| Glen Williams | |
|---|---|
| — Unincorporated community — | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| Regional municipality | Halton |
| Town | Halton Hills |
| Settled | 1825 |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Forward sortation area | L7G |
| Area code(s) | 905 and 289 |
| NTS Map | 030M12 |
| GNBC Code | FBHWX |
Glen Williams is a hamlet in the Credit River valley in the province of Ontario, Canada. It is part of Halton Hills in the Halton Regional Municipality. The Credit River extends over 1500 km from the Niagara Escarpment, emptying into Lake Ontario at Port Credit, Mississauga. Glen Williams is also home to many species of birds, mammals and fish, with the river providing an exemplary habitat for them.
In 1825, Benajah Williams, a United Empire Loyalist of Welsh stock, purchased a 200 acre (0.8 km²) parcel of land in Esquesing township, on the Credit River. There he settled with his third wife and children.
By 1833, he had purchased another 200 acre (0.8 km²) parcel, giving him the 400 acres (1.6 km²) that became Glen Williams. The Williams' Mill is where the first industry stood, a saw mill built by Benajah and sons Joel and Charles in 1825. In the years to come, Benajah's son Charles became the leading figure in the community. Charles owned and operated the sawmill, and eventually he also owned the grist and woolen mills in the small community of Williamsburg, as it was then known.
A new industry was welcomed to the Williams Mill Visual Arts Centre; art. Since 1989, artists have dwelled in Glen Williams; some are jewellers, sculptors, potters and glassblowers.
In 1878 Joseph Beaumont built the Beaumont Knitting Mill which is now the Beaumont Mill Antiques & Collectibles market. The Beaumonts produced socks, blankets and mittens in this mill for over 100 years. Visitors can see the ongoing restoration work of the mill from the inside as they hunt for treasures in the diverse market.
Reeve & Clarke Fine & Rare Books are located in the restored storefront in which Timothy Eaton first worked in retail. The Glen Oven Bakery Cafe and The Copper Kettle Pub are also located in heritage storefronts. St. Alban the Martyr Anglican Church and St. John's United Church are historic buildings still used for worship, and are located on either side of the Credit River on Main Street.