Ancaster is a suburban community southwest of Hamilton, Ontario, with which it amalgamated in 2001.
History
It was surveyed as Ancaster Township in the 1790s, attached variously to Nassau District, Home District, York County (West Riding) and Halton County. Finally, in 1851, it was attached to Wentworth County and its successors where it remains today. It was one of the three original potential capitals of Upper Canada with a strong defensible position and close to water but ended up being too close to the American border.
Its pioneer settlers deforested the land and planted crops for subsistence agriculture. For a century it was an unimposing gristmill hamlet and police village. The mill was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. It now operates as the Ancaster Old Mill, a restaurant and banquet hall popular for wedding receptions. The Barracks of 1812 still stand on Wilson Street as a reminder of the war of 1812 between the British and Americans. Some fine examples of Victorian architecture are also located on Wilson Street, amongst them is the imposing Richardson residence, now the home of The Spa at Ancaster, which was built in 1872 as a wedding present for Dr Henry Richardson.
The Hermitage is a popular site in Ancaster. This historic house was once the property of Reverend George Sheed in 1830. Since then the house has changed ownership many times before burning to the ground in 1934. The shell of the old house and surrounding buildings can still be visited today. One of the main draws of this old property is the legend of the property being haunted. There are ghost tours run throughout the summer with the tour guides telling haunted stories of the land and the surrounding county.
Sports and Nature
The Hamilton Golf and Country Club was founded in 1894 and was originally sited beside the Hamilton Jockey Club (now Centre Mall), moving to Ancaster in 1916. It hosted the PGA tour in 2003 and again in 2006.
The Hamilton Conservation Authority (sometimes in conjunction with the City of Hamilton) operates several sites in Ancaster. Fieldcote Memorial Park and Museum showcases local history (including the area's participation in the Underground Railway), fine arts, gardens and walking paths.
The Bruce Trail snakes through Ancaster as it links Queenston with Tobermory. The famous walking path goes through part of the Dundas Valley Conservation Area and crosses the Hamilton to Brantford Rail Trail. These offer four seasons recreation for walkers, cyclists, horse riders, snowshoers and cross country skiers.
The Ancaster Rotary Center is an addition to Morgan Firestone Arena. It includes a full size gym, workout complex, and many rooms which are usable for rent or camps in the summer. It also contains various sporting events. The entire complex is surrounded by four baseball diamonds and five soccer fields, four of which are for younger children and are all owned by the Ancaster Youth Soccer Club.
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