Memories of battles fought long ago are front and centre in the oldest part of Barrie.
Street names in an area bounded by Bayfield Street to the west, McDonald (formerly McDouall) to the north, Dunlop to the south and Sampson to the east all have one thing in common: the War of 1812.
Commodore Robert Barrie, who was a crucial player in many successful British battles against the Americans during the war, was quite possibly part of the process that named the streets.
In his book called The Genesis of Barrie 1783-1858, W. Allen Fisher states touring the summer of 1833, Barrie made his last tour of inspection to the upper lakes.
“To complete the tour or excursion… it is possible that the Commodore’s party was at the landing (the future and as of yet unnamed Barrie) by May 15. If such was the case, Barrie himself may have suggested some of the names found in Hawkins’ survey (of that same year).”
“They decided that it would be appropriate, as they laid out the original plan, to recognize the service of those who fought or had some capacity in the military or the navy during the War of 1812,” said Brad Rudachyk, author of the 2001 book Streetwise in Barrie.
“Some of them were above his rank during the war," he added. "Some of them were well below his rank.”
Each of the 10 or so street names in the Hawkins Survey has its own history and relevance to the war and there is no mystery behind some of them.
Owen is named after noted hydrographer Admiral William Fitz William Owen, who later trained Henry Wolsey Bayfield, another highly regarded hydrographer for which Bayfield Street is named.
“Bayfield was one of the great hydrographers. His charts were used right up to the 1950s and 1960s,” said Rudachyk.
Mulcaster is named for British naval officer Captain William Howe Mulcaster, who was very active - and injured - in campaigns during the war and who eventually became aide-de-camp for King William IV.
Worsley got its name for the accomplishments of Commander Miller Worsley of the Royal Navy, who saw much action during the war, but is best known for his efforts in August 1814 when American forces attacked the British schooner Nancy at what is now Wasaga Beach. He later helped capture two American schooners.
British Royal Navy officer Commander Hugh Clapperton commanded a gun boat during the War of 1812, but his greatest contributions may have been as an African explorer after the war.
Just exactly who Dunlop Street is named after is a bit of a mystery, Rudachyk says.
“Dunlop is an interesting story. Is it for Dr. William Tiger Dunlop? Or his older brother Robert?”
British Royal Navy Captain Robert Dunlop emigrated to Canada with his “more colourful younger brother” the doctor, Rudachyk says, adding that William Tiger - who wore many hats in his day - was actually tasked in 1814 and 1815 to lay out Penetanguishene Road “and almost froze to death.”
“I’m guessing it’s for Tiger Dunlop, but it could also be named for his brother Robert who also served in the War of 1812.”
In the 1830s, Dunlop Street was directly beside the shores of Kempenfelt Bay so there was no south side of the roadway and no railroad tracks at the time. The locomotives from nearby communities would arrive soon enough after much fill - some of dubious quality - was dumped into the lake to beef up the track bed.
“They sunk an old steamer to help fill (an area) in so they could run the track,” Rudachyk said.
Street names hold a special allure, he added.
“It’s important to think long and hard about how you name your streets,” he said, adding once a street name’s relevance is known it can be a “portal” to a wider historical understanding.
“Who are these people? Why were they so honoured? What was important, special or unique about them, their place in time and their accomplishment? The names bring history to life,” Rudachyk said.
Streetwise in Barrie is available at the Barrie Public Library.
