Photograph of Woodbridge Anglican Church, 1912
Rowland Burr is credited with being the founder of Woodbridge, however the start of the village can also be traced to the British Crown granting the west half of Lots 6 and 7 and Concession 7 to Jacob Philips and Hugh Cameron in 1802. Burr arrived in the area in 1837 and established a flour mill, sawmill and textile mills. By the 1840s, Burr’s businesses had become the most successful in the area and the settlement became known as Burwick.
The community was renamed Woodbridge in 1855, to avoid confusion with another settlement with the same name. Starting with 20 employees in 1862, Abell Agricultural Works fostered significant growth in the village during the following decade and came to employ more than 200 men by 1874.
By 1880, the types of businesses in the village included a post office, school, two churches, two hotels, general stores, a local newspaper and more. There was also a considerable range of professions and trades including a bricklayer, butcher, chemist, printer, publisher, watchmaker, physician, and surgeon.
By 1882, Woodbridge’s population had exceeded 1,000 and it was formally incorporated as a municipality. This system continued until 1971 when the Village of Woodbridge combined with Vaughan Township to form the Town of Vaughan, and eventually the City of Vaughan.
City of Vaughan Archives: MG 5
Photograph of Woodbridge Anglican Church, 1912
Rowland Burr is credited with being the founder of Woodbridge, however the start of the village can also be traced to the British Crown granting the west half of Lots 6 and 7 and Concession 7 to Jacob Philips and Hugh Cameron in 1802. Burr arrived in the area in 1837 and established a flour mill, sawmill and textile mills. By the 1840s, Burr’s businesses had become the most successful in the area and the settlement became known as Burwick.
The community was renamed Woodbridge in 1855, to avoid confusion with another settlement with the same name. Starting with 20 employees in 1862, Abell Agricultural Works fostered significant growth in the village during the following decade and came to employ more than 200 men by 1874.
By 1880, the types of businesses in the village included a post office, school, two churches, two hotels, general stores, a local newspaper and more. There was also a considerable range of professions and trades including a bricklayer, butcher, chemist, printer, publisher, watchmaker, physician, and surgeon.
By 1882, Woodbridge’s population had exceeded 1,000 and it was formally incorporated as a municipality. This system continued until 1971 when the Village of Woodbridge combined with Vaughan Township to form the Town of Vaughan, and eventually the City of Vaughan.
City of Vaughan Archives: MG 5