Arkona in Lambton County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
The Founding of Arkona
Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 12, 2025
1. The Founding of Arkona Marker
Inscription.
The Founding of Arkona. . By 1836 the earliest settlers on the site of Arkona, notably Henry Utter, Nial Eastman, and John Smith, had located in this vicinity. Within three years Utter, the first to arrive, had constructed a grist-mill around which a small community, the Eastman Settlement, gradually developed. About 1851 a post office was opened a village plot laid out and the village became known as Smithfield. Situated at an important road junction and serving a fertile region, the settlement grew rapidly during the 1850s. By 1860 the village, now called Arkona, reportedly after a lighthouse point in Germany, contained a foundry, tannery, and woollen factory among its many industries. Arkona, with over 700 inhabitants, became an incorporated Village by a County By-law of June 10, 1876.
By 1836 the earliest settlers on the site of Arkona, notably Henry Utter, Nial Eastman, and John Smith, had located in this vicinity. Within three years Utter, the first to arrive, had constructed a grist-mill around which a small community, the Eastman Settlement, gradually developed. About 1851 a post office was opened a village plot laid out and the village became known as Smithfield. Situated at an important road junction and serving a fertile region, the settlement grew rapidly during the 1850s. By 1860 the village, now called Arkona, reportedly after a lighthouse point in Germany, contained a foundry, tannery, and woollen factory among its many industries. Arkona, with over 700 inhabitants, became an incorporated Village by a County By-law of June 10, 1876.
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 date for this entry is June 10, 1876.
Location. 43° 4.454′ N, 81° 50.059′ W. Marker is in Arkona, Ontario, in Lambton County. It
Click or scan to see this page online
is at the intersection of Arkona Road (Lambton County Road 79) and Townsend Line, on the right when traveling south on Arkona Road (Lambton County Road 79). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7355 Lambton County Rd 79, Arkona ON N0M 1B0, 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 Ruperts Land.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 19, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 110 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on May 19, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
