Wismer Commons is one of the newest developing residential area of Markham, Ontario

Markham, Ontario

Markham is a town in the Regional Municipality of York, located within the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada. The population was 261,573 at the 2006 Canadian census...

. It is located north of 16th Avenue,west of Highway 48

Highway 48 (Ontario)

King's Highway 48, also known as Highway 48, is a provincially-maintained highway in southern Ontario that extends from Major Mackenzie Drive in Markham, through Whitchurch-Stouffville, to Highway 12 south-east of Beaverton, Ontario. Prior to 1998, Highway 48 extended from Highway 401 in Toronto to...

 and east of Kennedy Road. Wismer Commons is named after the Wismer Family, one of the original founding pioneer families of Markham, Ontario

Markham, Ontario

Markham is a town in the Regional Municipality of York, located within the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada. The population was 261,573 at the 2006 Canadian census...

. The family of David Wismer, originally from Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 and subsequently Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

, arrived in Markham Township

Markham, Ontario

Markham is a town in the Regional Municipality of York, located within the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada. The population was 261,573 at the 2006 Canadian census...

 in 1806.

After the deaths of both David and Lydia Wismer in 1856, the Wismer Family continued to donate property to various community organizations, including the land for the construction of the first school in this area. This original one-room schoolhouse, located near the south west corner of 16th Avenue and Highway 48

Highway 48 (Ontario)

King's Highway 48, also known as Highway 48, is a provincially-maintained highway in southern Ontario that extends from Major Mackenzie Drive in Markham, through Whitchurch-Stouffville, to Highway 12 south-east of Beaverton, Ontario. Prior to 1998, Highway 48 extended from Highway 401 in Toronto to...

, was replaced around the year 1864, with a new school to the north, where the present Markham Museum

Markham Museum

Markham Museum offers a unique family and educational experience featuring over 20 historic buildings on 25 acres of parkland...

 now stands.

The name Wismer Commons can be found on stone plaques erected on both sides of the road at main arterial road entrances of developed regions of the community, such as the intersection of Bur Oak Avenue and McCowan Road.

Future Developments

Construction of more:

• Residential houses
• community schools
• churches
• plazas
• public facility buildings (i.e. Emergency Services Stations)
• recreational facilities (i.e. Community Centres)

According to the Markham city planner, at Highway 48

Highway 48 (Ontario)

King's Highway 48, also known as Highway 48, is a provincially-maintained highway in southern Ontario that extends from Major Mackenzie Drive in Markham, through Whitchurch-Stouffville, to Highway 12 south-east of Beaverton, Ontario. Prior to 1998, Highway 48 extended from Highway 401 in Toronto to...

 and Bur Oak Avenue, on the east edge of Wismer Commons, an area is reserved and proposed for a new shopping mall or plaza.