Sunderland, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Sunderland is a community located approximately 100 km northeast of Toronto, Ontario
in Brock Township
, in the Regional Municipality of Durham
, Ontario
, Canada
.
branch, a post office, Magna Pools, and a branch of the Royal Canadian Legion
. There is also Katie's Coffee house, a small town coffee shop, as well as the Brock Stop Restaurant located just north of the town on Hwy 7/12.
The local post office services locals with lock boxes and five rural routes.
. (Sir Isaac Brock's Estate was given 1400 acres (5.7 km²) of free land in the vicinity). Sunderland slowly grew around the Brock Hotel - a popular overnight stop for travelers that was owned by Lorenzo Jones. The first post office was called Brock and was run by Andrew Hill; it was located just north at the modern junction of Highway 12 and 7th Concession.
Sunderland was originally called Jones Corners, as both Arch and Lorenzo Jones owned property in what became the downtown core. They produced a town plan and it was renamed Sunderland by 1871 when the Toronto - Lindsay Line of the Toronto and Nipissing Railway
was built. The town's population grew rapidly during this time. (Vroomanton, a larger village to the west was bypassed by the railway, and its population subsequently dropped).
Sunderland's name is thought to come from Charles Spencer
, the Third Earl of Sunderland in England. He was the Secretary of State, and he helped move Palatine
German families to London and then to Ireland in the early 18th century with Queen Anne
's aid. Many of the men in these families had ancestors who fought for Britain in the American War of Independence in 1776 and in the War of 1812
in the New World, and so, in 1818, after the wars, for their efforts, they were granted free land in what was to become Brock Township, Ontario. These early Palatine
settlers included surnames like: Shier, Baker, Switzer, Lowe, St. John, Lodwick, Brethour and Doble.
Hurricane Hazel
struck Sunderland in 1954, and another storm in 1957 destroyed the skating arena and tore out many trees.
Although the railway ceased operations through Sunderland in the 1980s, the town has remained vibrant, due in no small part to its close proximity to Toronto
, Lindsay
, and Newmarket
.
is Brock High School
, located west of Cannington
.
Sunderland is home to one of the greatest minor league hockey players of all time, 99 Larks. He was a pure skater with nature goal scoring abilities. Opponents feared him and goalies had nightmares about him.
There are about 30 homes on the extreme south-west corner of Brock Township with (rural route) Sunderland mailing addresses and a 905 North American area code.
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....
in Brock Township
Brock, Ontario
Brock is a township in the Regional Municipality of Durham, Ontario, Canada. Brock Township is also a former municipality and geographic township prior to the amalgamation that formed the current municipality.-History:...
, in the Regional Municipality of Durham
Regional Municipality of Durham, Ontario
The Regional Municipality of Durham, informally referred to as Durham Region, is a regional municipality located in Southern Ontario east of Toronto, Ontario. It has an area of approximately 2,500 square kilometres. Durham Region is considered part of the Greater Toronto Area, with the communities...
, 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...
.
Business and Commerce
Sunderland has a thriving community of small businesses that focus primarily on the needs of surrounding rural families. These businesses include the Co-Op, Pindar Fuels, Ross Doble Farm Equipment, and Pilgrim's Home Hardware. Downtown Sunderland also has a number of restaurants, an original art gallery (The Magic Door Art Gallery), a museum (Sunderland & District Historical Society), CIBCCanadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce is one of Canada's chartered banks, fifth largest by deposits. The bank is headquartered at Commerce Court in Toronto, Ontario. CIBC's Institution Number is 010, and its SWIFT code is CIBCCATT....
branch, a post office, Magna Pools, and a branch of the Royal Canadian Legion
Royal Canadian Legion
The Royal Canadian Legion is a non-profit Canadian ex-service organization founded in 1925, with more than 400,000 members worldwide. Membership includes people who have served as current and former military, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, provincial and municipal police, direct relatives of...
. There is also Katie's Coffee house, a small town coffee shop, as well as the Brock Stop Restaurant located just north of the town on Hwy 7/12.
The local post office services locals with lock boxes and five rural routes.
History
The land that the Town of Sunderland was built on was granted in the early 1820s to United Empire LoyalistsUnited Empire Loyalists
The name United Empire Loyalists is an honorific given after the fact to those American Loyalists who resettled in British North America and other British Colonies as an act of fealty to King George III after the British defeat in the American Revolutionary War and prior to the Treaty of Paris...
. (Sir Isaac Brock's Estate was given 1400 acres (5.7 km²) of free land in the vicinity). Sunderland slowly grew around the Brock Hotel - a popular overnight stop for travelers that was owned by Lorenzo Jones. The first post office was called Brock and was run by Andrew Hill; it was located just north at the modern junction of Highway 12 and 7th Concession.
Sunderland was originally called Jones Corners, as both Arch and Lorenzo Jones owned property in what became the downtown core. They produced a town plan and it was renamed Sunderland by 1871 when the Toronto - Lindsay Line of the Toronto and Nipissing Railway
Toronto and Nipissing Railway
The Toronto and Nipissing Railway was chartered in 1868 to build a narrow gauge railway in Ontario, Canada from Toronto to Lake Nipissing, via York, Ontario, and Victoria Counties. It opened in 1871, with service between Scarborough and Uxbridge. By December 1872 it was extended to Coboconk...
was built. The town's population grew rapidly during this time. (Vroomanton, a larger village to the west was bypassed by the railway, and its population subsequently dropped).
Sunderland's name is thought to come from Charles Spencer
Charles Spencer
Charles J. Spencer, Jr. is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
, the Third Earl of Sunderland in England. He was the Secretary of State, and he helped move Palatine
Palatine
A palatine or palatinus is a high-level official attached to imperial or royal courts in Europe since Roman times...
German families to London and then to Ireland in the early 18th century with Queen Anne
Queen Anne
"Queen Anne" generally refers to Anne, Queen of Great Britain , Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1702, and of Great Britain from 1707.Queen Anne may also refer to:-Uses relating to Queen Anne of Great Britain:...
's aid. Many of the men in these families had ancestors who fought for Britain in the American War of Independence in 1776 and in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
in the New World, and so, in 1818, after the wars, for their efforts, they were granted free land in what was to become Brock Township, Ontario. These early Palatine
Palatine
A palatine or palatinus is a high-level official attached to imperial or royal courts in Europe since Roman times...
settlers included surnames like: Shier, Baker, Switzer, Lowe, St. John, Lodwick, Brethour and Doble.
Hurricane Hazel
Hurricane Hazel
Hurricane Hazel was the deadliest and costliest hurricane of the 1954 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm killed as many as 1,000 people in Haiti before striking the United States near the border between North and South Carolina, as a Category 4 hurricane...
struck Sunderland in 1954, and another storm in 1957 destroyed the skating arena and tore out many trees.
Although the railway ceased operations through Sunderland in the 1980s, the town has remained vibrant, due in no small part to its close proximity to 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...
, Lindsay
Lindsay, Ontario
Lindsay is a community of 19,361 people on the Scugog River in the Kawartha Lakes region of south-eastern Ontario, Canada. It is approximately west of Peterborough...
, and Newmarket
Newmarket, Ontario
Newmarket is a town in Southern Ontario located approximately 50 km north of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area and is connected to Toronto by freeway, and is served by three interchanges along Highway 404. It is also connected to Highway 400 via Highway 9...
.
Geography
The region around Sunderland is rolling farmland, with dense first-growth deciduous forests and rich agricultural soil.Education
Sunderland has one public school, Sunderland Public School, which celebrated its 50-year anniversary on 20 October 2007. The nearest high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
is Brock High School
Brock High School
Brock High School is a public high school located in Cannington, Ontario. It falls within the Durham District School Board, and serves families in Brock Township. The school has students in grades 9 through 12 and offers a wide range of academic and extracurricular activities.-History:The school...
, located west of Cannington
Cannington, Ontario
Cannington is a community located in Brock Township, Durham Region, Ontario, Canada.-History:Originally part of the original Brock Township, Cannington was first settled in 1833. It was originally known as McCaskill's Mills after a local mill-owning family...
.
Sports
Sunderland is home of the Sunderland Minor Hockey Association.Sunderland is home to one of the greatest minor league hockey players of all time, 99 Larks. He was a pure skater with nature goal scoring abilities. Opponents feared him and goalies had nightmares about him.
Events
Sunderland hosts the annual Maple Syrup Festival at the beginning of April each year. The town also hosts the annual Sunderland Agricultural Fall Fair in September of each year. This fair has been held annually since the 1850s. As well, Sunderland hosts Orange Parades with the Orange Order, usually during the month of July.Service Clubs
Sunderland has been home to a local Lions Club since 1955. As of 2011 the club has approximately 60 members which puts it amongst the largest in its Lions International District known as A-16. The club runs various fundraisers throughout the year such as a Car Draw and Beach Volleyball tournament as well as annually hosting a Blue Rodeo concert. All profits from these events are put back into service projects and used for the purpose of community betterment. One of the club's largest service projects is the annual Sunderland Lions Music Festival which is held over 3 weeks, beginning in Mid-February.Nearby communities
- BeavertonBeaverton, OntarioBeaverton is a community in Brock Township in the Regional Municipality of Durham, Ontario, Canada.Originally part of Thorah Township in Ontario County, Beaverton was first settled in 1822. The settlement is located on Lake Simcoe at the mouth of the Beaver River...
, north - Oakwood, east
- Pefferlaw, northwest
- Vroomanton, west
- Port PerryPort Perry, OntarioPort Perry is a community located in Scugog Township, Durham Region, Ontario, Canada. The town is located east of Uxbridge and southwest of Peterborough. Many residents commute to Toronto on a daily basis. Port Perry's municipal website reported a population of just over 9,500 in 2010.Port Perry...
, southeast - UxbridgeUxbridge, OntarioUxbridge is a township in south-central Ontario, Canada, in the Regional Municipality of Durham, in the Greater Toronto Area.The main centre in the township is the namesake community of Uxbridge...
, southwest - CanningtonCannington, OntarioCannington is a community located in Brock Township, Durham Region, Ontario, Canada.-History:Originally part of the original Brock Township, Cannington was first settled in 1833. It was originally known as McCaskill's Mills after a local mill-owning family...
, northeast
Other information
- Area code: +(00)1-705Area code 705Area codes 705 and 249 are telephone area codes that covers most of northeastern and central Ontario in Canada. 705 was initially created in 1957 by the North American Numbering Plan from portions of the area covered by area codes 613 and 519...
- Postal code: L0C 1H0
There are about 30 homes on the extreme south-west corner of Brock Township with (rural route) Sunderland mailing addresses and a 905 North American area code.
External links
- Sunderland
- Sunderland at Geographical Names of Canada