Arkona must be proud of herself. This small scale town is located between Thedford and Watford is still up and running despite all the obstacles that threatens its existence over the years.
Some sixteen thousand years ago, the Wisconsin glacier retreated, leaving a suitable site for settlers at the base of Wyoming Moraine. This place was situated beside the shores of Lake Arkona, thus enhancing the chances of it being inhabited. Over the years, there is evidence that there are human settlements around Arkona and its surrounding territories but it was one family who ultimately changed Arkona.
Meet Asa Townsend, the first known individual who put his feet down on the ground of Arkona and proudly declare, “This will be my home.” Along with him were his dearest beloved wife and a son. They settled down in 1821 at the banks of the Aussable River.
As luck would have it, another family moved into the settlements in 1833. Harriet (Smith) Utter and her husband was the first Euro Canadian of Arkona. Soon after that, they were joined in by many brothers and sisters of the Smith and Eastman families. Slowly but surely, Arkona is growing. By the 1870s, its population grew to 700, which is quite impressive from such humble beginnings.
With hopes of drawing a railway to the place, more people started to make Arkona as their home. However, luck was not at their side and the failure of building a railway at their settlement led to a decline of its settlers. Perhaps it was fate that Arkona was not to have a railway. Despite this, Arkona was important to the surrounding rural farming districts. Many important industries such as a basket factory, apple evaporator and mills were one of the reasons that it was still inhabited at that time. Almost every country was affected by World War II.
Arkona was not excluded. Schools were closed and the children had to do their lessons in the Bosanquet Township Central School. Due to its small but closely knitted community, religion plays an important role in securing their social attitudes. Arkona Baptist Church and Arkona United Church (a merged between Arkona’s Episcopal Church and Wesleyan Methodist Church) was the endeavoring hope for the 500 plus residents.
Arkona is a town that has beaten all odds. Despite the loss of many local enterprises, it is still the proud owner of a dental office, optometrists, a clinic, a grocery store and a few retail outlets. However, it is undoubtedly famous for its multiple fruit orchards that are grown within the vicinity. Tourists head down to Arkona to get some of the freshest and best tasting fruits in Ontario.
Apart from that, Rock Glen Falls and Conservation area is a proud historical site for the town. Once the site of Rock Glen Power Company’s generator and dam, it supplied electricity to the whole community. However, it was destroyed when it was taken over by Ontario Hydro.
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