Menu
Search results
7 plaques found that match your criteria
-
Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Whiteside Boyle, D.S.O. 1867-1923
A legendary adventurer known as "Klondike Joe", Boyle was born in Toronto and came to Woodstock with his family in 1872. He worked at various jobs before attaining great success as a prospector and entrepreneur in the Yukon. At the outbreak of the First World War, Boyle raised, financed and equipped a fifty-man machine gun contingent. Determined to help the war effort further, he headed an allied mission to Russia in 1917 to help reorganize... -
"Old Stage Road, The"
This road, which follows in part the Indian trail, known as the "Detroit Path", across East Oxford Township, was opened by settlers at the expense of Major Thomas Ingersoll in 1796-97. It joined a wagon road opened across Burford Township by local settlers, connecting near Brant's Ford on the Grand River with a road to Long Point from Ancaster. Extended later to Delaware, it became the preferred highway to Sandwich and was used by British... -
Captain Andrew Drew, R.N. 1792-1878
This house was built by Capt. Drew, who came here in 1832 as agent for Admiral Henry Vansittart, founder of Woodstock. Purchasing land now included in the eastern section of the city, Drew divided it into town lots and formed the nucleus of this community. During the Rebellion of 1837-38, he led the Canadian force that destroyed the American steamer "Caroline," which was supplying William Lyon Mackenzie's supporters on Navy Island. This action almost precipitated... -
St. Paul's Church 1834
This church was completed in 1834 shortly after the founding of the community. It was financed through the efforts of Admiral Henry Vansittart and constructed under the direction of his agent, Captain Andrew Drew, R.N. The Admiral also pledged maintenance of its first incumbent, the Rev. William Bettridge, who served the congregation 1834-79. During the Rebellion of 1837, the building became a temporary jail for prisoners captured by local militia. St. Paul's was consecrated in 1838 by Bishop G.J. Mountain. The chancel was added to the original structure in 1843 and the transepts in 1851. -
Reverend Newton Wolverton 1846-1932, The
Born in Oxford County, Wolverton taught mathematics at Woodstock College (Canadian Literary Institute) from 1877-1891, being principal from 1881-1886. Here he set up the first manual training department in Canada. He also established a meteorological observatory and was a recognized authority in that field. He was ordained a Baptist minister in 1877. At the age of 15 he had seen military service in the American Civil War, and served as an officer with the 22nd... -
Thomas "Carbide" Willson 1860-1915
This house was built in 1895 by Thomas Leopold Willson, an electrical engineer who discovered the first commercial process for the production of calcium carbide, a chemical compound used in the manufacture of acetylene gas. He was born at Princeton, Ontario, and educated in Hamilton, where he performed his early experiments. The discovery which earned him his nickname was made at Spray, North Carolina in 1892. In 1896 he established a carbide works at Merritton... -
Woodstock College 1857-1926
Here stood the Canadian Literary Institute, which was incorporated in 1857, opened in 1860 and renamed Woodstock College in 1883. Sponsored by the Baptist Church, its establishment was largely the result of the efforts of its first principal (1860-78), the Rev. R.A. Fyfe. It was a co-educational institution providing training in theology and arts and at one time was expected to attain full university status. In 1881, its faculty of theology was transferred to Toronto...