The Lower Town Community

The Lower Town Community. . In the early days, the harbour flats, first nicknamed Goosey Green, formed a bustling community complete with shops, taverns, factories and hotels. Sailors and other visitors arriving in the busy waterfront area had little need to ascend the hill and visit the town proper. Most of their needs could be met in the thriving business community beside the docks. The Canada Company built the first log sheds here for temporary settler accommodation., As early as the 1840s, when building in the present Courthouse Square above the bluff was just beginning, here could be found a mill; several taverns; log, frame and brick dwellings; at least three hotels; a couple of lumberyards; fish shanties and other structures. The main streets were called Harbour Lane, Harbour Quay, Water Lane, Ship Street, and Beach Street which turned into Hibernia Terrace as it ascended the bluff. At the top of the bluff the road met the Road tọ Guelf, as this first road was labelled on an 1829 map, in the area of Britannia Road and Elgin Street., A dirt road called Harbour Street ran down the ravine that now carries the main harbour hill roadway. The movement of freight to and from the harbour required a good road so the Town Council of the day contracted to have the grade cut down. This made it easier for horse-drawn loads (and transport trucks today) to get up and down the hill., It is interesting to note that early maps, documents and newspaper reports often used the spelling harbor instead of the Canadian English version ‘harbour’. ,