The Founding of Hastings
Text from the plaque
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.
Transcribed from the marker, not summarised.
Find the place
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
N 44 18.481 W 77 57.597
Recorded July 2005. Check current access before visiting.
More information
Where it stands
