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Cedar Valley
The community, located at the intersection of Vivian Sideroad and Kennedy Road, was also home to the Canadian National Railway’s Grand Trunk line in 1905, and it served as a shipping point for agricultural produce from Pine Orchard. Pine Orchard, the community at Warden Avenue and Vivian Sideroad, was settled in 1802 by Quaker families who emigrated from Pennsylvania.
Vandorf
Originally known as “Brookvale,” the community situated at Vandorf Sideroad and Woodbine Avenue had to be renamed in 1887 when the post office was opened and it was discovered that the name Brookvale was already in use. Vandorf, a compilation of “Van” for the Van Nostrands who operated a prosperous sawmill in the area, and “dorf”which means “village” was chosen.
Gormley
Gormley was named after James Gormley who ran a general store and post office at Stouffville Sideroad and Woodbine Avenue. Gormley came to this area in the 1840s and was a teacher, auctioneer, notary public, postmaster and storekeeper.
Vivian
Vivian was originally known as Sexsmith’s Corners after George Sexsmith, who operated a general store and inn. The community was an important lumber area known for its white pine forests. The McCormick family arrived in 1866 and was important to this development, as they owned a sawmill, shingle factory, general store, blacksmith shop and maple sugar bush.
Ballantrae
Ballantrae was settled in the early 1800s and became a busy economic centre for the surrounding lumber trade. This community had several hotels, blacksmiths, general stores, the Mayflower Stamping Company (to mark barrels and other containers), a shoemaker and four or five sawmills.
Stouffville
Stouffville got its name from abraham stouffer who emigrated to the area in 1804. The community sprang up around the grist and sawmills that he built between 1817 and 1824. Stouffville eclipsed and absorbed the community of ringwood, which at its heyday, had eclipsed stouffville.
Cedar Valley
The community, located at the intersection of Vivian Sideroad and Kennedy Road, was also home to the Canadian National Railway’s Grand Trunk line in 1905, and it served as a shipping point for agricultural produce from Pine Orchard. Pine Orchard, the community at Warden Avenue and Vivian Sideroad, was settled in 1802 by Quaker families who emigrated from Pennsylvania.
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Vandorf
Originally known as “Brookvale,” the community situated at Vandorf Sideroad and Woodbine Avenue had to be renamed in 1887 when the post office was opened and it was discovered that the name Brookvale was already in use. Vandorf, a compilation of "Van" for the Van Nostrands who operated a prosperous sawmill in the area, and "dorf"which means “village” was chosen.
Read More
Gormley
Gormley was named after James Gormley who ran a general store and post office at Stouffville Sideroad and Woodbine Avenue. Gormley came to this area in the 1840s and was a teacher, auctioneer, notary public, postmaster and storekeeper.
Read More
Vivian
Vivian was originally known as Sexsmith's Corners after George Sexsmith, who operated a general store and inn. The community was an important lumber area known for its white pine forests. The McCormick family arrived in 1866 and was important to this development, as they owned a sawmill, shingle factory, general store, blacksmith shop and maple sugar bush.
Read More
Ballantrae
Ballantrae was settled in the early 1800s and became a busy economic centre for the surrounding lumber trade. This community had several hotels, blacksmiths, general stores, the Mayflower Stamping Company (to mark barrels and other containers), a shoemaker and four or five sawmills.
Read More
Stouffville
Stouffville got its name from abraham stouffer who emigrated to the area in 1804. The community sprang up around the grist and sawmills that he built between 1817 and 1824. Stouffville eclipsed and absorbed the community of ringwood, which at its heyday, had eclipsed stouffville.
Read More
Our Story
Over the years, the Town has gathered many stories about our people and our business proprietors. This is a living archive, as we value our sense of history as much as a sense of the present. We have partitioned our Business Spotlights and Our Stories into six geographical regions. It is not a perfect approach, yet this capture far eclipses the organizational structure. Please enjoy the read about people
and places.
Featured Stories across the L4a
She has a big torch. She melts and blends. She shapes, tinkers, and gives things an acid bath. She has a host of tiny…
A new church was recently built at the intersection of Sandiford and Hoover Park in Stouffville. Planning and funding the Stouffville Pentecostal Church project…
“We have seen tremendous growth in our participants since we opened in September 2018. One participant in particular had never taken public transit independently,…
King Cole Ducks is Canada’s largest duck producer. From their farm in Stouffville, duck is being enjoyed by customers in the Middle East, Tahiti,…
He’s not really a pilot. His name is James Spratley. James launched a pilot project in 2015 with the Town that allowed lands to…
The Art of Fire and Smoke We visited Ed Keith and lifetime partner Pam, both retired schoolteachers, at their home on the edge of…