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ABOUT BURFORD
View of
Burford Post Office Photo by C.
Barker, 2010 The following was written by Clayton Barker and published in the
"Towns of Brant" in the Cobblestone program guide, 2008 No
matter what time of year it is, it is always a great time to go for a drive
exploring the nooks and crannies of Southern Ontario. Out in the countryside,
there is so much to learn about each place and every community has its very
own unique blend of historical events, places and people that have played a
part in its evolution. For instance, while driving west of the City of Brantford
along old 53 highway (formerly the “Burford Road”) now known as Colborne
Street, you will come to the community of Burford, which is one of few
communities in Ontario that can boast of being over 220 years old. In fact, Burford is one of the oldest
centres of habitation in the interior of South-western Ontario and the oldest
Euro-American settled community within the County of Brant. Burford’s history
dates back to the year 1793 when it was founded by Abraham Dayton, a farmer
and miller of New Milford, Connecticut. Dayton ventured into the wilds of
Upper Canada with his son-in-law, Benajah Mallory, in search for a tract of
land to become the home and “New Jerusalem” for a religious sect that they
had belonged to, known as the “Universal Friend”. Dayton & Mallory followed the ancient trail to the western
boundary of the Haldimand Grant (Six Nations of the Grand River) to the
present-day site of Burford. Though Governor John Graves Simcoe (first
Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada) had granted Dayton the portion of land
comprising of the entire geographic Township of Burford, on behalf of the
religious sect, Abraham and his family abandoned the “Universal Friend” and
settled here in Burford themselves. The road through Burford itself is also
as ‘old as the hills’ dating to pre-1640 as a major inland trail used by
natives and French Missionaries. Later in the 1600’s, after the forts were
established at Niagara and Detroit, it became known as the “Detroit trail”
and played an important part emerging in the 1680’s as a major military route
for the French, who occupied what’s now Ontario. This path, of course, was
used to avoid the British who patrolled Lake Erie. Throughout the 1700’s, it
was used extensively by the British and in the winter of 1793, Governor John
Graves Simcoe travelled this route on an expedition to Detroit with Six
nations Chief Joseph Brant. Burford is located in the heart of rural
Ontario with a population of about 2000. Some of the annual events that take
place here are: a giant community yard sale and flea market (September) and
the Burford fall fair (Thanksgiving weekend). Burford is home to Home
Hardware’s Beauti-tone paint factory, manufactured here
in Burford since 1979 and the Grand River Conservation Authority’s Burford Tree Nursery, since 1984,
which is the home
to the Chestnut Recovery Program (a program to replenish the American
chestnut tree). While
out visiting Burford, whether browsing the shops along King Street or
attending an event put on by the many clubs, groups, and volunteer
organizations, you will, no doubt, experience the friendly neighbourly-like
hospitality that Burford is renowned for. |
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