Port Dover, Ontario

Port Dover, Ontario
Unincorporated hamlet in Norfolk County

Boats moored at Port Dover, Ontario.
Port Dover, Ontario

Location in southern Ontario

Coordinates: 42°47′12″N 80°12′11″W / 42.78667°N 80.20306°W / 42.78667; -80.20306Coordinates: 42°47′12″N 80°12′11″W / 42.78667°N 80.20306°W / 42.78667; -80.20306
Country  Canada
Province  Ontario
Established 1794 as Dover Mills
Amalgamated 2001 (Single-tier municipality)
Government
 • Mayor Charlie Luke
 • Governing Body The Council of The Corporation of Norfolk County
 • MPs Diane Finley (Con)
 • MPPs Toby Barrett (PC)
Area
 • Land 9.15 km2 (3.53 sq mi)
Elevation 210 m (690 ft)
Population (2011) 6,387
 • Density 698.04/km2 (1,807.9/sq mi)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Postal code span N0A
Area code(s) 519 / 226 /
Website www.norfolkcounty.ca
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Port Dover, Ontario.

Port Dover is an unincorporated community and former town located in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada on the north shore of Lake Erie. Prior to the War of 1812, this community was known as Dover Mills. This community is the southern terminus for Ontario Highway 6; located 480 kilometres or 300 miles to the south of the Northern Ontario community of McKerrow.[1] This highway stretches northward as a two-lane, undivided highway until the traffic flow increases to four lanes shortly after it departs from Caledonia.[2] In addition to allowing Port Dover residents direct access to the city of Hamilton, it also briefly merges with Highway 403 to allow for access to the Royal Botanical Gardens and locations on to Toronto.

The postal forward sortation area is N0A; sharing its Canada Post service with the western portion of Haldimand County. All residences and businesses within the Port Dover area have a 583 in their phone number.

History

In 1794, Mr. Peter Walker would become the first settler of this community; becoming its unofficial founder.[3]

This community would become the subject of an American raid during the War of 1812, on May 14, 1814.[4][5][6] After making their landing on the shore, 750 American soldiers committed themselves to a surprise attack on the village's civilians.[7] Scattered elements of nearby militia and regular units tried to defend the village without any success. Re-enactments done with local volunteer groups would allow the British-Canadian forces to soundly defeat the American troops in battle.[7] The survivors of the way would rebuild Port Dover further downstream on Patterson's Creek. This raid would become a part of the Niagara campaigns that America used near the end of the War of 1812. In 1835, Port Dover was incorporated as a village and later as a town.

The community once had its own railway station with frequent service from the Lake Erie & Northern Railway, owned by Canadian Pacific Railway.[8] Notable amenities like Ivey's Greenhouses and the incredible Port Dover beaches caused most of the passenger traffic to occur during the summer months.[9] A railway ticket to the "distant" community of Galt cost a meager $1.55 per person during the late spring of 1949 ($16.11 in today's money).[9] Rail service was also offered on the Port Dover & Lake Huron Railway (later purchased by Canadian National) line from the Caledonia Train Station to Port Dover until these services were cancelled after October 26, 1957. Businesses would often close one hour earlier on Wednesday as an measure to ensure that breadwinners, homemakers and their children would spend more time together until the 1970s. This occurred regardless of negative economic effects and would apply to most non-essential services. In 1974, the town was amalgamated into the new city of Nanticoke within the Regional Municipality of Haldimand-Norfolk.

The Paris Port Dover Pipe Band was established on February 18, 2000 by Pipe Major Gordon Black as a competitive and as a community pipe band.[10] They act as ambassadors on the global level as well as on a local level. The band was formally established when a constitution and small band were formed out of ten pipers, one bass, and one snare.[10] In 2001, Nanticoke and all other municipalities within the region were dissolved and the region was divided into two single tier municipalities. Port Dover is now an unincorporated community in Ward 6 of Norfolk County. The Stanley Cup came to Port Dover in 2004 (with Jassen Cullimore) when the 2003–04 Tampa Bay Lightning won the Cup. He was the fourth NHL player to present the Stanley Cup to this small hockey town on the shore of Lake Erie.[11] The Canadian Coast Guard stationed the Cape-class motor lifeboat CCGS Cape Lambton in the community in 2005.[12]

Certain segments of the 2009 American horror film Survival of the Dead were filmed in Port Dover.[13] The film was directed by George A. Romero and starred Alan van Sprang, Kenneth Welsh, and Kathleen Munroe.[14][15] 40 wind turbines sometime were supposed to be built in the area starting in 2013.[16][17][18] However, Norfolk County council has effectively banned the placement of new wind turbines due to concerns about rural spaces being completely "industrialized" and "unnatural" by the year 2113.[19]

Until 2013, Port Dover had a high school which served students aged 14 through 21 in the immediate area. Approximately 1800 young people had fled the Port Dover Area between 2001 and 2011. Academic programs in Valley Heights Secondary School and Delhi District Secondary School were beefed up and prepared to accept former PDCS students after the closure date.[20] An elementary school called Lakewood Public School recently opened in the old PDCS building.[21]

Notable people

Attractions

Located just a short driving distance away from the Stelco Lake Erie Works in Nanticoke, Port Dover is the site of romantic sunsets along its surrounding countryside.[22]

There are scenic waterfalls nearby and tourists general go to nearby Port Ryerse as a side trip.[22] Local roads that originate from here often lead to the hamlets of Fishers Glen, Normandale and Turkey Point (which is another seasonal beach destination).[23] Even the farmers here generally enjoy the sunsets on their property.[22] Apple wine, produced by the local farmers themselves, can be purchased by anyone due to their lack of alcohol content.[23] This product is available in the Port Dover area.[23] On clear summer nights, the Port Dover lighthouse can be seen glimmering brightly with the moon.[22] The beaches in Port Dover have a tendency to emulate those that are beside the Mediterranean Sea.[23] The Erie Beach Hotel and The Beach House are popular dining attractions for both locals and tourists alike; serving the best locally-grown cuisine.

Port Dover hosts thousands of people every Friday the 13th for the Friday the 13th motorcycle rally, which was started in 1981 by a local bike shop owner.

Port Dover is also home to the famous Arbor hot dog restaurant and the Knetchels neighborhood market and fish restaurant.[22]

References

  1. ↑ Road Atlas – Canada, United States, and Mexico (Map) (2008 ed.). Peter Heiler Ltd. p. 17, 19. § B6–G7, G8–K8, L9, M10–R11.
  2. ↑ "Highway 6 Information for Norfolk County to City of Hamilton". Ontario King's Highways. Retrieved July 3, 2007.
  3. ↑ The Founding of Port Dover at OntarioPlaques.com
  4. ↑ "The history of the War of 1812". The official war of 1812 bicentenial site. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010.
  5. ↑ Gilbert Collins (2006). Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812. Dundurn. ISBN 978-1-55002-626-9. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Robert Nichol, c. 1774-1824" (PDF). Ontario Heritage Trust. September 24, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 5, 2010.
  7. 1 2 "Discovering Lake Erie: Port Dover and Long Point Bay". Boating Ontario.
  8. ↑ "Original Port Dover Station". Train Web.
  9. 1 2 "LAKE ERIE & NORTHERN RAILWAY". Train Web.
  10. 1 2 "Paris-Port Dover Pipe Band celebrates 10th anniversary". Paris Star Online.
  11. ↑ "Stanley Cup Journals 2004: 37". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 27, 2006.
  12. ↑ Theresa Nichols (August 11, 2005). "Lloyd St. Amand Announces the Dedication of the Cape Lambton in Port Dover Ontario". Canadian Coast Guard. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Survival of the Dead: Uncle Creepy's Pictorial Diary of the Dead". DreadCentral.
  14. ↑ "Fantastic Fest 09: Romero Discusses the Future of the Dead". DreadCentral.
  15. ↑ "Three New Clips: George A. Romero's Survival of the Dead". DreadCentral.
  16. ↑ Daniel Pearce (2011). "Green projects receive go-ahead". Brantford Expositor. Retrieved January 24, 2012. The big news, however, was in Haldimand County. That community was awarded a project that could see up to 100 wind turbines along the lake-shore in the Nanticoke area. As well, the proposal that includes the Port Dover windmills extends into Haldimand, where another 40 or more turbines could be located. mirror
  17. ↑ John Miner (January 23, 2012). "Farm group calls for turbine halt". Simcoe Reformer. Retrieved January 24, 2012. "We are taking a look at those and we are determined to get clean, renewable energy into the province of Ontario and secure the jobs that help Ontario serve the world with green energy," Bentley said. mirror
  18. ↑ "Work together to tackle wind turbine concerns". Simcoe Reformer. July 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2012. Please be aware that Capital Power Corporation is in the process of planning to build 13 wind turbines here in the east end of Norfolk County. mirror
  19. ↑ "Norfolk Seeks End to Turbine Development". Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  20. ↑ "PDCS will close at end of semester". The Simcoe Reformer. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  21. ↑ Celebrating a new adventure at Lakewood Elementary at Grand Erie District School Board
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 Port Dover, Ontario, Canada at TravelingLuck.com
  23. 1 2 3 4 Visit and explore Port Dover at ITCWebDesigns.com
 Walsh Simcoe Jarvis
Nanticoke
   Port Dover  
Port Ryerse Lake Erie Lake Erie
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