The historic hamlet of Burnhamthorpe was located at the corner of today's Burnhamthorpe Road and Dixie Road, at the southwestern edge of the neighbourhood. The area took in part of Lots 5 and 6, Concessions 1 and 2, NDS (North of Dundas Street). Founded about 1820, it was originally named Sandy Hill, but when a post office opened in 1862, a post office conflict with Sandhill in Chinguacousy Township occurred, so it was renamed Burnhamthorpe at the suggestion of John Abelson who hailed from Burnham Thorpe, England.[2]
When surveyor Samuel Wilmot laid out the roadways in the 1805 Purchase survey, concessions ran east-west and lines ran north-south. Third Line East became Dixie Road, and Back Line Road and Lower Base Line (the latter named as such because it was the boundary between the old and new township surveys) became Burnhamthorpe Road and Eglinton Avenue respectively.[3][4]
The 1877 Peel Atlas shows Samuel Moore Lot 6, Concession 2 (100 acres) on the Northwest Corner of modern-day Dixie Road and Burnhamthorpe Road. George Chadwick has Lot 5, Concession 2 on the Northeast corner, William Shaver has Lot 6, Concession 1 on the Southwest corner and William Clarkson has Lot 5, Concession 1 on the Southeast corner. 1877 Peel Atlas:
List of Burnhamthorpe properties in 1877 in the area that became Rockwood Village:
Concession, NDS, Lot, Acreage
1877 Owner
Notes
Modern Rockwood streets/uses
Concession 2 NDS, Lot 1, 150 Acres
(NDS = North of Dundas Street)
Francis William Shaver
Post Office – Burnhamthorpe
Marblethorne Crt, Garnetwood Chase, Garrowhill Trail, Palisades, part of Rathburn & Bough Beeches & Carscadden & Beechknoll, Garnetwood Park, part of River Millway & Tapestry Trail
Concession 2 NDS, Lot 2, 100 Acres
Mrs. Elizabeth Coates
Post Office – Burnhamthorpe
part of Carscadden & Beechknoll & Claypine Rise
Concession 2 NDS, Lot 2, 100 Acres
Estate of J. Wadsworth
Township – Toronto South
Ponytrail Dr, part of Claypine Rise, Mahogany Row,
Concession 2 NDS, Lot 3, 200 Acres
Dr. Moses H. Aikens (Aikins)
Doctor of Medicine
Fieldgate Drive, Tahoe Blvd, Buckhorn Gate, Audubon, Chalkdene Grove, Saltdene Terrace, Branchwood Park, Rowntree Crt,
Concession 2 NDS, Lot 4, 200 Acres
Charles Doherty
Post Office – Britannia
Eastgate Parkway, Lewes Way, part of Maple Ridge, Corkstone Glade, Copesholm Trail, Rockwood Road, Anworld Place,
Concession 2 NDS, Lot 5, 50 Acres
Robert Currie
Post Office – Burnhamthorpe
Ottewell Cres, Hartfield Grove, Grazia Crt,
Concession 2 NDS, Lot 5, 50 Acres
George Chadwick
Post Office – Burnhamthorpe
Esso Gas Station, Rockwood Mall, part of Bough Beeches Blvd, Poltava Cres
Concession 2 NDS, Lot 5, 100 Acres
Allen Craig
Farmer and Stock Raiser – Settled 1845
Eastgate Parkway, Post Office
The name Rockwood Village was coined as the area was planned and developed in the 1960s and 1970s.
Rockwood Homeowners' Association
The Rockwood Homeowners' Association is a community group composed of homeowners living within the Rockwood Village. The Association was founded in 1997 and is focused on resolving community issues and improving resident living. The Rockwood Homeowners' Association provides residents with information on community living and events through the publishing of their quarterly newsletter, The Rockwood Times. The newsletter is published by the Rockwood Homeowners' Association board members and is provided to all residents living within the Rockwood Village. The Rockwood Homeowners' Association holds an Annual General Meeting for all community members to attend.[5]
^Hicks, Kathleen A. (2006). Dixie : Orchards to Industry ( Also Includes Burnhamthorpe and Summerville). Mississauga, Ontario: Friends of the Mississauga Library System. ISBN0-9697873-8-3.
^Hicks, Kathleen A. (2005). Lakeview: Journey from Yesterday. Mississauga, Ontario: Friends of the Mississauga Library System. ISBN0-9697873-6-7.
^Hicks, Kathleen A. (2006). Malton: Farms to Flying. Mississauga, Ontario: Friends of the Mississauga Library System. ISBN0-9697873-9-1.
