In honour of Ontario Heritage Week, InnisfilToday will be sharing a series of stories from the Innisfil Heritage Committee on the town's early villages and settlements
The early pioneers settled in Innisfil in communities located along Lake Simcoe, or the rutted path that eventually became known as the Penetang Road. Gimby’s Corners as Churchill was called in the 1820s attracted pioneers arriving via the lake and landing at Degrassi Point or travelling north from York (Toronto) and Holland Landing.
The early settlers first cleared a small patch of forest and planted wheat as soon as they could so they would have a crop. Prior to 1835 they carried their wheat to the Red Mill at Holland Landing to be ground into flour for the winter.
According to information contained in the Documentary History of Education for Upper Canada the first school in Innisfil was erected at Gimby’s Corners in 1837-38. The children and young people came to this school from a radius of 10 miles which in those days would include the north end of Bradford, Cookstown, Leonard’s Beach and a bit north of Painswick until 1847 when Cherry Creek School was built to the south, Tyrone was built to the north and other schools were built in the early settlements.
In the early years, those of the Church of England worshiped in the homes of the settlers. Missionaries sent from York (Toronto) between 1833 and 1842 travelled on foot to Barrie, Shanty Bay and eleven other surrounding townships. In Churchill, land was donated by George Duggan in 1846 and by 1848 a small frame and plaster church was built and paid for. The brick structure seen today, consecrated in 1886, was built east of the original structure.
The Presbyterians were served at Cherry Creek until 1871 or at the Sixth Line Church 1844-1879. Many of the families from the Sixth Line Church formed a new group in 1879 and worshiped at Wycliffe Hall (upper storey of the Waterloo Inn). In 1888 plans were made for a new church and the cornerstone was laid by Sir William Mulock that year. The Presbyterian Church at the top of the hill was opened in 1889 attracting many more people than could be accommodated for the service. Over 500 people purchased tickets for 25 cents and attended the “tea-meeting” the following Monday.
The nearest post office was located at Cherry Creek about 1 mile south of the village until Henry Sloane was appointed postmaster in Churchill. The Sloanes, first Henry then James and Edward, were postmasters from 1858 until 1954.
The main commercial area of the village was and remains along what was once called the Penetang Road and more recently Yonge Street and the intersection of the 4th line. The Sloan building located on the southwest corner was demolished some years ago however the Lucas store on the northwest corner remains a landmark to travellers along the highway. Just to the north of the Lucas Store and bricked at the same time is the former Waterloo Inn and Whycliff Hall which later became known as the Canning Apartments. Next going north is the former home of Wallace Sloan, blacksmith and the Harry Sloan residence, structures that to this day reflect the architecture of the mid to late 1800s.
On the east side of the road, the Sinclaire home continues to be part of an active farming operation. Just to the north is the Anglican manse and on the corner is the former home of Thomas Allen. Across the 4th line is the Halfway House or Churchill Inn which served travellers heading north/south between York and Penetanguishene or east/west to link the western villages of the Cookstown, Bethesda etc. with the Northern Railway in Lefroy and Belle Ewart. To the north was the Doctor’s House, in which Doctors Lund, Reeve, Little, Leader, Pickard, and McCallum resided over the years. These properties continue to contribute to the historic streetscape of the village.
The village was once a hub of commerce with carriage building and blacksmith business, a harness shop, dressmaking, shoemaking, photograph gallery and even pottery making. The two hotels offered not just rest and sustenance for travellers but provided meeting space which lead to the building of the churches, the organization of the Orange Lodge, and the Curling Club. The Township of Innisfil often held meetings at the Halfway House.
In the mid to late 1800s, a number of prominent families contributed to the development of the village, township and county such as Sloan, Allan, Paterson, Lucas, McLean, Matthers, Gregg, Canning, Todd, Reive, Clement, Boyes, Malcomson and Lennox to name a few.
The village was also home to one of the first 15 Curling Clubs in Ontario before 1900. The original game was played in 1878 on a flooded Hemlock Creek. The first rink was opened in 1880. Through the years Churchill curlers have distinguished themselves by bringing home many trophies and prizes.
The Women’s Institute was formed in 1903. While there have been many achievements, establishing running water in the Community Hall was certainly one of them. In addition, Mrs. Robert Boyes was well known throughout Simcoe County for her work establishing the Simcoe County Museum started in Barrie in 1930 and since moved to Midhurst.
The Loyal Order of Orangemen, a Protestant Fraternity Order was first organized in 1854 in Henry Sloan’s workshop with James Sloan as Master who gave the site on which the Orange Hall was built. In 1947 the Township of Innisfil purchased the Orange Hall for $500 for a Community Hall.
Many of the residents of Churchill have worked towards the betterment of the church and community. Eben Todd, warden of Simcoe County 1919; Gavin C. Allan 25 years in Innisfil Township first on Council and later Clerk; Robert Campbell President of Ontario Plowmen; Bette Tillman, Cherry Pie Queen of Canada 1957; and Misses Sylvia and Edith Kell and Mrs. Shirley (Kell) Constable girls’ vocal trio winners of Ontario Junior Farmers 1956 just to name a few.
Compiled by Deb Crawford – Innisfil Heritage Committee 2019
