Richmond Settlement 1825

Richmond Settlement 1825. . This mural depicts the artist's conception of the Richmond Settlement of 1825. Centered around the intersection of Strachan and Cockburn Streets, the original settlement used the Jock River as “Main Street”, with boats, rafts, canoes and barges of all sorts moving people and supplies up and down the river. The main Landing was likely in this area, with the Government Depot and Stores first built in 1818 (showing round logs and scooped-log roof construction, lower right). The largely self-sufficient settlers built numerous cabins and outbuildings, grew vegetables and crops, kept cows for milk and butter, raised sheep, pigs, rabbits and chickens for food, and set up trades and businesses, usually at their residences (showing squared log construction, upper centre). By 1825 there was a School and Town Hall (showing frame buildings, upper right); and the Duke of Richmond Inn, St. John's Anglican Church, St Phillips Catholic Church, and the Lyon's Grist Mill, Lumber Mill and Distillery complex at Ottawa and Fortune (upper left). In 1822, the population of Richmond was 2,434. With hundreds of original military settlers clearing land and constructing buildings, and hundreds of immigrant settlers passing through continuously, it was a busy place indeed.