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what to explore, browse, see this summer BY JANICE QUIRT
Bolton Buzz A town marks the past and plans for its future This year Caledon’s largest village celebrates the bicentennial of the 1821 purchase by British immigrant George Bolton (1799–1868) of 200 acres on the Humber River as a key milestone in Bolton’s history.
A Bolton Treasure: The Story of the 1854 Prosser Map
OLLECTION IC A L S O C IE T Y, MC FA L L C ALBION BOLTON HIS TOR
Queen Street in Bolton, looking south, c.1900.
In 2013, a demolition crew discovered pieces of an 1854 map by T.C. Prosser, a local land surveyor. Believed to be the only copy in existence, the map helped the historical society confirm that 15 buildings in Bolton’s core were built prior to 1854. The 16th would have been the c.1836 vertical plank home where the map was found. It belonged to founder George Bolton’s nephew, Charles Bolton. Visit the map section of the historical society’s website to take a look.
Back to the future: Bolton’s plan to revitalize
The land had been acquired by the British Crown from the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation through the Ajetance Purchase (Treaty 19) in October 1818. (The land had also been occupied by other First Nations, including the Anishnaabeg, the Wendat and the Haudenosaunee, according to the Albion Bolton Historical Society.) In 1819, the area was surveyed by James Chewett, who was given 2,635 acres in the township as payment. On June 5, 1821, Chewett sold 200 of them to Bolton. By 1824 George and his brother, James Charles Bolton, had built the grist mill that sparked the next chapter in the village’s development. For the past two years, the Albion Bolton Historical Society has been working on an interpretive plaque to commemorate the bicentennial. Although Covid has upended plans for a public unveiling, stay tuned for one in the future. While you wait, consider the online walking tours on the society’s site, boltonhistory.com. One addition: In May, a heritage plaque honouring Ann and Samuel Sterne was installed on the south side of the Humber River near the Bolton Heritage kiosk. The Sternes were behind ongoing growth of the village, notably the 1839 opening of Sterne’s Inn, a two-storey, mudbrick building in 1839.
In March 2021, Caledon adopted the Bolton Downtown Revitalization Plan which covers initiatives such as traffic calming, convincing owners to sell or rent vacant storefronts, and boosting recreational activities. “Historic downtown Bolton has so much potential,” says area councillor Tony Rosa. “Through our public engagement process, the revitalization of this area will provide more opportunities for our existing dedicated small businesses and become a place for residents and visitors to shop, dine and gather.” The complete plan can be found online at caledon.ca/bdr. A related note: Check out the Bolton BIA’s magnificent flower displays along Queen Street this summer. And while you’re there, watch for new eateries opening soon: date-night shoe-in the Wine Spot and Portuguese churrasqueira Flame House Grill. M O R E O N PA G E 27
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