Otterville, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Otterville is a village in rural Ontario
, Canada
. Encouraged by local Quakers, free blacks and escaped slaves fled persecution in the United States and found homes in the Otterville area beginning in 1829. It is located on the Otter Creek, in Norwich Township
with many historic features including Otterville Mill and Dam, Grand Trunk Station, African Methodist Episcopal
Cemetery and a park. Otterville African Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery served the local black community until the late 1880s. The cemetery is one of the few preserved black pioneer burial grounds in the province and dates from 1856.
slaves from the United States
. In 1982 during the 175th anniversary celebrations of the community, a plaque was placed at the cemetery to commemorate the historical black settlement.
Built in 1845 by Edward Bullock, the mill is run by water power supplied by a dam on the river. The South Norwich Historical Society, on a lease basis, maintains this historic site and offers tours on request. A beautiful setting in the center of the village, the mill and its surrounding meadow is the site of an annual barbecue.
G.T.R. Station Museum and Blacksmith Shop
The South Norwich Historical Society has restored this 1875 station to its condition as a 1881 Grand Trunk Railway
station. The waiting room and office are restored authentically, the baggage room is an interpretation room for displays of the area's history. Permanent displays feature railway construction of the 1880s with many artifacts of all periods. The Underground Railroad
and early Black settlement of the area is another highlight, as well as the story of early Quaker heritage in the area.
Otterville Park
Just north of the main corner, and through the stone gates, is 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) of parklands graced with beautiful tall pines, with a swimming pool, ball diamond, horseshoe pitch, tennis and basketball courts, and children's playground.
.
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...
. Encouraged by local Quakers, free blacks and escaped slaves fled persecution in the United States and found homes in the Otterville area beginning in 1829. It is located on the Otter Creek, in Norwich Township
Norwich, Ontario
The Township of Norwich is a municipality located in Oxford County in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Preferred pronunciation of the town name is 'NOR-witch' , different from the city of Norwich, England, though its origin is more likely Norwich in Upper New York State, the area from which the...
with many historic features including Otterville Mill and Dam, Grand Trunk Station, African Methodist Episcopal
African Methodist Episcopal Church
The African Methodist Episcopal Church, usually called the A.M.E. Church, is a predominantly African American Methodist denomination based in the United States. It was founded by the Rev. Richard Allen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1816 from several black Methodist congregations in the...
Cemetery and a park. Otterville African Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery served the local black community until the late 1880s. The cemetery is one of the few preserved black pioneer burial grounds in the province and dates from 1856.
Early black settlement
Otterville was settled in 1807. In the mid-19th century, the area was home to a settlement of freed African AmericanAfrican American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
slaves from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1982 during the 175th anniversary celebrations of the community, a plaque was placed at the cemetery to commemorate the historical black settlement.
Attractions
The Otterville MillBuilt in 1845 by Edward Bullock, the mill is run by water power supplied by a dam on the river. The South Norwich Historical Society, on a lease basis, maintains this historic site and offers tours on request. A beautiful setting in the center of the village, the mill and its surrounding meadow is the site of an annual barbecue.
G.T.R. Station Museum and Blacksmith Shop
The South Norwich Historical Society has restored this 1875 station to its condition as a 1881 Grand Trunk Railway
Grand Trunk Railway
The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
station. The waiting room and office are restored authentically, the baggage room is an interpretation room for displays of the area's history. Permanent displays feature railway construction of the 1880s with many artifacts of all periods. The Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
and early Black settlement of the area is another highlight, as well as the story of early Quaker heritage in the area.
Otterville Park
Just north of the main corner, and through the stone gates, is 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) of parklands graced with beautiful tall pines, with a swimming pool, ball diamond, horseshoe pitch, tennis and basketball courts, and children's playground.
Education
Otterville has one school, Otterville Public School, which is operated by the Thames Valley District School BoardThames Valley District School Board
The Thames Valley District School Board is a public school board in southwestern Ontario. It was created on January 1, 1998 by the amalgamation of the Elgin County Board of Education, The Board of Education for the City of London, Middlesex County Board of Education, and Oxford County Board of...
.
Notable residents
- Felix DoumaFelix DoumaFelix Douma was a Dutch-born Canadian scholar, writer, teacher, cellist, and translator who once served as Canada's Third Secretary and Vice-Consul to the Dominican Republic.-Biography:...
(scholar, writer, teacher, cellist, and translator) immigrated to Otterville at the age of 12. - Harold InnisHarold InnisHarold Adams Innis was a Canadian professor of political economy at the University of Toronto and the author of seminal works on media, communication theory and Canadian economic history. The affiliated Innis College at the University of Toronto is named for him...
(professor of economics, historian, and writer) was born and raised in Otterville. - Jana Cote (Stylist and Fashion Expert) Forced to move to Otterville at the age of 17