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.
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 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 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 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 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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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