Historical Markers and War Memorials in Clifford

By Tim Boyd, April 7, 2025

2 Elora Street Marker

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1 ► Ontario, Wellington County, Clifford — 2 Elora Street — 1871 — David Mollison General Store —

In 1878, Donald McEachern, Merchant, purchased the building. His store was known as the Clifford Emporium. Other owners: 1898 Henry Eckenswiller, Merchant, 1918 Edward Eckenswiller, Dry Goods, then Avery and Mossberg, . . . — — Map (db m278432) HM

2 ► Ontario, Wellington County, Clifford — Clifford Cenotaph —

[south side] Erected by the citizens of Clifford and vicinity in memory of the heroes who fell in the Great War 1914 — 1918 Pte Crawford Newton Killed in Action at Passchendaele Oct. 23 1917 Pte William A. Hood Killed in . . . — — Map (db m279108) WM

3 ► Ontario, Wellington County, Minto, Clifford — Clifford Heritage Building 15 Elora Street — 1873 — Wm. H. Stafford   Pharmacist —

Stafford was a non-resident (Brantford) absentee landlord until 1902. His tenants in succession were all Druggists; Francis Carroll, Richard Rowntree and George Robb. Robb took over the Pharmacy from Rowntree in 1898 and purchased the . . . — — Map (db m313862) HM

4 ► Ontario, Wellington County, Minto, Clifford — Clifford Heritage Building 19 Elora Street — 1871 — Donald & Duncan McEachern   Merchants —

Records show that by 1873, Dr. J.M. Mackie shared the building. In 1874, Duncan returned to Eldon Twp. to start his own general store. Donald relocated, in 1878, to the corner of Allan and Elora Street (2 Elora St.) Other owners: 1881 Hugh Ross . . . — — Map (db m313860) HM

5 ► Ontario, Wellington County, Minto, Clifford — Clifford Heritage Building 26 Elora Street — 1913 — Charles H. Willetts. Barber & Ice Cream Parlor —

Charles married Mary Henry from Gorrie in 1891 where he was working as a Photographer. He came to Clifford in 1893 and opened his Barbershop. He rebuilt the shop in 1913, following the great fire that destroyed three stores and . . . — — Map (db m313812) HM

6 ► Ontario, Wellington County, Minto, Clifford — Clifford Heritage Building 30 Elora Street — 1913 — John Runge     Undertaker & Furniture —

Joseph B. Robinson a Saddler & Undertaker, opened here in 1871. John Runge was his successor in 1906. He rebuilt following the great fire of 1913 which destroyed three merchant stores and two residences. The undertaker's casket . . . — — Map (db m313816) HM

7 ► Ontario, Wellington County, Minto, Clifford — Clifford Schoolhouse Bell —

This cairn was built with the proceeds of the 1995 school reunion to display the bell from the original Clifford three room schoolhouse, built in 1871 and used as a school until 1912. — — Map (db m313880) HM

8 ► Ontario, Wellington County, Clifford — The Founding of Clifford — 1855 —

Clifford's founding father was English-born Francis Brown (1823-1880) who immigrated to Canada in 1845 and settled in Barrie. Brown then proceeded to secure lots 59 and 60 concession C of Minto Township at the land sale in Elora in 1854. Charles . . . — — Map (db m278406) HM

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9 ► Ontario, Wellington County, Clifford — Mansion House — 1876 —

George A. McDonald opened the first general store in the village in 1858, then a Grist Mill in 1867 followed by the American Hotel in 1872. The hotel was destroyed in the great fire of 1876 and rebuilt the same year calling it the Mansion House. The . . . — — Map (db m278339) HM

10 ► Ontario, Wellington County, Minto, Clifford — Rev. John Smithurst 1807-1867 —

Reverend John Smithurst was ordained by the Church of England in 1839 and served as a missionary to the aboriginal peoples at the Red River Settlements in Manitoba for twelve years. He settled in the Township of Minto in 1852 when he was appointed . . . — — Map (db m313692) HM

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