The earliest settlers to the area arrived between 1803-1811, most of whom were of English or Irish descent, along with a few French and Scottish.
In the early 1800’s the area was called “Green’s Creek” after Robert Green who operated a sawmill on the creek. As the timber was exhausted the government lands were sold to farmers who began to settle in the area. These people had to clear their own land and build their own roads and schools.
The area was subsequently called “Daggsville” after three families that settled here in the 1850’s.Richard Dagg donated the land for the first school in Blackburn.
John Kemp and his family were one of the early settlers and four generations farmed the homestead. When the first school burned down, a second school was built on the Kemp property where Blackburn Public School was located.
Agnes Purdy and her husband William settled on Lot 9 across from St Mary the Virgin Anglican Church on Navan Road. Four generations of Purdys farmed the land until the NCC expropriated the farm for the Greenbelt. Agnes was significant as a major fundraiser for the church and as school board secretary for 20 years.
Isaiah Scharfe settled on a lot near Emily Carr School, four generations lived in Blackburn on what is now Innes Road.
Some of the hamlet streets are named after these, and other early settlers, Kemp, Cleroux, Tauvette.
In 1858 Joshua Bradley settled in Blackburn. It was through the efforts of his son William Bradley and Robert Blackburn (Reeve in 1864, then MP) that a post office was secured and it was then that the area became known as “Blackburn”.
The settlement during these times was divided in two, the area of “Blackburn Corners”, located around the existing intersection of Navan and Innes Rds; and “Blackburn Station”, the area around the existing intersection of Anderson and Innes Rds.
- Key Dates in Blackburn Hamlet History
The following is a summary of some milestone dates in Blackburn Hamlet History. This is not a comprehensive list, so if anyone has more details on other memorable events, such as when key buildings, parks and facilities were opened, please contact secretary@blackburnhamlet.ca. 1803-1811 – First residents arrive in area of Blackburn Hamlet most of whom - Why doesn’t Blackburn Hamlet have a dog park?
Published in The BANAR June 2024 Laura Dudas This was one of the first questions I was asked when I became the Blackburn Community Association President back in, what was it, 2007? It feels like that was a lifetime ago now. The question really resonated with me on a personal level, as a resident, dog - 30 Years of Community Service
Published in The BANAR April 2024 Since May 1994, Stephane Crete and his dedicated staff cared for generations of Blackburn Hamlet residents’ vehicles, as well as those of many former residents. In fact, quite a few people from other communities heard about the good service and came to J&S. Regardless of a vehicle’s make, model - Local Youth Create a Brand New Mural at Lois Kemp Arena
by Maureen Forsythe, BCA Youth Director. As you drive down Glen Park Drive toward Innes and the Metro, it will be hard to miss the colourful new mural on the Lois Kemp arena, which features a scattering of leaves blowing across the wall, a large black-capped chickadee perched on a branch and a beautiful butterfly - Blackburn Hamlet heritage properties
The Heritage Inventory Project, a city-wide heritage study, began in January 2016 and was completed in December 2019. City staff studied Ottawa’s urban, suburban and rural areas and evaluated buildings for design and context. The project resulted in the inclusion of 3,402 properties on the Heritage Register as non-designated listings, which includes two properties in - Local Youth Light up the Lois Kemp Arena with Rainbow Mural
By Maureen Forsythe, BCA Youth Director. As you turn off of Innes Road onto Glen Park Drive near the Metro, it will be hard to miss the colourful new rainbow mural on the side of the Lois Kemp Arena. As part of its youth engagement activities, the BCA invited local youth to participate in the