In Transition

John Henry (1820-1898) recalled seeing the Mississauga camped near the “Wilson Homestead” at the mouth of the Oshawa Creek. Henry claims that the First Nations trail began on the Henry farm, located where Lakeview Park is today, and would have included the land up to Bloor Street.

He saw, a large number of first nations [Indians] camped in their wigwams on his father’s farm, overlooking the mouth of the creek. At that time the woods next to the marsh had not been cleared away, and, as there were no harbour improvements, wharfs, etc. at the Port prior to 1841, the neighbours along the Lake Shore came up the march to a little launching place on the front of their farm. The Indians found this marsh a safe place to bring their fleet of canoes.

– Samuel Pedlar Manuscript, frame# 20, 1904