By 1833, there were only two houses. A general store opened in 1835. It was named Danville Grocery after the clerk who worked there and soon the settlement was going by the Danville name. In 1836, Ezra built a mill by damming up the creek that flowed through the settlement. Mill Pond, which later became known as Fairy Lake, was created. With the addition of the mill, the settlement was renamed Adamsville.
Development continued with the first tannery in the area opening sometime around 1832. The 1840s saw a new tannery opened around 1842, built by Abraham Nelles, and a post office opening in 1844. Since another Adamsville was already in existence, the growing hamlet was renamed one final time to Acton.
The Grand Trunk Railway was built through Acton in 1856, bringing another surge of business and traffic. In 1865, George L. Beardmore bought Abraham Nelles’ tannery and established Beardmore Tannery. The tannery would become the largest tanner of leather in Canada and hire up to 600 employees. Goods would be exported all over the world, including the United Kingdom, Italy, South Africa, Brazil and Australia. Beardmore helped put Acton on the map as Leathertown.
In 1868, William Heslop Storey opened the Storey Glove Factory. It became another one of Acton’s biggest businesses. The factory could always be spotted from the Grand Trunk Railway when Storey built a 100-foot-long sign on the roof. It was the first electric sign in Acton and would reflect on the surface of Henderson's pond.
When Acton was incorporated as a village in 1874, around 750 people lived there. The Acton Free Press began publishing the local newspaper a year later.
Growth and development continued at the start of the new century. In 1917, the Toronto Suburban Railway began rolling through town until 1931. Other leather tanneries began operating during this time, though Beardmore remained the largest.
The 1950s became known as Acton’s Decade of Development. The Acton Free Press reported there had been a 38% increase in population. Acton was also incorporated as a town in 1950 with Amos Mason as its first mayor.
The Beardmore Tannery closed its doors in 1986. But the Hide House opened in the 1980s, continuing the leather legacy. It brought many visitors to the town with its famous slogan, “It’s worth the drive to Acton.”
Acton has gone through many changes but remains tied to its heritage. The Acton Citizens’ Band, formed in 1872, continues to this day. The Leathertown name is still honoured during the annual Leathertown Festival in the summer. Meanwhile, the Acton Fall Fair, dating back to 1913, will be celebrating its 111th year in 2024. Citizens have also continued to protect important landmarks, such as their efforts to save the old Town Hall.
The important history of the community will always be remembered even as it progresses and grows.
The Adams’ Family Legacy
The Adams family made a name for themselves both in and outside of Acton.
Ransom Adams was known to be a “monied man” who acted as the local banker. It is said he was always too busy making money to have time to get married.
Mary Electra Adams, daughter of Rufus and Maria, became an important figure in women’s education.
Two of Ezra’s sons found success in dentistry. William Case Adams was one of the first dentists in Ontario and invented many practices still in use today. John Gennings Adams became a philanthropic dentist in Toronto.
