Walkerton in Bruce County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Founding of Walkerton

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 4, 2025

1. The Founding of Walkerton Marker

Inscription. In 1850 Joseph Walker came here to the Durham Road where it crosses the Saugeen River. He built an inn and contracted to build two bridges and a part of the road. He and his son William were in 1851 granted tree lots and later allowed to buy adjoining property. Joseph Walker built a sawmill in 1852 and added a grist-mill the following year. Two stores were opened and "Brant Post Office" was established. Subdivisions were registered by Joseph Walker and others in 1857 when the name of the post-office was changed to Walkerton. The community was proclaimed the "county town” of Bruce County in 186, and Walkerton was incorporated as a Town in 1871.

Erected by Archeological and Historic Sites Board of Ontario.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. 44° 7.928′ N, 81° 8.736′ W. Marker is in Walkerton, Ontario, in Bruce County. It is on McNab Street 0.1 kilometers south of Durham Street East, on the right

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when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 15 McNab Street, Walkerton ON N0G 2V0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgian Bay Country

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 19 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Greenock (approx. 9.5 kilometers away); Hanover Cenotaph (approx. 9.8 kilometers away); The Founding of Hanover / La Fondation de Hanover (approx. 9.8 kilometers away); Daniel Knechtel 1843 - 1936 (approx. 9.9 kilometers away); “Tommy Burns” (approx. 9.9 kilometers away); The Rt. Hon. John G. Diefenbaker (approx. 13 kilometers away); The Founding of Teeswater (approx. 18.6 kilometers away); Teeswater Cenotaph (approx. 18.6 kilometers away).

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 4, 2025

2. The Founding of Walkerton Marker

Walkerton and the Durham Road, 1881 image. Click for full size.

3. Walkerton and the Durham Road, 1881

Credits. This page was last revised on July 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 10, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 114 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 10, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.