How Dundas & Hurontario Looked Back in the Day

Cooksville became a hub of commercial activity in early Toronto Township (now the City of Mississauga), as it was centered on the intersection of two important early roads, Dundas Street and Hurontario Street (locally known as Centre Road).

The village of Cooksville was originally known as "Harrisville", named after its first settler Daniel Harris, who arrived in 1808. Jacob Cook arrived in 1819. By 1820 Cook was awarded a contract to carry mail between York and Niagara and was operating a stagecoach service throughout much of Upper Canada. He was awarded a tavern liscence in 1829, and promptly built an inn.

The village was renamed "Cooksville" in 1836. Over time the four corners of Cooksville were home to the Cooksville House Hotel (built 1852, demolished 1954), the Revere House (Ward's drugstore and general store, built circa 1830, demolished circa 1965) and the McClelland-Copeland General Store (built 1852, Cooksville's oldest surviving building).

Cooksville - British America Gas Station and relocated General Store, SE Corner 1936

Cooksville - Copeland General Store - SE Corner and intersection, 1912

Cooksville - Copeland-McClelland Store, looking south along Hurontario Street, c1900

Cooksville - Dundas Looking West, c1950

Cooksville - Dundas Street, looking east, intersection of 5 and 10, c1900

Cooksville - Dundas Street, looking west, Cooksville House and Revere House, 1913

Cooksville - Four Corners, c1940

Cooksville - Four Corners, Dundas Street looking east, c1910

Cooksville - NW Corner, Revere House Hotel - Ward’s Drugstore, c1930

Cooksville House Hotel - NE Corner - c1910

All images are courtesy of Heritage Mississauga.