Zone Township in Bothwell in Chatham-Kent, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Founding of Bothwell, 1855

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 11, 2025

1. The Founding of Bothwell, 1855 Marker

Inscription. In 1851 George Brown, founder of the Toronto Globe and one of Canada's Fathers of Confederation, purchased about 4000 acres in this vicinity. The Great Western Railway ran through his property in 1855 and that year a station and a post office were opened. He had the town plot of Bothwell surveyed and by 1857 Brown and others had established several industries The new community prospered until affected by the general depression of 1857-58 but revived by 1861 when a local oil boom developed. Brown was thus able to sell his holdings in 1865-66 for well over $250,000. Bothwell became a town in 1866 with some 3,500 inhabitants. By 1868, however, the oil industry had faltered and only in recent years has the community resumed its growth.

Erected by Archeological and Historical Sites Board of Ontario.

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 1855.

Location. 42° 37.857′ N, 81° 52.245′ W. Marker is in Bothwell, Ontario,

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in Chatham-Kent. It is in Zone Township. It is at the intersection of Main Street North (Chatham-Kent County Road 22) and Elm Street East on Main Street North (Chatham-Kent County Road 22). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 320 Chatham-Kent County Rd 22, Bothwell ON N0P 1C0, 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,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in 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 10 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Bothwell Cenotaph (within shouting distance of this marker); Fairfield on the Thames / The Fairfield Mission (approx. 5.6 kilometers away); Fairfield (approx. 5.8 kilometers away); The Burning of Fairfield (approx. 5.8 kilometers away); Newbury Old Town/Fire Hall (approx. 8.4 kilometers

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 11, 2025

2. The Founding of Bothwell, 1855 Marker

away); Newbury Cenotaph (approx. 8.4 kilometers away); The Founding of Newbury (approx. 8.4 kilometers away); Newbury C.N. Station (approx. 8.4 kilometers away).

Zone Township and the Town of Bothwell, 1880 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by 2, May 11, 2025

3. Zone Township and the Town of Bothwell, 1880

Belden’s Atlas of Kent County (McGill University)

Bothwell Town Hall, 2025 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 11, 2025

4. Bothwell Town Hall, 2025

Credits. This page was last revised on May 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 11, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 288 times since then and 68 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 11, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.