Deseronto in Hastings County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Deseronto Industries

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 30, 2026

1. Deseronto Industries Marker

Inscription. Ontario's rich forests provided the raw materials for Deseronto's nineteenth century timber industries. The Rathbun family built a sawmill here in 1848 to export lumber to the United States.

The Rathbun Company's businesses expanded rapidly. The firm bought timber rights across the watersheds of local rivers and in the course of 50 years it filled the Deseronto waterfront with industries based around wood: a ship yard, cedar mill, sash and door factory, car works, chemical plant, gas works and a brick and terra cotta factory. Railways extended the company's interests across Eastern Ontario.

In 1901 Deseronto's population peaked at 3,500, the majority employed by the Rathbun Company. But as the supply of trees for the sawmills declined, so did the town's industries and population. By 1921 the Rathbun factories had closed and the population had dropped to 1,800.

More recently, Deseronto industries have included optical, frozen and canned food, furniture and rope manufacturing.

Erected 2018 by Town of Deseronto.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1848.

Location. 44° 11.507′ N,

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77° 3.308′ W. Marker is in Deseronto, Ontario, in Hastings County. It is on Main Street 0.1 kilometers east of Pearl Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker is at the east end of Deseronto Centennial Park, approx. 40 metres from Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 171 Main Street, Deseronto ON K0K 1X0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Ontario

and specifically in Southeastern Ontario.

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 11 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Founding of Deseronto (a few steps from this marker); Captain George Fraser Kerr, V.C., M.C., M.M. (within shouting distance of this marker); James Kenney, 1884-1946 (approx. 8 kilometers away); Sir Rodmond P. Roblin 1853-1937

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 30, 2026

2. Deseronto Industries Marker

(approx. 8.5 kilometers away); Nelson International Raceway (approx. 9.2 kilometers away); Hay Bay Church (approx. 10.4 kilometers away); Old Hay Bay Church / La vielle église de la Baie Hay (approx. 10.4 kilometers away); The Quakers of Adolphustown (approx. 10.7 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Deseronto.

Mill Point (Deseronto) in 1869, showing the Rathbun Co. industries image. Click for full size.

3. Mill Point (Deseronto) in 1869, showing the Rathbun Co. industries

Source: Deseronto Archives (public domain)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 10, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 10, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.