Main Street in Georgetown, Ontario, is the historic heart of this charming community in the Town of Halton Hills. Although the street itself is not long, its history reflects the early development and growth of Georgetown. From modest mill beginnings in the 1820s and 1830s, the area evolved into a thriving 19th-century commercial centre by the late 1800s—much of which can still be seen today.
The origins of Georgetown date back to the early 1820s when George Kennedy, for whom the town is named, settled in the area.
Recognizing the potential of Silver Creek as a power source, Kennedy built mills that attracted workers and settlers. One of the earliest structures, a sawmill built by Charles Kennedy, stood near what is now the intersection of Main Street and Wildwood Road. Around these mills, a small settlement known as “Hungry Hollow” began to take shape along the creek.
A major turning point came in 1837 when the Barber brothers William and James purchased land and a woolen mill and foundry from Kennedy. They renamed the settlement Georgetown, marking the beginning of more organized development. Over the following years, Main Street emerged as the community’s central roadway. In the 1850s, George Kennedy subdivided much of his land into town lots and laid out new streets, some named after his children. This planning helped establish the downtown grid centered on Main Street and nearby Church Street, the oldest part of the community.
Growth accelerated in 1856 with the arrival of the Grand Trunk Railway, which connected Georgetown to larger markets and encouraged industry and trade. By the 1850s and 1860s, Main Street had become lined with businesses, shops, and small factories. Early enterprises included carriage builders Culp and Mackenzie, who opened on Main Street in 1860, and the Creelman brothers, who began manufacturing knitting machines in 1876.
As the town expanded, Georgetown officially incorporated as a village in 1865 and later became a town in 1922.
Main Street remained the focal point of civic and commercial life. Important institutions were located there as well, including the Georgetown Herald newspaper, founded in 1866, which operated an office on Main Street around 1900.
Today, many historic buildings from this period still stand along Main Street, preserving the character and heritage of Georgetown’s earliest days.
The original black-and-white photographs have been digitally restored and colorized!
Georgetown Main Street 1870
