Seaforth, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Seaforth is a Southern Ontario
community in the municipality of Huron East
, in Huron County
, Ontario
, Canada
.
purchased the land and laid out a townsite in 1855.
In many ways, Seaforth is the quintessential small Ontario town. The Victorian streetscape stands as a testament to the town's rich history and all the image and influences that make rural Ontario and its hierarchy of small urban centres so unique.
Seaforth's Main Street is a Provincially Designated Heritage Conservation District & architectural critics consider it to be one of the finest late 19th century streetscapes remaining in the Province.
The name 'Seaforth' may be derived from the Scottish Seaforth Highlanders
regiment or Loch Seaforth
in the Outer Hebrides
of Scotland.
A post office was established in Seaforth in 1859. Incorporation as a Village followed in 1868 and as a Town in 1874. In 2001, Seaforth was amalgamated with Brussels
, Grey Township, McKillop Township and Tuckersmith Township to form the Municipality of Huron East.
In September 1876, at two o'clock in the morning, a fire broke out in Mrs. Griffith's Candy and Grocery store raging through Main Street destroying 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) of the business section. The town rebounded and Main Street was rebuilt with the brick and block structures which we see today, more than a century later.
Seaforth's Main street was designated in 1984 as a heritage Conservation District because of its distinguished late 19th century architecture. This architectural composition of two storey brick buildings is unique in its uniformity of scale and character. Through grants and local support, property owners have been encouraged to restore and preserve the architectural characteristics of their buildings so that this valuable resource may continue to be an asset to the community in the years ahead, and be a comforting reminder of Seaforth's history.
From History
Contemporary Sports Figures
. Built by the eldest son of Colonel Anthony Van Egmond
in 1846, it represents an example of Georgian architecture
and Classical Revival styles. The house was restored with assistance from the Ontario Heritage Trust. The bricks were hand made on the property. Their variance in colour in the exterior walls is an indication that the home was built over an extended period of time, their difference in colour is a result of the varying conditions under which successive loads of bricks were fired during the course of construction.
The house and grounds were saved in the early 1970s from demolition and a housing development by a group of community volunteers. Funds were raised to purchase the property and restore it to how it might have been prior to 1867. It was recognized as an Ontario Heritage property and signs indicative of that direct travelers to the Reserve. The Province of Ontario supported the restoration of the property and will become its owners should the local Van Egmond Foundation discontinue its work to ensure the property is safe and open to the public, in the summer and for special events. The Foundation continues to raise funds and to ensure the property is recognized as a local resource attempting to preserve the history of the early settlement and development of the region. Overlooking the Bayfield River
, the grounds are a rural retreat offering a quiet spot for a picnic.
Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
community in the municipality of Huron East
Huron East, Ontario
The Municipality of Huron East is located in Huron County, Ontario. It was formed in 2001 as an amalgamation of the former Grey, McKillop and Tuckersmith townships with the town of Seaforth and village of Brussels due to an Ontario-wide local government restructuring imposed by the government of...
, in Huron County
Huron County, Ontario
Huron County is a census division and county of the province of Ontario, Canada. It is located on the southeast shore of its namesake, Lake Huron, in the southwest part of the province...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
History
Originally known as Four Corners and Steene's Corners after an early settler, much of the area of what is now Seaforth was acquired by brothers Christopher and George Sparling in anticipation of the construction of the Buffalo, Brantford and Goderich Railway. Developer James Patton of BarrieBarrie, Ontario
Barrie is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada, located on the western shore of Lake Simcoe, approximately 90 km north of Toronto. Although located in Simcoe County, the city is politically independent...
purchased the land and laid out a townsite in 1855.
In many ways, Seaforth is the quintessential small Ontario town. The Victorian streetscape stands as a testament to the town's rich history and all the image and influences that make rural Ontario and its hierarchy of small urban centres so unique.
Seaforth's Main Street is a Provincially Designated Heritage Conservation District & architectural critics consider it to be one of the finest late 19th century streetscapes remaining in the Province.
The name 'Seaforth' may be derived from the Scottish Seaforth Highlanders
Seaforth Highlanders
The Seaforth Highlanders was a historic regiment of the British Army associated with large areas of the northern Highlands of Scotland. The Seaforth Highlanders have varied in size from two battalions to seventeen battalions during the Great War...
regiment or Loch Seaforth
Loch Seaforth
Loch Seaforth is sea loch in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. It forms the boundary between Lewis and Harris and formerly was the boundary between the traditional counties of Ross and Cromarty and Inverness-shire....
in the Outer Hebrides
Outer Hebrides
The Outer Hebrides also known as the Western Isles and the Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of Scotland. The islands are geographically contiguous with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland...
of Scotland.
A post office was established in Seaforth in 1859. Incorporation as a Village followed in 1868 and as a Town in 1874. In 2001, Seaforth was amalgamated with Brussels
Brussels, Ontario
Brussels is a community in Huron County, Ontario, Canada, located within the municipality of Huron East. It was originally called Ainleyville. The name was changed in 1872 when a branch line of the Grand Trunk Railway from Guelph came through the town...
, Grey Township, McKillop Township and Tuckersmith Township to form the Municipality of Huron East.
In September 1876, at two o'clock in the morning, a fire broke out in Mrs. Griffith's Candy and Grocery store raging through Main Street destroying 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) of the business section. The town rebounded and Main Street was rebuilt with the brick and block structures which we see today, more than a century later.
Seaforth's Main street was designated in 1984 as a heritage Conservation District because of its distinguished late 19th century architecture. This architectural composition of two storey brick buildings is unique in its uniformity of scale and character. Through grants and local support, property owners have been encouraged to restore and preserve the architectural characteristics of their buildings so that this valuable resource may continue to be an asset to the community in the years ahead, and be a comforting reminder of Seaforth's history.
Famous people
- Jim BalsillieJim BalsillieJames Laurence "Jim" Balsillie is a Canadian businessman and co-CEO of the Canadian company Research In Motion. He is a member of the Trilateral Commission, a private political organization...
(born 1961) Billionaire philanthropist and co-CEO of BlackBerryBlackBerryBlackBerry is a line of mobile email and smartphone devices developed and designed by Canadian company Research In Motion since 1999.BlackBerry devices are smartphones, designed to function as personal digital assistants, portable media players, internet browsers, gaming devices, and much more...
manufacturer Research In MotionResearch In MotionResearch In Motion Limited or RIM is a Canadian multinational telecommunications company headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada that designs, manufactures and markets wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market... - John MeladyJohn MeladyJohn Melady is a Canadian non-fiction author from Seaforth, Ontario Canada . A former high school vice-principal, he writes primarily about 19th and 20th century Canadian history with a usual focus on acts exhibiting courage.-Education:...
Canadian non-fiction author - Richard NesbittRichard NesbittRichard William Nesbitt is a Canadian financial executive. He became CEO of CIBC World Markets on February 29, 2008, replacing former CIBC World Markets head Brian Shaw....
(born 1955) CEO of the Toronto Stock ExchangeToronto Stock ExchangeToronto Stock Exchange is the largest stock exchange in Canada, the third largest in North America and the seventh largest in the world by market capitalisation. Based in Canada's largest city, Toronto, it is owned by and operated as a subsidiary of the TMX Group for the trading of senior equities... - David W. Scott (born 1965) Canadian playwright: "There's Nothing in the Paper", "The Ballad of Stompin' Tom"
From History
- Howard Hillen KerrHoward Hillen KerrHoward Hillen Kerr was the first principal of what was then Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.Kerr was born on a farm near Seaforth, Ontario. He graduated from the University of Toronto in 1926 with degrees in education and engineering and became an administrator in the public school system...
(1900–1984) First principal of what was then Ryerson Polytechnical InstituteRyerson UniversityRyerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden... - Charlie Mason (1912–1971) Former NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
player - Colonel Anthony Van EgmondAnthony Van EgmondAnthony Van Egmond, born Antonij Jacobi Willem Gijben before coming to North America, was purportedly a Dutch Napoleonic War veteran...
(1778–1838) First farmer in the Huron TractHuron TractThe Huron Tract Purchase also known as the Huron Block, registered as Crown Treaty Number 29, is a large area of land in southwestern Ontario bordering on Lake Huron to the west and Lake Erie to the east...
, participant in Upper Canada RebellionUpper Canada RebellionThe Upper Canada Rebellion was, along with the Lower Canada Rebellion in Lower Canada, a rebellion against the British colonial government in 1837 and 1838. Collectively they are also known as the Rebellions of 1837.-Issues:... - Cooney WeilandCooney WeilandRalph "Cooney" Weiland was an NHL forward who played for the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, and Detroit Red Wings....
(1904–1985) Former NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
player and head coach
Contemporary Sports Figures
- Leah Craig - Former hockey player in the NCAANational Collegiate Athletic AssociationThe National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
with the University of New HampshireUniversity of New HampshireThe University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is... - Boyd DevereauxBoyd DevereauxBoyd Fletcher Devereaux is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player, most recently played for HC Lugano of the Swiss National League A. He now resides in Kitchener, Ontario with his wife and 2 kids.-Playing career:...
- Former NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
player, brother to Kathy. - Kathy Devereaux - Former hockey player in the NWHLNational Women's Hockey LeagueThe National Women's Hockey League was a women's ice hockey league. This League was in service between 1999 and 2007.-History:The NWHL superseded the old Central Ontario Women's Hockey League in 1998-99. After the old COWHL dropped down to three teams in 1997-98, the new league expanded to...
with the Brampton ThunderBrampton ThunderThe Brampton Canadettes-Thunder is an ice hockey team in the Canadian Women's Hockey League. The Canadettes-Thunder play its home games at the Powerade Centre in Brampton, Ontario.-Team history:...
, sister to Boyd. - Ian Doig - Former professional golfer, Canadian Professional Golf TourCanadian Professional Golf TourThe Canadian Professional Golf Tour is a men's professional golf tour headquartered in Oakville, Ontario. It was formally started in 1970 and was initially known as the Peter Jackson Tour....
- Tyler Doig - Professional hockey player, Toledo WalleyeToledo WalleyeThe Toledo Walleye are a professional ice hockey team based in Toledo, Ohio. The Walleye are members of the North Division of the Eastern Conference of the ECHL...
, ECHLECHLThe ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States... - Scott Driscoll - NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
linesman - Arden EddieArden EddieArden Eddie is a former Iron Man player, team owner and manager in the Intercounty Baseball League. He holds several Intercounty records, including most games played , most bases on balls , most hits and most stolen bases .Off the field, Eddie is a realtor and home renovator...
- (born 1947) Former Iron ManIronman TriathlonAn Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation consisting of a swim, a bike and a marathon run, raced in that order and without a break...
participant, team owner and manager in the Intercounty Baseball LeagueIntercounty Baseball LeagueThe Intercounty Baseball League is a semi-professional baseball organization located in the Canadian province of Ontario. The league was formed in 1919.... - Lloyd EislerLloyd EislerLloyd Edgar Eisler, MSM is a Canadian pair skater. With partner Isabelle Brasseur, he is the 1992 and 1994 Olympic bronze medalist and the 1993 World Champion.-Career:...
- Former figure skatingFigure skatingFigure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
star - Mike Kelly - Play-by-play broadcaster, Springfield FalconsSpringfield FalconsThe Springfield Falcons are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the MassMutual Center and are the top affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League. The Falcons' two main rivals are the Connecticut Whale and the...
, American Hockey LeagueAmerican Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... - Mike McLaughlin - Hockey player in the NCAANational Collegiate Athletic AssociationThe National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
with Northeastern University - Dave McLlwainDave McLlwainDavid Allan McLlwain is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. McLlwain is best known for playing for a record four National Hockey League teams in one season during the 1991–92 season...
- Former NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
player - Nicole Munro - Former hockey player in the NCAANational Collegiate Athletic AssociationThe National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
with the University of MaineUniversity of MaineThe University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System... - Greg Murray - Former professional hockey player, brother to Pat and Rem.
- Pat MurrayPat Murray (ice hockey)Patrick E. Murray is a retired professional ice hockey player.-Playing career:Murray was drafted 35th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft from Michigan State Spartans...
- Former NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
player, brother to Greg and Rem. - Rem MurrayRem MurrayRaymond Joseph "Rem" Murray is a professional ice hockey left winger who plays for Pustertal-Val Pusteria Wolves in the Serie A.- Draft :...
- Professional hockey player for HC TWK InnsbruckHC TWK InnsbruckHC Tiroler Wasserkraft Innsbruck is an Austrian ice hockey team that currently plays in the Austrian National League. They play their home games at Olympiahalle Innsbruck in Innsbruck.-External links:*...
in the Austrian National LeagueAustrian National LeagueThe Austrian National League is the second highest league of the three nationwide ice hockey leagues in Austria. The winner of the league can theoretically move up to the Erste Bank Hockey League, but in practice this does not happen often, because of the higher cost of competing at the higher...
, brother to Greg and Pat. - Derek Nesbitt - Professional hockey player, Peoria RivermenPeoria RivermenThe Peoria Rivermen are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena.-History:...
, American Hockey LeagueAmerican Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... - Mike WattMike Watt (ice hockey)Michael Watt is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for four different National Hockey League teams.-Playing career:...
- Former NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
player
Local attractions
The Main Street is one of the province's finest examples of commercial architecture from the nineteenth century. Enjoy a walk along the street lined with uniquely homogeneous buildings and you will always know the time from one of the most lavish clocks of its day.The Van Egmond Reserve
Turn south and a short drive will bring you to the oldest surviving house in what was originally the Huron TractHuron Tract
The Huron Tract Purchase also known as the Huron Block, registered as Crown Treaty Number 29, is a large area of land in southwestern Ontario bordering on Lake Huron to the west and Lake Erie to the east...
. Built by the eldest son of Colonel Anthony Van Egmond
Anthony Van Egmond
Anthony Van Egmond, born Antonij Jacobi Willem Gijben before coming to North America, was purportedly a Dutch Napoleonic War veteran...
in 1846, it represents an example of Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
and Classical Revival styles. The house was restored with assistance from the Ontario Heritage Trust. The bricks were hand made on the property. Their variance in colour in the exterior walls is an indication that the home was built over an extended period of time, their difference in colour is a result of the varying conditions under which successive loads of bricks were fired during the course of construction.
The house and grounds were saved in the early 1970s from demolition and a housing development by a group of community volunteers. Funds were raised to purchase the property and restore it to how it might have been prior to 1867. It was recognized as an Ontario Heritage property and signs indicative of that direct travelers to the Reserve. The Province of Ontario supported the restoration of the property and will become its owners should the local Van Egmond Foundation discontinue its work to ensure the property is safe and open to the public, in the summer and for special events. The Foundation continues to raise funds and to ensure the property is recognized as a local resource attempting to preserve the history of the early settlement and development of the region. Overlooking the Bayfield River
Bayfield River
The Bayfield River is a river in Huron and Perth Counties in southwestern Ontario, Canada, that empties into Lake Huron at the community of Bayfield in the municipality of Bluewater....
, the grounds are a rural retreat offering a quiet spot for a picnic.