Local: Barrie - Orillia History - To Confederation
In the late 1700s, local resident Roger Conant began exporting locally caught salmon to the United States. After the American Revolution, many British loyalists were granted land in Upper Canada along the shores of Lake Ontario. Later immigration of Irish followed by relocated French Canadians was supported by early industrialization. Governor John Graves Simcoe surveyed the land in the area and made significant land grants in the area. Colonel Asa Danforth laid out the York-to-Kingston road, connecting the many smaller communities along the lakeshore. An 1822 settlement road connected the harbour at Oshawa Creek to Lake Scugog, following an old Indian trail. The intersection wih the Kingston Road became known as the "Four Corners" and became the foundation of modern Oshawa, especially with the relocation of the area's general store and post office to that area. Originally called Skae's Corner (for the grocer), and when the community hit 2,000 in 1850 it was incorporated as a village. The name Sydenham was proposed, but when visiting Indians were asked for sugestions, they offered Oshawa which meant "where the trail crosses stream". In 1879 Oshawa became incoporated as a town when its population hit 3,992. 
By 1853, the Port of Oshawa was established, followed shortly by the construction of the Grand Trunk Railway connecting Toronto and Montreal. In 1858, the Oshawa Manufacturing Company grew into the largest producer of agricultural implements in Canada, followed by the Cedar Dale Works which manufactured scythes, hoes and axes. In 1871, the Ontario Malleable Iron Company was established in Oshawa to supply raw materials to local industries. In 1876, Colonel Robert Samuel McLaughlin moved his carriage works to Oshawa from nearby Enniskillen to take advantage of both the harbour and the rail link.More history of Oshawa-Durham
Copyright 1999-2008 FoundLocally.com Media Inc (403) 245-2194 Contact FoundLocally |
Home Page
