West Perth in Perth County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Founding of Mitchell

Photographed by Tim Boyd, September 22, 2023

1. The Founding of Mitchell Marker

Inscription.
In 1836 the Canada Company, a large private land settlement agency, laid out a town plot (Mitchell) here on the Huron Road. Within a year John Hicks, one of Logan Township's earliest settlers, had erected a hotel near this point where the road crossed the River Thames. Although settlement proceeded slowly at first, a sawmill was in operation by 1842. Following the opening of the Mitchell-Blanshard Road in 1845, stores and other mills were built, and in 1851 the population had reached 150. The arrival of the Buffalo and Lake Huron Railroad in 1857 greatly stimulated the development of Mitchell and it was incorporated as a Village in that year. In 1874 with a population of some 2,000 it became a Town. Erected by the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board, Ministry of Colleges and Universities

Erected by Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1836.

Location. 43° 28.15′ N, 81° 11.948′ W.

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Marker is in West Perth, Ontario, in Perth County. It is at the intersection of Huron Road (Highway 8) and Blanchard Street, on the right when traveling west on Huron Road. The marker is in the former town of Mitchell, in Lions Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: West Perth ON N0K 1N0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Huron-Perth-Waterloo-Wellington Area

and in Southwestern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 23 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: “Howie” Morentz 1902-1937 (within shouting distance of this marker); First Settlers in Ellice Township (approx. 8.3 kilometers away); St. Columban Church (approx. 11.7 kilometers away); Hon. William Aberhart 1878-1943 (approx. 18 kilometers away); Seaforth Cenotaph (approx. 18.2 kilometers

Photographed by Tim Boyd, September 22, 2023

2. The Founding of Mitchell Marker

away); The Founding of Seaforth (approx. 18.2 kilometers away); Seaforth Firefighters (approx. 18.3 kilometers away); Grand Trunk Railway St. Mary's Junction (approx. 22.6 kilometers away).

Also see . . . The Mitchell Advocate - What’s the Origin story of How Mitchell was Named?. Known at one time, at least informally, as Big Thames, Mitchell is said to have received its official name from a black man who supposedly made his way up the Thames River from the Chatham area. Close to where Whirl Creek and the north branch of the Thames flow together the man, who called himself ‘Mitchell’, put up a log building and offered it as a resting place to weary travellers in the Huron Tract. That was in the 1830s. (Submitted on September 25, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Postcard of downtown Mitchell, ca 1910 image. Click for full size.

circa 1910

3. Postcard of downtown Mitchell, ca 1910

Source: Toronto Public Library

Credits. This page was last revised on November 14, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 424 times since then and 88 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 25, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.