Speyside, Ontario

Speyside is an unincorporated community in Halton Hills, Ontario, Canada.[1]

Speyside
Unincorporated community
Entering Speyside from the south along Highway 25
Entering Speyside from the south along Highway 25
Speyside is located in Regional Municipality of Halton
Speyside
Speyside
Location of Speyside
Speyside is located in Southern Ontario
Speyside
Speyside
Speyside (Southern Ontario)
Coordinates: 43°34′41″N 79°58′34″W
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
Regional municipalityHalton
TownHalton Hills
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
GNBC CodeFCRCB[1]

Once a thriving pioneer community, little remains of the original settlement.[2]

The Bruce Trail and Speyside Resource Management Area are located near the settlement.[3]

History
Abandoned business in Speyside

Early settlers believed a local creek resembled the River Spey in Scotland, and named the new settlement "Speyside".[2]

Between the 1850s and 1870s, Speyside had a hotel (the Stewart Hotel), two general stores, a village hall (used as a school), a tannery, a blacksmith, two saw mills, and a stone quarry.[2][4] The settlement had seven streets and several houses.[2] The population in 1874 was 200.[4] Speyside had a post office from 1873 to 1914.[5]

By 1908, the population had declined to 40.[6]

An oak tree in Speyside is recognized for its historic importance. The tree was grown from an acorn of an English oak growing in Royal Park in Windsor, England. The acorns were sent across the Commonwealth to commemorate the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The acorn was planted at a nearby school in 1937, and then transplanted to the school in Speyside when it opened in 1960. The school closed in 1986.[7]

References
  1. "Speyside". Natural Resources Canada. October 6, 2016.
  2. Clarke, Gwen (June 2, 1955). "Speyside Looks Back to Century of Activity With Sawmills, Hotels, Hop Kilns and Quarry" (PDF). The Canadian Champian.
  3. "Halton Hills Cultural Master Plan" (PDF). Town of Halton Hills. May 2013.
  4. Crossby, Peter Alfred (1874). Lovell's Gazetteer of British North America. Lovell. p. 320.
  5. "Speyside". Library and Archives Canada. May 27, 2014.
  6. Lovell's Gazetteer of the Dominion of Canada (PDF). John Lovell & Son. 1908. p. 878.
  7. Niblock, Frances (July 17, 2008). "Royal Oak at Speyside Designated Ont. Heritage" (PDF). The New Tanner.
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