Pictured is the ghost town of Blantyre, Onatario. During the 1860’s the population was only 50 people, founded by pioneering resident, James Paterson, a merchant. Although the town is empty, the sign still exists marking its location, as pictured here by Margaret Nimmo Lehmann during the Autumn.
Beautiful colours on the trees give the whole place an idyllic setting, so its easy to see why James chose this spot. An entry in 1871 records Blantyre, Ontario as, “
A Post Office in the N W part of the Township of Euphrasia, about 6 m. from Griersville, 11 m. from Meaford, and 4 m. from Walter's Falls. James Patterson, Postmaster and General Merchant. There is also a Blacksmith shop at Blantyre. Mails Tuesdays and Saturdays from Griersville, Meaford, and Walter's Falls."
Margaret went on to say, “By the 1860s, James had started a Mill and became a Post Master. For some reason he let his Blacksmith rename the Town, and Todd Burns chose the name of his hometown Blantyre, Scotland. Just thought you would enjoy hearing about this, there is a lot of Scottish history in Ontario.“
Blantyre, although a tiny almost deserted hamlet today, was a bustling community in the 19th century. Local businesses included two blacksmith shops, a stone shop and two weaving establishments. James Paterson, Blantyre’s first merchant and postmaster, was appointed Grey County Warden in 1874. By 1906, the population had grown to 150 people, but clearly such a small town was not sustainable. Thank you to Margaret who emailed her own photos from Canada.
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The first Murray in my tree in Canada settled in Blantyre and is buried at Temple Hill Cemetery. Sadly his stone is quite weathered.
My grand father was a grandson of James Paterson. His father Albert Craig Paterson took over the store from his father. Jesse Warden Paterson, one of Albert’s sons, stayed in Blantyre when all his siblings had left to make their fortunes. Most of them went to the US and did extremely well. A couple of the siblings went to Quebec. My grandfather married Edna Mary Miller, lived in the two story house on the left side of the driveway ( which is still standing ) and had 4 daughters. My mother was the last of the girls to pass away in 2011 at the age of 94 although she was still like a 60 year old.
Our Paterson side originally came from Blantyre Scotland as too was David Livingston who was apparently a cousin. The story of how our Blantyre was named has obviously changed over the years. My mother wanted to be buried near her birthplace so she and my father are resting in the Storeys cemetery. In 2011 when Mom and Dad were interred the cemetery was deemed Herritage. At the time of the internment I was told they would be the last to be buried there. Due to the lack of care from the town of Meaford shirking their responsibilities to the upkeep of a Grey County Cemetary, Storeys is now apparently abandoned. I haven’t abandoned it as I was taking flowers to the gravesite many times throughout the seasons until last September when I was afraid of tripping on branches that had been there for over a year. There is obviously no respect for the dead by the powers that be in Meaford. Shame on them, and I am currently looking into how I can have this rectified.
Please feel free to reach out to me if you are interested in more history. I’m pretty sure the now owners of the Blantyre big house had at one time had a conversation with my Mom and her sister. I was told the house was owned by a Toronto Lawyer. ❓you can tell by my email address that I’m true to my word.
Zillah was the wife of Albert Craig Paterson.
Loving all the history. That lawyer was my grandfather Jack Seed, he and his wife Peggy (Margaret) bought the property in 1972 and spent the rest of their lives enjoying it with their grandchildren mostly
My brother and I currently own a property in Blantyre, Ont. It was passed down to us by our grandparents to our father and then down to us when he passed. Part of the residence was the old post office in Blantyre, we also possess the lot that the old store was on, which I believe burnt down in the 70s. Our grandparents purchased the property and surrounding farm land in 1972 and developed and renovated it. It is now a thriving short term rental for vacationers from southern Ontario and around the world. If you ever find any photos or history we are always searching for things like that of the town.
James and Ann Paterson were my great-great grandparents, and I want to visit Blantyre sometime to see the area. Can you tell me how to find the rental listing? It would be amazing to stay on what used to be their property!
Hi Walt! Love to hear that!
Best to go direct to our website at http://www.SundanceOfBlantyre.com
If your great great grandparents were James and Ann, as were mine, who then were your grand parents?
My family owns a house and the old blacksmiths place which is now a garage. My parents were married there and my grandfather and his siblings grew up there.