Southampton, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Southampton is a community of approximately 3083 people on the shores of Lake Huron
in Bruce County
, Ontario
, Canada
, located at the mouth of the Saugeen River
.
Although the community still has its own post office, it became part of the municipality of Saugeen Shores
in the 1990s. Saugeen Shores is made up of Southampton, Port Elgin
, and the former Township of Saugeen. The community of Southampton continues to expand. It has become a bedroom community and a retirement destination, as well as a tourist destination. It is within 40 kilometers of Bruce Power
nuclear power station.
The community was originally known as Saugeen by the early inhabitants, the Canadian Post Office and Custom House Departments. However, the Crown Land Departments labelled the village as Southampton and the name stuck as the town was incorporated, named after Southampton
, the English
sea port. The first European settlers of the area were Captain John Spence and William Kennedy, who wanted to establish a fishing company. While it proved unfruitful, Spence became a sailor and Kennedy joined a search for the Arctic explorer, Sir John Franklin. Nevertheless, in 1851 there were at least a dozen families living in the community. In the same year, the Post Office was established, the first and only in Bruce County
for several years. Three years later, a Bank of Upper Canada
was built.
The pioneers of Southampton wanted the village to become the county town or county seat
, as the village held the only Crown Land Department and Post Office in the county. However, the town of Kincardine
had a larger population and seemed the strongest rival. Furthermore, Southampton did not have enough population to meet the requirements for incorporation. The town petitioned the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
and the elective officials passed an exceptional Act of Incorporation on July 24, 1858 to allow the community to be considered for the county seat. Despite their efforts, Walkerton
eventually won the battle.
The townspeople commissioned different levels of government to build a bridge across the Saugeen River in the early 1860s. This bridge, now demolished, was known as Dennys Bridge. The community was still unhappy with the location of the bridge, as it is far from the centre. In 1889, a bridge was constructed closer to the mouth of the river and to the downtown and it still stands as part of Highway 21
.
In the early 2000s, a historically significant shipwreck was discovered on the beach. Relics of the ship, "General Hunter," can be found in the Bruce County Museum.
Southampton was also home to one of the last Gaelic speaking communities in Ontario. As late as the 1930s, the language was still used in everyday speech by local fishermen.
This area is famous for its fabulous sunsets. Every Friday night in July and August you can hear the skirl of a bagpiper under the giant flag at the foot of High Street, a tradition which started in the late 1990s. During the months of July and August there are "Ghost Walks" available every Tuesday and Wednesday nights with Katherine Leonard & Kerry Kitchenham. These commence at sunset at the foot of High st. at the "Flag". During the summer and early fall, the beaches are full of people who have come to see the colourful sunsets lighting up the sky over the lake. Southampton, a popular summer getaway, is close to Chantry Island
, Port Elgin, Saugeen First Nation and Sauble Beach
. There are many summer activities to participate in while in Southampton. These include: canoe and kayaking on the river, biking the railway trail, swimming, sailing, or just spending time amid the dunes on the wide sandy beach. There is an active Tennis Club with three separate court locations in town, and three golf courses in the vicinity.
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
in Bruce County
Bruce County, Ontario
Bruce County is a county in western Ontario, Canada, and includes the Bruce Peninsula. As of 2006, the population was 65,349. The area was . The county seat is Walkerton, Ontario. It is located at ....
, 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...
, located at the mouth of the Saugeen River
Saugeen River
The Saugeen River is located in southern Ontario, Canada, flowing generally north-west about 160 km before exiting into Lake Huron. The river is navigable for some distance, and was once an important barge route...
.
Although the community still has its own post office, it became part of the municipality of Saugeen Shores
Saugeen Shores, Ontario
Saugeen Shores is a town in Bruce County, Ontario, Canada, formed in the 1990s, as municipal restructuring merged the towns of Southampton, Port Elgin, and the township of Saugeen...
in the 1990s. Saugeen Shores is made up of Southampton, Port Elgin
Port Elgin, Ontario
Port Elgin is a community in the Ontario municipality of Saugeen Shores. Close to MacGregor Point Provincial Park in Bruce County, the community has several beaches on Lake Huron....
, and the former Township of Saugeen. The community of Southampton continues to expand. It has become a bedroom community and a retirement destination, as well as a tourist destination. It is within 40 kilometers of Bruce Power
Bruce Power
Bruce Power Limited Partnership is a Canadian business partnership composed of several corporations. It exists as a partnership between Cameco Corporation , TransCanada Corporation , BPC Generation Infrastructure Trust , the Power Workers Union and The Society of Energy Professionals...
nuclear power station.
History
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
sea port. The first European settlers of the area were Captain John Spence and William Kennedy, who wanted to establish a fishing company. While it proved unfruitful, Spence became a sailor and Kennedy joined a search for the Arctic explorer, Sir John Franklin. Nevertheless, in 1851 there were at least a dozen families living in the community. In the same year, the Post Office was established, the first and only in Bruce County
Bruce County, Ontario
Bruce County is a county in western Ontario, Canada, and includes the Bruce Peninsula. As of 2006, the population was 65,349. The area was . The county seat is Walkerton, Ontario. It is located at ....
for several years. Three years later, a Bank of Upper Canada
Bank of Upper Canada
The Bank of Upper Canada was a Canadian bank established in 1821 under a Charter granted by the colony of Upper Canada in 1819. The incorporators were William Allan, Robert C. Horne, John Scarlett, Francis Jackson, William W. Baldwin, Alexander Legge, Thomas Ridout, his son Samuel Ridout, D’Arcy...
was built.
The pioneers of Southampton wanted the village to become the county town or county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
, as the village held the only Crown Land Department and Post Office in the county. However, the town of Kincardine
Kincardine, Ontario
The Municipality of Kincardine is located on the shores of Lake Huron in the County of Bruce in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has a population of 12,000, and covers an area of 580 square kilometres...
had a larger population and seemed the strongest rival. Furthermore, Southampton did not have enough population to meet the requirements for incorporation. The town petitioned the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
and the elective officials passed an exceptional Act of Incorporation on July 24, 1858 to allow the community to be considered for the county seat. Despite their efforts, Walkerton
Walkerton, Ontario
Walkerton is a community in the Canadian province of Ontario, located within and governed by the municipality of Brockton. It is the site of Brockton's municipal offices and the county seat of Bruce County...
eventually won the battle.
The townspeople commissioned different levels of government to build a bridge across the Saugeen River in the early 1860s. This bridge, now demolished, was known as Dennys Bridge. The community was still unhappy with the location of the bridge, as it is far from the centre. In 1889, a bridge was constructed closer to the mouth of the river and to the downtown and it still stands as part of Highway 21
Highway 21 (Ontario)
King's Highway 21, commonly referred to as Highway 21, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario that begins at Highway 402 mid-way between Sarnia and London and ends at Highway 6, Highway 10 and Highway 26 in Owen Sound...
.
In the early 2000s, a historically significant shipwreck was discovered on the beach. Relics of the ship, "General Hunter," can be found in the Bruce County Museum.
Southampton was also home to one of the last Gaelic speaking communities in Ontario. As late as the 1930s, the language was still used in everyday speech by local fishermen.
Attractions
Chantry Island (Ontario)
Chantry Island is a small, island in Lake Huron, south of the mouth of the Saugeen River and approximately a mile off the shores of the town of Southampton, Ontario...
, Port Elgin, Saugeen First Nation and Sauble Beach
Sauble Beach, Ontario
Sauble Beach, Ontario, Canada is a resort community and unincorporated area in the town of South Bruce Peninsula, Bruce County in southwestern Ontario, Canada. It is on the eastern shore of Lake Huron, on the north edge of the Saugeen Nation...
. There are many summer activities to participate in while in Southampton. These include: canoe and kayaking on the river, biking the railway trail, swimming, sailing, or just spending time amid the dunes on the wide sandy beach. There is an active Tennis Club with three separate court locations in town, and three golf courses in the vicinity.