Near Chatham in Chatham-Kent, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Legend of the Paw Paw

— Tecumseh Parkway —

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 23, 2013

1. The Legend of the Paw Paw Marker

View of the featured historical marker with a second, related marker in the background.

Inscription. The Paw Paw tree (Asimina triloba) is native to the southern, eastern, and mid-western United States and extends to Canada only in the extreme southern part of Ontario. It has the largest edible fruit native to North America. The fruit looks somewhat like a small banana and has a custard taste.

Popular attributes relates the presence of several groves of this thicket-forming understory tree along this section of the Thames River to American soldiers who carried the fruit with them from Kentucky in 1813 and discarded the seeds along their advance route as the Paw Paws were consumed.

Erected 2013 by Tecumseh Parkway.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • War of 1812. A significant historical year for this entry is 1813.

Location. 42° 26.472′ N, 82° 8.163′ W. Marker is near Chatham, Ontario, in Chatham-Kent. It is on River Line (Route 39) just east of Communication Road (Ontario Highway 40), on the left when traveling east. This historical marker is located in a rural area, on the edge of a farmers field, in a small roadside park, on the north side of the roadway. Touch for

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map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9775 River Line, Chatham ON N7M 5J4, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Southwest Ontario Area

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 8 other markers are within 6 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Burning of British Ships / American Encampment (a few steps from this marker); Kent County Court House (approx. 5 kilometers away); The Abolition Movement in British North America (approx. 5.1 kilometers away); John Brown's Convention 1858 (approx. 5.1 kilometers away); Chatham Armoury (approx. 5.5 kilometers away); Kent Regiment (approx. 5.5 kilometers away); Tecumseh (approx. 5.5 kilometers away); Chatham Blockhouse (approx. 5.5 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chatham.

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 23, 2013

2. The Legend of the Paw Paw Marker

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 23, 2013

3. The Legend of the Paw Paw Marker

View, looking west, at the French text side of the markers, of the historical marker, situated between a Tecumseh Parkway historical marker and a Tecumseh Parkway sign to alert motorists of the nearby markers.

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 23, 2013

4. The Legend of the Paw Paw Marker

View, looking east, at the English text side of the markers, of the historical marker, situated between a Tecumseh Parkway sign to alert motorists of the nearby markers, and a Tecumseh Parkway historical marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 27, 2019. It was originally submitted on January 20, 2014, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,069 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 20, 2014, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.