Hastings in Trent Hills in Northumberland County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Founding of Hastings

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 7, 2025

1. The Founding of Hastings Marker

Inscription. By 1825 James Crooks, a prominent entrepreneur and land speculator of West Flamborough, had acquired over 1,000 acres here at the rapids on the Trent River. He soon erected a small grist-mill but made no further improvements until the government began the canalization of the Trent waterway in 1837 and constructed a lock and dam at "Crooks Rapids". Crooks erected a new grist-mill and a sawmill and in 1839 surveyed a village plot. Few lots were sold and in 1851 the whole property was acquired by Henry Fowlds, a lumberman from Asphodel Township. Fowlds expanded the mills, began a steamship service and established several textile industries. Within 10 years the community, renamed Hastings, contained about 700 inhabitants. Hastings was incorporated as a Village in 1874

Erected by Ontario Heritage Foundation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1825.

Location. 44° 18.475′ N, 77° 57.606′ W.

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Marker is in Trent Hills, Ontario, in Northumberland County. It is in Hastings. It is on Front Street West 0.3 kilometers west of Bridge Street North, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 69 Front St W, Trent Hills ON K0L 1Y0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Kawarthas Northumberland Area

and in Eastern 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 16 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hastings Cenotaph (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Old Mill Park (approx. 12.7 kilometers away); Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site of Canada (approx. 12.7 kilometers away); Founders of Campbellford (approx. 12.8 kilometers away); J.D. Kelly 1862-1958 (approx. 13.1 kilometers away); Warkworth

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 7, 2025

2. The Founding of Hastings Marker

Cheese Country (approx. 13.1 kilometers away); Alderville Manual Labour School / L’École de Travaux Manuels D’Alderville (approx. 16.2 kilometers away); Alderville Indian Reserve 1837-1987 (approx. 16.2 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Trent Hills.

Village of Hastings, 1878 image. Click for full size.

3. Village of Hastings, 1878

Source: Historical Atlas of Durham and Northumberland Counties (archive.org)

The Trent River at Hastings 2025 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 7, 2025

4. The Trent River at Hastings 2025

Credits. This page was last revised on June 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 133 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 13, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.