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The Founding of Lucan

Lucan was founded in anticipation of the construction of the Grand Trunk Railway to Sarnia, projected in 1854 and built 1855-59. The first settlers had been members of the Negro Wilberforce Colony...

Lucan was founded in anticipation of the construction of the Grand Trunk Railway to Sarnia, projected in 1854 and built 1855-59. The first settlers had been members of the Negro Wilberforce Colony...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Forwarding Trade at Prescott

Before the completion of the canals between here and Montreal in 1847, Prescott was the eastern terminus of Great Lakes navigation. Established at the head of Galops Rapids in 1810, it soon became...

Before the completion of the canals between here and Montreal in 1847, Prescott was the eastern terminus of Great Lakes navigation. Established at the head of Galops Rapids in 1810, it soon...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Frenchman's Creek

In an effort to regain the initiative lost as Queenston, the Americans planned a general invasion for November 28, 1812. Before dawn advance parties crossed the Niagara River to cut communication...

In an effort to regain the initiative lost as Queenston, the Americans planned a general invasion for November 28, 1812. Before dawn advance parties crossed the Niagara River to cut communication...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Pickering

Between 1801 and 1807 a settlement developed here in Pickering Township where the Danforth Road crossed Duffin's Creek. Among the early settlers was Timothy Rogers, a prominent Quaker and...

Between 1801 and 1807 a settlement developed here in Pickering Township where the Danforth Road crossed Duffin's Creek. Among the early settlers was Timothy Rogers, a prominent Quaker...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The First Steamship on Lake Ontario

In the early 1800's Kingston was a shipbuilding centre of note. The FRONTENAC, the first steamship to navigate Lake Ontario, was built here at Finkle's Point, Ernestown (now Bath), and launched...

In the early 1800's Kingston was a shipbuilding centre of note. The FRONTENAC, the first steamship to navigate Lake Ontario, was built here at Finkle's Point, Ernestown (now Bath), and...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Founding of Durham

In 1842 Archibald Hunter, a Scottish immigrant, led a party northward on the Garafraxa "colonization road" to the banks of the Saugeen River. The resulting settlement was first called Bentinck and...

In 1842 Archibald Hunter, a Scottish immigrant, led a party northward on the Garafraxa "colonization road" to the banks of the Saugeen River. The resulting settlement was first called Bentinck and...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Goderich

In 1826 the Canada Company, a newly chartered colonization firm, acquired a large block of land known as the Huron Tract. The following year William 'Tiger' Dunlop, appointed Warden of the Forests...

In 1826 the Canada Company, a newly chartered colonization firm, acquired a large block of land known as the Huron Tract. The following year William 'Tiger' Dunlop, appointed Warden of the Forests...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The French Portage

This 3.2 km portage around rapids in the nearby French River was among the most difficult on the Kaministiquia canoe route to the west, first recorded in 1688 by Jacques de Noyon and later used...

This 3.2 km portage around rapids in the nearby French River was among the most difficult on the Kaministiquia canoe route to the west, first recorded in 1688 by Jacques de Noyon and later used...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Fraserfield

Begun about 1812 this house, one of the finest country residences of the day, was the home of the Honourable Alexander Fraser, Quartermaster of the Canadian Fencibles during the War of 1812....

Begun about 1812 this house, one of the finest country residences of the day, was the home of the Honourable Alexander Fraser, Quartermaster of the Canadian Fencibles during the War of 1812....

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of St. Catharines

Before this region was settled, several Indian trails intersected here at a ford in Twelve Mile Creek. They were improved by early settlers and a church was erected at the crossroads by 1798. A...

Before this region was settled, several Indian trails intersected here at a ford in Twelve Mile Creek. They were improved by early settlers and a church was erected at the crossroads by 1798....

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

First Cotton Factory

The first cotton goods produced in this province were being manufactured in Thorold in 1847. The mill, a joint stock company founded by local citizens, included Jacob Keefer as president and James...

The first cotton goods produced in this province were being manufactured in Thorold in 1847. The mill, a joint stock company founded by local citizens, included Jacob Keefer as president and James...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

First Women's Institute 1897

The world's first Women's Institute was organized at Squire's Hall, Stoney Creek, in 1897. Erland Lee, a founder of the Farmer's Institute, assisted by his wife, arranged the meeting. About 100...

The world's first Women's Institute was organized at Squire's Hall, Stoney Creek, in 1897. Erland Lee, a founder of the Farmer's Institute, assisted by his wife, arranged the meeting. About 100...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

First Baptist Church, Puce

The origins of First Baptist Church go back to the 1840s, when black settlers from the United States began to form a farming community in this area. Their numbers increased during the 1850s when...

The origins of First Baptist Church go back to the 1840s, when black settlers from the United States began to form a farming community in this area. Their numbers increased during the 1850s when...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

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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  • ontario
  • 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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  • ontario
  • 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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  • ontario
  • 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...

  • toronto
  • 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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  • ontario
  • alan brown