Inverhuron

Introduction

Inverhuron, first settled in the 1840s, began with a very promising future. In 1851 William Gunn opened a general store and post office. Gunn, who was also Superintendent of Schools for Bruce County, quickly followed with a school and library.

By the end of the decade Inverhuron boasted saw and grist mills, a quarry, lime kilns, numerous tradesmen including carpenters, joiners, coopers, and a blacksmith shop. At its height, Inverhuron boasted a population of around 500 people.

Blessed with an abundance of natural resources, Inverhuron’s biggest claim to fame was a superb natural harbour. Many believed it would make an ideal “harbour of refuge.” In anticipation of future development, the community established a shipping centre with three large grain elevators in the 1870s.

Inverhuron’s days of success came to an abrupt end on April 13, 1882 when fire struck the grain warehouses and the pier. The community experienced a devastating financial loss and many of the businesses shut down or relocated elsewhere. Fire struck again in 1887. The second fire finished Inverhuron.

In the early 1900s, a new community of Inverhuron rose from the ashes. Although not the same townsite, or in the same location, the new village supports a small population and caters to cottagers and vacationers.

Much of the early townsite is now located within the boundaries of the Inverhuron Provincial Park. The cemetery was restored and still sees the occasional burial. The park also contains an interpretative display and a number of artifacts. And if you look hard among the dunes, you can still find charred rubble from the two infernos that put an end to one of the most promising communities in Bruce County. Learn more