Historical Community Profiles

Allenford

Allenford, a village located on the banks of the Sauble River on Highway 21, halfway between Owen Sound and Southampton, was named for its first settler, James Allen. However, the site was originally known by the Indian name "Flood Wood Crossing". It seems a serious dispute arose in 1855 when the survey of the town plot of Southampton, north of the Saugeen River, began. This arose from differing interpretation of the 1854 Saugeen Treaty. Lord Bury met with the Indian delegation at the point halfway between Owen Sound and Southampton for a Pow-wow, where the parties sat, ate and danced in the traditional manner and eventually smoked a "pipe of peace". Lord Bury successfully negotiated a resolution. This place was called "Flood Wood Crossing".

Colpoy's Bay

Settlement of the four northern townships of the Bruce Peninsula started following the survey of Albemarle Township, which began in 1855. The first settlers in Albemarle took up land to the north of Colpoy's Bay in 1857: John Wood and Samuel Atkinson (Lots 30, 31 Con. 8 EBR). In May, 1858, five families came: Rev. Ludwick Kribs, Caleb Spragge, Ludwick Spragge, Henry Kribs and Joseph Stringer. The latter two men perished late in 1858 in a storm while carrying supplies by sailboat from Owen Sound. Another early settler, William Bull, was the Indian Lands Agent in this area and sold a good many acres of land for the Crown Lands Department in Ottawa. Prices were very cheap. Henry Whicher bought approximately 300 acres of land at three dollars per acre. All these old pioneers are buried in the Colpoy's Bay cemetery.

The township's trading soon came to be focused on the settlement of Colpoy's Bay with the early establishment of saw and gristmills and the opening of the post office in 1863. It is interesting to note that the settlement of Colpoy's Bay, named after Sir John Colpoy, an Admiral in the British navy, preceded that of Wiarton by ten years. The total population of the Township of Albemarle in 1861 was 54 souls. By 1871 it had risen to 678. Wiarton's first settler arrived in 1866 and the post office was opened there in 1868. With the opening of wharf facilities in 1868 where grain could be marketed, Wiarton soon outgrew the older settlement of Colpoy's Bay. The establishment of the railroad of the Grand Trunk Railroad in 1881 left no doubt as to Wiarton's dominance of the area.

Albemarle's earliest road followed the town line between Amabel and Albemarle and thence north to Mar and the Township of Eastnor, Highway #6 today. Naturally the early settlers followed this road, so after Colpoy's Bay was settled, the next lands to be occupied extended along the road from the Amabel boundary north to Mar in the centre of the Township. Another early settlement in Albemarle was located in the vicinity of Purple Valley.

Hepworth

In 1865, William Spencer, a young Englishman, built an inn as a halfway house between Wiarton and his Amabel Township farm to accommodate travelers and settlers to the area. As the inn grew in popularity and was moved to larger premises at 513 Spencer Street, so did the population of the village, which sprouted up around it. Hepworth honours the birthplace of John Wesley in Epworth, England. The "H" was added to the official spelling of Epworth to match the way the name was pronounced by Spencer and the other English Settlers. Hepworth's crossroads lead to Sauble Beach on Lake Huron, the Bruce Peninsula and the Bruce Trail overlooking Georgian Bay, to Owen Sound and South Bruce's rolling countryside, diverse destinations all. The hub of activity is at the crossroads - with several variety stores, a building centre, unique craft shop and a gas station to provide daily conveniences. You can rent canoes or buy a knapsack; enjoy fresh fries; have your notices and announcements printed; or have your vehicle repaired, in Hepworth. Tim Horton's provides great coffee and a warm gathering spot.

Sauble Beach

The history of Sauble Beach starts at the River. The river that leads to, and empties into this beautiful beach, was first explored by the Indians and later by the French Explorers. "La Riviere Au Sable" was its original name, which means "River to the Sand". This title was used on maps until 1881, when it was changed to "Sauble River." The name for the Beach itself was then quick to follow, and proved to be the perfect, descriptive name- Sauble Beach, which when translated means Sand Beach or Beach of Sand. The first cottager was John Eldridge who built near the river in 1877. A number of people followed and Sauble Beach began to grow steadily to what it is today. It began with a few people building cottages, then a boarding house and finally a store. The development proceeded south and eventually east. In the 1960's there was a large sawmill just below the falls on the Sauble River, employing 40 people. Although it burnt to the ground in 1906 taking half of the surrounding forest with it, dedicated reforestation by Bruce County and the Province has resulted in beautiful tall pine groves.

Wiarton

Wiarton sits squarely at the head of a peaceful valley in the Niagara Escarpment known as Colpoy Bay. It is named after Wiarton Place in Maidstone, Kent, the birthplace of the Governor General of Canada during the 1850's when Wiarton was first settled. The long jutting headlands make sailing the Bay a protected but magnificent experience, especially with the three islands ‑‑ Griffith, Hay and Whitecloud ‑‑ looking like a necklace separating Colpoy from Georgian Bay.

In its very early history, Wiarton was a landing stage for natives and voyageurs portaging their canoes and cargo across this narrow part of the Peninsula to Lake Huron, thereby avoiding the sometimes treacherous waters at the tip of the Bruce. Once a lumber town, with seven mills, from rough to finishing, ringing the Bay, Wiarton is a bustling full service town with five motels, a hotel, cottages and bed and breakfasts in town or nearby.

Bluewater Park is beautiful winter and summer with the perfect Victorian train station, the white stone sculpture of Wiarton's famous Spring forecaster, Wiarton Willie, a busy ball diamond and children's playground, plus a boat launch and long dock for fishing, strolling or watching the sunrise over the escarpment and the clean, clear waters of the bay.
HISTORICAL SITES

Corran Ruins (McNeill's Mansion)

Alexander McNeill was known for his extravagant parties where he entertained members of parliament as well as other leading figures of Canada. There were 500 rosebushes growing in the three acres of gardens. McNeill lived at the estate with his wife Hester, and their only child, Malcolm. In 1881, McNeill became the federal Member of Parliament for the North Bruce riding and held that position for 20 years. Alexander was a supporter of Britain and its empire and one of the "Noble 13" who opposed Sir John A. MacDonald on a number of issues. McNeill died at the age of 90 in 1932, and his son took over the estate. Unfortunately, Malcolm's interests were not in the Corran. The estate quickly deteriorated and the family fortune dwindled away. When Malcolm died in 1956, he willed the estate to his housekeeper and in 1960, the housekeeper sold the property to a Toronto resident. Despite valiant efforts to maintain the estate, it was at this point in time that the mansion and other buildings became victimized by vandals. Following the sale of the property to the Conservation Authority, the house burned leaving only a stone shell. The objectives of the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority are to protect both the natural and historical features and to manage the area as a low intensity recreational and educational resource.

Wiarton Train Station

The 1904 railway station located in Wiarton at Bluewater Park is volunteer operated with proceeds from the small shop used to maintain the historical station. The tourist information office runs out of the station as well.

Area Lighthouses

There are 11 historical lighthouses in Bruce County including the Chantry Island Lighthouse in Southampton, Cabot Head Lighthouse and the Cape Croker Lighthouse, which sits at the northern entrance of Colpoy's Bay in Georgian Bay and can also be reached by car. The old ruins from the original Cape Croker lighthouse can still be seen.

Cenotaphs

There are two large historical World War II cenotaphs in the Town of South Bruce Peninsula.

They are both located on the main streets for people to see.

Museums

The Bruce County Museum is located in Southampton covering all of the historical highlights and information of our area. As well, there are three museums in Owen Sound and two in Tobermory on the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula.

Spirit Rock

Spirit Rock is located on the north end of Wiarton against the cliffs facing Georgian Bay. The name 'Spirit Rock' is derived from a legend involving an Indian Maiden who jumped off the cliffs due to the guilt she had for falling in love with an Indian warrior from an enemy tribe.