nnntttt LIBRARY HISTORICAL DESCRIPTION OF BELLEVILLE BRIEF Sketch of the early settlement of Belleville may possibly be of interest to her numerous friends and admirers and could not be better placed than as a preface to this handsome Souvenir. The Township of Thurlow was surveyed by Louis Kotte in 1787, and during the following and succeeding years many refugee United Empire Loyalists began talcing up land granted them by the Government. Among the earliest arrivals were Capt. Singleton and Lieut. Ferguson of the Royal Reg't of New York, who secured Lots 5 and 6. Lot No. 4, intended for an Indian burying ground, was diverted from this purpose, and was, by instruction from the Legislature of Upper Canada, in 1816, surveyed by Mr. WiEmot and laid out in town lots. The place in its earliest days of settlement was known as Singleton's River, it afterwards became known as Meyer's Creek, named after Capt. Walden Meyers, who erected the first mill on the river and has the distinction of having erected the first brick house in the Province of Upper Canada. Shortly after the survey in 1816, a meeting of prominent residents was held in Mrs. Margaret Simpson's Inn, and it was decided to re-name the village and call It Belleville. About the same time, the river that flows through the centre of the town was named the Moira, in honor of the Marquis of Hastings, who also bore the titles of Earl of Moira and Lord Rawdon. The County of Hastings and Township of Rawdon derive their names from the same source. The Marquis was a distinguished British officer and held an important command during the American Revolution. The titles became extinct at his death. Belleville became an independent municipality in 1836, was incorporated a town in 1850 and created a City in 1878. Belleville is an rdeal residential town. Situated at the mouth of the river just named, and on the shores of the Bay of Quinte, it occupies one of the finest sites in the Province. It has handsome residences and beautiful lawns. Its streets are well made and lined with rows of Maple and other shade trees, and in summer, when dressed in all its variegated foliage, it is without doubt the most charming spot in Canada. Belleville churches are handsome structures and its educational facilities are most advantageous. Here are located the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, maintained by the Ontario Government; Albert College, under the supervision of the Methodist Church ; St Agnes Ladies School, in connection with the Church of England ; the Ontario Business College ; The Belleville Business College and the High and Public Schools, controlled by the Board of Education. For the tourist, Belleville offers excellent opportunities for sight seeing. It has good and reasonable hotel accomodation. Steamboats touch daily at all ports on the Bay of Quinte, one of the most beautiful and picturesque sheets of water on the Continent, and whose shores are replete with historic incident. The angler will find excellent sport in the waters of the Bay, which contains several varieties of game fish, including Black Bass and Maskinonge, which latur have been known to the weight of fifty-one pounds. Visitors should not fail to take a trip on its waters and view its natural beauties and points of interest, among which may be mentioned the magnificent home erected through the efforts of Dr. Oronhyatekha for the orphan children of deceased members of the Independent Order of Foresters. The famed and mysterious Lake-on-the-Mountain at Glenora is another spot that will charm and excite wonder in all who first view it. Owing to the density of the foliage on many of the residential streets which forms one of the most notable beauties of "Beautiful Belleville," it has been found almost impossible to get satisfactory photographs of some of the buildings which it was desired to picture in these pages and accounts for what may appear a trifle imperfect in some which are included. A c Bird's Eye View of Belleville from Bridge Street Church Tower