Oakville's Street Names Pay Tribute to Founding Settlers
You don’t have to look farther than a sign on a corner to find a bit of Oakville history. Founder William Chisholm named many of Oakville’s streets after prominent citizens. Some were named after family members, some were business colleagues or members of government, and some were early settlers of the Town.
Here are just a few examples:
- Dundas: Named after Henry Dundas, the secretary of state for the colonies.
- Dunn: The Honorable John Henry Dunn was receiver general of Upper Canada in the 1820s. He was also president of the board of directors of the Welland Canal, of which William Chisholm was a member.
- Forsyth: For James Bell Forsyth, a partner in the firm of Forsyth, Richardson and Company.
- Kerr: Named after Robert W. Kerr, the deputy provincial surveyor who drew up the official map of Oakville.
- Randall: Jacob Randall worked with William Chisholm in establishing the Oakville Harbour. A shipyard owner, he lived on the street, which bears his name.
- Rebecca: Named after Rebecca Silverthorn, wife of William Chisholm.
- Thomas: Merrick Thomas was the general manager of William Chisholm’s shipyard and line of sailing ships. In 1827 he married Esther Silverthorn, who was Chisholm’s sister-in-law.
Source: Oakville: A Small Town 1900-1930, Frances Robin Ahern, published in 1981 by the Oakville Historical Society
|
