The Deep South: Unearthing the Hidden History of Southwestern Ontario
Southwestern Ontario is often unfairly characterized as a monotonous stretch of farmland and wind turbines visible from the 401. However, for those who know where to look, this “peninsula within a peninsula” is a dense palimpsest of human struggle, ingenious engineering, and international intrigue.
Bordered by the turquoise waters of Lake Huron, the shallow temper of Lake Erie, and the industrial artery of the Detroit River, this region has served as the ultimate land bridge of North America. Here is a deep dive into the layers of history that built the “Deep South” of Canada.
1. The First Highways: Indigenous Trading Trails and the Longwoods Road
Long before the arrival of European surveyors, Southwestern Ontario was crisscrossed by a sophisticated network of trails established by the Attiwandaron (Neutral), Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples.
The most significant of these was the Longwoods Road. This trail followed the high ground between the Thames River and the Lake Erie shoreline, providing a dry, reliable route for trade and diplomacy. Today, if you drive Highway 2 between London and Windsor, you are essentially driving over a path that has been in continuous use for over a thousand years.
- The Neutral Confederacy: This region was once the heartland of the Neutral Nation, so named because they maintained peace between the warring Huron-Wendat and Iroquois. Their “forgotten villages” were massive, bark-covered longhouse settlements that dotted the Grand River and Thames River watersheds.
- The Council Stones: In various woodlots across Middlesex and Elgin counties, historians still find “trail trees”—maples or oaks bent at right angles as saplings to point the way toward water or sacred gathering sites.
2. A Theatre of War: The Bloodstained Routes of 1812
Southwestern Ontario was the most volatile frontier during the War of 1812. The geography made it a natural invasion route for American forces looking to strike at the heart of Upper Canada.
The Fall of Tecumseh
The Battle of the Thames (1813), located near present-day Moraviantown, changed the course of North American history. It was here that the visionary Shawnee leader Tecumseh was killed. The retreat of British General Procter from Amherstburg up the Thames River was a desperate trek through mud and forest—a route you can still follow today along River Line.
The Talbot Trail
Colonel Thomas Talbot, a mercurial and eccentric figure, was responsible for the settlement of much of the north shore of Lake Erie. His Talbot Road was a military necessity, ensuring that British troops could move quickly between Fort Erie and Fort Malden. The road was legendary for its difficulty, but it laid the foundation for every town from St. Thomas to Leamington.
3. The Rum-Runner’s Paradise: Prohibition and the “Whiskey Trench”
When the United States went “dry” in 1920, Southwestern Ontario became the world’s most important liquor depot. The proximity of Windsor to Detroit—separated only by the mile-wide Detroit River—created an irresistible economic opportunity.
The Purple Gang and the Export Docks
An estimated 75% of all illegal liquor supplied to the United States during Prohibition entered through the Windsor-Detroit funnel. Massive “export docks” lined the shores of Amherstburg, LaSalle, and Windsor. Local farmers and fishermen suddenly found themselves making more money in a single night of “rum-running” than they did in a year of honest labor.
The Winter “Ice Bridge”
In the winter, the smuggling didn’t stop. Brave (or reckless) drivers would take Model T Fords loaded with cases of Canadian Club whiskey across the frozen Lake St. Clair. They would drive with the doors tied open with rope; if the ice began to crack, the driver would leap out, letting the car—and the booze—sink to the bottom. Divers still find these “rum-runner wrecks” today.
4. The Ghost Towns of the Iron Horse
The late 19th century was the era of “Railway Mania.” Every small hamlet in Southwestern Ontario vied for a station, knowing that the “Iron Horse” meant the difference between prosperity and extinction.
The Canada Southern Railway (CASO)
St. Thomas was once known as the “Railway Capital of Canada.” At its peak, it was the junction for several major lines, including the Michigan Central and the London and Port Stanley Railway. However, when the steam era ended and highways took over, many smaller rail towns simply vanished.
- Indiana, Ontario: Once a thriving industrial town on the Grand River with over 400 residents, it was bypassed by the railway. Today, almost nothing remains but a cemetery and the haunting foundations of the Ruthven Estate.
- Port Royal: A bustling port on Lake Erie that once shipped millions of board-feet of timber, now reduced to a few quiet cottages and a memory.
5. The Graveyard of the Great Lakes: Lake Erie’s Secrets
Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes, which makes it prone to sudden, violent “white squalls.” The South coast of the peninsula is littered with over 2,000 shipwrecks.
The Long Point Trap
Long Point is a 40-kilometre sand spit that reaches out into the lake like a claw. Before the lighthouse was modernized, it acted as a ship-trap. Vessels carrying grain and coal from Chicago to Buffalo would get caught in the shifting sands during November gales.
- The Atlantic (1852): One of the most famous wrecks, a luxury steamship that sank after a collision. It is said to have been carrying a fortune in gold, leading to decades of treasure-hunting lore in the ports of Port Dover and Long Point.
6. The Underground Railroad: The Terminal of Freedom
We cannot discuss the hidden history of this region without acknowledging its role as the final destination for thousands of enslaved people escaping the United States via the Underground Railroad.
Southwestern Ontario wasn’t just a transit point; it was a sanctuary. Settlements like The Elgin Settlement (Buxton) and The Dawn Settlement (Dresden) were established as self-sustaining Black communities. Josiah Henson, whose life inspired Uncle Tom’s Cabin, lived and worked in Dresden. The geography of the Detroit and Niagara rivers provided the narrowest gaps for freedom seekers to cross into “British North America,” where slavery had been abolished.
Summary for the Modern Explorer
If you want to experience this history today, skip the 401. Instead:
- Drive the Talbot Trail (Highway 3) for the best views of the Erie “Graveyard” coast.
- Visit the Buxton National Historic Site to see the preserved history of the Underground Railroad.
- Explore Old Sandwich Towne in Windsor, where the buildings still bear the scars of the War of 1812 and the secrets of Prohibition.
Sources & Further Reading:
- Parks Canada: Fort Malden National Historic Site
- The Buxton National Historic Site & Museum
- Shipwrecks of Lake Erie – Save Ontario Shipwrecks
- The Archives of Ontario: The Talbot Papers
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