Description : On Sunday, September 19th, the Hon. Henry Newton Rowell Jackman, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, will be present at the Simcoe County Administration Centre for the unveiling of two historic plaques commemorating the bicentennial of the 1793 expedition to Simcoe District of Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada; and the establishment in 1843 of Simcoe County as a separate administrative district of the province. The ceremonies commence at 1 p.m., at the centre in Midhurst. The Lieutenant Governor will unveil the Bicentennial plaque, while Helen Coutts, Reeve of Vespra, will represent the County Warden to unveil the County plaque.

Deerhurst - from 1830, mail was received for the early settlers at John Gill's beer shanty at Deerhurst on the Penetang Road, midway between line 12 and line 13. On April 1st, 1863 and official post office opened near this same location and served this community until December 1912. In 1830 James Tindall, who lived across the road from Gill's, donated land from his lot 16, con. 12 farm for the first Ebenezer Wesleyan Methodist Church and cemetery. New churches were built about 1850 and again in 1880. This church was closed in 1966. A small hamlet grew at this location which still remains today.

Circa 1830

Coulson's Hill

The hamlet of Coulson's Hill was named after the Coulson family who settled here in 1822. They donated the land for the two church properties and cemeteries. The Anglican church was built in 1854, the Presbyterian church in1857. The hamlet was the home for a hotel, stagecoach shop, a blacksmith shop and an Orange Hall.

circa 1822

Newspaper article expressing interest in renaming streets to honour Bradford's history, and including plaques at the roadsides to explain the significance.

In 1823, John Garbutt, an early magistrate in the township, settled on the north half of lot 10 con. 12. Around him came others to form a small community. An early school was replaced by a brick one in 188 which still stands today as a private residence. The school has hosted dances, parties, concerts and anniversaries over the years. A nearby burial pit provides evidence of a significant historical battle in pre-settlement times. circa 1823

Mount Pleasant, aka Botchtown;
Mount Pleasant was the name Gilbert Robinson chose for his stately home on the north half of lot 15 con. 8 in West Gwillimbury. The name spilled over to the adjacent hamlet that grew up at the corner of the 9th line and the Penetang Road (Yonge Street), comprised of a blacksmith shop, hotel, general store, gas station and a school. Nearby a Wesleyan Methodist church, a brickyard, and grist mill and saw mills owned by Mark Scanlon and John Thorpe. South of the hamlet, a hillside spring provided refreshment for weary travellers, man and beast.

circa 1840

"In loving memory of my grandparents Andrew Bell 1827-1912 and his wife Sarah Balmer 1823-1898, Erected by Balmer Neilly"
Plaque at the gate of St John's Presbyterian Church in Coulson's Hill