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Lambton Woods
takes its name from the Village of Lambton Mills, a major 19th century
community at the crossing of the Humber River and Dundas Street
West. Originally the settlement was known as Cooper's Mill after
William Cooper's Grist and Saw Mill, built in 1806 on the east bank
of the river. To commemorate a visit in 1838 by John George Lambton,
first Earl of Durham, the name was changed to the "Village of Lambton
Mills". Cooper's Mill was rebuilt into the Lambton Mill.
By 1857, the
Village of Lambton Mills contained about 500 people and began to
identify the entire community at Dundas Street and the Humber River.
Earlier, the community on the west bank was frequently referred
to as Milton Mills, although Milton Mill (owned by Thomas Fisher)
was further downstream in what is now Home Smith Park. Lambton Mills
was served by a church, school, and post office which received mail
daily. It became an important commercial centre that included stores,
a variety of milling operations, taverns, and hotels. Within ten
years the population had declined to 250 people as steam-powered
mills replaced the water-powered mill. Although technological change
was detrimental to the community, Lambton Mills continued well into
the next century.
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