Castleton, Ontario

Castleton, Ontario
Compact rural community
County Road 25 in Castleton
County Road 25 in Castleton
Castleton, Ontario is located in Ontario
Castleton, Ontario
Castleton, Ontario
Location within Ontario
Castleton, Ontario is located in Canada
Castleton, Ontario
Castleton, Ontario
Location within Canada
Coordinates: 44°05′36″N 77°56′19″W / 44.09333°N 77.93861°W / 44.09333; -77.93861
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
CountyNorthumberland
TownshipCramahe
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
GNBC CodeFAPHQ

Castleton is a compact rural community in Cramahe Township, Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada.

History

The first settler was Joseph Abbott Keeler, who erected a mill on Piper's Creek around 1806. Known as "Purdy’s Mill", it was built with stones imported from Paris, France.

The settlement which grew near the mill was first called "Piper's Corners", and then "Centreville". To avoid confusion with nearby Centreton, the settlement was renamed "Castleton" after both Castleton, England, and Castleton, Vermont, where some of Joseph Keeler's family had originally settled.

Castleton Town Hall opened in 1830, and a wood framed school opened around 1840.

Castleton became the seat of Cramahe Township in 1859, and by 1865, the settlement had a carriage and wagon shop, a barrel maker, a harness shop, two sawmills, two shoe shops, two tailors, two hotels, three general stores, and three churches.

The population was approximately 400 in 1870, 400 in 1880, and 500 in 1908.

In 1870, Castleton School House was built, and held all grades until 1922.

The Union Hotel opened in the 1890s, catering primarily to travelling salesmen.

A mass murder occurred in 1963 which became known as the Castleton massacre. Robert Killins, a former United Church minister, murdered his estranged pregnant wife, his pregnant daughter, a six-year-old girl, and his sister Ada Gladys Killins (and her dog).

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "Castleton". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  2. ↑ "1742 Percy Street, Castleton (mill)". Heritage Cramahe. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Castleton is a heritage-rich stop". Northumberland Today. April 6, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Castleton Heritage Walking Tour". Heritage Cramahe. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  5. ↑ "A History of Cramahe Township Streets". Heritage Cramahe. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  6. 1 2 Argyris, Eileen (2000). How Firm a Foundation: A history of the Town of Cramahe and the Village of Colborne (PDF). Millenium Committee of the Village of Colborne and Township of Cramahe. pp. 71, 91, 94.
  7. ↑ Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World. J.B. Lippincott. 1880. p. 407.
  8. 1 2 Deachman, Bruce (August 24, 2022). "The Castleton Massacre: Account of 1960s femicide honours victims". Ottawa Citizen.
  9. ↑ "The Beechwood Way's: Historical Portraits" (PDF). Beechwood Cemetery. Retrieved September 5, 2026.