Simcoe, ON Community Guide 2022

Historical Facts

+ One of the town's notable landmarks is the Norfolk County Memorial Tower, which commemorates the lives of Canadians who died for Canada in conflicts overseas. The Memorial Tower overlooks scenic Wellington Park, a public greenspace that includes walking paths and a waterway system with a small lake, close to the downtown core. + The historic Molson Bank operated here from May 1898 until sometime in the 1920s when the Bank of Montreal took over the building. Alterations made to the building within those decades would allow twice as much banking to take place. + A country club was established in Simcoe by Duncan Campbell in 1895 called the Norfolk County Golf and Country Club. It originally excluded ladies from membership and hard liquor from being consumed until 1912 when the club had to get incorporated. This country club still stands today, and visitors are encouraged to acquire memberships before playing golf. + One of the earliest manufacturers to operate in Simcoe is the West & Peachey Company, an equipment and boiler maker company that invented an amphibious steamboat called an Alligator. Known as an alligator boat, this was used by logging companies all over Eastern North America in 1878. + In 1929, American Can Company began its manufacturing operations in Simcoe. During the 42 years that it was operating, this metal-can manufacturing plant employed many local residents. At its prime, American Can Company employed 605 male employees and 39 female employees with highly competitive wages. During WWII, the Simcoe plant employed many women on a full- time basis, due to the shortage of men who had gone off to fight in the war. The plant continued to produce cans for the food industry, along with specialized packaging needed for the war effort.

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Simcoe Community Guide