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Floradale is a "compact rural community" located in Woolwich Township in Waterloo County in southwestern Ontario. In 1973 Waterloo County became the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and Woolwich Township increased its area by amalgamating the eastern side of Waterloo Township, the section that was not swallowed up by the Cities of Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge. [edit] History
Although the land on which Floradale is located was purchased by prospective settlers in 1808, there was no significant development until a flour mill and sawmill were built in the later part of the 1800s. In subsequent years, other businesses, including a general store, flax mill, blacksmith shop, and cider mill, served the needs of the village and the surrounding rural area. The early inhabitants of the area established Mennonite, Lutheran, and Evangelical churches. In 1910 Daniel Bowman, the then owner of the flour mill, built a wooden dam across Canagagigue Creek to create the Floradale mill pond. Because the dam was too high, causing flooding problems upstream, it was replaced in 1914 by a crescent-shaped cement dam, one of the first. A millrace was constructed under the road to direct the water to the flour mill to operate the overshot water wheel. In 1964, the millrace was filled in when water was no longer the major source of power. Although the mill is no longer in operation, a hole in the building’s north wall allows visitors to view the working equipment of what is thought to be Ontario’s last overshot water wheel. The mill is located at 2239 Floradale Road. Floradale was originally called Musselman after Jacob Musselman, a Pennsylvania German and one of the first settlers. In 1863, the settlement was named Flora, and in 1876, 'dale' was added to avoid confusion with nearby Elora. [edit] Research TipsThe primary source for basic documents (vital statistics, land records, wills) for people who lived in the Province of Ontario is the Archives of Ontario, 134 Ian Macdonald Blvd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M7A 2C5. [edit] Early RecordsCivil registration did not begin in the province until 1869. Before then there may be church records of baptisms and burials. For the most part these are still held by the denomination who recorded them. Copies of marriage records made pre-1869 had to be sent by individual clergymen to the registrar of the county in which the marriage took place. These marriage records are available through Ontario Archives, on micorfilm through LDS libraries, and on paid and unpaid websites, but because they were copied at the registrars' offices, they cannot be considered a primary source. [edit] Vital Records after 1869Birth, marriage and death registrations are not open to the public until a specific number of years after the event occurred. Births to 1915 are now available [October 2014]; dates for marriages and deaths are later. Birth and death registration was not universally carried out in the early years after its adoption. Deaths were more apt to be reported than births for several years. The more rural the area, the less likely it would be that these happenings were reported to the authorities.
[edit] Land Records and WillsInformation on how to access land records and wills is best sought on the Archives of Ontario website. An ancestor's land holding might be found on Canadian County Atlas Digital Project if he was in occupancy circa 1878. Association for the Preservation of Ontario Land Registry Office Documents (APOLROD). A list of Land Registry Offices for all Counties of Ontario. [edit] CensusesThe original censuses are in the hands of Library and Archives Canada, known to Canadians as "LAC". Copies of original microfilms are online at the LAC website for all censuses up to 1921. Each census database is preceded with an explanation of the geographical area covered, the amount of material retained (some census division material has been lost), the questions on the census form, and whether there is a name index. Census divisions were redrawn as the population increased and more land was inhabited. [edit] Hard-to-Find Places
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