Name derivations continued from last newsletter
(former) DOVER TOWNSHIP:
PAINCOURT (Winter Line at Paincourt Line) Post office established in 1880 and first named Dover South with C. Barillier first postmaster. On April 1, 1911 present name officially adopted, derived from literal French "pain" (bread) and "court" (short) depicting hardships faced by early French-Catholic settlers. Hamlet also known as "Immaculate Conception," a name rejected by many due to strict religious connotation. In a rich agricultural area, commercial activity exists, post office remains and large church, hall and accompanying rectory mark architectural beauty. The fourth church on the site, it was built in 1911.
GRANDE POINTE (Winter Line at St. Philippe Line) Post office established January 7, 1964, first post- master Joseph W. Benoit. Volunteer Fire Department established in 1953 under fire chief Lionel Benoit. Rich agricultural area, St. Philippe Church and accompanying rectory and hall still remain. With the recent amalgamation, Paincourt and Grande Pointe share the parish priest who resides in Paincourt and the business administration is done out of the Grande Pointe parish. The church was rebuilt in 1950, originally built in 1882.
(former) CHATHAM TOWNSHIP:
TUPPERVILLE (Starkweather Line at John Park Line, south of Sydenham River) Originally known as Starkweather's Corners, but known by present name for many years, becoming official in 1950 when accepted by Canadian Board of Geographical Names. Named for Sir Charles Tupper (1821-1915) who was Canadian Prime Minister for 10 weeks in 1896. Post office opened in 1883 with Samuel Sutor first postmaster.
SYDENHAM RIVER - Not to be confused with another river with the same name in Central Ontario, the native name was "Jonquakamik". Once busy with commercial navigation during logging period and into the industrial era, it is the only river running through Lambton County not given a French name. The river was named by Charles Edward Poulette-Thompson, Governor-General of Canada (1838-1841), his title, "Lord Sydenham" in England.
CHENAL ECARTE RIVER - Locally known as the"Snye" River which allegedly is a pronunciation corruption carried over from an earlier period. It is a deep, quick moving body of fresh water connecting the St. Clair River with Lake St. Clair. With a literal translation of "blank channel" it was apparently named by Jesuit missionaries while another theory gives credit to the French explorer Sieur de la Salle who sailed on the body of water during his quest for waterways passage west.
JOHNSTON'S CHANNEL - A branch of the Chenal Ecarte which leads to Lake St. Clair through the marshy areas of the St. Clair Flats. Named for James Johnston, son of Earl of Selkirk's shepherd, an original 1804 Baldoon settler who helped drive a flock of sheep from Queenston to Baldoon. Mainland area (now Shiloh Park) where Johnston's Channel and Chenal Ecarte converge once known as Johnston's Point, later developed as Mirwin's Park.
FAWN ISLAND - Once a heavily wooded island in the St. Clair River south of Sombra, early habitation found a dance hall and hotel located on the north side. Originally part of the Walpole Island territory, the island was called "Eagle" by the Ojibwa nation. For a number of years it was known as "Woodtick" Island with this name appearing on charts. With ownership changing hands many times, in 1955, Wallaceburg developer, Jack Thompson, began buying up portions of the island, turning it into an exclusive summer resort which it is today. Two inner channels were dredged named for early residents George Robertson and Richard Gates. The name "Fawn" was given due to the large number of young deer that once inhabited the nature area.
OTTER CREEK - A narrow, meandering body of water connected to the north branch of the Sydenham River, the name is derived from the large number of otters that once inhabited its banks.
Al Mann