The first settler in the area was probably John Scott from Aberdeen, Scotland. After being widowed, John had immigrated to William Dickson's new Dumfries Township in 1817 with his only child, his son John Jr. Soon after, the Scotts moved to the Etobicoke Creek just northeast of what is now the Four Corners of Brampton. Here he carved out a farm from the wilderness and built a mill and other businesses. In 1819, John Lynch and his sister Mary arrived from Cornwall after emigrating from the US earlier. The Lynches settled near the Scotts and became close neighbours. So much so that John Scott Sr. married Mary Lynch and began a second family. Three sons of the second family became well-known: Alexander became Peel County's first judge, David became Chief Justice of Alberta, and William became an MP.

When Samuel Kenny arrived at the future site of Brampton in about 1820, the area was low, swampy, and covered with a dense hardwood forest. He eventually sold his land there to John Elliott, a native of Brampton in the county of Cumberland, England. Elliott laid out village lots and named the place after his home town.

In 1822, Martin Salisbury opened a tavern in what is now the north end of Main Street. This was used for many years as a community centre. Shortly after, William Buffy opened a tavern at what is now the Four Corners (Queen and Main) but was then called Buffy's Corners.

About 1858, the Grand Trunk Railway built a line through Brampton and with it came business. The Haggert Foundry built farm machinery and stoves, and the Dale Estate Nurseries grew flowers, especially hybrid roses and orchids. Brampton became known as the Flower Town.

Today, Brampton is one of Ontario's largest cities with a wide industrial base and a growing population of about 300,000. The city is trying to regain its name as the Flower Town of Ontario and you can see the results in the beds of flowers at most major intersections throughout the city. Brampton has become a site for the motion picture industry and residents are no longer surprised to see large trucks around the historic buildings across from City Hall on Main Street.

Places to see in Brampton:

• Old Peel County Courthouse, Main St

  Old Peel County Courthouse

  This building and its neighbour, the Jail, form the heart of the Heritage Complex of Brampton. The Courthouse was built in 1866 when Brampton became the county town for Peel County. It originally looked over the Etobicoke River, but the river was diverted after the massive flooding caused by Hurricane Hazel. The building's copula may once have been gilded. Here is where Judge Alexander Forsyth Scott, son of the founder of Brampton, old Judge John Scott, presided as Peel's first judge.

• Old Jail, Main St

  Old Brampton Jail

  In contrast to the grand style of the Courthouse, the Jail, built in 1867, is a simple, square, stone building with small barred windows.

• Old Fire Hall, 2 Chapel St

  Old Fire Hall

  The Fire Hall was built about 1854 as the Market Hall with six stalls on the ground floor. The tower was added in 1862. In addition to being a market hall and a fire hall, it was also used as a town hall for a period in the late 1800s.

• Dominion Building, Queen St

  Dominion Building

  Built about 1888 as Brampton's Post Office and Customs House, this building has also been used as a police station and a pub. The lantern and copula were added in 1906 and the clock tower in 1914. Getting to the clock to rewind it was a considerable chore, involving ladders, small openings, and awkward twisting turns for the operator.

• St Paul's United Church, 30 Main St South

  St Paul's Church

  Built as the Second Primitive Methodist Church about 1866, St Paul's is a massive brownstone church located in the Heritage Complex. Its front has a lopsided look with one tower being much larger than the other.

• Boyle House, 44 Main St South

  Boyle House

  Like a rose between two thorns, the Boyle House is sandwiched between St Paul's Church and the First Baptist Church. The house, built about 1855, pre-dates both churches. It was for many years the manse for St Paul's, but earlier was the residence of a pharmacist, Edgar Walker Boyle.

• First Baptist Church, 48 Main St South

  First Baptist Church

  This is another massive church. It was built about 1876 and has recently been restored after a fire.

• The Castle, 34 Church St West

  The Castle

  This copy of an English manor house was built in 1853 by George Wright, who came to Canada from Northern Ireland. The house was the boyhood home of former Ontario premier, William Davis. The front is still recognisable from old photographs but the stonework has been covered with siding. The turret that gave the building its name is long gone. The wonderful staircase is still there as you can see if you go in the front door.

  Staircase in The Castle

   

• Alderlea

  Alderlea

  Alderlea was built by industrialist Kenneth Chisholm about 1864. It was later owned by Sir William Gage, who donated part of the land to Brampton to become Gage Park. The building has been bought by the City of Brampton and will be restored to its former glory.

• The Old Scott Farmhouse, 80 Church Street East

  The Old Scott Farmhouse

  Although there is no record ditrectly connecting this building with John Scott, this building is shown on the 1857 map of Brampton as part of John Scott Sr.'s farm. The building is of the style used in the period 1830-60 and so is probably Scott's farmhouse. If so, the original frame building was covered with a brick facing before 1870 and has been covered with siding since then. Here is where the famous Scott brothers were probably born: Alexander and David, both judges; William, Mayor of Peterborough and M.P. for West York; and Andrew, a surveyor.

• The Judge A.F. Scott House, 38 Scott Street, and the Lillie May Kee House, 42 Scott Street

  Judge A.F. Scott House

  When Alexander Scott married in 1858, he and his bride moved into their new house on what was to become the Crescent, a fashionable street with large houses. Their house was originally quite modest but was made more luxurious over the years. The front entrance has wonderful stained glass windows and transom, with hand-painted panels. This would have been Alexander's home in the 1861 census, in which Scott's house was described as brick with two storeys. In 1919, this house was owned by Mrs. Blanche Chantler, wife of Milton Chantler, a prominent businessman. Blanche was very ill and so Milton decided that he needed to have his mistress, Lillie May Kee, closer to his side. So he built a house for her next door at what is now 42 Scott Street. Later that year, Blanche died, so Milton and Lillie May were able to be married.

  Lillie May Kee