Settlement Patterns & Abandoned Settlements in the Gooderham Area

Settlement Patterns & Abandoned Settlements in the Gooderham Area

Drechsler, Matthew

Gooderham Community Action Group
Host contact: Bates, Elva

Brunger, Alan
Department: Geography

TP-538

2004

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Gooderham

Heritage of the Gooderham area

Paper presents research which will provide background for a book about the heritage of the Gooderham area and its inhabitants.

This report documents research undertaken from September 2003 until March 2004. Information gathered from historical documents, one-on-one interviews, and census record shows the surrounding Gooderham Ontario was settled by a diverse mix of people. Lured by the land grants made available by the Public Lands Act of 1853, many of the settlers were surprised to find themselves on land wholly unsuited for agricultural purposes. While many moved westwards whe the Prairie Provinces were opened up, others worked hard to make a living as best they could by raising cattle and working in the area's many lumber camps during the long winters. It is important not to forget the contributions made by settlers in the 19th Century which helped to form the province of Ontario as we know it today.

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