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Port Rowan, Ontario
Located along the shores of Lake Erie, Port Rowan is just a short distance from Long Point. First known as John Cartwright's Landing, after it's first inhabitant, the tiny village along the lake was officially named Port Rowan in 1825 after Colonel William Rowan, who would become Military and Civil Secretary to Sir John Colborne, Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, in 1832.
Today Port Rowan is known as a tourist town but in the early to mid 1800's the village was a thriving fishing and lumber town. John Backhouse operated a mill about four kilometres from the town along Spring Creek. During the war of 1812 American troops set fire and burned all the mills along the Lake Erie shore. Due to their locations inland, only the Backhouse mill and the Tisdale mill at Vittoria survived.
Port Rowan's close proximity to Long Point, a major bird flight-path, and World Biosphere Reserve, makes it a prime location for bird watchers. In 2017 Port Rowan was named the Birdhouse Capital of Canada.
