Founding of Hallowell
Here, on a secure harbour at the head of Picton Bay, several roads converged during the 1790's, including a portage to Lake Ontario. It thus became a natural shipping and distribution centre for the peninsula and by 1811 a small community had been well established. This settlement, named "Hallowell", after a Loyalist from Massachusetts, grew rapidly after 1818 when the use of steamers made the harbour more accessible. In 1823-25 the Reverend William Macauley laid out an adjacent village site which he named "Picton". The latter became the judicial and administrative centre of the District of Prince Edward in 1831. The two communities amalgamated in 1837 and were incorporated as the Town of Picton.
Plaque via Alan L. Brown's site Ontario Plaques. Full page here.