Arthur, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Arthur is a community located just north of Hwy 6 and Wellington Road 109 in the township
of Wellington North
, Ontario
, Canada
. Formerly an independent village, Arthur was amalgamated into Wellington North on January 1, 1999.
. Arthur Village was first surveyed in 1841 by John McDonald and then officially in 1846 by D.B. Papineau. During the first survey in 1841, the population of Arthur was 22 people. Over the next 15 years this number rose to 400 and by 1900 the population has risen to just over 1500. The establishment of saw and grist mills sparked growth in the community. In 1851, a post office was opened and the first church and school were organized. Development was further encouraged in 1872 when a station of the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway was opened.
The Arthur Enterprise News, established in 1863, was one of the few non-syndicated weekly newspapers in Canada.
In 1897, Arthur was one of the first villages in Ontario to be served by a power transmission line. There were no meters, but people were charged 10 cents for each lightbulb used. Power was available in the evenings and was cut off at midnight.
In 1906, Joe Sussman and his two brothers moved from Poland
to the clothing district in Toronto
. Joe moved to the Arthur area and would drive a horse-drawn carriage along the countryside, bringing clothing to people who lived on farms, and also would help out on farms if help was needed. In 1914, Joe settled his store at a permanent location, and the store quickly became popular with people from Arthur and surrounding areas. Today, Sussman's of Arthur is one of the largest independent owned clothiers in Canada.
For more history from Arthur and Area, visit the Historical Society Rooms at 146 George St., Arthur open every Wednesday from 1:00pm-3:00pm.
ran a front page headline that read Arthur Village Gives Sons and Money to Aid the War, and recognized Arthur as the Most Patriotic Village in Canada, as one out of every seven Arthur residents fought in the Second World War. At that time 126 residents had enlisted from the population of 890. It was the highest ratio in comparison to villages of comparable sizes in Canada. By the end of the war, 338 Arthur residents had enlisted, and 25 were killed in action.
During the first war bond campaign, the village of Arthur was the first community in Arthur to reach their quota within a few minutes. Arthur also led the communities in Wellington for every other war and victory bond campaign and surpassed all objectives that had been set. By the end of the fourth campaign, Arthur had raised a total of $250,000 which was an amount equal to 64% of the assessed value of the villages taxable property.
In 2002, David Tilson, MPP for Dufferin-Peel-Wellington-Grey stated in the Ontario legislature, that because of the village of Arthur’s extraordinary World War II record, the community was now being recognized as “Canada’s Most Patriotic Village”.
Arthur
: 2,450
Mount Forest
: 4,750
Rural Wellington North: 3,995
Total Population for the Township of Wellington North
: 11,175
Population Density: 21.3
Built in 1890 and located on Smith Street, the first Arthur High School was constructed by D.M. McPherson. At the time it opened there were 53 students and 2 teachers but after an addition was built in 1906 it had doubled in size. Joining the teaching staff in 1927 and becoming principal three years later, P.E. Brown stayed on as principal until his retirement in 1967. In 1953, a larger high school was built along Conestoga Street which was able to hold many more students until it closed in 2004. The building has now been converted into the new home for Arthur Public School. Students from the Arthur community now attend high school at the Wellington Heights Secondary School
in the neighboring town of Mount Forest
.
Constructed in 1945 on the same grounds as the previous public school, the building on Eliza Street stayed open until 2005 when the school was then relocated to the old high school building on Conestoga Street.
Originally built in 1884; St. John’s School was located on Georgina Street beside the St. John’s Church. This school was demolished and replaced with a one storey school in 1963. A new school was built on the east end of Tucker Street in 1995 where Catholic students from the Arthur area still attend. The former school on Georgina Street is now being used as a Parish Centre for St. John’s Church.
- born in Arthur and became a political activist for Ontario farmers’ rights
Olive Palmer- Arthur District High School teacher from 1938-1939 later married Prime Minister John Diefenbaker
Wm. Lyon Mackenzie- leader of Upper Canada rebellion once owned a 100 acre farm on the outskirts of Arthur
Rixon Rafter- born in Arthur and became the first blind newspaper editor in Canada in 1908
Township (Canada)
The term township generally means the district or area associated with a town. However in some systems no town needs to be involved. The specific use of the term to describe political subdivisions has varied by country, usually to describe a local rural or semi-rural government within the county...
of Wellington North
Wellington North, Ontario
Wellington North is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, located within Wellington County.-Communities:The primary communities in Wellington North are the village of Arthur and the town of Mount Forest....
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Formerly an independent village, Arthur was amalgamated into Wellington North on January 1, 1999.
History
Arthur Village was named after Arthur Wellesley, who is better known as the Duke of WellingtonArthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
. Arthur Village was first surveyed in 1841 by John McDonald and then officially in 1846 by D.B. Papineau. During the first survey in 1841, the population of Arthur was 22 people. Over the next 15 years this number rose to 400 and by 1900 the population has risen to just over 1500. The establishment of saw and grist mills sparked growth in the community. In 1851, a post office was opened and the first church and school were organized. Development was further encouraged in 1872 when a station of the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway was opened.
The Arthur Enterprise News, established in 1863, was one of the few non-syndicated weekly newspapers in Canada.
In 1897, Arthur was one of the first villages in Ontario to be served by a power transmission line. There were no meters, but people were charged 10 cents for each lightbulb used. Power was available in the evenings and was cut off at midnight.
In 1906, Joe Sussman and his two brothers moved from Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
to the clothing district in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. Joe moved to the Arthur area and would drive a horse-drawn carriage along the countryside, bringing clothing to people who lived on farms, and also would help out on farms if help was needed. In 1914, Joe settled his store at a permanent location, and the store quickly became popular with people from Arthur and surrounding areas. Today, Sussman's of Arthur is one of the largest independent owned clothiers in Canada.
For more history from Arthur and Area, visit the Historical Society Rooms at 146 George St., Arthur open every Wednesday from 1:00pm-3:00pm.
Canada's Most Patriotic Village
In November 1942, the Toronto StarToronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
ran a front page headline that read Arthur Village Gives Sons and Money to Aid the War, and recognized Arthur as the Most Patriotic Village in Canada, as one out of every seven Arthur residents fought in the Second World War. At that time 126 residents had enlisted from the population of 890. It was the highest ratio in comparison to villages of comparable sizes in Canada. By the end of the war, 338 Arthur residents had enlisted, and 25 were killed in action.
During the first war bond campaign, the village of Arthur was the first community in Arthur to reach their quota within a few minutes. Arthur also led the communities in Wellington for every other war and victory bond campaign and surpassed all objectives that had been set. By the end of the fourth campaign, Arthur had raised a total of $250,000 which was an amount equal to 64% of the assessed value of the villages taxable property.
In 2002, David Tilson, MPP for Dufferin-Peel-Wellington-Grey stated in the Ontario legislature, that because of the village of Arthur’s extraordinary World War II record, the community was now being recognized as “Canada’s Most Patriotic Village”.
Demographics
Populations for the Township of Wellington North (2006 Statistics Canada Census):Arthur
Arthur, Ontario
Arthur is a community located just north of Hwy 6 and Wellington Road 109 in the township of Wellington North, Ontario, Canada. Formerly an independent village, Arthur was amalgamated into Wellington North on January 1, 1999.-History:...
: 2,450
Mount Forest
Mount Forest, Ontario
Mount Forest is an unincorporated community located on the junction of the 6 and the 89 in the township of Wellington North, Ontario. The town's motto is "High, Happy, Healthy", which can be seen on the water tower when approaching the town from the south....
: 4,750
Rural Wellington North: 3,995
Total Population for the Township of Wellington North
Wellington North, Ontario
Wellington North is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, located within Wellington County.-Communities:The primary communities in Wellington North are the village of Arthur and the town of Mount Forest....
: 11,175
Population Density: 21.3
Arthur High School
Built in 1890 and located on Smith Street, the first Arthur High School was constructed by D.M. McPherson. At the time it opened there were 53 students and 2 teachers but after an addition was built in 1906 it had doubled in size. Joining the teaching staff in 1927 and becoming principal three years later, P.E. Brown stayed on as principal until his retirement in 1967. In 1953, a larger high school was built along Conestoga Street which was able to hold many more students until it closed in 2004. The building has now been converted into the new home for Arthur Public School. Students from the Arthur community now attend high school at the Wellington Heights Secondary School
Wellington Heights Secondary School
Wellington Heights Secondary School is a high school in Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada. The school is home of the "Wellington Heights Wolverines". The principal is Brian Serafini and the vice-principal is Joan Arbuckle. It was built in 2004 due to the closure of the high schools in Mount Forest and...
in the neighboring town of Mount Forest
Mount Forest, Ontario
Mount Forest is an unincorporated community located on the junction of the 6 and the 89 in the township of Wellington North, Ontario. The town's motto is "High, Happy, Healthy", which can be seen on the water tower when approaching the town from the south....
.
Arthur Public School
Constructed in 1945 on the same grounds as the previous public school, the building on Eliza Street stayed open until 2005 when the school was then relocated to the old high school building on Conestoga Street.
St. John’s Catholic School
Originally built in 1884; St. John’s School was located on Georgina Street beside the St. John’s Church. This school was demolished and replaced with a one storey school in 1963. A new school was built on the east end of Tucker Street in 1995 where Catholic students from the Arthur area still attend. The former school on Georgina Street is now being used as a Parish Centre for St. John’s Church.
Famous Connections
James J. MorrisonJames J. Morrison
James J. Morrison was a farm leader in Ontario, Canada, a founder of the United Farmers of Ontario in 1914, and a leader of the co-operative movement...
- born in Arthur and became a political activist for Ontario farmers’ rights
Olive Palmer- Arthur District High School teacher from 1938-1939 later married Prime Minister John Diefenbaker
Wm. Lyon Mackenzie- leader of Upper Canada rebellion once owned a 100 acre farm on the outskirts of Arthur
Rixon Rafter- born in Arthur and became the first blind newspaper editor in Canada in 1908
External links
- Arthur at Geographical Names of Canada
- Ontario Plaques - Founding of Arthur
- Ontario Plaques - James Morrison 1861-1936
- - Township of Wellington North Website