Orangeville Ontario Beginnings in Colour Photos: Saving Our History One Photo at a Time

Publisher Marketing: John Corbit acquired land in the area in 1829 and is one of the earliest settlers. Spring Brook (also called Mill Creek), a tributary of the Credit River, provided water for power for several mills located downstream. Seneca Ketchum and George Grigg arrived soon after. By 1844 when Orange Lawrence and his wife Sarah arrived from Connecticut, a well-established community called Grigg's Mill existed beside Mill Creek. Orange Lawrence helped to develop the community, laying out the southeast part of town; he opened a general store and a tavern, built a second mill, founded the first school, and became the village's first postmaster in 1847. He left a strong mark on the community which took the appropriate name of Orangeville. Immigrants from Ireland and other parts of the British Isles and Canada West came throughout the 1840s and 1850s with some establishing successful mixed farms while others settled in the village and became the landowners, merchants, and tradesmen whose needs led to the development of good transportation routes. By the 1860s it was increasingly difficult to deliver and receive goods to and from the supply centres in the south with gravel roads that were difficult to traverse by horse and wagon for much of the year. Winter was the season when most goods were transported by sleigh over frozen roads. By 1871 two daily stage lines were operating between Orangeville and Brampton, and that year the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway reached Orangeville, thanks to the efforts of the town fathers such as Jesse Ketchum Jr., Samuel and Robert McKitrick, Johnston Lindsey, Thomas Jull, John Foley, and R. William Armstrong. By 1875 there was a foundry, three planning mills, two saw mills, a tannery, a carding mill, several carriage and wagon manufacturers, and a successful pottery business in operation, along with four grocers, three hardware merchants, two drugstores, three watchmakers, three bakeries, and three establishment proving boots and shoes. It was the foresight of Orange Lawrence and Jesse Ketchum that had large sections of land on either side of the main street laid out for both commercial and residential building lots. The south side followed Mill creek while a regular grid pattern was determined for the streets on the north side from first to Fifty Streets both east and west and north to Fifth Avenue, with a wide main street called Broadway. This 30-metre (100-foot) avenue was not typical of Ontario towns of the time but has proven to be very valuable over the years. In 1875 the Town Hall was construction, and in 1887 the first telephone exchange was established. Orangeville is proud of its roots and seeks to preserve its heritage. With two of our children and five grandchildren living in Orangeville, we often make the trek to the town. I have walked and driven the streets of Orangeville discovering its beauty. There are hundreds of old buildings which have retained their 1800s architectural styles and character. The pictures are divided into four books with colour photos. The first book covers the beginnings of Orangeville with colour pictures from the south side of town. The second book covers buildings on Broadway. Two more books will follow. An appendix is included to describe architectural styles and terms which are referred to throughout the book. The second book covers buildings to the north of the town, as well as pictures taken in surrounding villages of Laurel, Caledon Village and Mono Centre.