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THE MYSTIQUE OF MILTON By Donna Danielli It's difficult to find any one element that defines Milton and sets it apart from other towns. Milton's Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sandy Martin invites visitors "to discover why Milton boasts that the destination ... is the beginning in a location that makes us the envy of communities in the Greater Toronto Area."
Milton's come a long way since Jasper and Sarah Martin built the grist mill on Sixteen Mile Creek around which the community was based in 1821. This mill was quickly followed by a mill pond, a saw mill, an ashery and a small store as Jasper's business expanded. The community of approximately sixty people was known as "Martin's Mills" throughout Trafalgar. The community weathered the early demises of Jasper and Sarah Martin and grew to a population of over 100 people in 1837, when a meeting was called for the purpose of renaming the town. Jasper's four sons, John, Joseph, Edward and William, who had carried on with their father's enterprises, suggested Milton, after their partiality to the poet John Milton. Thus Martin's Mills became Milton, with a post office established in George Brown's general store.
The mid 1850's brought a period of change and new growth to Milton. On June 14, 1853, an Act of Parliament split the united counties of Halton and Wentworth, leading to the necessity of choosing one of Halton's villages for the seat of government. This seat and resulting county buildings were constructed in Milton in 1855 on land previously owned by Hugh Foster. Hugh Foster gave the county four acres as a free grant and made additional acres available at a cost of 50 pounds per acre. Having the county court building and gaol located in Milton impacted strongly on it's growth and strength of it's economy. New businesses were plentiful and Martin's Grist Mill, after being gutted by fire and rebuilt, continued to be a high employing business. Industry flourished in Milton. In 1855, "Joseph Brothers Foundry" manufactured threshing machines, combines, reapers, and mowers. A market was found all over Canada for their patented "Milton Threshing Machine".
Milton continued to grow and to prosper, with the railway coming to town in 1879, a piped water system in 1887 and the introduction of hydro-electric power in the early 1900's. (The latter came about thanks mostly to men like W. Dick who contributed the necessary funds.) An ideal site for industrial location, Milton drew the attention of P.L. Robertson, whose "Robertson Screw Factory", built in 1909, still stands. Mr Robertson's patented "sockethead screw" created such a demand that by 1930 almost 20 % of the total working force in Milton was employed at the Robertson Plants. The 1950's brought another industrial and economic rebirth to Milton, largely as a result of the construction of Highway 401 and the ease with which large industries could base themselves in Milton.
For Mayor Gordon Krantz, Milton offers much of what anyone could look for in a hometown. He cites the recreational facilities, outstanding education opportunities (including a proposed Sheridan College campus), high tech industries, along with an environment that includes fresh air, fresh water and a moderate climate as some of the aspects that set Milton apart. "We really do have the best of both worlds here," Mayor Krantz explains. "We have the rural lifestyle while being on the edge of urban Toronto." Lifelong resident Donna Coulter couldn't agree more. "It's the best place to live," the 1998 Citizen of the Year says. "There are all sorts of good things to look forward to each year...the Corn Fest, Steam Era, Fall Fair and Farmer's Market. Everyday you see the friends that you've made over the years. In one way, that will change as more people move here, but those people will find out they love Milton because of the people in it and the open hearts they have. It's the people who make the town and Milton will always be a friendly town." With it's proposed development and population growth, Milton is once again poised on the edge of change and adapting once more. Growth is no stranger here, in this town that has never stopped evolving and drawing people since 1821. It's strong foundation of friendly faces, historical preservation and a willingness to adapt make Milton uniquely equipped to face whatever the future holds. |
Milton can best be described as a
"successful blend of both old and new, of town and country, of families and
businesses". It's population of 33,000 enjoys this distinct community that
offers small town living with a metropolitan flair. Residents take pride in the
parklands, conservation areas and recreational facilities where they ski and
snowboard in the winter, and swim, sail, and hike in the summer. As "a
place where friends gather", Milton's vision is to be the best of town and
country in Ontario.
Milton grew quickly with the
population rising to over 300 people by the year 1851. The economic structure
began to shift from grist milling to saw milling as the market for wood in the
boat industry overseas rose. Milton's rich agricultural area led to economically
successful farms and a growing number of cattle raising farms.
Officially selected as the county
seat in 1857, Milton also received it's official status as an incorporated town
that year. 1865 saw the completion of the Town Hall, a building which has been
preserved and updated and is still in use today.
Today, Milton is a thriving and
unique town. It's population of 33,000 is expected to grow to 80,000 by 2011.
Modern and revitalized, Milton still honours it's history and the people who
made Milton what it is today. History has been captured in books by historians
such as Jim Dills and William E. Cook. Mr. Cook's book "Milton, Welcome to
Our Town" was the predominant source of research for this article. Looking
around Milton, the sight of Martin Street, Hugh Foster Hall and W.I. Dick School
pay homage to the past. Downtown Milton preserves the old fashioned flavour of
Victorian architecture, and restored buildings, while offering unique shops,
specialty boutiques and trendy restaurants.