Plaque commémorative de la fondation de Cardinal

THE FOUNDING OF CARDINAL
The grist-mill built at Point Cardinal by Hugh
Munro about 1796 fostered the development here
of a small settlement. A sawmill and store were
later erected, and in 1837 a post-office. "Edwards-
burgh" was established. In 1878, attracted by
abundant water-power and the operation of the
Galps shipping canal (1846) and the Grand Truck
Railway (1655), William T. Benson and Thomas
Aspden founded the Canada Starch Works. Its
prosperity stimulated the growth of Elgin, as
Edwardsburgh was also known, and in 1864 the
hamlet, with 300 inhabitants, contained several
other prominent businesses, notably the James
McLatchie foundry. The community was incorporated
as the Village of Cardinal with a population of 800
by a by-law which became effective in 1880.
ERECTED BY THE ONTARIO HERITAGE FOUNDATION
MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND RECREATION