Blyth in Huron County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Founding of Blyth

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 4, 2025

1. The Founding of Blyth Marker

Inscription. By 1851, Lucius McConnell and Kenneth McBain, two of the earliest settlers in the area, had located here in Morris Township. Four years later, Donald McDonald laid out a village plot on the border between Wawanosh and Morris Townships and in July, 1856, a post-office was established. The village developed slowly but within two years contained a sawmill owned by McBain, a Presbyterian church, a tavern, and store. Originally known as Drummond after an enterprising early family, the village, a market town for the surrounding agricultural region, was renamed Blyth after an absentee landowner. In January, 1876, a station on the London, Huron and Bruce Railway was opened and a year later the village was incorporated with a population of about 800.

Erected by Ontario Heritage Fondation.

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 1851.

Location. 43° 44.217′ N, 81° 25.752′ W. Marker is in Blyth, Ontario, in Huron County. It is on Queen Street 0.1 kilometers

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Drummond Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 431 Queen St, Blyth ON N0M 1H0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Huron-Perth-Waterloo-Wellington 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 walking distance of this marker: Five Years After the First Phone Call (within shouting distance of this marker); Rooms for Hire (within shouting distance of this marker); Market Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Communications Hub (within shouting distance of this marker); Since 1863 (within shouting distance of this marker); Baked Goods (within shouting distance of this marker); Extra Extra! Read All About It! (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Strike (about 120 meters away).

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 4, 2025

2. The Founding of Blyth Marker

Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blyth.

The Village of Blyth, 1878 image. Click for full size.

3. The Village of Blyth, 1878

Historical Atlas of Huron County (McGill University)

Blyth Community Hall in 2025 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 4, 2025

4. Blyth Community Hall in 2025

Credits. This page was last revised on July 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 104 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 8, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.