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Historic Hamlet

Glen Williams is a historic hamlet located along the base the Niagara Escarpment. Founded in 1825, many of the buildings here are original, often dating to the 1840s and 1850s; several are included in The Canadian Register of Historic Places (CRHP).

The dominant feature of Glen Williams is the Credit River as it snakes it way through the village. This is only fitting since the industries that once dominated this village were founded on the power of the waters of the Credit.

Esquesing Historical Society
All photos on this page courtesy of the Esquesing Historical Society Collection
Esquesing Historical Society

Benajah Williams

In 1825, Benajah Williams and his wife, Elizabeth Kennedy, brought their large family to  Esquesing Township. As in most emerging settlements, the power of the local stream, in this case the Credit River, was used to run saw and flour mills. But for the local farmers, the Williams were more than just millers. They were blacksmiths (Joel Williams), cabinetmakers (Isaac Williams), leather tanners (David Williams), and general store (Charles Williams). Since Benajah had run a textile mill in the Niagara peninsula before moving to the Credit, it was natural for his son Jacob to open a woollen mill here in 1839.

Wheeler children on Prince Street, framed building on left was the school house until 1873. c.1908

c. 1908 Wheeler children on Prince Street

The framed building on left was the schoolhouse until 1873.

Wheeler's General Store in Glen Williams. 1913

c.1913 Wheeler's Store on Main Street

Carriage and team of horses posed in front of Wheeler’s store

Wheeler’s General Store

The settlement which grew up around all this activity was known locally as Williamsburgh until 1852. Postal authorities refused to give the community a post office unless its name was unique so it became Glen Williams (as there was already a Williamsburgh settlement on the St. Lawrence River). Although Charles Williams would be the first postmaster, Wheeler’s General Store (The Copper Kettle Pub today) was where generations of residents in the Glen went for their mail.

1850’s Glen Williams

William Alexander opened a hotel in the village in 1848 (now a private residence). Besides Charles Williams’ saw and flour mills, the woollen mills and the tannery, there were cabinet makers, pump makers, shingle makers, Joseph Tweedle’s and Archibald Cooper’s saw mills, and Leslie’s brickyards. The village even purchased its own fire engine in 1856 (only to see it destroyed in a fire ten years later!).

Hotel of Thomas J. Hill, Main Street 1910

c. 1910 Main Street Hotel

Hotel of Thomas J. Hill, a popular drinking hole

View of village taken from hill behind Prince St. (about 7a Prince St.) Hotel at centre right. Beaumont home at centre left. c.1908

c. 1908 View of village taken from hill behind Prince St.

Hotel at centre right. Beaumont home at centre left.

Beaumont Knitting Mill

The former Beaumont Knitting Mill still stands on the north edge of the village. Built by Samuel Beaumont in 1882 it replaced the converted saw mill he acquired from Joseph Tweedle several years before.

Photo Left c.1914: Main Street looking towards Wheeler’s store.

Glen Williams: An Oasis in the Credit Valley

A history of Glen Williams written by John Mark Rowe entitled Glen Williams: An Oasis in the Credit Valley is available at:

You may also be interested in the following publications:

Down In The Glen (.pdf)

A publication by Richard E. Ruggle (Rector of the Church of St. Alban the Martyr) for the Glen Williams Cemetery Board – 1978

Historic Glen Williams(.pdf)

An article by local historian Mark Benbow Rowe for the Esquesing Historical Society