Ontario's Historical Plaques 


Discover Ontario's history as told through its plaques


2004 - Now in our 15th Year - 2019


 To find out all about me, you can visit the Home Page 


Looking at this page on a smartphone?
For best viewing, hold your phone
in Landscape mode (Horizontal)



The Founding of Harriston

The Founding of Harriston

Photo by contributor David Brown - Posted June, 2004

The Founding of Harriston

Photo from Google Street View ©2011 Google - April, 2011

Plaque Location

The County of Wellington
The Town of Minto
In Harriston, on the northwest corner of
Elora Street East and Mill Street


Coordinates: N 43 54.715 W 80 52.143

Map

Plaque Text

In 1854 Archibald Harrison (1818-77), a Toronto-area farmer, acquired land here in Minto Township where the Elora and Saugeen Road crossed the Maitland River. Mills built by Harrison's brothers, Joshua and George, formed a nucleus of a small settlement and in 1856 a small post-office, Harriston, was established. The hamlet grew slowly, but from 1862 agricultural development stimulated local trade. By about 1867, with a population of about 150, the village contained many businesses, including blacksmith shops and wagonworks. The construction of the Wellington, Grey and Bruce Railway, completed to Harriston in 1871, spurred the community's growth as a prosperous commercial and farm-implement manufacturing centre. Harriston was incorporated as a Village with about 500 inhabitants in 1872 and as a Town in 1878.

More
Information

More
Settlements

More
Minto Plaques




Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

(none yet)




Here's where you can send me a comment for this page.

Note: Your email address will be posted at the end of your comment so others can respond to you unless you request otherwise.

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours (usually much sooner).

Note: As soon as I have posted your comment, a reply to your email will be sent informing you.

To send me your comment, click .

Thanks
Alan L Brown
Webmaster

Note: If you wish to send me a personal email, click .