Pakenham in Mississippi Mills in Lanark County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Pakenham

Pakenham's Museum on the Streets

— Mississippi Mills Celebrates Canada 150 —

Pakenham Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 13, 2025

1. Pakenham Marker

Inscription.
Pakenham was a thriving community by the mid 1800s, with a population of over 200 in the village and over 1,200 throughout the township. Ideally located between the fertile agricultural land of the valley and the timber of the Canadian Shield, its many local businesses and tradespeople served the needs of residents, farmers and timbermen. Weavers, tailors, shoemakers, saddlers, blacksmiths, coopers, wainwrights, wheelwrights, cabinetmakers, carpenters, doctors, innkeepers and shopkeepers all made for a bustling community. Your view from this corner offers a glimpse of Pakenham's main street in the early 20th century. The existing general store, opened in the early 1840s, is considered to be the oldest continually operating general store in North America. Since the 1920s the McCann family have operated the service station on the same site across the street. Devastating fires destroyed several businesses and homes, both in this block in 1939 as well as in the next block to the south in 1940.

Made possible with the support of the Municipality of Mississippi Mills and the Mainstreet Association of Almonte Pakenham (MAAP) in memory of the late Rob Brennan.
Special thanks to Margie Argue for her enormous contribution to the Village of Pakenham.

Erected by Municipality

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

of Mississippi Mills and the Mainstreet Association of Almonte Pakenham (MAAP).

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1939.

Location. 45° 20.04′ N, 76° 17.407′ W. Marker is in Mississippi Mills, Ontario, in Lanark County. It is in Pakenham. It is at the intersection of County Highway 29 and Renfrew Street, on the left when traveling south on County Highway 29. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2518 County Road 29, Mississippi Mills ON K0A 2X0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Haliburton Highlands to Ottawa Valley

and in Eastern 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 walking distance of this marker:

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 13, 2025

2. Pakenham Marker

Looking south along the main street

John Peter Levi (here, next to this marker); 1840s General Store & Bakery (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Peter Celestine Church (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Sisters of Holy Cross (about 120 meters away); Pakenham 5 Arched Stone Bridge (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Pakenham's Early Growth (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Packenham Industry and Commerce (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Pakenham Bridge and Restoration (approx. 0.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mississippi Mills.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 121 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 20, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.