Our Hamlets: getting to know the communities of Chatsworth
A new Banner series on the places that make up the township, one hamlet at a time
By David Ellis · · 2 min read
Ask someone where they're from in this township, and the answer often isn't simply "Chatsworth."
It might be Williamsford, Desboro or Holland Centre. It might be a crossroads with a church, a hall and a few houses, a name that has been on a sign for generations even if it's no longer on every map.
The Township of Chatsworth as we know it is fairly young. On Jan. 1, 2000, as part of Ontario's municipal restructuring, the Village of Chatsworth and the townships of Holland and Sullivan were brought together into one municipality. The federal government's geographical names database still records Chatsworth as "formerly Holland / Sullivan."
But the communities inside it are much older. A local history column first printed in the Owen Sound Sun Times in 1996 traces the village of Chatsworth back to a tavern-keeper named Coyer on the old Garafraxa Road, the main route north to Owen Sound. According to the column, the settlement was first called Johntown, after John Deavitt, one of two brothers clearing land there. The name changed when the first postmaster, Henry Cardwell, is believed to have proposed Chatsworth, after his hometown in England.
Every hamlet in the township has a story like that. That's what this series is for.
What Our Hamlets will cover
Each instalment will focus on one community: how it got its name, who settled it, what was made or grown or sold there, and what's there today. We'll look at the halls, churches, mills, schools and ball diamonds that hold these places together, and at the people who keep them going.
We'll lean on the people who know these places best: local historical societies, the township's own records, regional archives and museums, and families who have lived here for generations. When the records disagree, as old records often do, we'll tell you.
We need your help
If you have old photographs, family stories, a church anniversary booklet, or a copy of one of Chatsworth's early newspapers tucked away somewhere, we'd love to hear about it. Tell us which hamlet you'd like to see first.
Our first stop is coming soon.
Your turn: Which hamlet should we visit first, and what should we know about it? Email news@chatsworthbanner.ca or use the tip form on our site.
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