Chatsworth in Grey County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Toronto-Sydenham Road

Photographed by Tim Boyd, September 20, 2026

1. The Toronto-Sydenham Road Marker

Inscription. The northern terminus of this early "colonization road" was located near here at its junction with the "Garafraxa Road". In 1848 the government ordered Charles Rankin, P.L.S, to survey a road from Melancthon Township through the present counties of Grey and Dufferin which would attract settlers and provide a more direct connection between Sydenham (Owen Sound) and Toronto. Free grants of 50 acre lots were given to persons fulfilling the required settlement duties, and by 1851 some 400 families had taken up land. In 1852 almost 40 miles of the road had been opened although portions were still impassable for wagons. Most of this old settlement road is still in use as Highway 10.

Erected 1966 by Archaeological 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 1848.

Location. 44° 27.5′ N, 80° 53.99′ W. Marker is in Chatsworth, Ontario, in Grey County. It is on Garafraxa Street (Highway 6)

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0.1 kilometers south of Sideroad 1, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 20 Garafraxa St, Chatsworth ON N0H 1G0, 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,

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 5 other markers are within 19 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Chatsworth Continuation School and Public School (here, next to this marker); Nellie L. McClung (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Survey of the Great Lakes / Le levé des Grande lacs (approx. 12.3 kilometers away); Trinity United Church - Annan (approx. 17.8 kilometers away); Tom Thomson 1877-1917 (approx. 18.3 kilometers away).

Photographed by Tim Boyd, September 20, 2026

2. The Toronto-Sydenham Road Marker

The Toronto-Sydenham Road through Grey County in 1855 image. Click for full size.

3. The Toronto-Sydenham Road through Grey County in 1855

source: University of Wisconsin (public domain)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 21, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 130 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 21, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.