Bicentennial of Sandhill commemorated at Caledon Day

Sandhill, which is by Airport Road and King Street, was settled in 1819

By Zachary Roman

The 200th anniversary of the settlement of Sanhdill was celebrated recently.

On June 17, a procession featuring Caledon's Town Crier and the Sandhill Pipes and Drums left from Caledon's Town Hall at 2 p.m. and headed for the Caledon Day Culture Stage. 

The parade through Caledon Day marked the bicentennial of Sandhill, one of Caledon's many unique villages. Located by Airport Road and King Street, Sandhill was once a prosperous 19th century crossroads settlement. 

Caledon Councillors and a small crowd of Sandhill residents joined in the procession and met at the Culture Stage, where dignitaries read remarks and residents got to learn about the history of Sandhill. 

Caledon's Town Crier, Andrew Welch, read an official proclamation to mark Sandhill's 200th anniversary. Due to the pandemic and other factors, Sandhill's bicentennial had to be celebrated a few years after its official date. 

Sandhill is located on tableland in the central part of the Peel Plain. Its first known settlers were Timothy Terry, the son of a United Empire Loyalist; George and John Robinson, brothers who came from Ireland; and Loyalist Edward Freeman. 

Sandhill soon became a prime agricultural area and in 1835 it got its first doctor: Dr. Thomas Henry, who was from a place called Sandy Hill in Ireland. In the next few years, Inns and Taverns sprang up in the Village, as well as a general store. 

Then, in 1841, a post office was established in the Village and it was called Sand Hill. By 1850 there were two hotels in the community and its first schoolhouse was built. 

Sandhill had rich soil that was great for growing wheat, making local farmers prosperous. These great economic conditions meant that soon, Sandhill had a weaver, tailor, carpenter, builder, mason, carriage maker, wagon maker, and multiple boot and shoe makers. 

In 1871, the Toronto Grey & Bruce Railway was routed through Mono Road, and although Sandhill was bypassed, it still thrived as it was in a prominent north-south transportation route. 

Telephones, electricity and automobiles, while advances in society, spelt the beginnings of Sandhill's end as a busy village. By 1910, there was only one general store and a post office in Town, accompanied by a blacksmith and shoe shop. By 1916, even the post office had closed. 

The expansion of Airport Road and King Street in recent decades eliminated almost all traces of the original Sandhill. However, a bicentennial plaque featuring information about Sandhill will be placed there to help remember the history of what was once a busy crossroads settlement.