Fonthill in Pelham in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Dexter D’Everardo
(1814-1891)
Photographed by Tim Boyd, March 14, 2025
1. Dexter D’Everardo Marker
First Clerk of Welland County, Registrar of Deeds and of the Surrogate Court (1853-1891), Dexter D'Everardo located the Registry Office and Education Office in Fonthill in the hope that Fonthill would become the County Seat. In the 1840's he encouraged various businesses to start up in the village and helped groups of citizens to found the library, churches and a newspaper. As the owner of the Fonthill Nurseries he was responsible for planting the many stately trees which lined the village streets. While School Superintendent for Niagara, he played a crucial role in Canada West's educational reforms, which established the first free schools in the province. An entrepreneur of exceptional intelligence, generosity, and drive, his vision for the development of this village has earned him the title of "Founder of Fonthill".
Erected 2015 by Pelham Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1814.
Location. 43° 2.659′ N, 79° 17.078′ W. Marker is in Pelham, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It
this page online
Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe and in Niagara Canada. 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 5 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Fonthill Nurseries (1837-1968) (approx. 1.2 kilometers away); The Brethren in Christ Church / L’Église de la Fraternité Chrétienne (approx. 2.6 kilometers away); Pelham Quaker Settlement (approx. 3 kilometers away); Bouk Family Homestead 1855 (approx. 3.7 kilometers away); W.W. 1 German Trench Mortar (approx. 3.8
Photographed by Tim Boyd, March 14, 2025
2. Dexter D’Everardo Marker
Also see . . .
1. The D'Everardo plaque: Change it, or remove it. Editorial in Pelham Today newspaper, July, 2023: Just outside Pelham Town Hall, to the south of the flag poles, there is a small bronze plaque honouring Dexter D’Everardo, to whom some refer as being the “Founder of Fonthill.” The plaque was erected in 2015 by the Pelham Historical Society, which both fundraised for it and provided the plaque’s content. One of Mr. D’Everardo’s accomplishments was to work as the school superintendent for Niagara, and unfortunately in that context the plaque also mentions that he collaborated in Egerton Ryerson’s educational reforms. Those “reforms” included what became known as First Nations “Residential Schools,” the horrors of which are just now becoming well known to the wider—more accurately, “whiter”—world. Their legacy of torment has long been seared into the consciousness of generations of Indigenous
Photographed by Tim Boyd
3. Dexter D’Everardo
2. The Early History of Fonthill.
It was during the month of July, 1843, that Pelham farmer, Henry Giles, wrote to this brother, Robert, in England describing some land he had just purchased for $600: “the land adjoins that of a man of considerable property. The aforesaid gentleman is getting up a town and the land which abuts upon mine is all staked out in 1/4 acre lots . Should the village rise rapidly, which I do not anticipate, it will be no annoyance to us as we have about four acres of orchard between the nearest house and our own, that is to be.” At this time the name for the proposed village had not yet even been decided upon: “This principal man in the new village, a reformed drunkard, wishes to name it Temperanceville which I tell him is a vile name… I have proposed the name of Fonthill.(Submitted on March 14, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 14, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 184 times since then and 96 times this year. Last updated on September 16, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 14, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
