The Founding of Hastings

Photo by Alan L Brown - July, 2005

Plaque Location

The County of Northumberland
The Municipality of Trent Hills
In Hastings, on the south side of Front Street West between Hope Street and New Street

Plaque Text

By 1825 James Crooks, a prominent entrepreneur and land speculator of West Flamborough, had acquired over 400 ha here at the rapids on the Trent River. He soon erected a small grist-mill but made no further improvements until the government began the canalization of the Trent waterway in 1837 and constructed a lock and dam at "Crooks Rapids". Crooks erected a new grist-mill and a sawmill and in 1839 surveyed a village plot. Few lots were sold and in 1851 the whole property was acquired by Henry Fowlds, a lumberman from Asphodel Township. Fowlds expanded the mills, began a steamship service and established several textile industries. Within 10 years the community, renamed Hastings, contained about 700 inhabitants. Hastings was incorporated as a village in 1874.

Related Ontario plaque page
Trent-Severn Waterway

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More
Settlements

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