the rapids on the Trent River. He soon erected a small grist-mill but made...

By 1825 James Crooks, a prominent entrepreneur and land speculator of West Flamborough, had acquired over 400 ha here at the rapids on the Trent River. He soon erected a small grist-mill but made...

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  • alan brown

First Oil Wells in Canada

The presence of oil in this locality was observed by early travellers and by the pioneer farmers who used it for medical purposes. In 1858, near Oil Springs, James M. Williams dug the first oil...

The presence of oil in this locality was observed by early travellers and by the pioneer farmers who used it for medical purposes. In 1858, near Oil Springs, James M. Williams dug the first oil...

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  • alan brown

Franz Johnston 1888-1949

This was the home and studio, 1940-48, of the noted Canadian painter Francis Hans (Franz) Johnston. Born in Toronto, he studied there and in the United States, and at first worked as a commercial...

This was the home and studio, 1940-48, of the noted Canadian painter Francis Hans (Franz) Johnston. Born in Toronto, he studied there and in the United States, and at first worked as a commercial...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Harriston

In 1854 Archibald Harrison (1818-77), a Toronto-area farmer, acquired land here in Minto Township where the Elora and Saugeen Road crossed the Maitland River. Mills built by Harrison's brothers,...

In 1854 Archibald Harrison (1818-77), a Toronto- area farmer, acquired land here in Minto Township where the Elora and Saugeen Road crossed the Maitland River. Mills built by Harrison's brothers,...

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  • alan brown

The Founding of Thornhill

Settlement began here after the opening of Yonge Street in the mid-1790s and by 1802 a grist-mill and sawmill were operating on the Don River. The community developed slowly until 1829 when...

Settlement began here after the opening of Yonge Street in the mid-1790s and by 1802 a grist-mill and sawmill were operating on the Don River. The community developed slowly until 1829...

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  • alan brown

Fur Trading at Saugeen

The Anishnabe lived by the mouth of the Saugeen River before Pierre Piché arrived in 1818 to begin fur trading in the region. By 1826, the Hudson's Bay Company established an outpost at Saguingue...

The Anishnabe lived by the mouth of the Saugeen River before Pierre Piché arrived in 1818 to begin fur trading in the region. By 1826, the Hudson's Bay Company established an outpost at Saguingue...

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The Founding of Mount Forest

During the survey of the Garafraxa Colonization Road, constructed from Arthur to Georgian Bay in 1840-48, land was reserved for a settlement here at the South Saugeen River. By 1851 a post-office...

During the survey of the Garafraxa Colonization Road, constructed from Arthur to Georgian Bay in 1840-48, land was reserved for a settlement here at the South Saugeen River. By 1851 a...

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  • alan brown

Fort Frances Canal 1878

Constructed 1875-78, during Alexander Mackenzie's administration as part of a larger project intended to improve communications with the West, the Fort Frances Canal provided unbroken...

Constructed 1875-78, during Alexander Mackenzie's administration as part of a larger project intended to improve communications with the West, the Fort Frances Canal provided...

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The Founding of Renfrew

Attracted by the development of the lumbering industry in the Upper Ottawa valley, a few settlers had located in this region by 1830. Six years later Xavier Plaunt acquired land here, near the...

Attracted by the development of the lumbering industry in the Upper Ottawa valley, a few settlers had located in this region by 1830. Six years later Xavier Plaunt acquired land here, near the...

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  • alan brown

The Founding of Tecumseh

The intersecting of the Tecumseh Road, named for the eminent Indian leader, by the Great Western Railroad line in 1854 stimulated settlement in this largely French-Canadian area. A community...

The intersecting of the Tecumseh Road, named for the eminent Indian leader, by the Great Western Railroad line in 1854 stimulated settlement in this largely French-Canadian area. A...

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  • alan brown

The Founding of Leamington

Parts of Mersea Township were surveyed in the 1790's, but it was not until 1833 that Alexander Wilkinson, who had acquired land elsewhere in the township by 1810, obtained his patent for a lot now...

Parts of Mersea Township were surveyed in the 1790's, but it was not until 1833 that Alexander Wilkinson, who had acquired land elsewhere in the township by 1810, obtained his patent for a lot now...

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  • alan brown

The Founding of Orillia

In 1820 the government surveyed Orillia Township and a decade later located Chief William Yellowhead's Ojibwa band on lands near the "Narrows". By 1839, when the government laid out the Orillia...

In 1820 the government surveyed Orillia Township and a decade later located Chief William Yellowhead's Ojibwa band on lands near the "Narrows". By 1839, when the government laid out the Orillia...

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  • alan brown

The Founding of Parkhill

The opening of a railway station near here in 1860 on the recently completed Grand Trunk line from Guelph to Sarnia provided the nucleus around which a community soon became established. A...

The opening of a railway station near here in 1860 on the recently completed Grand Trunk line from Guelph to Sarnia provided the nucleus around which a community soon became established. A...

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  • alan brown

Founders of Ingersoll

Born in Massachusetts, Major Thomas Ingersoll (1749-1812) came to the Niagara peninsula in 1793 and was promised some 32,000 ha of land in the present Oxford County for himself and a group of...

Born in Massachusetts, Major Thomas Ingersoll (1749-1812) came to the Niagara peninsula in 1793 and was promised some 32,000 ha of land in the present Oxford County for himself and a group...

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  • alan brown