Springfield in Elgin County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Founding of Springfield

Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 23, 2024

1. The Founding of Springfield Marker

Inscription. About 1850, some ten years after this area was settled, a school and a Methodist meeting house were erected here on the town line between the Townships of South Dorchester and Malahide. Shortly afterwards a post-office named Clunas was opened, with Archibald Clunas as postmaster. Although a village plot called Springfield was surveyed in 1857, its growth was slow until the Canada Southern Railway, completed in 1873, selected Springfield as a station site. The community quickly became the commercial centre for-the surrounding fertile agricultural area and attracted a number of industries, including a flax-mill and several grist-mills. The population numbered about 800 in 1877 when Elgin County Council passed the by-law incorporating Springfield as a Village.

Erected by the Ontario Heritage Foundation, Ministry of Culture and Recreation

Erected by Ontario Heritage Foundation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. 42° 49.747′ N, 80° 56.192′ W. Marker is in Springfield, Ontario, in Elgin County. It is at the intersection of Ron McNeil Line (County

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Road 52) and Whittaker Road (County Road 49), on the left when traveling west on Ron McNeil Line (County Road 52). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 51137 County Rd 52, Springfield ON N0L 2J0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Southwest Ontario 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 19 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Springfield Cenotaph (a few steps from this marker); Aylmer Cenotaph (approx. 7.4 kilometers away); The Founding of Aylmer (approx. 7.4 kilometers away); The Founding of Sparta, 1813 (approx. 17.8 kilometers away); The Eakins Store (approx. 18.3 kilometers away); The Sparta House (approx. 18.3 kilometers away); The Temperance House (approx. 18.3 kilometers away); The Sparta Settlement (approx. 18.3 kilometers away).

Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 23, 2024

2. The Founding of Springfield Marker

Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 23, 2024

3. The Founding of Springfield Marker

The Villge of Springfield in 1877 image. Click for full size.

4. The Villge of Springfield in 1877

From the Illustrated Historical Atlas of County Elgin

Springfield on the Canada Southern Railway Line, ca 1917 image. Click for full size.

5. Springfield on the Canada Southern Railway Line, ca 1917

Source: Wikipedia (public domain)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 378 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 26, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.