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Early
History
Perhaps as long as 2000 years ago the area was populated by
Native Indians, mainly the peaceful Hurons, who have left us
fascinating archeological sites. French explorers,
missionaries and fur traders traveled the region beginning
in the 1600s. White settlers began arriving in the 1820s.
They came mainly from England, Ireland, and Scotland. In
1819 a Black Settlement was established by government decree
along Line 1 of Oro-Medonte. Previously, the Penetanguishene
Rd, and Line 1, then called Wilberforce St, were surveyed
and cleared, mainly as a defensive corridor to Georgian Bay
during the hostilities with the U.S..
Numerous books exist
describing pioneer family life: those written by the
Oro-Medonte History Committee include: The Story of Oro,
Kith 'N Kin, The Hills of Oro and Other. Landmarks, Knox
Presbyterian Church, and The Oro African Church. Other local
authors who have described pioneer life include: Marion
Keith, Samuel Jermey, Loreen (Rice) Lucas, Mary O'Brien,
Eleanora Hallen, and Monty Leigh.
There have been
others who have made major contribution in politics,
farming, science, writing and music: Hon E. C. Drury, former
premier of Ontario; writer Kenneth Wells; former speaker of
the Ontario legislature, Hon. Allan McLean; Sir Sam Steele,
pioneer of the RCMP; singer/composer Wishart Campbell; U. of
T. philosopher Prof. Hume; former federal Minister of
Citizenship and Immigration Rt. Hon. Ellen Fairclough, and;
scientist, Dr. Murray Luck.
The Edgar area has
three areas of historic interest. The unique "African
Church" is located there. Around 1906 a tall wooden
tower was constructed by the Federal Government as part of a
"geodetic survey". (Other towers were located at
Peterborough and Orangeville.) After W.W. 11, three radar
domes were constructed on the site which became part of the
"Greenline" defense system in conjunction with the
early radar warning system that watched for Soviet bombers
and ICBMs during the "Cold War". The story goes
that the very first Girl Guide Cookies were sold in order to
put a new roof on the Girl Guide Camp in Hawkestone. Tunnels
from the wharfs into the cellar of the main building were
once used for carrying supplies. (Folklore suggested that
they might have been for hiding the transport of liquor or
Blacks as part of the underground railway. (The latter story
is highly unlikely.)The TransCanada Pipeline went across Oro
in 1958. In the early days there were a number of
"ruptures" of the pipeline that could be heard
many miles away--they sounded like a jet plane. (Oro-Medonte
History Committee, 1999)
Schools
For a listing of Elementary and Secondary Schools in Simcoe
County, please click here.
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$237000.00
$237000.00
