Here's where you can learn a little Ontario history

The Founding of Belle River

Photo by Alan L Brown - June, 2005

Plaque Location

The County of Essex
The Town of Lakeshore
In a park on the east side of South Street
between St. Peter Street and Centre Street

Coordinates: N 42 17.460 W 82 42.701

Plaque Text

The settlement of this area began following the survey in 1793 of the lots fronting on the Belle River. Among the early settlers were many French Canadians from the vicinity of the Detroit River. When the Great Western Railway was constructed, 1852-53, a station named Belle River was opened here. By 1855 a steam grist-mill and sawmill had been erected by Luc Ouellette and others, and a community known as Rochester soon developed. It was supported by a brisk lumber trade but attracted few other industries and in 1866 had only 300 inhabitants. On November 26, 1874, the community now comprising over 750 persons, was incorporated as the Village of Belle River, and on January 1, 1969, it became a Town.

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Posted June 14, 2010
there is a subdivision directly behind the belle river public school between the back of the school property and the railroad tracks with such streets as champlain, cherie, helena to name a few..just curious to the history of what may have been located on this property in the past...i had heard some sort of tile factory or something but just wanted more details of what was there and dates and any other information that is available or where i could find it

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