The Square Edit

Huron County Courthouse Goderich's downtown has an octagonal traffic circle known as 'The Square'. The county courthouse stands in the middle of The Square. This is where, in 1959, Steven Truscott was convicted of murdering Lynne Harper. The conviction was overturned in 2007.[9] The Square was formally listed in the Register of Historic Place by the Government of Canada in May 2007. The Town had already recognized the value of the area in 1982, under the Ontario Heritage Act. The Square was designed and developed between 1840 and the mid 1890s and in its early days, contained the main office of the Canada Company which helped to develop much of the county. The design of the square - a "radial composition" - is attributed to John Galt of the Company, inspired by ancient Roman city plans. Over the years it was called "Market Square", "The Square" or "Courthouse Square" by locals. The original courthouse was located here but was destroyed in a fire and replaced by a modern structure in the 1950s.[10] Contrary to a popularly held belief, plans for The Square were not intended for Guelph. It is thought this rumour started when Goderich was founded, as town planners the Canada Company originally wanted their community to be called Guelph after the Royal Family; the Company eventually resigned to accepting the decisions of Superintendent John Galt to keep the name Goderich.[11] 2011 tornado Edit Felled trees and demolished buildings along a road in Goderich after the tornado. Main article: 2011 Goderich, Ontario tornado On the afternoon of 21 August 2011, an F3[12] tornado touched down in the town, after coming ashore as a waterspout as the mesocyclone thunderstorm cell moved across Lake Huron. It was the strongest tornado that had hit Ontario since the Arthur, Ontario tornado of April 20, 1996, though on average, F3 tornadoes occur in Ontario every eight years. The devastating storm downed power lines, tore roofs off houses, and left cars and trees scattered along city streets. Hundred-year-old trees surrounding the Goderich Courthouse were uprooted in seconds. The tornado killed one person: Norman Laberge, 61, of Lucknow, who was working on a dock associated with a salt mine on the coast of Lake Huron when the storm hit. 37 people were injured. The Environment Canada weather forecast office in Toronto issued a tornado warning for Goderich and southern Huron County 12 minutes before the tornado struck.[13] The town did not have a tornado siren unlike some other Ontario cities. News reports later indicated that one hundred houses, 25 buildings and thousands of 150-plus-year-old trees were seriously damaged or destroyed.[14] Rebuilding The Square area Edit After the tornado, a news report described The Square area as follows: "The roofs of several buildings ringing the square were torn off. The green space around the courthouse at the centre of the square was littered with tree limbs and trees that had been ripped out of the ground."[15] A year later, 152 of the 170 downtown businesses had reopened but reconstruction of the courthouse, some historic buildings and the trees in the area took much longer. A visitor to the area nearly four years after the event found that the park had re-opened with a new band shell. New trees, greenery, a statue and a water feature had been installed in front of the court house. Much of the area around the park had been reconstructed including commercial building on Kingston Street and The Square. The last work to be completed was the Kingston block of commercial buildings on Kingston Street and The Square. Although the farmers' market and flea market had closed before the tornado, it re-opened.[16]

History Edit

According to the historic plaques erected by the Province, the Canada Company acquired the vast amount of land called the Huron Tract in 1826 and in 1827, under Superintendent John Galt, established its base in what would become Goderich. Development was under way by 1829. In 1850, with a population of about 1,000, the community was incorporated as a town. In addition to Galt, another important individual was Dr. William "Tiger" Dunlop who was Warden of the Forests for the Canada Company, and helped develop the Huron Tract and later, to found Goderich. Also noteworthy, Thomas Mercer Jones administered much of the million acre Tract and built a richly furnished mansion, Park House, in Goderich in about 1839.[2] Town records indicate that the Huron Tract had been acquired by the government from the Chippewa First Nation and that the location of the community was based on coastal surveys completed in 1824 by Captain Bayfield. A log cabin was erected, at the top of the hill overlooking the harbor in 1827; this building, the home of Dr. William "Tiger" Dunlop, was later referred to as "The Castle".[17] An 1846 Gazette indicated that a harbour was operating but the docks were not in a good state of repair. A light house was being erected. Roads were available to Wilmot Township, Ontario and to the town of London, Ontario. Shipbuilding was already underway. A fishing company had started but did not succeed and closed down. There were five churches in Goderich, four Protestant and one Roman Catholic.[18] By 1869 the population was 4,500; a railway station and steamship docks were in operation. Wheat was the primary crop shipped from this area.[19] Research by the University of Waterloo indicates that the Canada Company built piers to protect ships in the harbor between 1830 and 1850 and in 1872 the first modern harbor was created. The railway arrived in June 1858 and a grain elevator was erected in 1859. Harbour Hill was graded in 1850. Fishing became an important part of the community and the pier was lined with fish shanties. A modern rail station was built near the harbor and the building still stands today. Goderich became a very busy rail shipping location by the 1940s and had a roadhouse and turntable until the 1960s. Salt mining, which eventually became a major industry, was started in 1866 when Samuel Platt began opening salt mines beside his flour mill on the Maitland River. The harbour at Goderich was also the home of large flour mills starting in the 1870s.[20] The Smith's Canadian Gazetteer of 1846 describes Goderich as follows: It was laid out in 1827 by Mr. Galt ... the town is rather exposed to north and north west winds from the lake, in consequence of which the weather is occasionally wintry, even in the middle of summer ... Owing to Its remote situation ... Goderich has not increased as fast as many other places of the same age. A harbour has been constructed but the piers are now getting out of repair. This is the only harbour between Port Sarnia and the Saugeen Islands. A light house is just about being erected .... A steamboat and several schooners have been built here. Stages run twice a week from Goderich to London and Galt, and during the last season the steamboat Goderich called here on her weekly trips ... A fishing company was established here, some years since, but from some mismanagement did not succeed very-well, and is now broken up. Goderich contains five churches and chapels, ... there is also a stone jail and court house, and the Canada Company's offices... Post Office, post four times a week. Population, 659."[18] The Goderich lighthouse, the first on the Canadian side of Lake Huron, opened in 1847 with a tower and the keeper's house. After the 1913 storm it was remodeled.[20] A severe storm on Lake Huron in November 1913 caused the loss of 19 ships and 244 lives. A great deal of wreckage floated to the Goderich area shore, The bodies of the sailors were identified and collected by a Lake Carriers' Association committee based at Goderich.[21] In 1866, four artesian wells began providing the town's water and also attracted tourists who had heard about the water's medicinal properties. The Ocean House Hotel, built in the 1850s, housed many tourists. From about 1910, the sandy beach near town were also used heavily by locals and by visitors who appreciated the shallow, warm water. In 1930, a "bathing house" was built with lockers, restrooms and a small store.[20] Early in World War II, what is now the Goderich Airport became the site of one of Canada's air training facilities; it opened in December 1939, at Sky Harbour. The school operated until March 1945. A Lancaster X airplane, FM 213, was donated in the 1960s by Branch 109 Royal Canadian Legion in honour of those who died or went missing during the war.[2] Goderich has many historically designated buildings, listed on a map published by the Town.[22][23] In 2018 a strike involving over 350 salt mine workers broke out in Goderich, following labor disputes between the Unifor Local 16-0 union and the American owned company Compass Minerals, which owns the mine, over a new contract.[24][25] The strike has lasted for 10 weeks as of June 2018.

Government Edit

The Goderich municipal council includes a Mayor, Deputy Mayor and five councillors. In 2014-2018, the Mayor is Kevin Morrison and the Deputy Mayor is Jim Donnelly. Both are also on the County Council. The Huron County Council consists of fifteen members from the nine area municipalities. Each is represented on this Council. Each year, a Warden is elected from the group and chairs meetings and represents the County at various functions. In 2017, the Reeve was Ben Van Diepenbeek from the Ashfield-Colborne- Wawanosh ward.[26]

Economy Edit

Ports Edit

Silos at Goderich Harbour Goderich Airport (known unofficially as Sky Harbour Airport)[41] is a community airport with three runways: two are paved, with runway lighting, and one is grass.[42] It is located directly north of the town, and is accessible via the Bluewater Highway north of the community. During WWII, The airport was the site of an Elementary Flying Training School as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.[43] In addition to flight services, several industries are located in the immediate area of the airport to provide the full range of services that aviation requires, including interior and exterior re-finishing, and mechanical repairs. Goderich Harbour is owned by the town, but is operated under contract by Goderich Port Management Corporation.[44] It is an industrial harbour, used primarily to load salt from the Sifto salt mines onto lake and ocean freighters. Snug Harbour is a marina located within the industrial harbour basin; Maitland Valley Marina is also located near Goderich.

Railways Edit

Sports teams Edit

Besides school teams, during the winter season, hockey is prevalent in most Canadian small towns, Goderich being no exception. The town supports both the Sr. A Pirates and the Jr. C Goderich Flyers, much of the talent on both teams being of local origin.

Schools Edit

Goderich is home to two elementary schools and one high school. Goderich Public School, which is an amalgamation of Victoria Public School and Robertson Memorial Public School,[49] and St. Mary's Catholic separate school are the in town elementary schools.[50] Goderich District Collegiate Institute (G.D.C.I.), the local high school, was founded in 1841, and stood at the corner of Waterloo St. and Britannia Road, until the present building was completed.[citation needed] The Huron County Museum now occupies the original Central School structure and grounds, on North St.

Demographics Edit

Year Pop. ±% 1841 659 — 1871 3,954 +500.0% 1881 4,564 +15.4% 1891 3,839 −15.9% 1901 4,158 +8.3% 1911 4,522 +8.8% 1921 4,107 −9.2% 1931 4,491 +9.3% 1941 4,557 +1.5% 1951 4,934 +8.3% 1961 6,411 +29.9% 1971 6,813 +6.3% 1981 7,322 +7.5% 1991 7,452 +1.8% 2001 7,604 +2.0% 2006 7,563 −0.5% 2011 7,521 −0.6% 2016 7,628 +1.4% Demographics 0-9 10-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80+ Total % of population Male 400 445 365 385 500 595 360 305 195 3,555 47 Female 335 485 405 375 585 630 435 400 360 4,010 53 Total 735 930 770 765 1,085 1,220 795 710 550 7,565 100 Source: Stats Canada [51]

Media Edit

Flag Edit

Goderich has its own official flag, which was adopted in 1977 for the town's 150th birthday celebration.[52] A contest was held, open to all Goderich schools and residents. It was won by Goderich resident Judge Carter from St. Vincent St. The flag shows the royal crown centered in an octagon (representing the 1/4 mile octagon 3 lane town square) with 3 waves at the bottom on a blue background representing Lake Huron and the Port of Goderich.[53] The Town also has a full town crest.[54]

Notable people Edit

See also Edit