Ontario Plaques
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Grand Bend Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted September, 2004 · Photo from Google Street View ©2015 Google - Posted February, 2015

Grand Bend

1830

Text from the plaque

Grand Bend derived its name from a hairpin turn in the Ausable (Aux Sables) River a short distance inland from Lake Huron where sand dunes blocked the river's outlet to the lake. Frequent flooding hampered farming in the region; never-the-less, a small milling community developed at the "Grand Bend" in the 1830's. In response to a local petition, the township cut a new riverbed directly to the lake along an old portage route in 1892. This improved drainage in surrounding farmland and provided access to the Lake Huron fishery. In subsequent years, the sand dunes attracted summer vacationers to Grand Bend and made the village a popular summer resort.

Transcribed from the marker, not summarised.

Find the place

The County of Lambton
The Municipality of Lambton Shores
In Grand Bend, at the intersection of
River Road and Alberta Street
2 blocks west of Ontario Street South (Highway 21)

N 43 18.705 W 81 45.660

Recorded September 2004. Check current access before visiting.

Where it stands

Map showing where the Grand Bend plaque stands