The Founding of Deseronto

Photo by Alan L Brown - May 21, 2004

Plaque Location

The County of Hastings
The Town of Deseronto
On the south side of Main Street (County Road 2) at the far west end of town

Plaque Text

Led by Deserontyon (Captain John), a group of Mohawks, supporters of the British during the American Revolution, in 1784 became this area's first settlers. Lands to the east of the Mohawks' reserve were patented by John Culbertson in 1837. He began selling village lots in his tract in 1840. Culbertson registered a survey for a village, "Deseronca", in 1850, although the settlement was called "Mill Point" 1850-81. After 1855 Hugo B. Rathbun acquired many village properties and built one of the province's earliest "company towns" here to house employees of his shipyard and sawmill. A county by-law of 1871 provided for the incorporation of Mill Point as a Village. It was renamed "Deseronto" in 1881, and became a Town in 1889.

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