Conestogo, Ontario

Conestogo
Unincorporated community
Coordinates: 43°32′29″N 80°30′15″W / 43.54139°N 80.50417°W
Country Canada
Province Ontario
Regional municipality Waterloo
Township Woolwich
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Forward sortation area N0B 1N0
Area code(s) 519 and 226
NTS Map 040P10
GNBC Code FASNT

Conestogo is a community in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in the township of Woolwich in Waterloo Region. The population in 2006 was 1,316 people.[1]

The community is located at the junction of the Grand and Conestogo Rivers. Business life in Conestogo has changed over the 20th century, as the feed mill closed its feed production operation in 2008. New retail stores such as the Conestogo Mercantile and Baby Charlotte do business alongside the antique store and the well-known restaurant and dinner theatre, the Blackforest Inn.

Conestogo

History

The area in the vicinity of present day Conestogo was first settled in 1820s, on the Grand and Conestogo Rivers. The first settlers were predominantly Mennonites who had emigrated from Pennsylvania. They were followed by people of German and British background. The first mill in Woolwich Township was built in Conestogo in 1844 by David Musselman. Known earlier as Musselman's Mills, the settlement was renamed Conestogo in 1852. The name originated from the town and river of Conestoga in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. By the middle of the 19th century, Conestogo was a thriving community of about 300 people. It boasted a number of businesses, including a foundry, flour mill, sawmill, furniture factory, paint factory, flax mill, distillery, four hotels, three blacksmiths, two wagon makers and a cooperage, among others. Two local brickyards produced the bricks of which many Conestogo buildings were constructed. The slow pace of Conestogo's development after the 1870s has resulted in much of the architectural heritage being well preserved.

The Community

The local potters is known in the community for beautiful handcrafted pottery, and the local antique shop for interesting collectibles. The Blackforest Inn is popular for fine cuisine and its scheduled live dinner shows. The Conestoga Country Club, owned by GolfNorth, features a 27 hole golf course along the banks of the Grand river.

Conestogo Recreation Association

The Conestogo Recreation Association is a community group volunteering time for the betterment of the Conestogo Community Park and Recreation facilities. The park and ball diamonds are located at 19 Evening Star Lane - the end of Evening Star Lane, situated across from Conestogo Public School.

The association's purpose is to maintain and improve recreational amenities and programs to benefit the community of Conestogo and surrounding neighbours.

Their current goal is to restore and improve tennis facilities within Conestogo Community Park.

People from Conestogo

References

  1. ↑ http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=DPL&Code1=350105&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Conestogo&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1

External links