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llvrilnqv Buildings in “Nani and Smith lintng 'lim-mhip “My Own linu‘VVzllls” 1331' Diane llu<kins JANE MONAGHAN, B.A., LLB. lam-m an) Salim“ P.O. BOX 190 TELEPHONE ELGIN. ONTARIO (613) 359-5108 a name i 5': as ’C V (m 4/, 3...”, M, .M , ” *6 jim vandarschuit _ NORTH LEEDS LANTERN 3 The Centre???? StevenstOwn?? Smiths Mills?? Do you know these places???? I have a weakness for books Being an avid and prolific reader, I use the services of our local Public Library to meet most of my needs. I do, however, like to purchase books for my own collection. Many are acquired because they contain spec- ific information which is of interest to me. Some are bought because of superb illustrations, especially children's editions. Some are on my shelves, simply because they "look good". While many of my books, after first reading, just gain a place on the shelf, sitting untouched for years, several gain importance on rereading. I realize many local residents have vauired a copy of Diane Haskins' My Own Four Walls. Many will have read it from cover to cover. Others may have only read those sections which relate to their own area or perhaps even their own "home". This book has provided me with many evenings of interesting browsing as I followed the early families of the area as they or their off-spring built new homes or moved to a new village. As I "dipped" once more into this book, I became fascinated with the names of the villages... and so: WHAT'S IN A NAME? Bastard and South Burgess: While many amusing stories abound concerning the choice of "Bastard", the most likely explanation seems to be that Lt. Governor John Graves Simcoe named the township after a family in Devonshire, England, where the Simcoes had had their original home. (No explanation is given as to how the English Bastards came by their name) South Burgess was probably named after the Rev. Thomas Burgess, a prominent English theologian and the Bishop of Salisbury. Kitley: The neighbouring township to Bastard and South Burgess was probably named after the Bastard’s family residence in England. Delta: Originally named Stevenstown after its developer, the courageous and colourful Abel Stevens Sr. who explored the area in the early 1790's and who later returned with a number of Vermonters to settle the area. In 1815 William Jones erected one of the earliest grist mills in Canada and the village was renamed Stone Mills. In 1826, the village changed its name again, this time at the request of Chief Justice John BeverlyRobinson. Chief Justice Robinson offered to present a bell for the newly completed Anglican Church on condition that the village become "Beverly"* and so Beverly it became. (the original spelling has changed to Beverley in recent years). The final name change to Delta was necessary when an application for a post office was made, it was discovered that there was already another town named Beverley in Ontario. The selection of the present name was based on a geographic phenomena. With the grist mill, a dam was constructed. It flooded 2,000 acres of land creating an artificial lake above the town with the natural lake lying below. With the village situated between the two, on what could be termed a "delta" the new village acquired its new (and present) name. Chantry: Geographically situated in the centre of the township, it was known informally as The Centre until a formal name was necessary on the establishment of a post office in 1871. With Sam Chant as the first post master, he suggested, with so many Chants living in the area, understandably, the name Chantry. While the community grew, with churches, a school, cheese factory and stores, it eventually became the cross-road settlement of today. With the location of the Municipal building serving the township in its midst, Chantry has once again become the "centre" . Harlem: Because of the available water power, Harlem began its existence some time in the 1820's. Early inhabitants were a group of United Empire Loyalists. Prominent in this group was the Smith family. Timothy Smith erected the first sawmill and later added a grist mill. For many years the community was known as Smiths Mills, but, as in many other areas, the application for a post office revealed many villages with the same or similar name already listed. It was a local teacher, Christopher Jansen, who suggested the new name "Haarlem: after his native village in Holland. This name was adopted but one of the as was dropped, leaving the present name of Harlem in tact from 1851 to today. Forfar: Originally named Hales'Corner in honour of an early settler, Richard Hales, it later was renamed after the birthplace of a later settler, Mr. Stevenson. Newboyne: In 1832 residents of Concessions Z, 3 and 4 of Bastard Township held a serious meeting in their schoolhouse. The subject - the naming of their community. The choice was New Boyne, clearly showing the predominance of the Irish settlers in that area. No changes were necessary at the establishment of the post office in 1861 and the name was still two separate words as late as 1881. Today it is known as Newboyne, the only change from its origin being the amalgamation of the two words. Portland: Known for years as “The Landing“, being the major stepping-off place for families intending to settle in the Perth area, its acquisition of a "real" name became imperative at the establishment of a post office. The date of its naming is uncertain however it was already known as Portland when the village was surveyed in 1843. Named after William Cavendish Bentinck, third Duke of Portland, the village had become a thriving commercial centre by 1867. In later years, it readily adapted into a busy tourist community. While still officially known as Portland, many refer to the village as "Portland on the Rideau" reflecting its present reliance on tourism as well as expounding the tranquil and serene area awaiting visitors. Many other communities in our area have interesting "name" histories. The Lantern would welcome items relating to these and other historical facts for future Focus articles. Please submit to Box 136, Elgin, Ontario KOG 1E0. Don't worry if your information is brief...we can possibly collect a series of small items and compile them into one feature story. Information for this Focus was drawn exclusively from My Own Four Walls by Diane Haskins. The Lantern is indebted to Mrs. Haskins for her coâ€"operation in permitting us to draw material frequaitly from her book. PL