Meaford Listing Available
What you Get!
Listing for Meaford On in Canada’s Largest Military Relocation directory
Profile Page advertising your Business and Website
Two links to your Web Site – Facebook Page – Phone number and Email contact
Fee is only $75.00 per year
Only 1 Agent per area
Phone Roger at 705-795-8255 for Listing
Why Move to Meaford?
Meaford, Ontario is located on the shores of Georgian Bay between Collingwood and Owen Sound. The town with a beautiful harbour is known for its annual Scarecrow Festival and the surrounding Apple Orchards. Meaford is a charming town that offers both locals and visitors a wide variety of things to do on all four seasons. Meaford is home to many attractions, including a highly rated Arts and Cultural Center, as well as a number of trail networks.
Meaford’s location on Georgian Bay and the rich land surrounding it attracted many settlers. By the time it was incorporated as a town in 1874 the community boasted a population of 1700. The presence of the Big Head River encouraged the development of an industrial and commercial base. Perhaps the first to recognize the value of the river was the son of the first settler, David Miller, Jr., who erected a grist mill about a mile upstream.
The port facility also proved to be an attraction to both prospective settlers and the establishment of business enterprises. Around the turn of the last century, activity around the harbour increased when the Grand Trunk Railroad moved its depot from Station Hill to the waterfront.
In the 1870s, Meaford Ontario was an important fishing port on Georgian Bay. One of biggest operations in the area was owned by Gilbert McIntosh who fished the waters between Meaford and Tobermory. In the beginning he brought his catch back to port in the seventeen-ton vessel, “Rescue”, but in order to keep up with market demands, in 1885 he added the thirty ton “Alfred Morell”, and shortly thereafter the 50 ton “G.P. McIntosh” to his fleet.
The agricultural and industrial produce of the region, as well as fish, attracted many commercial vessels to call at Meaford’s docks. However, around 1900 a new product proved to be an even greater attraction for the Great Lakes’ commercial fleet.
The establishment of fruit orchards in the area proved to be a successful venture for many area agriculturalists and the annual apple harvest provided another benefit for the economy of the area. Ships that had never called at Meaford Ontario before, now made stops there to pick up fruits for transshipment throughout the Great Lakes region.
It began as a part of “Zero”. Next it was known as Peggy’s Landing. The government allowed it to suffer for two decades under the split personages of Meaford and St. Vincent. Finally, in the year of Canadian Confederation, the confusion ended with the decision to call the community Meaford. Whatever its name, the Meaford Ontario area has a rich and dynamic history!