Caledon's History
The Town of Caledon came into existence on January 1, 1974 as a result of Ontario government legislation amalgamating several towns and villages in the northern part of Peel County (which became the Regional Municipality of Peel as part of the same legislation). This included the townships of Albion and Caledon (which in turn comprised Alton,Belfountain, Boston Mills, Cataract , Cheltenham, Inglewood , Mono Mills, and Terra Cotta), the villages of Bolton and Caledon East, and the portion of the Township of Chinguacousy north of the 17th Sideroad (Mayfield Road). The remainder of the Township became part of the city of Brampton. The town was named Caledon as the result of a referendum held in 1973. Other names on the ballot were Albion (the name of the township which comprised the eastern part of the new Town) and Cardwell (a federal and provincial electoral county which encompassed Orangeville and four neighbouring townships from 1867 to 1908).
Caledon's residents are proud of their heritage, and this part of our Web site features profiles of 16 of the various communities which which make up our town. To read about any of them, just click on the link of your choice, located at various points in the text and at the bottom of each page. Several resources have been consulted in preparing this community profile, and you can find them by visiting Sources. Further notes regarding this section may also be found by going to Explanatory Notes.
Albion
This township, which forms the eastern area of the Town of Caledon, was named in 1819 by deputy surveyor general James G. Chewett after the ancient poetical name for Britain. "Albion" is rooted in the Celtic languages and means "the land".1
Alton
Alton is located in the northwest corner of the Town, approximately 10 kilometres south of Orangeville on Highway 136 and the Credit Valley Railway line (later taken over by Canadian Pacific).2 Shaw's Creek, a tributary of the Credit river, and whose source is Caledon Lake to the north, runs directly through Alton. Some sources note that Alton is located on the west branch of the Credit. In the 19th century, water was essential for early industry and was a primary concern in establishing a town's location. Shaw's Creek fulfilled these requirements, supplying power to the various mills that lined its banks.
Alton was first settled by Thomas Russel Esq.3 who located here with his family in 1834. In 1837 several other families arrived.4 In 1851 Messrs. Shrigley and Farr built a grist mill in the village, and Robert Meek opened a general store. A post office was opened in 1855 with John Meek serving as postmaster.5
In fact, it was John Meek who gave Alton its name. In its early days, Alton was known as Williamstown, but when application was made to the authorities, there was already a Williamstown in Canada West (as Ontario was known at that time), located near Cornwall, which had been using that postal designation since 1833. Looking for an alternate name, Mr. Meek suggested Alton, after a town in Illinois, about 30 kilometres north of St. Louis, on the Mississippi river. It seems that Mr. Meek, a former resident of the United States, had been inspired by seeing a newspaper from Alton.6 The name was approved in 1855, and has been used ever since.7 If you want to learn more about the city that gave Alton its name, visit Alton Web.
The Congregationalists built the first church in the village about 1846. By the 1870's, the Canadian Methodists and Presbyterians had also erected churches.8
With a branch of the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway passing through the village, the 1870's saw Alton prosper.9 It had a number of flour, grist and sawmills, as well as two lime kilns.10 Today, the town is home to the Millcroft Inn, one of the area's best known hotels.
ALTON – ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
4 miles south of Orangeville on a branch of the Credit River
First settled by Thomas Russell, Esq., he and his family located in 1834 and were the only inhabitants of the immediate area until 1837 when several more families arrived. In 1848 it was called Williamstown and then in 1852, the local population , wishing to start a post office, were faced with choosing a new name as there already was a Williamstown in Glengarry County. A public meeting was called and after considerable discussion, they decided to call it Alton as it was “easy to write”. John Meek, Esq., a local shop keeper, was then appointed postmaster (in 1858) and held this position until his demise in 1882.
The first church was a brick Congregational church constructed around 1846 but there was also a Canada Methodist and Presbyterian churches as well as a beautiful school house. There were 5 stores in the village in 1877 as well as a tin shop, harness shop, shoe stores, blacksmith and wagon shop. Close to the village many local people are employed by the two large patent lime kilns who do a large business with Toronto where the lime is eagerly sought after because of its “beautiful whiteness”. The Toronto, Grey and Bruce railway has a station in Alton which runs several switches to these works. Three large grist mills and a flour mill ground flour for foreign markets and a large saw mill was constantly running. There was also a steam furniture factory with a show room in Orangeville, a tanning factory and a large foundry which manufactured plows, saw mills, cultivators and a general jobbing business. There were two hotels in the village.
Credit Valley Railroad rapidly increased the prosperity of this village. Former residents recall when there was a pharmacy, physicians, three general stores, two barbers with pool rooms in the back, two butchers and assorted other merchants. There was a continuation school, two local knitting mills, a carriage works and foundry that made shells during the war. The kids swam at the upper dam in summer and skated on the rink or pond in winter, soaking bullrushes in oil to light the rink. (Compiled by Caledon Heritage Committee)
Belfountain
This settlement is situated on the west branch of the Credit River, at the junction of County roads 1 (4th Line West) and 11 (Forks of the Credit Road), just west of Highway 10 and approximately 15 kilometres south of Orangeville. It's also about 30 kilometres northwest of Brampton, and 82 kilometres northwest of Toronto.
The first settlers arrived before 1850, the village was originally called "Tubtown". This was a reference to a local blacksmith, who had a large octagonal shaped iron tub to cool hot metal next to the town pump. However, this name did not last long, when a post office was opened by Thomas J. Bush in 1853. By the 1870's the village had a population of about 300 and the local business establishments included a tannery, grist mill, sawmill, one hotel and two general stores.11
The picturesque location of Belfountain draws visitors from far and wide, particularly in the autumn when the changing leaves clothe the surrounding hills in brilliant colours. The origin of the name appears unclear, although it may have come from the French "belle fontaine", or "beautiful fountain" - a reference to the clear waters of the Credit river.12
BELFOUNTAIN – ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONBetween 3rd and 4th Line West off Forks of Credit Road
Established in 1825, it was originally called Tubtown, so named because the blacksmith had a large, octagonal shaped tub in which to cool his hot metal which stood in a prominent place next to the town pump. (According to Bernice Trimble, the origin of the name was from a cooper named Peter McNaughton who ran his business out of a 12 foot by 12 foot tub-shaped building). By 1852, the village had also become known as McCurdy’s Village after the grist mill owner. When a post office was established in 1853, Mr. Bush, the postmaster, was instrumental in having the name changed to Belfountain, shown as Bellefountain on tremaine’s map, possibly after a village of that name in France as it means beautiful fountain. In 1877 there existed a tannery, a saw and grist mill, one hotel and 1 or 2 stores. The White Church, believed to be one of the oldest churches in the area, was built in 1837 and the Belfountain Baptist church was first built in 1835 and replaced in 1889(1892) with a (local) stone building. The majority of the employment came from the stone quarries in the area. It is famous for it’s breathtaking view of the Devil’s Pulpit.
The Belfountain Conservation Area originally belonged to Charles Mack, who visited the area in the early 1900s and decided the gorge would be an ideal setting for a summer home.
(Compiled by Caledon Heritage Committee)
BLACKHORSESaddles Albion and Tecumseh Township lines
One of the early 19th century inhabitants of this rural hamlet owned a beautiful team of black horses, for which the area became well-known. Name does not appear on Tremaine’s map of 1859 or 1877 historical atlas.
(Compiled by Caledon Heritage Committee)
Bolton
Bolton is located in the southeast corner of the Town on the Humber river, at the junction of Highway 50 and County road 9 (King Road), about 25 kilometres northeast of Brampton.
James and Lucy Bolton natives of Suffolk, England arrived from Newmarket, York County, England in 1818. Following the arrival of his nephew, George Bolton, in 1820, a mill site was selected, and shortly thereafter a small, frame grist mill was constructed. Lucy passed away in 1823 and in 1837, James moved to Indiana and passed away the following year. The son of James and Lucy, James C. Bolton, was born in 1812, moved with his parents to Albion in 1818/1819. He settled in Bolton in 1839 after his marriage to Ellen Godbolt in 1838 and purchased the mill in 1843. He later built a new mill site. In its early days, the town was known as "Bolton's Mill", and began to attract settlers. By 1840 it boasted 14 houses, 2 stores, blacksmiths, shoemakers, a tailor and a hotel.13
During the ensuing years, "Bolton's mills" continued to prosper and shape a unique identity of its own. It also continued to grow, in spite of several floods and fires.14 In 1872 it was decided that Bolton should become a separate entity from the township of Albion.15 In accordance with this change, a Village Council was elected in January 1873, with Lambert L. Bolton at its head, also becoming the village's first reeve.16 In 1892, the name of the town was changed to Bolton (perhaps in honour of the Bolton family's contributions to the town's history).17
Today's residents are living in a strong community started by those first determined settlers which continues to grow, change and further develop. These changes continue to cultivate Bolton's own unique identity begun in the rolling Albion Hills and the scenic Humber river valley.
BOLTON – ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Formerly called Bolton Mills, this was the first village in Albion Twp. The name commemorates the Bolton Family. James Bolton came from Norfolk, England in 1818/19 and George Bolton arrived in 1824 and between them, constructed a small frame grist mill on the Humber River, which proved to be a great boon to the few settlers. The first school opened in 1824 with 20-25 children and in 1874 a beautiful brick structure was erected when the students jumped to 142.
In 1832, when the first post office was established, the name Albion was applied to the federal office, which was confusing, and in 1892, 60 years later, the name was officially changed to Bolton to match that of the village. In 1907 the name Albion was again applied to a post office in the area community of Centreville. In 1873, the village incorporated as a separate municipality until January 1, 1974 when it was amalgamated as part of the Town of Caledon.
In 1843, the first mud brick church was built by the Congregationalists, followed by the English which was also built of mud brick, followed by the Primitive and Wesleyan Methodist In 1872, Bolton became a separate municipality with the first elections being held in 1873 and the population stood at 900. It was a manufacturing and commercial town, with the Agricultural Works ranking among the first manufacturing industries in the county, making just about every agricultural implement. There was also a woollen factory, saw mill and grist mill and several general stores. A carriage and wagon factory was started in 1873 and a brick cooper factory, soap and candle factory, tannery manufacturing upper and harness leather, celebrated wooden pumps and manufacturing and importing furniture are just a few of the wealthy businesses that existed. A large drug store and a large harness shop also existed. Four resident ministers and two resident doctors along with five hotels, Town, Masonic and Orange Halls, the Masonic and Orange Societies as well as a Temperance Lodge.
(Compiled by Caledon Heritage Committee)
Boston Mills
Another Credit river hamlet, this community is located at the junction of the 15th Sideroad (Boston Mills Road) and Chinguacousy Road, just north of Cheltenham, and southwest of Inglewood, approximately halfway between Hurontario Street (Highway 10) and Mississauga Road. It's also approximately 15 kilometres northwest of Brampton, . It was originally called Caslor's Corners after Hiram Caslor, a miller who set up shop in the town. In 1860, it was known as Boston Mills, apparently the result of merrymakers returning from parties in neighbouring Cheltenham, where the last dance was usually "The Road to Boston".18
In a witty jest, Caslor painted the name "Boston Mills" on his sawmill, and in 1870 Boston was adopted the name of a station on the Hamilton and Northwestern Railway.19 Today, the name survives in a number of ways, of which the most notable may be The Boston Mills Press, a publisher headquartered in Erin (just west of Caledon).
Caledon
Caledon is not only the name of the town, it is also one of its communities. It is located at the junction of Highways 10 and 24, approximately 25 kilometres northwest of Brampton For more information about this area's history, please see the entry for Caledon Township. To examine a history of the actual community, please go to Caledon Village.
As we have noted above, the name "Caledon" was chosen for the town during a 1973 referendum, and is a worthy tribute to the early pioneers of the region. As we have seen in other community descriptions on this page, many of the early settlers were Scots. For them, the area's hills, rocks, woods, and streams were reminders of their homeland. Indeed, the name "Caledon" was a political designation for a portion of Scotland (the Romans referred to Scotland as "Caledonia", and the name has been used for centuries by Scottish poets). It is believed to have come from the Latin "celare", meaning "to conceal". It was said that Caledonians were people skilled at hiding in wooden shelters. Given that many of those early Scottish settlers were sympathetic to Mackenzie and the Reformers, hiding from government troops and their supporters may have been a useful skill.20
Caledon East
Formerly an incorporated village, Caledon East, for municipal purposes, became part of the Town of Caledon in 1974 (for more information regarding municipal administrative terms, we invite you to view our Explanatory Notes). It is located on the boundary between Caledon and Albion townships, at the junction of County roads 7 (Airport Road) and 22 (Old Church Road), about 25 kilometres northwest of Brampton.
Over the years the village has had various names, the first one being Tarbox Corners, after its first settlers Elisha and Elizabeth Tarbox, who arrived in 1821.21 As the daughter of United Empire Loyalists, Mrs. Tarbox had been granted 200 acres of land on the Caledon-Albion town line. Other early settlers were the Greers, the Flanagans, the Youngs and the Higginses, who came around 1834. Wm. Stone operated the first store in the vicinity of the settlement, but the first store in the village proper was erected by Joseph Carter who also built a blacksmith shop and several houses.22 James Munsie, was the postmaster from 1851to 1874,23 who lent his name to the village when it was known as Munsie's Corners.24 Paisley was another name the village was given; however, in 1857, it acquired its present name because of its location at the eastern border of Caledon Township.25
The first train steamed into the hamlet in the late 1870's when the Hamilton and North Western Railway built a station at Caledon East. Earlier that decade, the Toronto, Grey and Bruce had by-passed the village in favour of Mono Road (a small hamlet located at the junction of Airport Road and Olde Baseline Road, just south of Caledon East which grew up around the TGB station), thus causing a temporary decline in business.26
The first church within the village was the Presbyterian Church built in 1860. The Methodist Church erected in 1880 is now the United Church of Caledon East. The Anglican congregation built their first church in 1843, east of the village. The present St. James Anglican Church on Church Street dates back to 1901.27
Caledon East became a police village in 1913, and on January 1, 1957 it achieved the status of an independent village with Thomas R. Evans as its first reeve.28 This status continued until the creation of the present Town of Caledon in 1974. Caledon East is also home to the Town's Administrative Centre, located on Old Church Road.
CALEDON EAST – ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Straddles Albion and Caledon Townships
Originally called Paisley, after the place of the same name in Renfrewshire, Scotland. Other early names included Tarbox Corners and Munsie’s Corners. Elisha and Elizabeth Tarbox were United Empire Loyalists who arrived in 1821. James Munsie was the first postmaster from 1851(1857) to 1874. Paisley and Caledon East P.O. appear on both Tremaine’s map of 1859 and the historical atlas of 1877. Paisley remained in use for the hamlet itself and some local residents still called it such in 1970’s This practice of having different hamlet and post office names was not uncommon in Peel. The only mill in the vicinity was the saw mill which kept busy. There was also a wagon and carriage factory and first class harness and saddle shop, 2 general stores, a blacksmith shop, a cabinet factory and two boot and shoe stores. There were three churches, the Methodist, Presbyterian and Episcopal as well as an Orange lodge and 2 hotels.
(Compiled by Caledon Heritage Committee)
Albion | Alton | Belfountain | Blackhorse |Bolton | Boston Mills | Caledon | Caledon East | Caledon Township | Caledon Village | Campbell's Cross | Cardwell Junction| Castlederg | Cataract | Cheltenham | Chinguacousy | Inglewood | Mono Mills | Mono Road | Palgrave | Sand Hill | Snelgrove | Terra Cotta |Tullamore | Victoria | Wildfield | Sources | Explanatory Notes |
Non - Existent Hamlets | Footnotes | Disclaimer
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