SUBSCRIBE TO "THE GREAT LAKES RACONTEUR" & GIFT IT ->

Egremont Township:
An Early History, Contentious At Times

Egremont Township endured the usual growing pains of a pioneer community, but its early history records times when it was embroiled in a few contentious issues. 

the-great-lakes-raconteur-200


subscribe free or become a member

The Great Lakes Raconteur

GET IT! -->

The Grey-Bruce region has a rich heritage. Fortunately, there have been many local histories written about the municipalities in our area. These books can provide even the casual reader with not only entertainment but also interesting information. An example of this re-telling of our past is While We Still Remember, A History of Egremont, 1840-1983. 

While We Still Remember provides valuable information about the development of that municipality as well as important genealogical facts. However, its section on the political history of Egremont was the section that I found most interesting. 

The first council convened in 1850, and its agenda included raising funds for road construction and the erection of schools. Council decided that a taxation of seven farthings on each acre of developed land would help pay for the roads that were necessary to further develop the area. 

Probably because cash was a scarce commodity, it was decided that further expenses concerning the development of roads could be covered by way of a statute of labour. This law, once enacted, required all men residing in the township to work a specified number of days each year helping to build roads. This practice was maintained until Egremont hired its first road superintendent in 1926. 

In 1855, Egremont received a request from Grey County council for help with improvements to the Garafraxa Road. The local residents did not receive this request well, feeling perhaps, that they should devote their attention to their own road system. To ensure that the township roads were passable, the township passed a bylaw allowing for payment to local residents to clear the right-of-ways which fronted their property. 

In 1857, it was proposed that a new county should be created between Grey and Wellington. The new municipality, tentatively known as Palmerston County, would include the Wellington County townships of Luther, Arthur, and Minto as well as Normanby, Proton, and Egremont from Grey County. Due to strong opposition from the Grey County council, this plan never left the drawing board. 

In 1864, Egremont council faced a potentially contentious issue. In 1862, the treasurer had mailed $400 to Grey County from the Mount Forest post office. Unfortunately, the money never arrived. Neither the county, nor the post office, would take responsibility for the funds, and at the urging of a petition signed by about 90 residents from Egremont, the township sent another $400 to the county. 

Like most of the municipalities in this region, the idea of a railway providing a link to the rest of the province was a popular topic. Beginning in 1866, Egremont council meetings were largely concerned with ensuring some sort of rail service to that municipality.

That year, council issued $30,000 worth of debentures to purchase stock in a railroad company which would build a line connecting Guelph, Mount Forest, Durham and Owen Sound, with a branch running east to Proton Station.

The following year, 1867, council was encouraged to borrow $22,000 to purchase stock in the Grey and Simcoe Railroad. However, at a public meeting in Holstein, it was decided that Egremont should support another company, the Wellington, Grey and Bruce Railroad. 

The meeting promoted the idea that the company should be given $50,000 if its line was to "touch at or near Mount Forest." 

The dream of a railroad through the township prompted the ratepayers to recommend that council offer the company an additional $50,000 if it ran its line through the township "not more than one mile (to) the east of the village of Holstein. 

A version of "Egremont Township: An Early History, Contentious At Times" originally appeared in my Local History column in the March 10, 2000 edition of the Owen Sound Sun Times.

   Get The Great Lakes Raconteur  -->   

SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Share this page:

More Grey County Pages

12-year-old Walks to Owen Sound in 1851 from the journal of a teenage boy's experience travelling with his brother in the untamed Upper Canadian wilderness.

1st Grey County Building in 1852 was only built after many hurdles were overcame.

Dr. Anna Henry  from Markdale, was a medical trailblazer for women doctors in Canada, who helped lay the groundwork for the establishment for Women's College Hospital.

Egremont Township endured the usual growing pains of a pioneer community, but its early history records times when it was embroiled in a few contentious issues. 

Euphrasia Township in the early years when spelling the name was a problem for those who called it home and those that wanted settle this new Grey County township.

Georgian Bay's 1st pioneer settler arrived on the western shoreline long before any other settler reached the area.

Grey County Heritage: A Valuable Resource which is rich and varied, as an important resource for future use for business, political, and many other purposes.

Grey County's Creation in 1852, laid the framework for organizing a county in the last wilderness in the southern region of what would become in the future the province of Ontario.

An Unlikely Hero From Grey County (Part 1) found his way from the farming community of Flesherton to missionary work in the Ottawa Valley, and beyond.

An Unlikely Hero Vs. The KKK (Part 2) Our hero from Grey County took his missionary zeal south of the border and ultimately crossed paths with the infamous KKK!

Barn Raising: A Pioneer Economic and Social Necessity as it provided settlers with an opportunity not only to build a barn, but also build a community.

"Barring Out": A Pioneer School Tradition was a custom which the settlers brought to the new world from England, or Scotland.

Ceylon Ontario: How it Got its Name: It is always interesting how a community got its name, but I doubt any place received its name from a more unique source!

Chatsworth Ontario: First Settlers took advantage of fulfilling the needs of pioneer travellers and built a thriving community in the Upper Canadian wilderness.

Clearing Trees a Daunting Task for Settlers as they worked to fulfill their obligations for their land grant.

Dornoch: or is it Smithville? Originally it was Smithville, then it became Dornoch. But, surprise it is still, in reality Smithville!

First Pioneer in Durham: Archibald Hunter established his family, and a hotel, in what would become the centre of the town of Durham.

Durham Ontario Influenced by the Saugeen River. This river provided a means to create new industries, but especially in the spring it can also pose a menace to the community.

Grey County Bylaws to the 1890s reveal a lot about the financing of local government, especially education in the early days of the region.

John Muir, the legendary naturalist, who promoted the idea of protected nature spaces, spent time in Ontario and I went to help find evidence of his stay in the Owen Sound area.

A Heroic Woman From Grey County who made great changes as a doctor in China in the 1890s and early 1900s.

Jesse James: In Grey County? An interesting question. Did the notorious gangster hide out in Proton Township? We will never know. But it is fun to speculate!

Kilsyth's Train Engine was one for the history books. It brought an evening of joy followed by disappointing news soon after.

The Knight's of Meaford have long history in that Grey County community. Their business forged by early settlers employed many locals and supported the economy.

Leith: Tom Thomson's Birthplace is part of the rich heritage of this community located on the east shore of the Georgian Bay north of Owen Sound.

The Leith Golf Course has provided many families with great memories. The history of this golf course starts, and ends, with the generosity of one family.

Agnes Macphail was a political trailblazer in a part of Ontario that one could hardly expect such radical action for the era in a rural region.

Markdale Ontario: The Beginning: originally known as Glenelg East, but the coming of the railway and the name of owner of the land for the station led to a change of identity.

Meaford's history is one of hardy and entrepreneurial pioneers carving their lives out of the wilderness of what would become Grey County.

Meaford Ontario, first called Peggy's Landing located on the shores of Georgian Bay has a rich history.

Meaford vs Purdytown. Conflict over the name of a new community was not unusual in early Grey County but electing a school trustee was the "hot button" issue in this rivalry.

Pioneer Clergyman: John Neelands was the first to minister to the first settlers' spiritual needs riding on horseback through the wilds of early Grey County.

Pioneer Doctor: Dr. James Smith, a local boy who became a doctor and served his community for his entire life was a testament to Grey County community spirit.

Pioneer Healthcare in Grey and Bruce counties was not administered by doctors, nurses, or pharmacists, no it was the responsibility of the women of the community.

Pioneer Homes in Grey County in the 1840s offered only basic amenities. Homes were basic because clearing the land to earn a living to survive were of paramount importance for those embarking on a new life.

Pioneer Ingenuity created many labour saving devices and methods and quite often helped to create a sense of community.

Pioneer Christmas: A Family Tradition as told to me by may grandparents who experienced Christmas as children in the 1880s and 1890s.

Pioneer Settlement Plans for Grey County began almost two decades before the rest of Grey County was available for settlement.

A pioneer road surveyor's impact on the local history of Grey and Bruce counties could have been dramatic, if it had not been changed by another surveyor.

Pioneer Teachers in Grey and Bruce Counties had a long and arduous task, not to mentions strict and confining job requirements for very little salary.

Plowing Match in Grey County in 1933 the first International Plowing Match held in Grey and Bruce counties and it's success led to more such events in Grey.

Settling Osprey Township: Parts of Osprey were considered too rugged to settle, but today they are prime real estate because of the great view!

Swamp College: Proton Township: this colourfully named institution of education in Grey County has provided many stories to the heritage of the region.

Sydenham Township's First Council undertook the often difficult task of creating a new municipal infrastructure.

The Impact of Snow is not what is Used to be! As snow removal equipment has improved the impact of snow on our lives has reduced significantly from previous eras.

Unique Characters: Nathaniel Herriman lived in Grey County and owned an inn to provide food and and accommodation to early travellers. Each day he performed a unique practice.

Unique Maps: Quilts Guided the Underground Railroad to enable runaway slaves to escape to Canada and freedom from the shackles that enslaved them.

The Women's Institute is a group of rural women that has made a difference to the quality of both urban and rural life in Grey County and across the country.