A BRIEF HISTORY OF PIERCE'S CORNERS

Prepared by Marcia M. Render for the Rideau Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee. Summer,  1980

Marlborough Township

Pierce's Corners is located in what was originally Marlborough Township. The township was first surveyed and laid out by Theodore Christian DePencier, who commenced the work on Friday August I9, I79I, and finished it on the 3Ist. of the same month.

The Burritt family were the first to settle in Marlborough, and for many years the history of that whole section of county was more or less the history of that family, whose position was the most prominent and whose influence most wisely exerted and most beneficially felt, of any or all the other settlers who came into its limits.

On the I9th of April I793, three brothers of the Burritt family, Stephen, Edmund and Daniel, came from the St. Lawrence front, where they had fled from their former home in Connecticut after the close of the Revolutionary war. They settled, the two former on Lot 26 and 22 respectively in Concession I. As soon as Daniel came of age in I?95, he drew land and settled upon Lot 25, Concession I.

With the Burritts came Ashel Hurd, a U.E. Loyalist from Arlington, Vermont. The Hurds and Burritts had become friends while serving together in General Burgoyne's army.

Theodore DePencier, who had surveyed the Township two years previousley by marking corners of lots around the outside limit, and running the lines of the first two Concessions, had already made a small clearing on Lot I8, Concession I, and built a shanty there. The lot was not settled upon until 1816, when his son Luke came and took possession of it the year after the American war.

Stephen Burritt Jr., was the first District Councillor. He represented the united townships of North Gower, South Gower, Marlborough, Oxford, Wolford, and Montague - all of which were then in the old Johnstown District, before the formation of the Bathurst District. The first regularly appointed Town Clerk was George L. Burritt (son of Daniel) when North Gower was still a part of the Municipality. The town meeting appointing him was held at Richard Olmstead's Tavern in 1823. This was the oldest public house in the County of Carleton, having been used as such from the time of Olmstead's settlement about 1796. The town meetings continued to be held here for many years, until the Township Hall was erected on Lot 9, Concession 5, by Robert Mackey. This was a commodious frame building costing between $600 and $800.

The Arrival of the Pierces

In 1826, John Pierce, from Ireland, settled on Lot 7, Con. 5, at which time his nearest neighbour, a man named Hicks was at Berry's on the River Road. Hicks subsequently returned to the United States. The Harbison's and Mackey's were among the next earliest settlers in the Pierce neighborhood.

One story (see the excerpt from the Tweedsmuir History of North Gower, below) is that two brothers, James and John Pierce were "giants" in the early settlement of Marlborough, and that they were both farmers and tavern-keepers. James had the south-eastern half of Lot 7 in Concession 5: John the south-eastern half of Lot 6, concession 5. Between the two ran the sideroad between Becket's Landing and Malakoff. In front of both farms ran the Concession Rd. Between 4 and 5, from the intersection of the two roads - an intersection known as Pierce's Corners - towards the south ran a road that pre-dated the official survey of 1791.

John Pierce, son of the original settler, John Pierce, was the first Reeve of Marlborough. His incumbancy of the office extended for a time, being succeeded by R. Mackey.

Building a Community - Education and Faith

The first school house in Marlborough Township, specially built as such was erected in 1822 on Lot 24, Concession 1, (Burritt's Rapids) and is still in use, but not as a school. The first teacher there was "Squire" Sowlers. He was not a professional teacher, but he held many classes and during the winter months, held classes at his own home.

The first church built in Malrborough Township was Christ Church, Anglican built at Burrits Rapids in 1831. The Rev. Henry Paton was the first clergyman who preached in it. The location of the church was Lot 25, Con. 1. The Victoria Methodist Church was located on Mackey's property about 2 miles away from Pierce's Corners.

People by the name of Moore once owned a hotel situated on the Harnett Road near the 3rd Concession Road. This hotel closed and became a private hame. The building was constructed of logs and is now covered over with Aluminum siding. The original structure has had many additions and changes made throughout the years as well as many different owners.

Marlborough Township Hall

On August 15, 1855, a contract was signed by Marlborough Township Reeve, William Mackey, and Robert Mackey, under the provisions of which Robert agreed to construct before Dec. 24 of that year a Township Hall on Lot 9, Con. 3. The hall was completed on schedule and Robert Mackey received a fee of $140. The hall served as a centre of community life for many years and in the autumn of 1933 was moved part way to its present location when complications arose and the building had to continue its journey in the spring of 1934. It is now widely used as a Recreation Centre for the area once known as Marlborough. Situated on Lot 7, Con. 4, this hall has the facilities for an outdoor skating rink in the winter, a baseball field for summer fun and a good hall for meetings and social gatherings of every kind.

Orange Hall

Originally the Orange Hall in Pierce's Corners, was built on Lot 6, Concession 4, approximately a ½ of a mile from the Pierce Road. For many years, as well as the regular lodge meetings, a Littany Society was run here during the winter months. The Littany Society included such things as plays and concerts every two weeks. In about 1938, land was bought for a dollar from Pierce's and the hall was moved to its present location. The Orange Lodge was No. 561 and was very active until 1968 when it amalgamated with the North Gower Lodge.

Hotels

According to one source, there were at one time two hotels located at Pierce's Corners. Information can only be obtained about the one owned and built by John Pierce in the late 1880's.