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The Founding of L'Orignal

The earliest settlers in this area, Joseph La Rocque-Brune and Raymond Duffaut, had located by 1791. Five years later Nathaniel Treadwell, a land surveyor and speculator from Plattsburg, New York,...

The earliest settlers in this area, Joseph La Rocque-Brune and Raymond Duffaut, had located by 1791. Five years later Nathaniel Treadwell, a land surveyor and speculator from Plattsburg, New...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The First Amish Settlement

In 1822 Christian Nafziger, an Amish Mennonite from Munich, Germany, came to Upper Canada to find land on which to settle some 70 German families. With the assistance of a group of Mennonites...

In 1822 Christian Nafziger, an Amish Mennonite from Munich, Germany, came to Upper Canada to find land on which to settle some 70 German families. With the assistance of a group of...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Milverton

By 1851 Andrew West, a New York native, had opened a hotel in the recently surveyed township of Mornington. This building was the focal point around which a small community initially known as...

By 1851 Andrew West, a New York native, had opened a hotel in the recently surveyed township of Mornington. This building was the focal point around which a small community initially known...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Cardinal

The grist-mill built at Point Cardinal by Hugh Munro about 1796 fostered the development here of a small settlement. A sawmill and store were later erected, and in 1837 a post-office,...

The grist-mill built at Point Cardinal by Hugh Munro about 1796 fostered the development here of a small settlement. A sawmill and store were later erected, and in 1837 a...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Gravenhurst

The Muskoka Road, constructed to open the district north of Washago for settlement, had reached this point at the head of Lake Muskoka by 1859. A community soon developed and in 1862 a post-office...

The Muskoka Road, constructed to open the district north of Washago for settlement, had reached this point at the head of Lake Muskoka by 1859. A community soon developed and in 1862 a...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Wiarton

In 1855 a town-plot was laid out here on recently acquired Indian land and named Wiarton, reputedly after the English birthplace of Edmund Head, Governor General of Canada (1854-61). Settlement...

In 1855 a town-plot was laid out here on recently acquired Indian land and named Wiarton, reputedly after the English birthplace of Edmund Head, Governor General of Canada (1854-61)....

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Fergus Curling Club

The oldest continuously operating curling club in Ontario, the Fergus Curling Club was formed in 1834 by Scottish immigrants. At the organization's first formal meeting two years later Adam...

The oldest continuously operating curling club in Ontario, the Fergus Curling Club was formed in 1834 by Scottish immigrants. At the organization's first formal meeting two years later...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Guelph

John Galt, the celebrated Scottish novelist and first superintendent of the Canada Company, founded Guelph on April 23, 1827, naming it "in compliment to the Royal Family". Established and heavily...

John Galt, the celebrated Scottish novelist and first superintendent of the Canada Company, founded Guelph on April 23, 1827, naming it "in compliment to the Royal Family". Established and heavily...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Blenheim

In 1837 James W. Little, a militia officer and land speculator of neighbouring Raleigh Township, purchased land here at the intersection of Ridge Road and Communication Road, the latter planned by...

In 1837 James W. Little, a militia officer and land speculator of neighbouring Raleigh Township, purchased land here at the intersection of Ridge Road and Communication Road, the latter planned...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Fort De Levis

Last stand of France in Canada. Fort de Lévis, on Isle Royale, (Chimney Island) was built by Captain François Pouchot in the spring and early summer of 1760. Its garrison surrendered after a...

Last stand of France in Canada. Fort de Lévis, on Isle Royale, (Chimney Island) was built by Captain François Pouchot in the spring and early summer of 1760. Its garrison surrendered after a...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Listowel

Among the earliest settlers on the site of Listowel was John Binning who, tradition has it, became the community's first permanent settler in 1852. Within four years D.D. Hay, one of the most...

Among the earliest settlers on the site of Listowel was John Binning who, tradition has it, became the community's first permanent settler in 1852. Within four years D.D. Hay, one of the...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Clinton

The earliest settlers on this site had arrived by 1834. Peter Vanderburgh opened a tavern north of here at the junction of the London and Huron Roads, and Jonas Gibbings began farming to the east....

The earliest settlers on this site had arrived by 1834. Peter Vanderburgh opened a tavern north of here at the junction of the London and Huron Roads, and Jonas Gibbings began farming to the east....

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  • alan brown

The Founding of Belle River

The settlement of this area began following the survey in 1793 of the lots fronting on the Belle River. Among the early settlers were many French Canadians from the vicinity of the Detroit River....

The settlement of this area began following the survey in 1793 of the lots fronting on the Belle River. Among the early settlers were many French Canadians from the vicinity of the Detroit...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Ajax

In 1941, the Government of Canada established a shell-filling plant operated by Defence Industries Limited on this site. During its peak production, over 9,000 people from across the country lived...

In 1941, the Government of Canada established a shell-filling plant operated by Defence Industries Limited on this site. During its peak production, over 9,000 people from across the country...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Fort Amherstburg (Fort Malden)

The post was begun by the Royal Canadian Volunteers in 1796 to replace Detroit and to maintain British influence among the western Indians. As the principal defense of the Detroit frontier in...

The post was begun by the Royal Canadian Volunteers in 1796 to replace Detroit and to maintain British influence among the western Indians. As the principal defense of the Detroit frontier in...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Spencerville

By 1821 Peleg Spencer was operating a grist-mill and sawmill on the South Nation River on a Clergy Lot he had leased in 1817, having previously owned a sawmill on the site from 1811 till 1814....

By 1821 Peleg Spencer was operating a grist-mill and sawmill on the South Nation River on a Clergy Lot he had leased in 1817, having previously owned a sawmill on the site from 1811 till 1814....

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

First Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada

The first session of the Legislative Assembly held at Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake) from 17 September to 15 October 1792, introduced a limited form of representative government to the newly created...

The first session of the Legislative Assembly held at Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake) from 17 September to 15 October 1792, introduced a limited form of representative government to the newly...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Port Dover

By 1794 Peter Walker, the first settler in this area, had located at the mouth of Patterson's Creek, but a community did not begin to develop here until Dover, situated further upstream, was razed...

By 1794 Peter Walker, the first settler in this area, had located at the mouth of Patterson's Creek, but a community did not begin to develop here until Dover, situated further upstream, was razed...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Waterford

Settlement of Townsend Township began in 1794 and within six years Paul Averill was operating saw and grist-mills on Nanticoke Creek where it met an established trail. Here grew a community, known...

Settlement of Townsend Township began in 1794 and within six years Paul Averill was operating saw and grist-mills on Nanticoke Creek where it met an established trail. Here grew a community,...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Point Edward

In 1838 John Slocum, a native of New York, established a commercial fishery on the site of a former military reserve here where the St. Clair River flows out of Lake Huron. The area remained...

In 1838 John Slocum, a native of New York, established a commercial fishery on the site of a former military reserve here where the St. Clair River flows out of Lake Huron. The area...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown