View of Bronte Creek from "Woodlands", 1242 Bronte Road, ca1935
Description
- Media Type
- Image
- Item Type
- Photographs
- Description
- One of several photographs in the digital collection of the Trafalgar Township Historical Society taken by George S. Atkins, of the Bronte Creek valley below his house property at 1242 Bronte Road in about 1935.
As per the Town of Oakville Heritage Structure Report, the first property owner "James White is an historically notable figure in Trafalgar Township history...." He was a lumber merchant, sawmill owner, gentleman farmer, livestock breeder and winner of the first Queen's Plate - with Don Juan, a five year old bay, in 1860. The thoroughbred stable was called "Woodlands Orchards".
James' brother John was the Liberal Member of Parliament for Halton in the 1840's and his most notable achievement resulted in much bitterness between Bronte and Oakville because a Bill he introduced established Milton as the County Town for Halton, much to the unhappiness of the more southern areas. As a result, in 1854, George Chisholm defeated White.
The property originally was the southern valley portion of Lot 31, Concession II SDS Trafalgar.
The cave in which William Lyon Mackenzie is supposed to have hidden during his flight from Toronto to the border at Niagara after his unsuccessful rebellion in December 1837 is on the corner of the 1242 Bronte Road property. (This tale has no documented truth, although that didn't stop many people from visiting it over the years and from the tale being told.)
Somehow the Bronte White Oak escaped lumberman James White even though it was on his property on the east side of Bronte Road. Perhaps he admired the big old tree that started growth sometime in the 1730's. The property no longer extends to the tree but it was long under the care of the White and Atkins families. It is now Designated of Heritage and Cultural Value - link to the designation provided for your further information. - Notes
- This photograph and information about James White and Dr. George Stuart Atkins have been shared with the Trafalgar Township Historical Society by the Bronte Historical Society. The Bronte Historical Society has a wealth of information on the Bronte area of Halton County, Ontario. A link to their website is provided for your further information.
- Date Of Event
- 1935
- Subject(s)
- Personal Name(s)
- George Stuart Atkins ; James White ; John White
- Local identifier
- TTGSA000612
- Collection
- Trafalgar Township Historical Society
- Geographic Coverage
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Ontario, Canada
Latitude: 43.4108 Longitude: -79.74035
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- Copyright Statement
- Copyright status unknown. Responsibility for determining the copyright status and any use rests exclusively with the user.
- Recommended Citation
- View of Bronte Creek from "Woodlands", 1242 Bronte Road, ca1935
- Contact
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Trafalgar Township Historical Society Sponsor: Jeff Knoll, Local & Regional Councillor for Oakville Ward 5 – Town of Oakville/Regional Municipality of Halton
