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History
In 1804 John Bostwick received a large grant of land at the mouth of Kettle Creek and founded the little settlement of Kettle Creek, later renamed Port Stanley. In the early years of the 19th century Port Stanley was a major arrival point for immigrants to SW Ontario. In 1844 the Port Stanley harbour recorded the arrival of 148 boats. The first half of the 20th century was marked by the growth of the commercial fishing industry. On one day in 1946 an estimated 40,000 pounds of fish were landed in Port Stanley and shipped on ice to markets in Detroit, Buffalo and New York.
The last century also saw Port Stanley gaining prominence as a summer resort, with elegant cottages being built on the lakeshore to the east and west of the village. Hordes of summer visitors poured into town on the London and Port Stanley railway to take advantage of one of the best beaches on the north shore of Lake Erie and to attend huge commercial "picnics" which attracted over 10,000 people a day to the village. It was in these days that Port Stanley, with two of the largest dance halls in the country gained the moniker of the Coney Island of Canada. Port Stanley always was and still is a tiny village whose size belies its historic importance. As you click through the upcoming pages you will discover many ways in which you can explore this heritage.
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Located in the heart of South-west Ontario's tourist country
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