Thornbury Ontario
The commercial hub of The Town of Blue Mountains is Thornbury, which is situated where the Beaver River and Georgian Bay converge. Clarksburg, a nearby city, is widely renowned for its assortment of art galleries. With their many top-notch eateries, pubs, patios, and galleries, Thornbury and Clarksburg together are popular spots for upscale dining and shopping.
With mountains and water on all sides, the region is truly a four-season vacation spot. Championship golf courses at Lora Bay and the Georgian Bay Club are nearby, as are Blue Mountain Resort and exclusive ski clubs. There are hiking, biking, and snowshoeing opportunities on the Georgian and Beaver River Trails. The waterfront parks, tennis courts, beaches, and pier swimming are also enjoyed by locals and guests. The Thornbury Yacht Club and municipal Marina are located in Thornbury Harbour, while the Beaver Valley Community Centre and Marsh Street Center in Clarksburg are two of the local activity centers.
History of Thornbury Ontario
On April 23, 1833, the Township of Thornbury became a legal entity. Its name’s origin is somewhat debatable. According to some historians, the wild thorn berries that flourished along the edge of Georgian Bay served as inspiration. Others speculate that the town was named for three Thornburys who originated in England.
The town’s first enterprise, a milling enterprise, was established in 1855. The population grew to 100 individuals by 1857. When you strolled through the town back then, you would have passed a general store, a post office, a grist and saw mill, a blacksmith, cooper, and fanning mill businesses. Thornbury kept expanding during the ensuing 30 years. With a population of over 1,200, the town had definitely developed from a little outpost in the middle of nowhere to a “modern” community with all the shops, churches, factories, and financial institutions one would find in any other Ontario town.
Thornbury’s economy
The businesspeople of Thornbury petitioned for independence from the Town of Collingwood back in 1887, fearing that they were being unfairly burdened with excessive taxes. They finally succeeded in getting it, and the Township of Thornbury joined the Town of Thornbury.
Thornbury has hosted a variety of businesses over the years. From the Chemical Works to the T.G. Idle’s Furniture store, which outfitted many of the area’s affluent residences, to the Thos. W. Eastland department store, where dry goods were displayed on one side and groceries on the other, Keast Tailoring is still operating today after four generations. In the 1880s, Thornbury experienced a boom in the apple packing industry. The Georgian Bay Fruit Growers Association was established in 1905. The Mitchell family was a prominent and outspoken part of the organization, and for many years the Thornbury processing plant produced the well-known Mitchell-brand apple juice, sauce, and cider vinegar.
Thornbury still has a vibrant business community today, with Bruce Street being home to a wide variety of boutiques, eateries, and artists
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