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Sherratt Archaeological & Heritage Services, Acton, ON (2026)

09/17/2026

Digging in the dirt often results in some interesting finds, but digging into the fragments of historical records can equally produce surprising results. One of those fragments is the Township Papers. The Township papers include records of activities related to the local government – often disputes.

A few years ago I was researching a property near Woodstock, Ontario. The Township papers included correspondence between a landowner and the colonial government. The landowner had built his house prior to the formal survey and claimed that he had accidentally built his house on the wrong lot. He was petitioning the colonial government for the deed to the lot he had accidentally constructed his home on. The colonial government denied the request and as a result, a small archaeological site divided between two lots occupied only briefly was left on the landscape.

Several years later I found another record of a shanty on the wrong lot in Kincardine Township, Bruce County. However, this time it was attributed to a squatter who had purposefully cleared a small area and built a shanty. Several squatters were recorded on the 1851 Bridgland Map of Kincardine Township. The local Indigenous communities has complained about these encroachments to little effect.

The Township papers include a letter that records the dispute over Lots 67-70, Concession A to a very different result between would be settlers:

Kincardine October 10, 1851

My Dear Sir
The bearer & his father have been searching
the bush for some days & cannot find a single
Lot either here or in Bruce without these sham
Claims. They have 3 farms in Glengarry
& are going home to sell out & come here
should they get conceive[illegible] to the Lake
They have chosen Lots 67, 68, 69 & 70 Con A
or Lake Shore Kincardine & they have [illegible]
& [illegible] are geting [sic] statement of particulars
from[illegible] as to the nature of claims to [illegible]
state that one John McRae Lot No. 32 Con A has
taken[illegible] up with many more by putting [sic} his
marks on the posts, he afterwards [illegible] losing some
of these got a few trees cut down at the posts
& whether he has got down his marks for these or
not you will be [illegible]
are heavy He has got an acre choped [sic]
& a sham shanty built on. I think Lot No. 62 or
63 same con moreover. An Irishman living on Lot
No. 2 latter at Bruce has made a sham claim
on one of these Lots No. 70. He is anxious
to sell this [illegible] a lot of other sham &clear
out. He came to me the other day asking me
to send a [illegible] I sent the bearer’s
father but he asked $30 but his work is fully
paid by $3. However, he threatens vengeance should
any interfere without paying him what he asks
I heard him myself saying that he would shoot
any person who would interfere with a Lot he
should take up [illegible] perhaps it would work
better should you enclose these few dollars
to him with a word of caution & the [illegible]
more is willing to pay [illegible]
hands down as I [illegible] in writing
these [illegible] I [illegible] you shall use them a wise
man & a friend. I have[illegible] know to be yours
most respectfully,
A NcNabb Esq. William Fraser

It is unclear who the bearer of this letter was. There is a mention that the bearer and his father had three farms in Glengarry. Donald McLellan was enumerated in Glengarry in 1851, which suggests it may have been the McLellan family, but that cannot be confirmed. The letter records that John McRae (Lot 32, Con A) had marked the posts for the lots and cut down a few trees near the posts to secure a claim. It also records that “An Irishman” who was living on Lot 2 in the Township of Bruce, identified in other documents as Hugh McManemy, was also making a claim to the lots and threatening to shoot anyone who interfered with the lot. His price for the lots was $30 for the improvements he had made which the Lands Agent Alex McNabb valued at $3.

The Township history places John McLellan on the lot in 1854. Donald McLellan there in 1855 (KTHS 1990: 375). No records were found for Lot 68 from the time of this letter in 1851 to 1867 when John McLellan and Norman McClennan were listed in the Rooklidge Directory as being on the lot. The agricultural portion of the 1851 Census for Bruce County shows that Hugh and William McManemy were present on Lots 2 and 3, Concession B, Bruce Township at this time. There is no one listed as occupying Lot 68 recorded in the section for Kincardine Township.

The Township papers record that Hugh and William McManemy are involved in a bitter dispute with the Crown Lands Agent over the sale of Lots 69 and 70 to Norman McLellan in 1851. As a result, Mr. McLellan retained the lots, but was required to pay Hugh McManemy $9 in compensation for the improvements that had been made. Mr. McLellan then sells the lots to William Frederick Watkins in 1856 – who is issued the crown patent. How the dispute for Lots 67 and 68 was resolved is not recorded, but these disputes were often resolved in a similar manner.

The township papers, supplemented by other records, are invaluable for understanding the flavour of settlement life in Upper Canada.

09/14/2026

We are often asked how archaeologists find archaeological sites. It can often mean reading the landscape. There are many factors that can influence where an archaeological site is found. Proximity to water has emerged as one of the most common for Indigenous archaeological sites in Ontario. This factor is the first one on the checklist produced by the Ontario government.

Some archaeological sites are more easily found through historical research and remnant landscape features. The vegetation can be an indicator of the presence of an archaeological site. Early settler homesteads are often present where lilac brushes. Lilacs are not native to Ontario and were brought by settlers to their new home.

Others are found using small clues like pine stumps. In the 1990s archaeologists in the Niagara Escarpment region noticed the presence of large pine stumps on top of stone fences near known Indigenous village locations. Abandoned village sites and cornfields had regrown into stands of pine within a primarily beech/birch/maple forest.

When the first settlers arrived, they cut down the trees, and pulled out the stumps. The stumps were placed on top of the stone piled along the edges of the field. More than 200 years later, the stumps of most types of trees have long ago rotted away, but the pine are still present where the settlers placed them. Although, they have been become a populate garden ornament and have been taken from many fences that line roadway.

Visible pine stump fences were mapped and resulted in the discovery of several unknown villages throughout the area. In other areas of the province, regionally specific factors like pine stumps have also been found to relate to the location of archaeological sites.

Scientific modelling is the primary means of finding archaeological sites, but sometimes a drive along a country road looking of the 19th century landscapes can reveal the Indigenous history as well.

09/07/2026

Fall is the perfect time to explore the trails and at most you can see remnant 19th century landscapes. Those who have walked the G2G trail near Goderich have experienced this with the railway, salt industry, Gairbraid and its cemetery and the path that was the original location of Highway 21.

The now closed Lobb trail was perfect for a fall afternoon hike with beautiful scenic rest stops along the Maitland River and some heritage interpretation plaques. The plaques told the story of the Holmesville Pottery and the trail travelled over the ruins of a pottery kiln and through a homestead area. The Lobb trail was unique as it was also one of the few large scale archaeological excavations completed in Huron County. https://pubdocs.huroncounty.ca/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=1263976&dbid=0&repo=CoH&searchid=bf0467cc-dd64-4421-9b79-178a5fcaaa94&cr=1

The fine clay of the Maitland River well suited for the production of pottery and the Holmesville pottery produced jugs, crocks, bowls, flowerpots, candleholders and drain tiles in glaze colours of yellow, pink and green. Historical records show that the business was in operation from 1859 to 1892.

The research on the Holmesville Pottery documented local production of pottery by David Burns for more than thirty years. Burns was also a farmer. Like many of us today, producing pottery it would seem was a “side hustle.” Very few pieces of pottery made in the Holmesville Pottery remain today and it is very likely that if not for a letter sent to the Royal Ontario Museum in 1974 by a local resident, little would be known about this local business.

Although you can no longer visit the site, to read more about the Holmesville Pottery, you can read “The Holmesville Pottery, Holmesville, Ontario 1859-1892” by David Newlands, or the short article in a 1979 edition of Rotunda, the Royal Ontario Museum Newsletter on Archive.org https://archive.org/details/rotundav12no1rom/page/32/mode/2up

07/28/2026

Have you ever looked across the Maitland River and wondering about the pile of stones on the other side? It is a reminder of the early years of salt production located just across the river from the current mine. It is also a reminder that often failure proceeds success.

The north side of the Maitland River marked the southern boundary of Colborne Township. Within months of Treaty 29 being signed, a 509 acre parcel of land was purchased by Baron de Tuyll, who would also purchase the townsite for the Village of Bayfield on the southern bank of the Bayfield River. Baron de Tuyll constructed a log home on the property. The property, locally known as The Ridge or Ridgewood Park included the river flats

In 1873 the family of John Galt V sold Ridgewood Park property on the north side of the mouth of the Maitland River to businessman Henry Yarwood Attrill. The Attrill family built a two and half story addition to the existing cottage. The existing cottage was a single storey rough cast on log structure built by Baron de Tuyll in the 1830’s

While primarily a summer residence for the Attrill family, the property was also an active farm. There was also a boarding house on the flats for his workers. In 1876, Henry Attrill also attempted to the first mine salt on the property. The venture was defeated by flooding of the shaft that could not be overcome. That pile of rock is the remnant of that effort.

If you enjoy stories and want to know more about the history of north bank of the Maitland - consider going to the Goderich Branch of the Huron County Library and asking for Keith Holman's "A History of The Ridge" .

07/27/2026

Took the time to take the road less travelled - mostly to avoid construction in Seaforth. I encourage others to take a moment to check out this monument to a rapidly disappearing type of bridge that was once prominent on Ontario's backroads

07/12/2026

Last year the Town of Goderich Municipal and Marine Heritage Committee added a sign recognizing the connection between Mennesetung River and Indigenous peoples. This is a great initiative in bringing to light the Indigenous history of the area.

The 1827 map on the right of the sign is an important one showing the presence of Indigenous peoples. The sign highlights the note that there are some patches of corn on one island. But there is another detail in the map of equal importance - the presence of Manoomin (wild rice). Manoomin is considered a sacred gift from the Creator to the Anishinabek people. The Manoomin beds are considered the Great Spirit's Gardens and a source of medicine and food for the Anishinabek.

The image on the left of the sign is an early water colour depicts “Wigwams of Potawatami [Indigenous People] on the beach near Goderich”. This water colour is significant as it captures a scene of one of the most significant migrations of Indigenous people in the mid-19th century. The United States, under the Munroe Doctrine, were forcing Indigenous people west of the Mississippi.

Some Potawatomi from Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin instead moved east into Upper Canada during this period. They had been receiving presents from the British for their service during the War of 1812. In 1837, Francis Bond Head proclaimed at Manitoulin that “visiting Indians” would no longer receive presents. They were giving the option to emigrate and would continue to receive goods annually. This policy took effect in 1842 . The Potawatomi were giving the option to settle on Manitoulin, Wapole and at Coldwater, but many opted to join with other communities including those at Sarnia, Saugeen and Cape Croker.

The Potawatomi were sometimes called the “Wandering Indigenous People”. This often brought them into conflict with settlers including in the Menesetung Valley. In 1838, S.P. Jarvis lamented “ depredations on the whites in the vicinity of Goderich on the part of some transient Potawatomies under the pretense of hunting”. The Potawatomi involved were from a village established on the Saugeen. A census from the 1860s at Saugeen First Nation listed Potawatomi families as being originally from Goderich.

Indigenous people continued to visit the Mennesetung River until around 1900. The last known photo (lower left) was first published in 1898 captioned "Indians camping on the Flats below Mr. Williams Residence". If you want to read more about this photo - check out this article on my LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-picture-worth-more-than-1000-words-jim-sherratt-t2k0c/?trackingId=u1SvqFduQrpUWPWQamRWrw%3D%3D

07/07/2026

The 19th century landscape of Ontario was dotted with small crossroad settlements many of which have long disappeared. The memory of these communities are known only through the local histories. In the case of Fannsville (also Fawnsville and Fansville) not even the local history recorded its presence. The County of Huron has been erecting commemorative signs throughout the County to mark where these communities have been. Currently, Fannsville is not one of those communities and is marked only by the sideroad and the small Wesleyan Methodist cemetery that share its name.

Based on the scarce historical records, the name Fannsville appears to have been a derivative of the original surname of Fawns after early owners Robert Fawns and John Fawns in the late 1850s and early 1860s. However, it appears that John Fawns owned the sawmill on Lot 20, Concession 5 only briefly and leased lands from the Canada Company in lots to the north for timber harvesting. Around the Fawn’s sawmill a small community began to blossom, but this was only short lived.

Archaeological assessments can reveal much more about these communities. On the surface, fragments of ceramics, glass and metal hint at the presence of the remnants of homes, saw mills, blacksmith shops and other businesses. Under the surface, foundations, wells, and privies can shed light on the lives of the community members. Archaeological assessments for infrastructure improvements are gradually shedding light on these communities.

07/04/2026

Have you ever wondered why there are no cemeteries in Goderich?

In the 1850s in response to epidemics, Upper Canada passed legislation that prohibited the establishment of new cemeteries within town limits. New cemeteries were to be located 1 mile outside the town limits.

Prior to the restriction, there were cemeteries in Goderich. Early maps/documents show cemeteries behind the current St. Peter’s Catholic Church, the original St. George’s Anglican Church and the Canada Company Burying Ground.

When these early cemeteries were closed, the marked graves were moved to the new cemeteries: Colborne, St. Peter's and Maitland cemeteries. However, not all of the graves were moved. Some graves were not marked. Others had markers made of wood that had rotted and no longer visible, some were unmarked.

The Canada Company Burying Ground is now Victoria Park (Judith Gooderham Pool and Playground, at the corner of Nelson and Victoria Streets. In a 1969 Signal Star article, Gavin Green reported that approximately 500 graves were in the cemetery. Many of the graves were moved to Maitland Cemetery.

During the construction of the pools, graves were encountered. Wilfred “Frenchy” Greenwood recounted a story about the installation of the water line to the wading pool. Frenchy was working for Hoffmeyer’s and digging the trench for the water line when a skull fell out of the wall of the trench startling him. Graves located during the construction of the pool were quietly moved to Maitland Cemetery.

Quite often there is a misconception that all the graves were moved, but often this is not the case. In Victoria Park, a later archaeological assessment for a proposed Tourist Information Centre documented nine grave shafts. The project was abandoned. No graves were observed during the creation of the splash pad.

Huron County Historical Society Parks and Recreation Town of Goderich Parks Dept

07/03/2026

What does heritage have to do with ongoing construction at the intersection of Bayfield Road and Suncoast Drive, Goderich?

This property was once part of a 10 acre property owned by my grandfather. Before that? It was planned to be subdivided as part of the Salt Co. Plan. But that plan was never realised and as part of the Veteran’s Land Act was sold to my grandfather for his service in the Royal Canadian Airforce as a Chief Engineer at No. 12 Flying School at Sky Harbour Airport.

My grandparents, Jim and Leona Sherratt, sold off the parcel In 1964. They sold a large parcel of land to Gerald and Mary Vecsi for a restaurant. The Vecsi’s owned the Pizza Patio and Dairy Dip in Grand Bend. The Vecsi’s also owned several cottages for vacationers to rent near downtown Grand Bend. They decided to expand to Goderich and purchased the southeast part of the property including frontage along Bayfield Road where they built the Goderich location of the Pizza Patio. The Goderich location was run in the summer by the Vecsi’s daughter and son-in-law who were teachers while he ran the original store in Grand Bend. During the winter months, the Vecsi’s lived in the building.

In 1972, Gerald and Mary Vecsi sold the business to Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Burgmueller and it became the Candlelight Tavern. Only two years later the business and property were sold to Gus Balkouras. Gus would continue to own the Candlelight until it closed in March 2020.

Vecsi’s Pizza Patio, later the Candlelight, was an important part of the community from school graduation celebrations to Mother’s Day dinners. The building itself is now gone, but it has preserved in the photos, memories and stories.

07/01/2026

Just an old shed? Even some of this simplest things can have an importance you don't realize. You might look at the picture of this shed and see only an old garage with a few trees adjacent to a modest 19th century house. However that garage is part of a much larger story Goderich during World War II in the years that followed.

The shed was originally part of the guard house That sat at the entrance to No. 12 flying school located at Sky Harbour airport north of town. No. 12 Flying School was one of many across the country training pilots for service overseas. After World War II buildings like the guardhouse were no longer needed at the airport and recycled into other uses. The other half of the guard house was made into a cottage along the lake shore west of the airport. All that remains to give you an indication of what the building was is the cedar shake siding once army green in colour.
Those who have driven by the airport are we're of a little jog in the road around a home. But that home of the airport manager was originally the gun range. The one wall of the gun range was preserved as part of the house with the rest of this structure built on the east side.

Little pieces of what is a larger story about No. 12 Flying School. But that is not the only heritage feature in this photo. To the left of the shed is the only remaining apple tree from a vast orchard that covered the 10 acre property surrounding the modest residence. The large spruce trees are what remains of those that lined the lane way out towards Bennett St. through what is now St. Mary's school. This property also has connections to the Veteran's Land Act program, Ontario's Tree Seed Program, St. Peter's Parish and the growth of Goderich. And while they may not individually met the Regulation 9/06 criteria for cultural heritage value or interest, they are worth documenting before they are removed.

Sherratt Archaeological & Heritage Services

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