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  History of Rockwood

When settlers passed away, the cemetery on Guelph Line in Nassagaweya was the only local burial ground. Nassagaweya’s resident William Trudgeon had set aside land for that purpose, where the locals had also erected a small log church (currently known as Ebenezer). John Harris also owned 50 acres on the east half of Lot 3, Concession 4, land that became known as the “Academy lot” when he sold most of it to William Wetherald, who built the Academy, a private boys’ school. Harris used the other three acres of the parcel to erect a log shanty for the first Quaker church, and then a frame building with clapboard siding in 1844. The surrounding burial ground was enclosed with a picket fence at the front and cedar rails on other sides. By 1898 when the Society of Friends wanted a more central location downtown, they built a brick church beside the chopping mill on the Eramosa River.

Harris Woolen Mill, Valley Road, Rockwood, circa 1900

Written and compiled by Deb Quaile of Wordbird Press.
Reproduced with permission of the author.

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