Note: The opinions expressed on this website are those of the author. It is best to gather information from several sources before making a decision to purchase rural property, and this website does not purport to discuss all the issues that might arise. This information is provided on a "use at your own risk" basis and the author assumes no liability for subsequent use of the information provided here. |
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LIFE IN THE VILLAGES
In pioneer times and through to the introduction
of cars and trucks in the early 1900's, people who lived
in the country had to use horses and wagons to make the
trip to their local village when they needed supplies. As
a result, if you look at our modern maps, you can usually
find these villages spaced about 15 - 25Km apart. the reason? That meant that you could use the horse and wagon, get to town, do your shopping, and return home easily in the same day. While some of these small villages have passed into obscurity, many are
still thriving centres of the communities that surround them.
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Stirling. Ontario, from Tuftsville Rd. |
Life is different in the villages ... a little more relaxed
... and it is still possible to wander into shops built in
the 1800's, or stop to chat with residents who sit
on the park benches installed along the sidewalks. |
Downtown Stirling, Ontario |
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
* Regardless of its size, you can always count on local villages
in our area (southern Ontario) to have two valuable community
assets -
a hockey arena, and a fairgrounds.
* While the services offered by these villages are extremely
diverse, there will be times when you will need to go to a
larger centre to do some shopping. You should
decide what you consider to be a reasonable distance to travel
before you start looking for properies.
Many villages are located
in the range of 5 - 35 minutes away from cities that offer
box stores and a complete range of services. In addition, you
will find that it often takes no longer to travel 10 Km in
the country that it does to go 1 Km in heavy city traffic.
Having
both types of centres available is an ideal situation, so there are
many people who work in the cities, but prefer to live in the villages
and rural countryside.
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Downtown Madoc, Ontario
Each
village has its own character, and it is important to find
one that compliments your interests.
Nearby, we have one
village that offers boutique shopping, high
quality stage productions, an excellent library, and a great agricultural museum. (Stirling, Ontario)
Covered Bridge, Stirling.
Ontario
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Another local
village provides great facilities for growing
families: easy access to a sizable lake for boating and
waterskiing, both a public school and a high school, a
swimming pool, and an excellent park complex with one of the best skateparks around, as well as a bunny skatepark, splashpad, activity centre for kids, and a cultural centre with a stage. (Madoc, Ontario)
In other words, the local villages are developing individual identiites, and each of them has something special to offer. There are a lot of people who don't mind working in nearby cities, but prefer the quieter life of a village setting for their homes.
Family Boating, Quinte Area |
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