y
or
Explore Perth and
were among the last to be surveyed in
1822 and 1823.
In 1823 Perth was named the capital
st District’s History
of the District of Bathurst, which
attracted a large number of moneyed
and educated settlers.
When the Rideau Canal was built
lcome! Whether you’re here After the War of 1812, Perth was one
as a safe inland military route from
e Hi
W
e
for a visit or planning to make of three strategic defensive outposts
Kingston to Ottawa between 1826 and
this area your home, Perth and District created along the Rideau Corridor.
1832, it created a local economic boom.
will not disappoint! To encourage settlement, the govern-
The Tay Canal, from Perth to the Lower
Immerse yourself in the area’s ment granted land to officers and
Rideau Lake, was constructed first in
history, nature and culture. Explore soldiers according to their rank. Thus,
the 1830s and rebuilt in the 1880s as
ebrat
the historic architecture in our towns, a trained reserve force was established
a commercial waterway.
villages, hamlets and throughout along the banks of the Tay River in
Perth became the county seat in
the countryside that tells the story of the event of another conflict with the
1850 and remains so. Industrial booms
Cel
our settlement past. Arts and culture United States.
pepper its history, and evidence of
abound: Where else can you enjoy a Named for a town and river in
this is seen in architecture – from
performance by a top-billed Canadian Scotland, Perth was a frontier centre
converted 19th-century mills and
artist, curl up with a book at a cosy inn in a wilderness tract. It became the
factories to the Victorian shopfronts
and hike to a restored mica mine all on social, judicial and administrative
of downtown and the grand homes
the same day? Be it in the fields and hub for the Scottish and Irish settlers.
complementing tree-lined boulevards.
forests or along heritage downtown After a hard journey across the
During the 19th century, the local
streets, our history slowly unfurls in a Atlantic, pioneers travelled overland
economy was based on agriculture.
shimmering and vibrant present. or by scow down Rideau Lake to
In the rugged Canadian Shield lands
Perth and the surrounding townships,
of the area, logging and small-scale
which were surveyed to accommodate
mining took hold. Cheese factories
them.
dotted the landscape in the later 1800s
Their names have changed over the
when the dairy industry became the
largest segment of the local farming
years, but almost all of the original
economy.
townships were named in honour of
In 1824, British army Sergeant John
British public and military figures.
Balderson founded the hamlet of
Photo courtesy of BMO North Elmsley and North Burgess
Balderson between Perth and Lanark.
townships were named in 1794 and
In 1881, a group of milk producers
were among the first to be surveyed.
formed a cooperative and built a
The “Scotch Line,” along the northern
cheese factory to provide a local
border of these townships, attracted
and reliable market for their milk.
the first emigrants, who established
Balderson’s cheddar became interna-
themselves as farmers in 1816.
tionally renowned.
That same year, Drummond and
Railways and the Rideau Canal
Bathurst were named and surveyed.
linked small communities with larger
These townships were laid out
centres. Shoes, whisky and soap were
specifically for settlement by British
among the exports from the area.
emigrants and demobilized army
The communities of Perth and
and navy personnel after the War of
District have enthralling stories to tell.
1812.
Carved out of wilderness, our pio-
South Sherbrooke was surveyed
neers made a life, creating booming
in 1819.
markets and overcoming hardship
Settlement in Lanark Highlands
with ingenuity to thrive today.
began in 1820 with a large group of
Amalgamations in 1998 brought
emigrants from overpopulated areas
together some of these historic muni-
in the south of Scotland. Dalhousie,
cipalities. Tay Valley Township is
See fine heritage architecture, such
Lanark and North Sherbrooke town-
made up by Bathurst, North Burgess
as the BMO building in Perth.
ships were surveyed and named in and South Sherbrooke. Drummond
order to accommodate these soldiers, and North Elmsley townships united
As living conditions in Britain and unemployed weavers and labourers. to form Drummond/North Elmsley
Europe declined in the late 1700s, emi- The Village of Lanark, within Lanark Township. Lanark Highlands is
gration coordinated and subsidized Township, was founded in 1820 and comprised of Lavant, Dalhousie, North
by the British government became a became the chief local administrative Sherbrooke, Darling, Lanark and
welcome option. base for these northern settlements. Lanark Village.
In what was then known as Upper It was named for its counterpart in Come and share the fascinating sto-
Canada, parts of Lanark County were Lanarkshire, Scotland, and served ries of Perth and District, a community
4
settled as early as 1790, but a major some 2,500 settlers as a government that revels in its rich history, nurtures
push of emigration did not begin in supply depot. culture and nature, and fearlessly
Perth and District until 1816. Darling and Lavant townships embraces the future.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72