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

The Founding of Wingham

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 4, 2025

1. The Founding of Wingham Marker

Inscription. In the early 1850s, settlers began moving into the townships in the Queen's Bush north of the Huron Tract, One of these townships, Turnberry, was surveyed by 1853 and a plot for a market town designated where two branches of the Maitland River met. Among the earliest settlers on the plot was John Cornyn who was operating a hotel here in 1861. A year later a post-office named Wingham was established and by 1866 Wingham had become a prominent supply and distributing centre for the agricultural and lumbering hinterland. In the 1870s, railway expansion stimulated tremendous growth and led to Wingham's incorporation as a Village in 1874 with a population of 700. Five years later, its population numbering 2000, Wingham was incorporated as a town.

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 year for this entry is 1853.

Location. 43° 53.221′ N, 81° 18.73′ W. Marker is in Wingham, Ontario, in Huron County. It is on Josephine Street 0.1

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kilometers north of John Street East, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 273 Josephine Street, Wingham ON N0G 2W0, 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 18 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Alice Munro (a few steps from this marker); George Agnew Reid (within shouting distance of this marker); “A Glimpse of the Past” (within shouting distance of this marker); W. T. (Doc) Cruickshank (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Olympian Jennie Fletcher (approx. 12.5 kilometers away); Teeswater Cenotaph (approx. 12.6 kilometers away); The Founding of Teeswater (approx. 12.6 kilometers away); The Founding of Brussels (approx.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 4, 2025

2. The Founding of Wingham Marker

16.7 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wingham.

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 152 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 8, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.