Ontario's Historical Plaques

Here's where you can learn a little Ontario history.

The Ontario Vaccine Farm

Photo by David Brown - June 10, 2004

Plaque Location

The County of Wellington
The Town of Minto
In Palmerston, on the SW corner of Main Street and Queen Street, at the east end of town

Plaque Text

Established in 1885 by Dr. Alexander Stewart, a local physician, the Ontario Vaccine Farm was the first institution to produce smallpox vaccine in Ontario. The Farm originally consisted of a converted barn where Stewart employed government-approved methods for obtaining and processing vaccine from inoculated calves. During an era of recurrent smallpox outbreaks in Ontario, large quantities were sold to local health boards for preventive vaccination. By 1907, although American farms were supplying most of the vaccine used in Ontario, Stewart had constructed new buildings, including a combined operating-room and laboratory. After Stewart's death in 1911 the operation was continued by Dr. H.B. Coleman until 1916, when it was taken over and transferred to the Antitoxin Laboratory of the University of Toronto.

Here's More
Information

---

Here are the comments for this page.

(none yet)

Write a comment for this page.
(Note: If you wish to ask me a question, please use the email link in the menu.)

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours (usually much sooner).