LIMEHOUSE
"A haven from the world"

By Colin Gibson

A visit to Limehouse, located roughly midway between Acton and Georgetown in the Town of Halton Hills, brings back images of more tranquil times.

Sequestered amidst the woods, where Black Creek – a branch of the Credit River – winds its way through the Niagara Escarpment just off Hwy. 7. The village of approximately 1,500 makes us feel as if we are stepping back in time. Stone farmhouses nestle comfortably and amicably with more modern structures. And all blend together with the area’s rolling farmlands and surrounding forests to provide what fifth generation Limehouse resident, Ted Brown, characterizes as "A haven hidden away from the rest of the world."

Limehouse and indeed the area comprising most of Halton Hills can trace its "beginnings" – with a grudging nod of thanks – to 1776 and the historically recorded (at least in the United States) American War of Independence.

History records that over 100,000 naysayers voted with their feet and left, quite literally turning their backs on the 13 colonies that provided the cornerstones for the now United States of America.

Some returned to England, some fled to other British colonies, but the majority of the refugees made the trek north and were known as United Empire Loyalists.

British North America at the time however, was comprised mainly of the land ceded by the French to the British after Wolfe defeated Montcalm at the battle of the Plains of Abraham, just outside Quebec City.

The territory then referred to as Quebec (represented for the most part, what we accept today as the province of Quebec and parts of Ontario) was populated by the not too long ago defeated French.

The refugees from south of the border were somewhat reticent to settle on land in the obviously French majority domain – now British ruled country – where centuries long animosities simmered just below the surface of diplomatic civility. That and the increasing numbers of British migrants inspired the Brits to open the coffers of the Royal treasury and embark on a land-buying spree, involving various bands of native Canadians. The end result, essentially, was the creation of Upper and Lower Canada, the assuaging of both English and French fears of losing their heritage and ultimately the establishment of the provinces of Ontario and Quebec – the foundation for Canada.

In this sense, Halton Hills and Limehouse, played an integral part in our nation-building process.

The British government negotiated with an Ojibwa band of native Canadians (Mississauga) to purchase the land that in 1818 was designated the Township of Esquesing, of which Limehouse was a part.

The first acknowledged settler was Adam Stull who reportedly obtained a deed from the Crown for Lot 22, Concession 6 (200 acres) in 1820. Another important settler was John Meredith who secured Lot 23, Concession 6, in 1822.

The lovely area soon attracted more settlers and a community – in every sense of the word – was born. At that time the wee community we now know as Limehouse was named "Fountain Green" for its obvious compatibility with the area’s flora and fauna.

In 1832, Meredith sold two acres of his property to the Trustees of the Presbyterian congregation to allow for a cemetery and a church. The church was eventually built in 1861; a joint venture of Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Methodists which became known as the Limehouse Union Church.

The Methodist church in Limehouse closed in the 1930’s. But through the strong presence in the village of the Women’s Institute – evident to this day – the building was reopened just after World War II, and renamed the Limehouse Memorial Hall, in memory and honor of those who had fallen in battle for Canada in both World Wars.

In the 1840’s, Limestone’s quarry possibilities were recognized and a mini-boom was realized in the lime industry.

Two companies, Lindsay and Farquhar" and "Bescoby and Worthington" had built kilns and were "burning" huge amounts of limestone. Farqhuar also operated a freestone quarry.

Changes in ownership in the kilns and the quarrys over the years affected the workforce but boom times were expected when the Grand Trunk Railway built a trunk line through Limehouse in 1856.

Construction of the "Trunk" through the hard rock of the Limehouse area required a "temporary" settlement of 200 workers with their families be established in the village. After the railway construction, some left to seek their fortune elsewhere but others stayed making Limehouse their home.

During the railway construction a path had to be blasted through the lime. John Newton built a mill and used this lime, grinding it up, slaking it with water then mixing it with sand and cow hair, creating mortar. Lime was the community’s backbone.

John Newton was named the villages’ first postmaster in 1857, when the name was changed from Fountain Green to Limehouse.

Newton started a woolen mill, "The Empire Blanket Company" in 1852 and also operated a sawmill. A fireproof paint factory was built. Blue and red clays used in paint manufacturing came out of Limehouse. Paint was exported to the United States, Great Britain and Australia.

Local legend has it that the caves and hollows in the limestone-studded area were homes for rustlers, whiskey bootleggers, thieves and smugglers.

Limehouse was booming! Hotels, mills, stores with goods and a prosperous lime industry provided good times for all.

But how times would change!

A disastrous fire, originating in the woolen mill, raged through the village in 1893. Its ferocious flames laying waste to the mill, the paint factory and the local lumber mill – not to mention the 100 cords of lumber (of considerable value) belonging to the water lime mill.

The dazed villagers had barely begun to sift through the still smoldering embers and their dreams, when a second blow fell.

While the fire could be accepted as something of a natural phenomenon, the economy of the village suffered a near fatal thrust when it was learned that there was not sufficient insurance to cover the costs of rebuilding.

Yet residents persevered another blow!

Lime operations in the area ceased in 1917, but quarrying has continued even into the present, under the current ownership of Dufferin Aggregates.

Hope was renewed somewhat when in the same year, the Toronto Suburban Electric Railway (the Radial) opened a station on the 5th Line at the foot of Gibraltar Hill.

Misfortune still seemed to dog the village when after 14 years, in 1931, the company folded, the rail line closed down and what had offered residents direct access to Guelph in one direction and Toronto in the other, ceased to exist.

Remnants of "The Radial" still exist in the area.

Despite these calamities and drawbacks, an inner core of strength and belief in community and self has allowed Limehouse to survive.

While just a fledgling community, certain standards were recognized.

Around 1845, a log-constructed schoolhouse was erected, about a mile south. In 1862, this was replaced by a one-room stone building. An upper room was added in 1890, subsequently closed in 1890, and reopened in 1954. This original school, SS No. 9 Esquesing (fondly remembered as "Gibraltar School") closed in 1962 with the opening of the present Limehouse school in the centre of the community.

Ted Brown, aged 49, takes quiet pride and comfort in the role his family has played in ensuring this tiny community has survived through numerous turmoils.

Ted lives on the same property purchased by his great, great grandfather James in 1826. James Brown was a school board trustee, and also instrumental in the establishing of the first village school. His great grandfather John, and his Uncle Harry Brown, also served as school board trustees.

Despite the pull to gravitate towards and work in the city, Ted has resisted.

In his soft-spoken, often reticent way, Brown downplays his decision to remain in Limehouse, far from the often-madding crowd.

"I’ve always wanted to hold on to this property," he says, "because of its family and historical roots and its sense of tradition. To me, Limehouse is a haven, hidden away from the rest of the world."

In 1974, a portion of the Town of Oakville, the Township of Esquesing (including Limehouse), Norval, Georgetown and Acton – as well as numerous cluster hamlets – were amalgamated into the Town of Halton Hills and shortly after into Halton Region.

The year is now 2001, and guess what, Limehouse is still, well, Limehouse, a small village that has persevered through sometimes perilous times, but with its pride and historical sense intact. The flora and fauna still abound, the obvious ambiance with nature is still there, the residents are still as friendly and hardy as ever and the temptation to step into a time warp is almost overpowering.

See you there!