CENTRE WELLINGTON - The Township of Centre Wellington's research on the Pierpoint settlement finally commences as a way of further understanding the significance of the settlement.
"Pierpoint is recognized as the earliest known non-Indigenous settlement within Centre Wellington. It is associated with the early Black Canadian community and is a significant piece of the township’s history and to the history of Black Canadians," stated in a township press release.
"While much is already known about Richard Pierpoint, who was designated a national historic person by Parks Canada in 2020, the township is interested in further developing our understanding of the Pierpoint settlement."
In March, the township recognized 18 significant cultural heritage landscapes identified in the cultural heritage landscape (CHL) study and inventory. The Pierpoint settlement was considered as a potential CHL as part of this study and inventory.
However, given that physical evidence associated with the settlement has yet to be uncovered, and its precise historical location is still unknown, the Pierpoint settlement was not identified as CHL at that time, despite it being associated to Richard Pierpoint.
Due to this, Archaeological Services Inc. (ASI) has been retained to complete additional research to further understand Pierpoint’s history, location, and significance and to determine appropriate protection, interpretation, and commemoration strategies to recognize and broaden awareness of Pierpoint’s history.
The Official Plan amendment is considered the first and top priority to officially recognize the 18 CHLs. The goal is to establish general policies for these CHLs as an interim measure until more detailed heritage management and protection work can be completed.
Once more information is found and researched and the Pierpoint settlement is determined as a CHL, heritage management and protection work can be implemented on the settlement, which could help protect from future development such as the proposed truck bypass route.
The Centre Wellington Transportation Master Plan proposed a truck bypass route in 2019 that included the construction of a new bridge across the Grand River which is suggested to link Wellington Road 29 and Anderson Street, north of Wellington Road 18.
“This is our opportunity to thoroughly research and understand the early Pierpoint settlement and its history in Centre Wellington," said Mayor Kelly Linton in the press release.
“As part of the research, we are now reaching out to our community and asking our residents and the broader public to share information regarding the Pierpoint settlement that will assist in our overall goal in ensuring significant cultural heritage resources in our community are recognized.”
The release also stated the township understands that various individuals, academics, authors, institutions, and organizations may be able to provide information as it undertakes additional historical research into the settlement and its early settlers.
"While ASI will be reaching out to many stakeholders identified to date, we are looking to the public to provide us with any additional information that may be useful for this project."
For more information on the Pierpoint Settlement Research Project, to share information with staff, or to learn more about the Centre Wellington Cultural Heritage Landscape Study & Inventory, please visit www.connectcw.ca.
