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On Wednesday, 13 February 2002, 370 ha (913 acres) of land at Cruickston
Park was sold to Cruickston Charitable Research Reserve (CCRR), a
not-for-profit organization, by Jan Chaplin and Mark Fretwurst to be preserved
for future generations.
The objectives of CCRR are:
- To preserve, protect, restore and improve the natural resources and environment of lands in the Regional
Municipality of Waterloo (“Region”)
- To encourage, promote and foster an understanding and awareness of the Region’s natural resources,
history and environment and their value in enhancing the public’s quality of life.
- To conduct research, seminars, interpretive activities, conferences and public forums about
the flora, fauna, agricultural practices, hydrology and geology of the Region.
- To preserve, protect, enhance and expand wildlife habitat in the Region.
- To promote the advancement of education in the Region and at Ontario institutions of higher education.
- To purchase, maintain and preserve historical buildings and archaeological sites in the Region and to display
such buildings and any artefacts which are discovered to the public.
Location:
Located at the confluence of the Grand and Speed Rivers, rare is in the heartland of the Grand River watershed –
the largest watershed that flows into Lake Erie on either the Canadian or American side. The property extends for
more than five kilometres along the banks of the Grand and Speed Rivers within both the Township of North Dumfries (population 9050)
and the City of Cambridge (population 115 000) which
lie within the Region of Waterloo (population 469 700)
one of the fastest growing areas in Canada. The 370-hectare (913 acres) property of natural and agricultural landscapes
abuts the City of Cambridge, forming a substantial green space separating the urban areas of Galt, Preston and Blair.
The size of the property makes it the largest urban green space in Canada – larger than Central Park in New York City
and twice the area of Mont Royal, Montreal.
You may visit the rare Administrative Centre (located at 1679 Blair Road, Cambridge [Map])
during business hours Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm to learn more about our programs, upcoming events
and meet the our small team of friendly staff. To experience rare, you may access our trails for a self-guided walk located
on the west-end of Blair Road, with parking available at the Grand Truck Trailhead at the George Street and Blair Road intersection [Map].
History:
The history of Cruickston goes back many thousands of years. Here, on the uplands and lowlands about
the confluence of the Grand and Speed Rivers, aboriginal peoples from the time of nomadic hunters and gatherers to
floodplain agriculturalists established seasonal campsites and a trail along what is now Blair Road. To date, a great
number of artifacts have been uncovered at a number of archeological campsites, burial sites, chipping stations and
lithic sites including projectile points, scrapers, corers and drill tips. Some artifacts may date back to 9500 Before Present.
Early European contact in the area in the late 1700s was by transient fur traders. Prior to 1800, one of the first settlers
in the region, fur trader Nathaniel Dodge, purchased land and built a cabin on what is now Cruickston
Charitable Research Reserve. Circa 1816, William Dickson and Absalom Shade, the early founders of Galt, spent a
night in the Dodge cabin. Close by, an old ford or river crossing near the confluence was in use until the 1820s.
Nathaniel Dodge and his wife are reported to be buried on their homestead.
The 1817 survey notes of land surveyor, Adrian Marlet who surveyed Dumfries township (today North and
South Dumfries), describe the forest in what is now Cruickston Charitable Research Reserve as consisting of “maple
and beech and elm”. Dutch elm disease has eliminated all of the large elms; however, the existing upland woods are
still dominated by sizeable sugar maple and American beech, demonstrating the long-term ecological stability of the
remaining upland forests.
In 1853, William Ashton purchased about 230 acres of land along the Galt-Blair Road. Because of the booming
local economy, Ashton believed that he would be raising cattle, operating a brewery, the foundation of which is still
visible today, and constructing a mansion. He is said to have named his property, Cruickston Park, in honour of the
Cruickston Castle, the ship that brought him from England. Within a few years, unfortunately, a downturn in
the economy left Ashton financially overextended and in 1858, he sold his property and dream to Matthew Wilks.
Wilks eventually completed the building of the mansion and accumulated lands for farming totalling about a
thousand acres on which he raised pure bred cattle.
Upon his death in 1899, his youngest daughter, Katherine Langdon Wilks,
assumed ownership of Cruickston Park and bred prize-winning horses. After her
death in 1948, her nephew Matthew Wilks Keefer updated the farm operation and
bred prized Hereford cattle. In 1968, Keefer gifted the estate to the
University of Guelph, which took possession of it on his death in 1973. In
1996, the University sold the manor house and 53 acres surrounding it to a
young couple from Cambridge, Jan Chaplin and Mark Fretwurst. In 2000, Jan and
Mark acquired the remaining lands of Cruickston Park in order to realize a
vision of conservation and education for this property. On 13 February, 2002,
370 ha (913 acres) of Cruickston Park were sold to Cruickston Charitable
Research Reserve by Jan and Mark, to be preserved for future generations to the
benefit of the citizens of the City of Cambridge and the Regional Municipality
of Waterloo.
Credits:
This presentation of Cruickston Charitable Research Reserve has been prepared by William G. Wilson,
Environmental Steward, and based upon the Environmental Management Plan, Cruickston Park – Into the
Future (2002), prepared by the Cruickston Park Ecological Advisory Team (CPEAT) – Kenneth W. Dance,
Lawrence E. Lamb, Douglas W. Larson and William G. Wilson – and Vision Statement (2001), prepared by Jan Chaplin
and Mark Fretwurst. At the same time, a Vision Presentation was prepared by Nicholas Hill, Heritage Architect
Planner. All landscape and plant photographs were taken within Cruickston Charitable Research Reserve
and all animal photographs are of species documented on the property and are credited to Thelma Beaubien,
Derek Hitchens, Larry E. Lamb, Donald J. Thomas, Heather G. Wilson and William G. Wilson. Historical
information has been collected from various local archival materials and publications including Archaeological
Research Associates Ltd., Petersburg, Ontario; Jim Quantrell, City of Cambridge Archives; Cruickston Park
Archives; and Ellis Little, Waterloo Historical Society.
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