Walton, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Walton is a Southwestern Ontario
hamlet in the municipality of Huron East
, in Huron County
, Ontario
, Canada
Located at the intersection of Huron County Rds 12 & 25, at the head of the South Maitland River
45 km east of Goderich
.
and married Anna Button there. They sailed for Upper Canada
in 1843 after the Canada Company
purchase, eventually settling in the Huron Tract
. They settled on Lot 1, Conc. 18 of Grey Twp. around 1859. In 1862 they named their new community Walton.
Soon there were two stores, a lodging house, a blacksmith shop and a sawmill and gristmill. The first log schoolhouse was built in 1860 and residents could attend a Methodist, United Presbyterian or Presbyterian church service. St. George’s Anglican Church drew parishioners from 1880 until 1968. The Methodist Church arrived and was used until 1925 when the congregation merged with the Presbyterians to form the United Church. The two Presbyterian congregations had joined in 1910. It then became known as Duff’s United Church on the edge of the community at Lot 1, Conc. 17, Grey Twp.,.
There were the Rob Roy and Walton hotels and postal service began in 1862 in one of the general stores. Rural routes began in 1912 and eventually there were four. Biggar’s Hotel sold many times over the years. In 1901, the adjoining house was destroyed by fire and two years later, an auction was held for the chattel of McKim’s Royal Hotel and household goods. In 1919, the unused hotel was dismantled and the building materials used for area homes. The Walton Hotel was the most successful in the hamlet as it still functions as an inn and restaurant today. Charles Sage took ownership in 1868. Mrs. Sage continued to run the business after her husband’s death, until 1901. Today the Walton Inn is owned by Graeme and Helen Craig.
There is a story which indicates Walton’s importance in the 1800s. There was once a gristmill located at Leadbury, Conc. 12-13 (Hullett-McKillop Rd.) of McKillop Twp. The road to the mill was a toll road so customers would bring their product to Walton, stay overnight, walk across the concessions the next day and return for a second night. The success of two banks in the community is said to be partly due to this business. The Sovereign Bank operated until 1908 and the Standard Bank/Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce served customers from 1918 to 1933.
Through the years there were pumpmakers, butchers, barbers, jewellers, lawyers, blacksmiths, carriage makers, harness makers, livery stable operators, doctors, veterinarians, bankers, implement dealers and garages. Walton experienced a boom after 1907 when the Canadian Pacific Railway
began running through the village.
The railroad ceased to run in 1988.
Walton Hall has an extensive history in the community. After serving as the Methodist Church, first at the corner of Huron County Road 12 (Brussels Line) and McKillop Twp. Conc. 14 (Canada Company Rd.), then moved to Lot 18, Conc. 1 of Grey Twp., the building was used as an Orange Hall from 1927 to 1938. When the Ancient Order of United Workmen’s hall was sold and converted to residential use, the community purchased the Orange Hall in 1938 for $50. When the hall was moved back across the highway to its present location, hydro lines were an obstacle. The roof and gables were dismantled for the move and the side walls lowered two feet before reconstruction. In 1945, four acres next to the hall were purchased for use as a ball diamond and picnic area. A recreation committee was set up in 1968. In 1976, the park was sold to the recreation committee for $1 and the Walton Area Sports Club was formed. Due to extensive repairs needed at that time, and the increasing difficult task of getting volunteer help, the building was sold to the Women’s Institute. By 1955, there was fear the hall would have to be closed, sold or torn down. However, the community once again came to the rescue. A committee to oversee operations and fundraising formed and the hall was busier than it had been for many decades.
S.S. No. 11 – McGavin’s School.
Perhaps the S.S. No. 11, Walton School is now being used for one of the most unusual reasons of any of the other schoolhouses in Morris Township.
McGavin’s Farm Equipment now operates it business out of the brick building. The Walton Womens Institute's Tweedsmuir Collection provides some of the history of the Walton schoolhouses.
According to it, a frame school was built on the southeast corner of Lot 30, Concession 9, Morris Township on land purchased by Robert Dennis on for $1. The frame school was built before 1873 with one room directly behind the red brick school, now owned by Neil McGavin.
Later another school was built to the east of this frame school and joined to it by a hallway. Then later on one of these rooms was closed.
In 1907, the red brick school was built to replace the two buildings. At one time this building held classes in both the classroom and the basement.
Due to overcrowding in the brick school, another school was built in 1920, a few yards north of the brick school on the same property. This frame building was built for the junior classes. A house was built at the northeast corner. These buildings were covered with red asphalt shingles.
This school which is now being used for storage of some of McGavin’s equipment was closed in 1932 and people returned to the red brick school.
A new school was formed in 1961 which was known as Grey Township School Area No. 2. While the largest assessment was in Grey Township, it included 25 lots in McKillop Township belonging to the Walton School, Union No. 11, and also 14 McKillop lots belonging to Union School No. 12. It also included a portion of Morris Township.
The move was the outcome of a vote in Morris Township which rejected the proposal to build a new school in Walton. A petition of interested Morris and Grey Township ratepayers asked for the formation of a new school area. this new four-room schoolhouse was opened officially on December 12, 1962 with the total cost of construction and equipment and other expenses amounting to about $84,000. At Lot 1, Conc. 18, Grey Twp.,is the former Walton Public School, now Walton’s Little School. A second one was built on Lot 30, Conc. 9, Morris Twp. in 1874. Large enrollment forced the construction of another building to the east. A red brick schoolhouse, S.S. No. 11, was built in 1907 next to where these buildings had stood. A second structure was joined in 1920. It was used until 1962 when Walton Public School was built. It was converted to a primary school in 1969. With decreased provincial funding for schools, The Avon Maitland District School Board
closed the school.
McGavins moved into the red brick schoolhouse in 1962 and added a piece onto it in 1963.
Walton Venture Centre
Location: 42659 Walton Rd
Year built: 1961
The Walton Venture Centre has three tenants: Walton Little School, Barmy Tech, and Huron Perth Cattlefeed Co-op Inc. of Dublin. In 2001 Walton Little School was converted to a privately owned Early Literacy Centre. Barmy Tech, the second tenant, is a Canadian Company making Cotton Barmy Bags and other fabric accessories.
The hamlet and surrounding area is home to many businesses. They include construction, motorcycle racing and promotions, several farmer-related enterprises, a variety store, computer recycling, trucking, crafts, a repair shop, aircraft and toy shop.
Southwestern Ontario
Southwestern Ontario is a subregion of Southern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario, centred on the city of London. It extends north to south from the Bruce Peninsula on Lake Huron to the Lake Erie shoreline, and east to south-west roughly from Guelph to Windsor. The region had a population...
hamlet 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...
Located at the intersection of Huron County Rds 12 & 25, at the head of the South Maitland River
Maitland River
The Maitland River is a river in southwestern Ontario, Canada, which empties into Lake Huron in the town of Goderich, Ontario. The river is 150 km in length....
45 km east of Goderich
Goderich, Ontario
Goderich is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario and is the county seat of Huron County. The town was founded by William "Tiger" Dunlop in 1827. First laid out in 1828, the town is named after Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich, who was British prime minister at the time. The town...
.
History
Situated at the junction of Morris, Grey and McKillop Twps. on the Seaforth-to-Wroxeter trail, Walton , is named for the English hometown of its founders John and Anna (Button) Hewitt. Hewitt was born in Walton in Buckinghamshire, EnglandBuckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
and married Anna Button there. They sailed for Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
in 1843 after the Canada Company
Canada Company
The Canada Company was a large private chartered British land development company, incorporated by an act of British parliament on July 27, 1825, to aid the colonization of Upper Canada. Canada Company assisted emigrants by providing good ships, low fares, implements and tools,and inexpensive land....
purchase, eventually settling in the Huron Tract
Huron 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...
. They settled on Lot 1, Conc. 18 of Grey Twp. around 1859. In 1862 they named their new community Walton.
Soon there were two stores, a lodging house, a blacksmith shop and a sawmill and gristmill. The first log schoolhouse was built in 1860 and residents could attend a Methodist, United Presbyterian or Presbyterian church service. St. George’s Anglican Church drew parishioners from 1880 until 1968. The Methodist Church arrived and was used until 1925 when the congregation merged with the Presbyterians to form the United Church. The two Presbyterian congregations had joined in 1910. It then became known as Duff’s United Church on the edge of the community at Lot 1, Conc. 17, Grey Twp.,.
There were the Rob Roy and Walton hotels and postal service began in 1862 in one of the general stores. Rural routes began in 1912 and eventually there were four. Biggar’s Hotel sold many times over the years. In 1901, the adjoining house was destroyed by fire and two years later, an auction was held for the chattel of McKim’s Royal Hotel and household goods. In 1919, the unused hotel was dismantled and the building materials used for area homes. The Walton Hotel was the most successful in the hamlet as it still functions as an inn and restaurant today. Charles Sage took ownership in 1868. Mrs. Sage continued to run the business after her husband’s death, until 1901. Today the Walton Inn is owned by Graeme and Helen Craig.
There is a story which indicates Walton’s importance in the 1800s. There was once a gristmill located at Leadbury, Conc. 12-13 (Hullett-McKillop Rd.) of McKillop Twp. The road to the mill was a toll road so customers would bring their product to Walton, stay overnight, walk across the concessions the next day and return for a second night. The success of two banks in the community is said to be partly due to this business. The Sovereign Bank operated until 1908 and the Standard Bank/Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce served customers from 1918 to 1933.
Through the years there were pumpmakers, butchers, barbers, jewellers, lawyers, blacksmiths, carriage makers, harness makers, livery stable operators, doctors, veterinarians, bankers, implement dealers and garages. Walton experienced a boom after 1907 when the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
began running through the village.
The railroad ceased to run in 1988.
Walton Hall has an extensive history in the community. After serving as the Methodist Church, first at the corner of Huron County Road 12 (Brussels Line) and McKillop Twp. Conc. 14 (Canada Company Rd.), then moved to Lot 18, Conc. 1 of Grey Twp., the building was used as an Orange Hall from 1927 to 1938. When the Ancient Order of United Workmen’s hall was sold and converted to residential use, the community purchased the Orange Hall in 1938 for $50. When the hall was moved back across the highway to its present location, hydro lines were an obstacle. The roof and gables were dismantled for the move and the side walls lowered two feet before reconstruction. In 1945, four acres next to the hall were purchased for use as a ball diamond and picnic area. A recreation committee was set up in 1968. In 1976, the park was sold to the recreation committee for $1 and the Walton Area Sports Club was formed. Due to extensive repairs needed at that time, and the increasing difficult task of getting volunteer help, the building was sold to the Women’s Institute. By 1955, there was fear the hall would have to be closed, sold or torn down. However, the community once again came to the rescue. A committee to oversee operations and fundraising formed and the hall was busier than it had been for many decades.
S.S. No. 11 – McGavin’s School.
Perhaps the S.S. No. 11, Walton School is now being used for one of the most unusual reasons of any of the other schoolhouses in Morris Township.
McGavin’s Farm Equipment now operates it business out of the brick building. The Walton Womens Institute's Tweedsmuir Collection provides some of the history of the Walton schoolhouses.
According to it, a frame school was built on the southeast corner of Lot 30, Concession 9, Morris Township on land purchased by Robert Dennis on for $1. The frame school was built before 1873 with one room directly behind the red brick school, now owned by Neil McGavin.
Later another school was built to the east of this frame school and joined to it by a hallway. Then later on one of these rooms was closed.
In 1907, the red brick school was built to replace the two buildings. At one time this building held classes in both the classroom and the basement.
Due to overcrowding in the brick school, another school was built in 1920, a few yards north of the brick school on the same property. This frame building was built for the junior classes. A house was built at the northeast corner. These buildings were covered with red asphalt shingles.
This school which is now being used for storage of some of McGavin’s equipment was closed in 1932 and people returned to the red brick school.
A new school was formed in 1961 which was known as Grey Township School Area No. 2. While the largest assessment was in Grey Township, it included 25 lots in McKillop Township belonging to the Walton School, Union No. 11, and also 14 McKillop lots belonging to Union School No. 12. It also included a portion of Morris Township.
The move was the outcome of a vote in Morris Township which rejected the proposal to build a new school in Walton. A petition of interested Morris and Grey Township ratepayers asked for the formation of a new school area. this new four-room schoolhouse was opened officially on December 12, 1962 with the total cost of construction and equipment and other expenses amounting to about $84,000. At Lot 1, Conc. 18, Grey Twp.,is the former Walton Public School, now Walton’s Little School. A second one was built on Lot 30, Conc. 9, Morris Twp. in 1874. Large enrollment forced the construction of another building to the east. A red brick schoolhouse, S.S. No. 11, was built in 1907 next to where these buildings had stood. A second structure was joined in 1920. It was used until 1962 when Walton Public School was built. It was converted to a primary school in 1969. With decreased provincial funding for schools, The Avon Maitland District School Board
Avon Maitland District School Board
The Avon Maitland District School Board administers public school education in Huron and Perth Counties, including the town of Stratford, in southern Ontario.Its Secondary schools are:*Central Huron Secondary School*F.E...
closed the school.
McGavins moved into the red brick schoolhouse in 1962 and added a piece onto it in 1963.
Walton Venture Centre
Location: 42659 Walton Rd
Year built: 1961
The Walton Venture Centre has three tenants: Walton Little School, Barmy Tech, and Huron Perth Cattlefeed Co-op Inc. of Dublin. In 2001 Walton Little School was converted to a privately owned Early Literacy Centre. Barmy Tech, the second tenant, is a Canadian Company making Cotton Barmy Bags and other fabric accessories.
The hamlet and surrounding area is home to many businesses. They include construction, motorcycle racing and promotions, several farmer-related enterprises, a variety store, computer recycling, trucking, crafts, a repair shop, aircraft and toy shop.
Regional Media
- Seaforth Expositor
- The Citizen
- CKNX RadioCKNX (AM)CKNX is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at 920 AM in Wingham, Ontario. The station broadcasts a country music & News/Talk format.- Launch :...