Glen Lawson was a small settlement between Limehouse and Acton. Located on the corner of Third Line and what is now Glen Lawson Road, little of it remains.

It was named after Graham Lawson, a Scotsman who arrived in Canada around 1832. Lawson saw the potential that Black Creek, which flows through the area, had for waterpower. He established a grist mill and later a shingle mill using its power.

Graham Lawson and family, n.d. MG9 A136, Esquesing Historical Society. Click on the image for more details.

Several other businesses operated in the hamlet. In the mid 1870s, George Tolton operated a grist mill until it was destroyed by fire in 1882. In 1894, H.T. Arnold opened a tannery operation before relocating to Georgetown in 1910. The few other businesses in the area also relocated or closed as time went on.

In 1946, Beardmore tannery’s dam broke, and the escaped water flooded Glen Lawson. By this time, few families remained in the area and after the flood, migration from Glen Lawson increased until a few homes remained. Remnants of the hamlet have continued to disappear over time, but it remains an important part of Halton Hills’ history.