Photograph of Kleinburg, 1905
The development of Kleinburg originated with the construction of a flour mill on the West Branch of the Humber River on Lots 24 and 25, Concession 9 (land southeast of Elgin Mills and Huntington Road) by John N. Klein. A settlement developed around it at the foot of a hill, which was called Kleinsberg after Mr. Klein, and the second half of this name (“berg,”) coming from the German word for hill or hill country. The village at the top of the hill was known as Mount Vernon, but by 1890, the two had grown together, becoming known as Kleinburg.
The flour mill was operated by Mr. Klein for five years, before it sold to H.S. and W.P. Howland. It would later become the largest mill between Barrie and Toronto, grinding approximately 200 barrels a day. Together, the Howlands, along with their brother Fred, operated four mills in Ontario, including the one in Kleinburg. The Howland family emigrated from Cape Vincent, New York, opposite Kingston, Ontario and then contributed to the development of Kleinburg by establishing additional businesses besides the sawmill, including other stores, mail delivery (H.S. Howland was the first postmaster, appointed in 1852) and assisting with village governance.
Over time, Kleinburg grew further, necessitating the need for additional businesses such as a cooperage, a stave factory, carriage-making shops, blacksmiths, tannery, drugstore, school, churches, hotels, a boot and shoemaker, and others. Well-known names from the village include Dr. T.H. Robinson, Robert Hollingshead, an undertaker who served in World War I and Charles Shaw who was influential in establishing the Binder Twine Festival.
City of Vaughan Archives: MG 5
Photograph of Kleinburg, 1905
The development of Kleinburg originated with the construction of a flour mill on the West Branch of the Humber River on Lots 24 and 25, Concession 9 (land southeast of Elgin Mills and Huntington Road) by John N. Klein. A settlement developed around it at the foot of a hill, which was called Kleinsberg after Mr. Klein, and the second half of this name (“berg,”) coming from the German word for hill or hill country. The village at the top of the hill was known as Mount Vernon, but by 1890, the two had grown together, becoming known as Kleinburg.
The flour mill was operated by Mr. Klein for five years, before it sold to H.S. and W.P. Howland. It would later become the largest mill between Barrie and Toronto, grinding approximately 200 barrels a day. Together, the Howlands, along with their brother Fred, operated four mills in Ontario, including the one in Kleinburg. The Howland family emigrated from Cape Vincent, New York, opposite Kingston, Ontario and then contributed to the development of Kleinburg by establishing additional businesses besides the sawmill, including other stores, mail delivery (H.S. Howland was the first postmaster, appointed in 1852) and assisting with village governance.
Over time, Kleinburg grew further, necessitating the need for additional businesses such as a cooperage, a stave factory, carriage-making shops, blacksmiths, tannery, drugstore, school, churches, hotels, a boot and shoemaker, and others. Well-known names from the village include Dr. T.H. Robinson, Robert Hollingshead, an undertaker who served in World War I and Charles Shaw who was influential in establishing the Binder Twine Festival.
City of Vaughan Archives: MG 5