Historic plaque unveiled in Elphin

Feb 18, 2010

Councillor Brian Stewart and Beryl Stott with the North Sherbrooke Plaque

In Celebration of Ontario Heritage Week the North Sherbrooke Historical Society unveiled the North Sherbrooke plaque on Feb. 16 at the Elphin Church Hall. The plaque chronicles the history of that settlement, which began in 1821.Among other interesting facts the plaque names North Sherbrooke as the birth place of Jane Sym, the second wife of Canada’s second prime minister, Alexander Mackenzie; the place where John Wilson grew up and the centre for manufacturing the ”life saving” Gordon’s Salve.

The plaque was composed and funded by the North Sherbrooke Historical Society, which was formed in 2005.

Beryl Stott, one of the founding members of the society, spoke and introduced other speakers at the event, who included Frances Rathwell of Archives Lanark, Edith Beaulieu of the Snow Road Women’s Institute and Rev. Doctor Stan Errett, each of whom spoke of the importance of preserving history in the community. Beryl Stott explained the importance of the plaque as a “way of bringing local history to the wider community and reminding us of our settlement roots.”

The plaque will be situated at the junction of Lanark County Roads #36 and #12 in the proximity of the Elphin Presbyterian Church Hall.