Ponsonby

Ponsonby was situated along the Garafraxa Settlement Road (which led from Hamilton to Owen Sound via Guelph) to an area known as the "Queens Bush". This settlement road was another government plan to bring settlers to the area (with an offer of 50 acres). Tne name Garafraxa is said to be a corruption of the word Sassafrax, a shrub that grew in the district. Others believed it was from an Indian word meaning 'panther country'.

Charles Rankin surveyed the Garafraxa Road about 1840 however the road did not become well populated until the 1850's. Ponsonby was another of many small towns in which travellers could stop and rest for the night. The original name of the town was Thorpville however it was changed in 1863 when James Halley took over the post office.

In 1867, a new hotel has been built by George Hurst.

By 1895 the village contained a wagon maker and blacksmith (John Maitland), another wagon maker (John Newman) and a storekeeper/postmaster (James Halley). In 1913 the post office closed and by 1925 the store was demolished.

An 1871-72 directory shows the following people living there and their occupations:
Richard Avis - carpenter
John Green - JP Farmer
James L. Halley - Postmaster/general store
John Maitland - Wagonmaker/blacksmith
William Michie - Wagonmaker
John Newman - Wagonmaker
W.B. Telfer - Farmer
Donald Wallace
Hugh Wallace - Farmer

As with many towns, Ponsonby's population began to decline when the state of the roads improved and overnight stops were no longer necessary.

Location: Ponsonby is on Wellington Road 7 in Wellington County, north of Guelph. If you continue down this road after leaving Ponsonby, you'll eventually come to Parker, another ghost town. If you come to an intersection (at Wellington Road 7) which has arrows pointing to Arthur and Macton respectively, you are already in Parker. George Hirst's hotel now operates as a bed and breakfast.