James McNab brought his family to the Norval area around 1820 and began to settle on the land. They raised sheep on the nearby hills, as well as built a mill on the Credit River. Like many early settlers, they named their new settlement after themselves, McNabville.

McNab, a United Empire Loyalist, was a Lieutenant in the York volunteers and had fought in the War of 1812. He was an important member of the early Norval community. He wrote to Lieutenant Governor Sir Francis Bond Head about building a railroad from Toronto to Esquesing in 1836. In his correspondence he describes the area as “the Rock Mountains of Esquesing, where lime-stones and fine stone of the very best quality, are in abundance.”

R. Watson’s Grocery Store in Norval, 1912. EHS11513, Esquesing Historical Society. Click on the image for more details.

In 1836, a post office was established, and the name was officially changed to Norval. There are varying reasons given for why this name was chosen. By 1846, the settlement had a population of around 200 people and had become a busy place. The first Wesleyan Methodist Church was built in 1853 on the same site as the present-day United Church. There were also blacksmith shops, a carriage shop, a harness maker, general store and two hotels at one time.

Hurricane Hazel destroyed McNab’s grist mill in 1954 and an important part of Norval’s history disappeared. The flour industry had been a pillar of Norval’s economy.

Bag from Norval Mills, c. 1920. EHS11537, Esquesing Historical Society. Click on the image for more details.

Other historic buildings remain in the village. Like Glen Williams, Norval also drew the attention of A.J. Casson, Group of Seven member, and is featured in his painting “Early Summer, Norval.”

Lucy Maud Montgomery

Norval has become well-known on an international scale thanks to its former resident, Lucy Maud Montgomery. The famous author of Anne of Green Gables, Montgomery moved to Norval with her husband, Reverend Ewen Macdonald, in 1926. He had taken a position at Norval Presbyterian Church.

While living in Norval, Montgomery was busy writing several novels. These included Emily’s Quest, Pat of Silver Brush, Magic for Marigold, and Mistress Pat. She also taught Sunday School at the church any played the piano on Sundays. She formed a drama club that performed plays in the village as well as Glen William's Town Hall.

Her journals captured Norval’s beauty and spirit. Montgomery wrote, “I love Norval as I have never loved any place save Cavendish. It is as if I had known it all my life.”

Montgomery and Reverend Macdonald remained in Norval until 1935. Due to failing health, the Reverend retired and they moved away.

To honour Montgomery’s time in Norval, the Norval Community Association opened the Children’s Garden of the Senses in 2015. There are also plans for the Presbyterian Manse, where Montgomery and her husband lived.

Lucy Maud Montgomery, a native of Prince Edward Island and the author of “Anne of Green Gables.” “L.M. Montgomery” is a trademark of Heirs of L.M. Montgomery Inc. Library and Archives Canada, C-011299. Click on the image for more details.