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Balaclava is a community in the municipality of Meaford in Grey County, Ontario, Canada. It is about northwest of the centre of Meaford and northeast of the city of Owen Sound, about inland of Owen Sound on Georgian Bay, Lake Huron. Settled in the early 1850s by Scottish immigrants, Balaclava grew around a mill established by George Scott. The majority of settlers came as a result of the Highland Clearances and/or the Potato Famine (1846-1857). Balaclava was originally located at Lot 3, Concession B, and Lot 4, Concession C of Sydenham Township in Grey County (see External Links). Gradually the village moved a mile and a quarter south to its present location at the junction of County Grey Road 20 and Side Road 8. Its name is likely derived from the Crimean War (1853-1856) and the Battle of Balaclava, which occurred on October 25, 1854, and in which many Scottish soldiers died. ==Early businesses and services== A school was built in 1862. This building burned shortly thereafter, and classes were held in the Orange Lodge until a new log school was built on the site of the modern school building. Attendance in 1862 averaged 25 students. However, in the early days, many older students attended only in the winter as they were needed at home on the farm. The Balaclava school closed in June 1965. Students were transported to nearby Leith for the next two years until 1967, when Sydenham Central School was opened in Owen Sound. A post office opened on February 1, 1890; W.H. Hunt as the postmaster. The post office remained open until November 30, 1961. The first general store was opened in the 1860s and owned by John Kergan. The general store often incorporated postal services. Numerous proprietors ran the store in Balaclava's original location, including Larry Hunt, David Dodge, and George Howitt. As the village moved southward in the early 1900s, a new store was opened by John Watson in his frame home. The large brick building which would become the general store until the early 1960s was built in 1919. Mr. Herb Dickson ran the store until 1961. The store remained closed until 1965, when Bruce Keill opened it for summer business until 1967. There was never a church located in Balaclava. Nearby churches included Johnstone United, built in 1855, and Silcote United, built 1877. The last of these to remain open was Johnstone, which closed in the early 1970s. The congregations moved to Annan United, located in Annan, Ontario, six miles (10 km) south-west of Balaclava, and Woodford United, located some 10 miles (20 km) south-east. At least one blacksmith shop operated at Balaclava's original location. When the village moved, a new one was built on lot 8 of concession C. John Lourie took over the shop in the 1920s and continued to operate it into the 1970s. A telephone company was formed in 1912 to connect to the Bell Telephone Company (Bell Canada) at Owen Sound. The 34 original subscribers each paid $35 to join, and "bees" were held throughout that summer to erect the poles. There were three circuits: 695, 696, and 697. The line operated until 1960, when it was bought out by Bell. The switch board system was then replaced and updated to the dial system. At one time Balaclava boasted two blacksmith shops, a woodworking shop, a post office, three stores, and a hotel. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Balaclava, Grey County, Ontario」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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