A small community developed here following the erection of mills on the Credit River about 1828-29. These were later rebuilt by Daniel McMillan. In 1839, a post office, Erin, was established at "McMillan's Mills," and, within a year, village lots had been laid out. In 1851, with a population of 300, the thriving settlement contained several prosperous industries, including a distillery, a tannery and carding, oatmeal and grist-mills. Agricultural prosperity and abundant waterpower stimulated the community's growth as an important regional centre for milling and the manufacture of wood products, and, in 1879, a branch of the Credit Valley Railway was completed through Erin to Toronto. That year, by a Wellington County bylaw, Erin was incorporated as a village, with over 750 inhabitants.

Location

Near the Main Street bridge, opposite the cenotaph, Erin

Themes

• Communities
• Industry and trade