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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...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • 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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  • ontario
  • 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...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • 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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  • ontario
  • alan brown

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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  • ontario
  • 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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  • ontario
  • alan brown

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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  • ontario
  • 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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  • ontario
  • 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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  • ontario
  • 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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  • ontario
  • 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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  • ontario
  • 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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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Iroquois Falls

This region's first inhabitants were aboriginal peoples who were attracted by its abundant natural resources and extensive water routes. Europeans arrived in the late 1600s to acquire furs and...

This region's first inhabitants were aboriginal peoples who were attracted by its abundant natural resources and extensive water routes. Europeans arrived in the late 1600s to acquire furs...

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  • alan brown

The Founding of Almonte

The sawmill and grist-mill completed here on the Mississippi River in 1823 by Daniel Shipman provided a nucleus around which a community known as Shipman's Mills had developed by 1824. About 1850...

The sawmill and grist-mill completed here on the Mississippi River in 1823 by Daniel Shipman provided a nucleus around which a community known as Shipman's Mills had developed by 1824. About 1850...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The First Provincial Parliament 1792

On September 17, 1792, John Graves Simcoe, Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, opened in this community, then the capital, the first provincial parliament. The legislature consisted of an...

On September 17, 1792, John Graves Simcoe, Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, opened in this community, then the capital, the first provincial parliament. The legislature consisted of an...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Founding of New Liskeard

The Little Clay Belt, the rich agricultural belt extending north from New Liskeard, was originally inhabited by the Algonquin First Nations, including Joachim "Clear Sky" Wabigijic and Angela...

The Little Clay Belt, the rich agricultural belt extending north from New Liskeard, was originally inhabited by the Algonquin First Nations, including Joachim "Clear Sky" Wabigijic and...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Fighting Island 1838

On the night of February 23-24, 1838, a small force of "Patriots" was ferried from Detroit to Fighting Island, opposite here, whence an attack against Sandwich was planned. They were joined the...

On the night of February 23-24, 1838, a small force of "Patriots" was ferried from Detroit to Fighting Island, opposite here, whence an attack against Sandwich was planned. They were joined...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Bolton

In 1821 George Bolton, an English immigrant purchased 80 ha of land here on the Humber River. Two years later in partnership with his uncle, James Bolton, one of Albion Township's earliest...

In 1821 George Bolton, an English immigrant purchased 80 ha of land here on the Humber River. Two years later in partnership with his uncle, James Bolton, one of Albion Township's...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Former Brockville Post Office

Completed in 1886 this structure was designed under the direction of Thomas Fuller, Chief Architect of the Department of Public Works from 1881 to 1896. The Brockville Post Office shows the...

Completed in 1886 this structure was designed under the direction of Thomas Fuller, Chief Architect of the Department of Public Works from 1881 to 1896. The Brockville Post Office shows...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown