Prince Edward County

Glenora is the western dock for the ferry from Adolphustown. About 100 feet above is the unusual Lake on the Mountain with a parkette, washrooms, and a look-out over the adjacent Adolphustown.

The ferry runs every 30 minutes in winter and every 15 minutes in summer. Duration is 10 minutes. All vehicles are accepted. Passage is free at time of publication. This ferry has been powered by man, horse, wind and steam since the first settlers. There are public washrooms at both ferry docks.

Water flowing from the lake above provided power for several grain mills and later for other manufacturing.

The complex at Glenora includes mill buildings dating to the early 1800’s. The first was Van Alstine's stone grist mill, built in 1806, followed by a carding and fulling factory for finishing cloth, and a plaster mill. Later these buildings were joined by a factory that produced water turbines, and is now an Ontario Fishery Research building. The newer building at the dock houses the ferry staff services.

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Just up the road from the west dock is the former Stage and Ferry Hotel, ca. 1815. It is the earliest hotel in Prince Edward County for which there is a record, and was constructed to provide accommodation for farmers coming to Stone Mills (Glenora) to have their crops ground into flour. The picturesque red barns next door were built to house stables and a dairy for the hotel.

Peter Van Alstine, an early settler from New York State, is one of the region's most influential historical figures. He settled in Adolphustown after leading a large group of Loyalists to the area, and was elected as the region's representative in the first legislature of Upper Canada in 1792.

Van Alstine successfully petitioned the government to establish a gristmill at what is now known as Glenora in 1806. The mill, which was constructed with local limestone, was joined by other mills in the following years, giving the settlement its first name: "Stone Mills". The mill stayed in the Van Alstine family until the late 1830's, and Hugh Macdonald, the father of our first Prime Minister, was the miller there from 1829-1836.

The mill operated until the early 20th century, but eventually fell into disuse, though thankfully the building has remained.

Lake on the Mountain is a natural wonder. It sits 60 metres above the Bay of Quinte, and with a constant flow of clean, fresh water with no apparent source, it is definitely a curiosity. 

The lake and surrounding area was designated a provincial park in 1957, and the day-use area provides views of the Bay, the Glenora Ferry and the north shore.

It is a great spot to stop for a picnic and a photo when you are exploring Prince Edward County.

Picton is the major town on the Parkway and is the municipal centre of Prince Edward County. It has all necessities as well as a thriving main street shopping area with a strong heritage character, and a remarkable stock of heritage buildings.

Initially two separate villages, Picton was established as a single town in 1837. The name was suggested by Reverend William Macaulay, a prominent local rector and landowner.

Picton hosts numerous arts and cuisine related events and festivals throughout the year, many at the historic Crystal Palace venue.

You can find a number of heritage walking tours of Picton here: http://prince-edward-county.com/item/heritage-walking-tours-picton/

Macaulay Heritage Park is an attractive historic site featuring many points of interest: Macaulay House, built in 1830 and restored to the mid-1850s; the historic former Church of St. Mary Magdalene, now a museum; the old St. Mary Magdalene Parish Cemetery; Heritage Gardens and the Carriage House. Together they comprise beautiful parkland for visitors to enjoy.

The site is associated with Reverend William Macaulay, the son of a Loyalist settler, who was a prominent local rector and landowner. Macaulay established the first Anglican parish in Picton and was the rector at the former Church of St. Mary Magdalene for over 50 years. He lived in Macaulay House until his death in 1874.

The historic former Church of St. Mary Magdalene, now a museum on the grounds of Macauley Heritage Park.

In 1823 the Parish of Hallowell, later called the Parish of Picton, was established when Bishop Mountain, the Anglican Bishop of Quebec appointed the Rev. William Macaulay as its first minister. Soon after the first church was built at the corner of Union and Church street. Macaulay served for 47 years. The church, rectory and curate’s house were all built on Macaulay’s property at his own expense. Source: https://stmmpicton.ca/about-our-history/

An Act of the legislature of Upper Canada in 1831 named Prince Edward County a separate judicial district. Land for a court-house in Picton was given by the Rev. William Macaulay and construction began late in 1832.

The Courthouse has been in continuous use since the mid-1830's, and was the site of Picton's infamous double hanging, which took place in 1884 after two local men were convicted of the murder of Peter Lazier based on very dubious evidence. Tours of the jail cells and gallows are offered in July and August through The County Museums.

Built as a private residence in 1864, the Ross McMullen House later served as the home of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 78 for over 6 decades. The building is a historical mansion that has been restored for private events, celebrations and community gatherings and is now known as Culinary Arts Prince Edward (CAPE).

On Main Street North you will find the Crystal Palace (1887), and The Grandstand in the Fair Grounds. The Crystal Palace is probably the last remaining example of many inspired by Sir Joseph Paxton’s original in London, England. It has been extensively restored, is now used for weddings, festivals, exhibitions and Picton's Fall Fair (established in 1836), which takes place in early September.

A feature on Picton Main Street is the Regent Theatre. It is one of the few intact Edwardian opera houses, and has one of the only remaining vaudeville fly towers. It was opened by George Cook after extensive renovations in 1922, and operated by the Cook family until 1994. The Regent Theatre Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, has run it since, and continues to bring live music, theatre and cinema to the community.

Built in 1866, the hall has significant heritage value in the local community and is a designated landmark under the Ontario Heritage Act. The second floor of the Picton Town Hall hosts many community meetings, events, dances, fundraisers, clubs, etc.

The Stevenson Block was built for David Barker Stevenson, a recent arrival from Poughkeepsie, NY, in 1835. It originally housed commercial businesses on the main floor and his family's lodgings above. It underwent its most significant overhaul in the early 20th century when new owners Hogg and Lytle added a four-story seed warehouse to the back of the property. It later became a Master Feeds store and now houses offices, restaurants and apartments.

Built in the late 1830's, this home, a fine example of "Loyalist Neo-Classical" architecture, was purchased by the Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1841, and became the first Quaker school in the province. Known as the West Lake Boarding School, the brick building housed classes for girls, while boys attended classes in a frame building next store that no longer exists. The Quakers sold the property in 1869 and it became a private residence, which it remains to this day.

West of Picton, The Waring House, at the intersection of Sandy Hook Road (County Road 1) and the Parkway is an Inn and a fine example of our early stone houses. It was constructed around 1862, and owned by members of the Waring family until 1968. It now offers a restaurant, bar, convention center, cooking school and accommodation, and features many photos and artifacts related to early settler life in Prince Edward County.

Cooper’s Mill, (now a pallet factory) in operation by one family for over 150 years

Bloomfield was a prominent Quaker town boasting several Meeting Houses (now demolished) and two Quaker cemeteries - the Hicksite Cemetery in the west, and the Quaker Burying Ground in the east. 

The best-preserved small town on the Parkway, Bloomfield has become a destination for relaxed shopping, dining, and accommodation in heritage homes. Many artists live and work here. Active farms still front on the main street! Annual festivals, breakfasts and dinners are a unique feature of Bloomfield civic pride.

Main Street is unique in that most of the fine houses were built by one man, William Henry Degroffe, between 1850 and 1880.

Tourist information and public washrooms are available at the Town Hall.

Located just off of Main Street, the old Quaker cemetery is notable for its century-old towering white pine trees and attractive setting on the Mill Pond.

This building, dating to at least 1841, was formerly known as Corey's Hotel. It was originally owned by Thomas Corey, who ran it until his death in 1858, and it continued to operate as a hotel into the 20th century. Now it is home to retail businesses and the County's own Slickers Ice Cream!

West of Bloomfield is the Hicksite Friends Cemetery. The Hicksites were a branch of Quakerism created following a schism in the church in the 1820's. Later there was a further split in Prince Edward County as a more progressive group separated from the Hicksites. This led to use of separate meeting houses and separate cemeteries.

Wellington, one of three major towns in Prince Edward County, has had a sheltered harbour since very early days. Trade coming through Wellington was big business, and made many people wealthy including local merchant Archibald McFaul. He built Tara Hall overlooking the harbour c. 1839.

The village boasts many historic properties along its Main Street, including a row of beautiful Queen Anne-style houses and the Daniel Reynolds House, which is considered by many to be the oldest home still standing in the County.

Wellington is well known for its Canada Day parade, and its Pumpkinfest festivities, which take place the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Tara Hall was built for merchant and postmaster Archibald McFaul between 1837 and 1839. McFaul named the house "Tara Hall" after the ancient Irish legend of Tara's Banquet Hall at the Hill of Tara. 

The Hall is a well-preserved example of Regency-era Georgian architecture in the United Empire Loyalist style, unique to the region. It is listed on the register of historic buildings of Prince Edward County and has been described as “an outstanding achievement in its day”. Only five years after it was built, McFaul sold the house to the Catholic Church who likely used it as a boarding school. However, for the majority of its life it has been a private residence, which it remains to this day.

Daniel Reynolds’ stone house is said to be the earliest surviving home in the County, and while that cannot be proven, it is certainly the earliest example of a stone house in the area constructed no later than the early years of the 19th century. 

Daniel Reynolds' life is shrouded in mystery, and no one is sure if he fought during the American Revolution (possibly on the side of the Americans), or was a fur trader and trapper. He was purportedly one of the earliest settlers in this part of the County, and worked cooperatively with the local Indigenous people. 

The home has been carefully restored and is still a private residence.

The mandate of the Prince Edward County Archives is to collect and preserve printed material having any bearing on the history of Prince Edward County. They provide access to the collection which includes digital files, micro film reels and physical archival documents, in addition to providing research services.

The Archives, which is located inside the local branch of the Prince Edward County Library, sits on the site of a former resort hotel known as "The Alexandra", which was built in 1880 and burned down in 1917. It extended all the way from Main Street down to the lake.

Wellington Heritage Museum is located in the heart of the village of Wellington. It was built in 1885 as a Quaker Meeting House and now features exhibits on local history.

Highlights include a tribute to the Quakers or “Society of Friends” who played a notable role in the County’s early development. In addition, the Douglas A. Crawford Collection conveys the importance of the canning industry in Prince Edward County. There were over 75 different canning factories operating here between 1882 and 1996.

Rosehall, previously known as Hampsteadville, was a small milling community and housed a mill as early as 1829. It never grew larger than 100 residents, and only contained at most a general store and blacksmith shop in terms of amenities.

South of Rosehall is Huyck’s Point, named for Andrew Huyck who was a descendent of Jan Huyghens, private secretary to the first Governor of New Amsterdam. Nicholson’s Island to the west was named “Isle du Kente” on early French maps.

West of Wellington on the shore of Lake Ontario is Vintage Shores and a rest turn-out with a sweeping view of Lake Ontario and the sand dunes to the east.

The village of Hillier was established before 1835, and already had two mills and a post office by that time. It was more popularly known as Pleasant Valley, and hosted the usual array of tradesmen and services. The prosperity of the village only increased with the construction of the Prince Edward Railway in the 1870's, and this added incentive for the construction of a canning factory nearby. 

The stone Hillier Town Hall faces the Loyalist Parkway at Station Road. Just opposite the Hall, on the corner lot, is an early home, mill and blacksmith shop in which Sir John A. Macdonald once held a financial interest.

Built in 1867, Hillier Hall is the second oldest town hall in Prince Edward County. It was built during the year of Canada’s Confederation, and has been a central municipal facility in Hillier for over 140 years. Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. MacDonald, was a frequent visitor of the building during his time in office.

Hillier Hall remains a community hub for the Hillier area. It is a common meeting place for the Hillier Women’s Institute and Recreation Committee, amongst others.

Consecon began to take shape as early as the late 1790's, when William Marsh, U.E., native of Vermont, petitioned to the Crown for the patent to the site of the Village. Marsh had been granted the land for his loyalty, and after returning to the United States, his acreage passed to his son Matthias. Matthias Marsh fathered 24 children, and they contributed greatly to the growth of the village, including the eldest, Archibald Marsh, who built the first gristmill in 1808. The mill precipitated the village's early growth, but its location on the water and the success of the local fishery ensured that village was sustained.

Look in the Town Park for a plaque marking the Sulpician Kente Mission. The mission, located within a Cayuga settlement, was established by Sulpician priests from France in 1668 and operated until 1680 when it was abandoned.

Viewed from the road is Weller’s Bay, named for Asa Weller, purportedly the first settler to arrive in this part of the County. He settled at Carrying Place, ran a successful portaging business, and homes built by his descendants still stand.

The village of Ameliasburg (within Ameliasburgh Ward) was originally called Roblin's Mills, after the prominent structure built by Owen Roblin in 1842. It was renamed to avoid confusion with mills owned by other Roblins in Sophiasburgh. 

The success of the mill contributed to the growth of the village, as hotels and other service businesses sprung up in the area around Roblin's Mill. However, after the mill closed in 1920, the surrounding businesses began to close. The mill, in danger of being demolished, was relocated to Black Creek Pioneer Village in the 1960's, where it still resides today. 

Highlights in the modern village include Ameliasburgh Heritage Village, one of the County Museums that highlights rural life during the Edwardian period, Roblin Lake Park, and Seventh Town Historical Society, housed in the Marilyn Adams Genealogical Research Centre.