The Founding of Port Dover
Text from the plaque
By 1794 Peter Walker, the first settler in this area, had located at the mouth of Patterson's Creek, but a community did not begin to develop here until Dover, situated further upstream, was razed by invading American troops in 1814. Some of the subsequent reconstruction took place nearer to the creek's mouth where a harbour had been in use since the early 1800's and in 1835 Israel Wood Powell, a merchant, registered a village plan for Port Dover. Improvement to the harbour during the next fifteen years made Port Dover a principal Lake Erie port and shipyards, tanneries, and Andrew Thompson's woollen-mill contributed substantially to local economic growth. In 1879 Port Dover, with a population of 1,100 became an incorporated village.
Transcribed from the marker, not summarised.
Find the place
The County of Norfolk
In Port Dover, on the south side of Harbour Street
opposite St. Andrew Street (Note: In August 2018, Wayne Adam reported that this plaque is missing from this location)
Also recorded for this place: The County of Norfolk
N 42 47.091 W 80 11.944
Recorded May 2005. Check current access before visiting.
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Where it stands
Visitors' notes
February 9, 2017
I had the privilege of visiting beautiful Port Dover whilst in Canada for 2 short weeks last year. It is an utterly charming little place and I envy, (in the nicest possible way), those lucky folks who dwell there! Maybe I will be lucky enough to visit again. I sincerely hope so. :) Caroline Quigg