Port Hope, Ontario

More on our travels...
While this is not Muskoka, small towns in South and Central Ontario are alike. Created in the late 1800s, these towns centre around early farming communities, as people learned to make a living in a harsh climate, fighting malaria from the mosquitoes in S. Ontario bogs, swamps drained, bartering took place between with potash, wheat, pork, poultry, bartered for sugar, salt, clothing, bots, tools. In 1819 Port Hope had 4 stores, 2 taverns, 2 breweries, 2 distilleries, a grist mill, saw mill and carding mill.

By 1822, with the Missowaga tribe recieving yearly presents from the Government: clothing, guns, ammunition, in return for land. There were 200 men, women and children, with baskets, brooms, wooden shovels to sell. Aboriginal peoples were bought out of their lands (Montagnes, 2007).

Towns and cities formed as people were able to conquer the land, plant the fields and create surplus crops. Then, specialization as landowners built mills, and surplus crops allowed the pioneers to sell crops at market.

Champlain visited the area in 1615, and misunderstood the fabulous government, structure, and dignity of First Nations. He missed the complexity of the Longhouse, villages surrounded by pallisades, and fire pits in which extended families lived together.

The beauty of the Oak Ridges Moraine, where Hurons and Iroquois fought over land and territory. This is where the hunters and gatherers set down roots: the three sisters: corn, beans and squash, picked berries, trapped and fished in the sparkling waters. After 50 years or so the longhouse would be abandoned and the people would move on allowing the land and the animals to recover.

By the 1670s, French fur traders had invaded, in their quest for money and furs.The United Empire Loyalists settled in. Missionaries moved in to convert all those to Christianity. Blackflies and mosquitoes likely persecuted them in retribution! Pioneers, settlers, those awarded land for military service, all made their mark. Mills were built; the ubiquitous churches, too. General stores for

Port Hope is a municipality in Ontario, Canada, located in Southern Ontario about 109 km east of Toronto and about 159 km west of Kingston.

Port Hope is an interesting town. It is an old town, too! Relatively slow growth from 1880 to 1960 resulted in much of its original architecture not being demolished in the name of progress. Port Hope's downtown is celebrated as having the best preserved 19th century streetscape in Ontario. The town's local chapter of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario and the Heritage Port Hope Advisory Committee are very active and advise on the restoration and preservation of architecturally or historically significant buildings.

Roads were improved and horses were supplanted by trains.

With over 270 heritage designated buildings throughout the municipality, Port Hope has a higher per capita rate of preservation than any other town or city in Canada. Downtown businesses are regulated by the municipality to maintain the town's unique character. A great idea, IMHO, as quaint towns are inundated with big box stores and Cheap-Marts. It changes a town forever.

The family story goes that Great-grandmother (Mariah Mallette, 1848 - 1924) ran a boarding house in Port Hope, I do not know where, and was also a caterer.
She was out working, when she realized Anne (1883 - 1978), my grandmother, was missing. Lo and behold, Annie was sitting on the knee of a distinguished gentleman. The man gave her a coin, and Annie was hustled back into the kitchen! The man was Sir John A. and Annie was in deep trouble when the party was over!

In doing research, I found that Sir John had been here to unveil a statue in 1889. This fits the time frame of our story.

For more reading:

The Great Farini - Port Hope History

The Great Farini, famous highwire walker, world circus impresario, and native of Port Hope, Onario, made an exciting walk across the Ganaraska River.

Port Hope History

A subjective look at the history of the area, featuring genealogical data, photos and slideshows, and narratives of people and events.

For more information, see Port Hope: A history, by Ian Montagnes. Also, a post on Kingston after our trip, for those with fond memories of that city: Kingston, Ontario Tour!