Cashel, Ontario is a small hamlet situated in Unionville, Ontario located at the intersection of Elgin Mills Road and York Regional Road 67. Originally it was called Crosby Corners after John Crosby (born 1797), the village's first store owner, who came originally from New York State. The name was changed to Cashel in 1851 with the opening of its first post office (located at southwest corner of Major Mackenzie and McCowan Road - now farmland). It was likely named after Cashel in Ireland. In 1851 the community had a sawmill, cobbler shop, blacksmith shop, wagon shop, inn and tavern, Masonic Lodge, and Presbyterian church.[1] In 1890 Peaches United Church was built on land from farmer Thomas Peach at 10762 McCowan Road.[2] The church is a historic site and not operating since the 1960s to 1970s, but cemetery remains in active use. The east west sideroad along the church was locally called Peaches (Peach's) Sideroad or otherwise known as Elgin Mills Road.
Cashel | |
|---|---|
Unincorporated community | |
 Aerial view of Cashel in 2023, some of the land being prepared to develop housing | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 43°54′56″N 79°19′21″W / 43.91556°N 79.32250°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| Regional municipality | York |
| City | Unionville |
| Elevation | 222 m (728 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 905 and 289 |
| NTS Map | 030M14 |
| GNBC Code | FAPGL |
There are few dwellings located at the site, most of them near York Regional Road 3, the western boundary of this community. Other parts of the community is mainly farmlands. Cashel's northern boundary is the town of Whitchurch–Stouffville. The community is home to the Markham Fairgrounds.[3]
The only reminder of Cashel is the Asa Henry Summerfeldt's 1860s British American Inn but built around 1851 by Robert McCormick opened by, now a private residence and before as Roadside Antiques.
Nearby communities
edit- Stouffville, north
- Quartztown, south
- Historical Village of Markham, south-east
- Angus Glen, south-west
- Victoria Square, west
- Uxbridge, east
References
edit- ^ For a fuller account of Cachel's history, cf. Isabel Champion, ed., Markham: 1793-1900 (Markham, ON: Markham Historical Society, 1979), pp. 233-235. See also the detailed 1878 map, "Township of Markham," Illustrated historical atlas of the county of York and the township of West Gwillimbury & town of Bradford in the county of Simcoe, Ont. (Toronto: Miles & Co., 1878).
- ^ "Graffiti cleaned from Peach's church cemetery".
- ^ Cf. I. Champion, ed., Markham: 1793-1900 (Markham, ON: Markham Historical Society, 1979), pp. 266-270.
