A brief history of Huntsville Ontario
Origins & Settlement
ORIGINAL PEOPLE
The original people of this land were the Anishinaabe, or in the English language, Ojibway, also known as Chippewa. Traditionally they were Algonquin speaking people with advanced social, governance, trade and family structures. Because settlement of Huntsville occurred relatively recently in human social history, there are many well documented narrative accounts of the generosity of First People toward the newcomers, helping them to learn the waterways; the flora; the fauna; and coexisting in their new and sometimes harsh environment. Especially important were deer, berries, and maple syrup to the early settlers for sustenance. These are still abundant.
FIRST EUROPEAN SETTLER
George Hunt, a European settler and a captain in the British militia, came to the area of Huntsville in May 1869, to choose his piece of the free land grant. He registered a piece of land and started developing it on what is now the northwest corner of present-day Huntsville main street. He was superintendent of the road, opened the first store and in 1870, a post office was built and the area was named Huntsville after Hunt, who became the first postmaster. Huntsville’s economic development was stimulated by the engineering of a navigable water route north from Port Sydney to Huntsville which opened in 1877. Residents lobbied for rail service to their community, and their efforts were rewarded when a railway route from Gravenhurst was built by the Northern and Pacific Junction Railway in 1885/86, which encouraged further development and resulted in Huntsville becoming officially incorporated as a village in 1886.A timeline of Huntsville
Key Dates in Huntsville History
- Ancestral territory of Anishinaabe
- Namesake settler Captain George Hunt arrived, 1869
- The locks on Brunel Road constructed,1877
- Rail arrived, Village of Huntsville incorporated, 1886
- Huntsville incorporated as a Town, 1901
- Huntsville town Hall built in 1926
- Huntsville incorporated into the District of Muskoka, 1971
- The Huntsville and Algonquin Park areas inspired quintessential Canadian icons of art such as Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven. Continuing to inspire today.
- Present day, major tourist destination and the largest town in Muskoka
A wonderful history of Huntsville can be viewed and learned about from Muskoka Heritage Place. A visit to their pioneer village is recommended. Additional historical resources, such as pictures, can be found at Vita Collections.
Where to stay in Huntsville
There are a variety of places to choose from in and around Huntsville, all year long. You can choose to stay right in downtown Huntsville, stay near a beach, stay on a waterfront property, next to a ski resort, hotels, motels, vacation rentals, etc. It really depends on your preference and of course budget.Â
Have a look at our post: Where to Stay in Huntsville
