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| Historical Facts About Buckhorn, Ontario.
(Halls Bridge) |
| To Honour the Memory of John Hall.
A public Ceremony was held on Monday, August 2nd, 1993 at 2:00
p.m. to honour the Memory of John Hall, Founding pioneer resident
of Buckhorn, Ont. An Historical plaque sponsored by the Greater
Harvey Historical Society is dedicated at the site of the MILLSTONES
located in the recreational area between Trent-Severn Lock No. 31
and
the Dam in Buckhorn. |
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Inscription on the plaque reads;
JOHN HALL, THE FIRST SETTLER IN THIS AREA, CONSTRUCTED A DAM AND
SAWMILL HERE IN 1830. A GRIST-MILL, ADDED LATER, WAS REMOVED IN
1883 DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUCKHORN LOCKS. THESE MILLSTONES
WERE RECOVERED FROM RUBBLE NEAR THE SITE OF THE GRIST-MILL. ERECTED
IN 1993 BY THE GREATER HARVEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN CO-OPERATION
WITH THE TRENT-SEVERN WATERWAY. |
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That, the Missisauga Indian along with a number of other
tribes used the lakes and streams in the area as a means of transportation
and a source for food through fishing. The 20' high rock, located
near the bridge on the shores of Buckhorn rapids, known as "Council
Rock" is believed to be the site of Indian Council meetings. |
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That, in 1839, Buckhorn's population was 50. |
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That, lumbering was a chief export industry with a number of mills
built in the area producing squared timbers, ship's masts, shingles,
barrels etc. These products were transported via the inland waterways
to Quebec for shipment to Great Britain and Europe. A large portion
was also shipped down the Erie Canal (opened in 1825) to New York. |
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That, there is an historical plaque between Lock31 and the dam honouring
John Hall, the first settler of this area (1827), who constructed
a dam and sawmill there in 1830. Two millstones, recovered from the
rubble near the site of the original mill, are on display.
Look for the stone with the square hole. It moved while the other
remained stationary during the grinding of grains into flour. |
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That, John Hall became the first postmaster, and for matters of
the Royal Mail, the settlement was named "Hall's Bridge".
However, John Hall's collection of deer antlers, which he displayed
on the outside walls of his mills, which gave rise to the name Buckhorn.
It wasn't until 1936 the hamlet became officially recognized as by
its present name. |
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That, John Hall died in1883 at the age of 96 years, but not before
he gave every female in Hall's Bridge (Buckhorn) a plot of land to
build a home in order to encourage the continuing growth of the hamlet. |
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That, Harvey Township (Ward) was named after Sir John Harvey who
gained notoriety in
the War of 1812 and later became the Governer of New Brunswick, Nova
Scotia & Newfoundland. |
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That, a little way down Adam & Eve Road, on the north side,
you will see 2 large glacial rocks. Folklore has it that if a young
couple can hold hands and each touch one of the rocks, their lives
will be blessed. |
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That, Floklore tells a story about beautiful Sandy Lake, also
known as "Lake of Spirits". In the south bay, visible
from Lakehurst Road is a large, heart shaped rock known as the "Giants
Heart". There on calm days, ripples form over the rock formation,
causing it to look as though the "Heart" is beating. This
lake is land locked and has no feeder river. But water flows out
of the lake and down Sandy Creek to Buckhorn Lake. Where does this
water come from? |
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