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| RESEARCH |
Mississauga’s “Lost Villages” An Introduction to Mississauga’s “Lost Villages” Outside of the larger former villages of Clarkson, Erindale, Meadowvale, Port Credit and Streetsville, there is little visible evidence that Toronto Township (modern Mississauga) was made up of a series of smaller villages and hamlets. Historical character and context is almost lost amidst the small plazas, modern apartment buildings and vast suburban development – only small bits of Mississauga’s pioneer roots still show through, giving a partial glimpse into our past. In essence, the story of Mississauga’s “Lost Villages” is one of constant and relentless change. But given the nature of this change it is perhaps surprising that so much of our past does survive, although not always in the places or ways we might expect it. This project is a type of introduction or synopsis of some of the important events and people in an effort to help illustrate how each village was established, grew and faded. The research and stories of the villages focus primarily on the time period of initial settlement (circa 1800) to 1920, when the villages began to fade and rural post offices had, for the most part, ceased to operate. We are gratefully indebted to those who aided in compiling this information. It is our hope that these series of reports will provide a starting point for further in depth research that will invite people to share their information, stories and especially pictures, to help commemorate and remember these villages from our past.
The “lost villages” reached their peak between 1850 and 1900. By 1915, they had declined and gradually faded into obscurity. These hamlets and villages included Barberton, Britannia, Burnhamthorpe, Derry West, Elmbank, Frogmore, Hanlan, Harris’ Corners, Hawkins’ Corners, Lisgar, Lorne Park, Mount Charles, Palestine, Pucky’s Huddle, Sheridan and Summerville. Historically Churchville, Fraser’s Corners, Richview and Whaley’s Corners were part of Toronto Township, but their modern locations lie outside of the boundaries of Mississauga. Many of these villages have only left behind cemeteries, a few structures, or sometimes nothing at all.
We have reclaimed stories for some of these lost villages. |
Historically
Toronto Township, modern Mississauga, was made up of numerous hamlets
and villages, many of which no longer have name recognition. The small
hamlets and villages started to grow around a tavern, post office, church
or place of business. They gradually developed into trade and industrial
centers for the surrounding settlers and small communities began to develop.
Mill-sites and harbours attracted a greater concentration of people and
most of these larger pioneer communities – Clarkson, Erindale, Meadowvale,
Malton, Port Credit and Streetsville – remain integral parts of
our city today. However, many of the smaller hamlets and villages were
dependent, in one form or another, on local road traffic and the services
provided by the larger villages. 
The
coming of the railways in the late 1800s isolated many of the smaller
communities and exposed these small hamlets and villages to competition
from larger centers of industry and population. The railways also began
a general exodus from rural centers to the developing urban cities, and
this was combined with the arrival automobile and the improvement of roads
and communication. These influences meant that many of the smaller crossroads
communities lost their importance and most began a decline from which
they would never recover. 
After
1900, Lakeview and Lorne Park Estates began to develop as summer resorts
and cottages. These have also faded from everyday name recognition, but
remain more visible aspects of our modern city. More recently, the villages
of Cooksville and Dixie have begun to disappear, retaining only small
visible remnants of the pioneer communities.