WATERFORD

Just who named Waterford or how it received its appellation is not known to me. But it certainly was thus known as early as 1851. There is a Waterford not far from Albany in New York State. We may conjecture that our Waterford was called after this place�possibly someone from that town brought the name with them. It is however, more likely that the city and county of Waterford in the south of Ireland are directly responsible for the christening of the Canadian village. Anyway, in the absence of proof to discredit this theory, I think we are safe in giving the honour to the "ould Sod" for the nomenclature of the beautiful village upon the Nanticoke. Nanticoke itself is an Indian name, one of the few in this county. Waterford was first called Averill's or Avery's Mills, after Paul Averill, who built the first mill there. When this mill became the property of Morris and Leonard Sovereign, it was called Sovereign's Mills. Later Job Lodor became the owner and for a time the name was Lodorville.

DELHI

It is very doubtful if, when Frederick Sovereen settled on the east end of the township of Middleton well over a century ago, that he ever dreamed that a village would bear his name. But this old worthy was evidently one of the leading men of his neighborhood and his inn or tavern must have been a centre for the people of the district. And so "Sovereen's Corners�, later changed to Fredericksburg, became the name of the hamlet. But the railway came along in 1872, and spoiled things. No one can well imagine a railway conductor or brakeman calling out the name Fredericksburg when it was possible to get something shorter so the railway company called its station Delhi, which was also finally used in referring to the post office. So from far-off India we get the name of that enterprising village to the west, although the Indian pronunciation of the word is "Delli, while we call it "Delhigh."

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PORT ROWAN

In October, 1819, John Dutcher bought a parcel of land part of Lot sixteen Concession A, Walsingham. He must have been an outstanding man as it was only a little while until the place where the road on the east side of the lot intersects the Front Road was called Dutchers Corners. But after the lapse of a number of years, the residents evidently wanted a more ambitious or aristocratic title and the post office was called Port Rowan from Captain or Colonel Rowan, secretary to Sir John Colborne. "Big Creek or "River Rowan;' doubtless was named for this person and so was Rowan Mills on this stream once operated by Farmer & DeBlaquiere. DeBlaquiere�s Hollow was once the name of this place. The post office has been closed for many a day.

ST. WILLIAMS

St. Wilhams was originally styled Cope's Landing, from the Copes who were among the first settlers. There is some dispute as to how St. Williams came to be used. One story is that it was from William Gillaspey who once owned land there as far back as 1819. This man was reported as being of a very high type of Christian gentleman, and so his neighbours decided to honour him by calling the village St. Willaims for him. Perhaps this is right; perhaps it is not; but St. Williams is the only place in the county with the prefix Saint. St. Williams was once called Neal's Corners after Rev George Neal who owned a farm there.

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VITTORIA

The mention of Vittoria carries us back to the Peninsular War and Sunny Spain. Vittoria, in that country, was the scene of one of Wellington's victories over a Marshal in Napoleon's army in 1813. The first post office in this county was at this place. It bore the name of Long Point and was opened in 1816. The name was changed to Vittoria in 1818. In April, 1816, there were but nine post offices in all of Upper Canada, so it can be readily seen that Vittoria was one of the first links of a service that was later to become one of the most appreciated and necessary aids to modern civilization.

FISHER'S GLEN

It was in the early part of the nineteenth century that Thomas Cross and Donald Fisher acquired their holding of real estate at what is now known as Fishers Glen, and built the mills that were such a benefit to the farmers over a large district. Cross & Fisher's and also Fisher's Landing are also old names for the place.

I have been unable to find out how Forestville obtained its name, but as the village has carried it for such a long time the chances are that when it was first given, the hamlet was situated m the midst of the primeval forest and so the name appeared to be very appropriate.

WALSH

Walsh (Charlotteville Centre) of course comes from a family name that of Thomas Welch, whose sons changed the spelling to Walsh. Thomas Welch came from Maryland before the eighteenth century was ended, and after a short residence near Welland, he came to this county and was one of the prominent men of the day. He was a surveyor and did a lot of work along that line. Among his pursuits, and they were many, the most important was that of Registrar of Deeds for the county. He also surveyed the Indian lands along the Grand River.

NORMANDALE

Normandale was named for Joseph Van Norman and his family. It was at one time one of the most important places in the county. There were large quantities of bog iron ore in its neighborhood. It was as far back as 1818 that Samuel Mason settled there and started what afterwards was familiarly known as the "Big Furnace," where the ironware used over a large district was made. He was followed by Joseph Van Norman and others who successfully carried on the works. No one visiting the spot now would for a moment imagine that at one time Normandale fairly hummed with industry. There are a number of bits of implements and other articles manufactured there to be found in the Norfolk Museum. The village was at one time known as "Potter's Creek" from a pottery that was formerly located there.

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