TrishawTour of Old Port Credit Heritage Conservation District
Absolutely. I’ve based the route on the Heritage Mississauga Old Port Credit Heritage Tour map and its numbered points of interest, while adapting it for the much slower pace, comfort, accessibility, and storytelling needs of a Cycling Without Age trishaw. The Heritage Mississauga material identifies 19 heritage points in the Old Port Credit area, including the harbour, Wilcox Inn, J.C. Saddington Park, Blower House, Parkinson House, Delaney House, Masonic Temple, Harrison House, and several Lakeshore Road landmarks. (Yumpu)
The City’s current Heritage Conservation District Plan confirms that Old Port Credit’s character is rooted in the 1835 village grid, the Credit River, Lake Ontario, the harbour, and the transition from Lakeshore Road through residential streets to the waterfront. (City of Mississauga)
====( Text in parenthesis has been taken directly from the Heritage Mississauga Brochure)====
(Street Names Peter Street is named for Peter Jones (Kahkewaquonaby), who was a Chief of the Mississaugas and a Methodist Minister. Peter helped to shape both the Native and non-Native communities around him. Also Mississauga Road South was originally called Joseph Street after Mississauga Chief Joseph Sawyer. John Street was named after John Jones, brother of Peter Jones.)
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Cycling Without Age – Mississauga
Old Port Credit Heritage Trishaw Tour
A One-Hour Journey Through Port Credit’s Village, Harbour & Waterfront Heritage
Duration: 60 minutes
Format: Guided trishaw heritage tour
Area: Old Port Credit Village Heritage Conservation District
Route concept: Approximately 3–4 km, using quieter residential streets and waterfront routes wherever practical
Starting/finishing point: Port Credit Lighthouse / waterfront area
Primary source: Heritage Mississauga, Port Credit Village – Heritage Tour map and heritage descriptions
1. Tour Purpose
This tour is designed specifically for Cycling Without Age – Mississauga, where the journey is as important as the destination.
Rather than attempting to visit all 19 locations shown on the Heritage Mississauga map, this one-hour experience concentrates on a small number of highly meaningful locations that can be connected into a comfortable trishaw journey.
The tour tells one continuous story:
Mississauga First Nations → the Credit River → the 1835 village → the harbour → sailing and stonehooking → village homes and businesses → churches and community life → today's Port Credit.
Old Port Credit was laid out as a planned village in 1835 by surveyor Robert Lynn. Its traditional street grid, relationship to the Credit River and Lake Ontario, and mixture of homes, institutions, commercial buildings and open spaces remain important elements of its heritage character. (Historic Places)
2. Suggested One-Hour Route
Stop 1 — Port Credit Lighthouse
Heritage Mississauga Map Point #1Suggested time: 6 minutes
Begin beside the lighthouse and introduce the group to Port Credit as a community shaped by water.
Guide narration:
“Welcome to Old Port Credit. Before this was a neighbourhood of houses, shops and streets, this was a place defined by water — the Credit River and Lake Ontario.
The name Port Credit connects to the history of the Mississaugas and the river. For generations, the Credit River was an important place for travel, fishing and trade.
The lighthouse we see today is actually quite recent. The first Port Credit lighthouse was built in 1863, stood out in the harbour, and eventually disappeared after a long history of floods, changing shorelines and fire. Today's lighthouse, built in 1991, reminds us of that much older maritime story.”The Heritage Mississauga tour notes that the first lighthouse was constructed in 1863, the old lighthouse was damaged by a 1908 flood, closed in 1918 and burned in 1936; the present lighthouse dates from 1991. (Yumpu)
(One of the most familiar sights near any harbour is a lighthouse, and Port Credit has had its share of them. The first was constructed in 1863 by Frederick Chase Capreol. The lighthouse, which was built out in the harbour, was taken over by the Ontario government in 1882. A 1908 flood separated the lighthouse from the mainland and in 1918 the lighthouse closed. The old lighthouse burned in 1936. The present lighthouse was constructed in 1991 and, while not an historic structure, is a reminder of Port Credit’s marine heritage. It is a Peel Region pumping station and the home of the Port Credit BIA. From its deck one can get a very good view of the Credit River and Port Credit harbour.)
Trishaw experience:
Pause here for photographs and a view across the harbour.
3. Stop 2 — Port Credit Harbour
Heritage Mississauga Map Point #2
Suggested time: 7 minutes
Ride slowly along the harbour.
Guide narration:
“This harbour is really the reason Port Credit became a village.
In 1834, the Port Credit Harbour Company was formed. The following year, Robert Lynn surveyed the village. Wharves and a warehouse were constructed so goods could move between the local community and larger vessels on Lake Ontario.
Imagine this waterfront in the nineteenth century. Instead of recreational boats, you would have seen working vessels, sailors, fishermen, lumber, grain — and eventually stonehookers.”
Explain stonehooking in simple terms:
“Stonehookers were vessels that brought shale and stone up from the bottom of Lake Ontario. That stone became an important building material in Toronto and surrounding communities.
At the height of the trade, 23 stonehooking vessels were operating from Port Credit.”
The Heritage Mississauga tour identifies the harbour as reaching its peak during the late nineteenth century, particularly with the stonehooking trade; it records 23 stonehooking vessels operating from Port Credit in 1881. (Yumpu)
(Always a natural safe haven from lake storms, the harbour proper began when the Port Credit Harbour Company was founded in 1834. The construction of two wharves and a warehouse allowed for the export of goods by loading them onto larger boats that could go long distances to other parts of Canada and the world. The harbour reached its peak between 1880 and 1900 with the advent of stonehooking; one of the primary building materials for construction in Toronto was shale from the bottom of Lake Ontario. The vessels that raised this stone were called Stonehookers and a great many of them were based at Port Credit. The industry lasted till about 1910 when inland quarries opened up. The peak of the trade was in 1881 when 23 stonehooking vessels operated out of Port Credit. Today the historic harbour is home to recreational activities.)
Cycling Without Age prompt:
“As we travel today, imagine the sound of ropes, sails, carts and working boats along this shoreline.”
4. Stop 3 — Wilcox Inn
Heritage Mississauga Map Point #3 – 32 Front Street South
Suggested time: 5 minutes
Move onto Front Street South and stop where the trishaw can safely pull over.
Guide narration:
“This is the Wilcox Inn, dating to about 1850.
Captain James Wilcox built the house and operated it as an inn for sailors and harbour workers. But the story doesn't end there. Over the years it became a community hall, a place for church services and even a meeting place for the local temperance movement.
This one building gives us a wonderful glimpse into how a small nineteenth-century building could serve many different purposes as the community changed.”
The building's history as an inn, community hall, church venue and temperance meeting place is documented in the Heritage Mississauga tour. (Yumpu)
(In 1850, Captain James Wilcox built this Georgian Survival home. He operated it first as an inn, intended as a haven for weary sailors and harbour workers, for three years. Sometime before 1855, he returned to his former employ as a Lake Captain, engaging in all kinds of lake trade, including stonehooking, commercial fishing, lumbering, and transporting all sorts of goods between Hamilton, Port Credit and Toronto. Over the years, the Wilcox Inn served a variety of purposes. By 1888 however, it was used as a community hall for social gatherings. In 1891, the inn was renovated and used for church services. Later, the old inn became the meeting hall for the first Peel Temperance Society, under the direction of Captain John Miller.Today It is a private family residence.)
Trishaw moment:
Invite passengers to look for the building's Georgian Survival characteristics and compare its scale with today's Port Credit.
(c. 1850) 42 Front Street S.
Although altered, this Ontario Cottage was the home of Abram Block Jr. and his wife Susannah. Block was a mariner and stonehooker captain of the Mary E. Ferguson. He also built and repaired boats with John Miller, who was the lighthouse keeper, in a workshop located in the Front Street road allowance near his house. He was also a school trustee for 42 years and was active in the Port Credit Methodist (later, First United) Church. Block acquired this property in 1882, and likely built this house shortly thereafter. The home remains a private family residence today.
5. Stop 4 — J.C. Saddington Park
Heritage Mississauga Map Point #6
Suggested time: 8 minutes
Ride toward Lake Street and enter the park/waterfront area.
This should be the main rest and scenic stop of the tour.
Guide narration:
“We're now looking at a landscape that has changed dramatically.
J.C. Saddington Park looks like it has always been part of Port Credit, but much of this land was created through landfill between 1949 and 1970.
Before the park existed, there were houses along this shoreline. The park also contains the remains of Port Credit's former waterworks, dating from 1922–23.
So this is a wonderful example of how heritage isn't only about old buildings. Heritage can also be found in the landscape, the shoreline, infrastructure and the way a community has changed its relationship with the water.”
Heritage Mississauga identifies the park as created largely through landfill deposited between 1949 and 1970 and notes the surviving 1922–23 waterworks structures. (Yumpu)
(J.C. Saddington Park stretches along the south side of Lake Street in Old Port Credit Village, and offers visitors picnic facilities, barbecues, a comfort station, recreational trails, play facilities, picnic areas and a pond. The park is also part of the Waterfront Trail, which connects westward through the adjacent Texaco Lands. Saddington Park was created out of landfill deposited in Lake Ontario between 1949 and 1970, in part to protect against further erosion of the shoreline that was threatening properties. The park was named for J.C. Saddington, former Reeve and Town Mayor of Port Credit. Located within the park are the remains of the former Port Credit Waterworks. These brick structures date to 1922-23. The opening of the waterworks represented a significant advancement in Port Credit infrastructure. Several houses were once located along the south side of Lake Street, within the bounds of the modern park. Some of these dwellings are noted to have been relocated.)
Optional passenger question:
“What do you think this waterfront would have looked like when Port Credit was a working harbour?”
Allow time for conversation and reminiscence.
6. Stop 5 — Blower House
Heritage Mississauga Map Point #7 – 58 Lake Street
Suggested time: 5 minutes
Proceed along Lake Street.
Guide narration:
“This is the Blower House, dating from around the 1890s.
Its story takes us back to the stonehooking era. Mark Blower was a sailor and stonehooker, part of a remarkable Port Credit family story.
After their father died suddenly, Mark's mother Emily moved her nine children onto the family schooner, the Catherine Hays. The family transported cordwood to Toronto and later became involved in stonehooking.
Eventually Mark purchased this property and built this house for his family.”
The Heritage Mississauga material records this Blower family story and Mark Blower's connection to sailing and stonehooking. (Yumpu)
(This house was likely built in the early 1890s, but it may also be older. According to local histories, the home was built by Mark Blower, a sailor and stonehooker. Blower acquired the property in 1894. He was the eldest son of Thomas and Emily Blower. When Thomas passed away suddenly in 1870, Emily moved her nine children onto the family’s schooner, the Catherine Hays, and began transporting cordwood to Toronto and eventually entered into the stonehooking trade. Mark took over the family operation together with his brothers Thomas and Abraham, and soon after purchased this property on Lake Street and built this house for his family.)
Guide observation:
“Look at the relationship between this modest house and the street. These smaller homes are just as important to the character of the district as the larger landmark buildings.”
7. Stop 6 — Parkinson House
Heritage Mississauga Map Point #8 – 37 Mississauga Road South
Suggested time: 6 minutes
Ride carefully to Mississauga Road South.
Guide narration:
“This is the Parkinson House, built around 1900 by Eliza Jane Peer and Risdon Morville Parkinson.
Risdon Parkinson was an active member of the community and local politician. But there's another Port Credit story built right into this house.
The bricks used to construct the house came from the Port Credit Brickyard.
The brickyard, founded in 1891, and the St. Lawrence Starch Company became two of Port Credit's important industries at the turn of the twentieth century.”
The Heritage Mississauga tour identifies both the Parkinson House and the Port Credit Brickyard connection. (Yumpu)
(Eliza Jane Peer and Risdon Morville Parkinson built this brick house around 1900. Risdon was an active community member, and had a distinguished career as a local politician. The bricks for the construction of this house were supplied by the Port Credit Brickyard which was located southwest of the house. The Port Credit Brickyard was founded in 1891. The brickyard and the St. Lawrence Starch Company were Port Credit’s two primary industries at the turn of the 20th century. The brickyard closed in 1927. The historically designated Parkinson house remains a private residence.)
Key message:
“The buildings we're seeing aren't isolated objects. They are physical evidence of Port Credit's working economy.”
8. Stop 7 — Delaney House
Heritage Mississauga Map Point #9 – 32 Peter Street South
Suggested time: 5 minutes
Continue along the quieter residential streets.
Guide narration:
“The Delaney House is a wonderful example of how buildings can have lives of their own.
This Gothic Revival house dates from about 1860. According to local historical research, it served as the first place of worship for Roman Catholics in Port Credit.
The building may originally have stood near the site of St. Mary's Church before being moved here.
So when we look at this house, we're not simply looking at an old residence. We're looking at a building that once played a role in the religious life of the community.”
This history is included in the Heritage Mississauga tour material. (Yumpu)
William John Kivell, son of John and Mary Kivell, purchased
this property in 1901, and it is believed that he built the
house the following year using bricks from the nearby Port
Credit brickyard. Like his father, William was a mariner and
labourer by trade. The house was in the Kivell family for over
a century, and remains a private family home today.
11. McGregor-Thompson House
(c.1850) 41 Bay Street
9. Stop 8 — Masonic Temple
Heritage Mississauga Map Point #12 – 47 Port Street
Suggested time: 6 minutes
Proceed toward Port Street.
Guide narration:
“Our final major heritage stop is the Masonic Temple.
This building, dating to about 1845, has a fascinating connection to the early Methodist community.
Peter Jones, his brother John and Egerton Ryerson were important figures in the Methodist movement here. The earliest Methodist meeting places served both the Mississaugas and the developing settler community.
The building we're seeing today was moved to this location in 1894 and later became associated with the local Masonic lodge.”
The Heritage Mississauga tour describes the building's Methodist origins, its relocation in 1894 and its later use by the Masonic lodge. (Yumpu)
(One of the most important influences on Port Credit’s social and religious development was the introduction of Methodism. The primary leaders in the Methodist movement were Rev. Peter Jones, a Mississauga chief of Welsh and Native heritage, his brother John, and Egerton Ryerson, who would eventually establish Ontario’s public school system. The Jones brothers began preaching, in 1826, to the Native Mississaugas, who erected a shelter to serve as a chapel and a school. In 1828, the church was rebuilt as a log mission house, and then in the mid 1840s a new lime and lumber building was constructed on Lakeshore Road. In 1894, this building was moved to its present location where it was used as a community hall. The local Masonic lodge bought and renovated the building in 1915.)
Closing thought:
13. Harrison House“We've travelled only a few kilometres, but we've travelled almost two centuries — from the Mississaugas and the Credit River, through the harbour era, sailing and stonehooking, industry, churches and village life, to the Port Credit we know today.”
(c. 1880) 54 Port Street W.
14. Port Credit Fire Hall
(1955) 62 Port Street W.
This two-storey red brick building is the oldest fire hall remaining in Mississauga. The fire hall was officially opened on December 12, 1955. Built by local builders H. Lee & Sons, the building originally served as a combination fire hall and police hall.
15. Lynd House
Prior to the construction of this house, James Robinson Shaw’s tavern was located here. Shaw, a staunch Methodist, found that managing a tavern was not desirable and he closed the establishment after only one year. Reverend Garnet Lynd, James Shaw’s grandson, later purchased the property and built this home in 1907.
16. Clarke Memorial Hall (c. 1922) 161 Lakeshore Road W.
Mary Louise Clarke and her husband, Alfred Russell Clarke, were among the wealthier Torontonians who established summer retreats at Lorne Park Estates. Mary Louise had Clarke Memorial Hall built in 1922 in memory of her husband. Alfred Russell Clarke was on his way to England for business in 1915, aboard the now famous ocean liner “Lusitania.” Although he survived the sinking, Alfred caught pneumonia and died shortly afterwards in a London hospital, never returning to Canada. The hall itself was finished in 1922, and upon completion, Mary donated the hall to the United Church. During the Depression, due to financial reasons, the church gave control of the hall to the Village of Port Credit. For many years the hall was used as a community hall and was the site of municipal offices from 1941 to 1974. The building’s classical columns, Italianate brackets, Renaissance Revival Dutch gable and the Spanish clay roof tiles show the architectural eclecticism common during the 1920s.
17. First United Church (c. 1894) 151 Lakeshore Road W.
The earlier church on the site, which was built in 1845, was relocated and a portion of the present building was built in 1894. Formerly the Port Credit Methodist Church, this building became an incorporated chapel of the First United Church in 1925. It had been the third meeting place for Port Credit’s Methodists, and was originally constructed of red brick. New additions and an extension were added in 1942 and 1950 respectively, and the entire church was sheathed in cut stone to harmonize the exterior. The original portion of the church, now missing its original tower, fronts onto Lakeshore Road, while the 1950 extension is home to First United Church.
18. St. Mary Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church (c. 1880) 145 Lakeshore Road W.
Irish Catholics first immigrated to Port Credit after the war of 1812, with many early Irish families settling in the immediate Port Credit area by the 1830s and 1840s. At first, the faithful travelled to mass at St. Paul’s in Toronto or the Fifth Line Church at Elmbank, and later to St. Peter’s in Trafalgar or St. Patrick’s in Dixie. A Catholic church was eventually built on this site in 1880. The church itself remained a part of the St. Patrick’s Parish at Dixie until 1913. The cornerstone for the present church was laid in 1952. Stained glass windows from the 1880 church have been preserved in this building. The small cemetery beside the church is the final resting place for many early Irish Catholic settlers from the area.
19. Peer House
Built by Emma and James Peer, this clapboard house features
a central gable and a decorative vergeboard. Several families of
Peers lived in the Port Credit and Clarkson area and were active
in the commercial sailing and stonehooker trades during the
latter part of the 19th century. The house is now being used for commercial purposes.
10. Return Journey & Closing
Suggested time: 7 minutes
Return toward the lighthouse/waterfront at a relaxed pace.
During the return, provide a short recap:
“The wonderful thing about Old Port Credit is that its history isn't confined to one museum or one landmark.
It is in the street names — Peter, John and Mississauga Road.
It is in the houses built by sailors, merchants and harbour workers.
It is in the churches, shops and community buildings.
And it is in the Credit River and Lake Ontario, which continue to define Port Credit just as they did when the village was first surveyed in 1835.”
The Heritage Conservation District Plan specifically identifies the traditional street grid, Credit River, Lake Ontario and J.C. Saddington Park as defining elements of Old Port Credit's urban form and character. (City of Mississauga)
Final Cycling Without Age message:
“Thank you for joining us. At Cycling Without Age, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to feel the wind in their hair and experience their community. Today we've added something else to the ride — the opportunity to experience the stories that made this community what it is.”
11. 60-Minute Timing at a Glance
| Segment | Time |
|---|---|
| Welcome & Lighthouse | 6 min |
| Lighthouse → Harbour | 3 min |
| Harbour presentation | 7 min |
| Harbour → Wilcox Inn | 3 min |
| Wilcox Inn | 5 min |
| Wilcox → Saddington Park | 3 min |
| Saddington Park | 8 min |
| Park → Blower House | 3 min |
| Blower House | 5 min |
| Blower → Parkinson House | 2 min |
| Parkinson House | 6 min |
| Parkinson → Delaney House | 2 min |
| Delaney House | 5 min |
| Delaney → Masonic Temple | 2 min |
| Masonic Temple | 6 min |
| Return & closing | 7 min |
| Total | ~60 min |
12. Why This Route Works for Cycling Without Age
Comfortable pace
The route deliberately reduces the number of heritage stops compared with the full Heritage Mississauga walking-tour map. The objective is not to cover every building; it is to create a relaxed experience with enough time for passengers to look, listen and talk.
Strong heritage narrative
Each stop contributes to the same story:
Water → Harbour → Working Port → Homes → Industry → Community → Village
Intergenerational storytelling
The tour gives the pilot opportunities to ask passengers questions rather than delivering a continuous lecture.
Suggested questions include:
“What does this building remind you of?”
“Did you grow up near a working harbour?”
“Do you remember when Port Credit looked different?”
“What kinds of businesses did your hometown have?”
“What do you think makes an old neighbourhood feel special?”
Heritage beyond architecture
The City describes Old Port Credit's heritage character through its buildings, traditional grid, proximity to the Credit River and Lake Ontario, and its relationship with the waterfront. (Heritage Guide)
That makes the trishaw particularly well suited to the district: passengers can experience the landscape and streetscape, not simply stop in front of individual buildings.
13. Accessibility & Trishaw Operating Notes
Recommended operating principles
Keep the trishaw at a relaxed conversational pace.
Avoid making passengers repeatedly dismount.
Use the waterfront and quieter residential streets for the greatest portion of the journey.
Stop where the trishaw can pull fully clear of moving traffic.
Allow additional time if passengers want to ask questions.
Treat the published 60 minutes as an experience target rather than a race against the clock.
Have a shortened version available if a passenger becomes tired or weather conditions change.
The pilot should verify current conditions, construction, road closures and trail access before each ride.
Important: The route should be field-tested by Cycling Without Age – Mississauga before becoming an operational public tour, particularly for trishaw turning space, grades, surface conditions, crossing points and safe stopping locations.
14. Optional Shortened Route
If passengers are enjoying conversation and the ride needs to be shortened, use:
Lighthouse → Harbour → Wilcox Inn → Saddington Park → Blower House → Parkinson House → Lighthouse
This preserves the core story while reducing the number of residential stops.
15. The Story of Old Port Credit in One Minute
For use at the beginning or end of the ride:
“Old Port Credit began with the Credit River and the Mississaugas who lived and traded here long before the village was surveyed. In 1835, Robert Lynn laid out a planned village beside the harbour. Port Credit grew through shipping, fishing, lumber, grain and eventually stonehooking. Homes, churches, shops and community buildings followed. Industry brought another period of growth, while the harbour and waterfront continued to shape community life. Today, the old village grid and many of its buildings remain, allowing us to see the layers of history that created Port Credit.”
Source & Heritage Foundation
This tour is adapted from the Heritage Mississauga Port Credit Village Heritage Tour, particularly its mapped points of interest and historical descriptions. Heritage Mississauga's tour material identifies the lighthouse, harbour, Wilcox Inn, Abram Block Jr. House, Thompson House, J.C. Saddington Park, Blower House, Parkinson House, Delaney House, Kivell House, McGregor-Thompson House, Masonic Temple, Harrison House, Port Credit Fire Hall, Lynd House, Clarke Memorial Hall, First United Church, St. Mary Star of the Sea Church and Peer House. (Yumpu)
The City of Mississauga's Old Port Credit Village Heritage Conservation District Plan, approved in its updated form in 2020, remains the principal heritage-planning document for the district. (City of Mississauga)
Recommended source for the pilot: Heritage Mississauga's Port Credit Village – Heritage Tour map/brochure should be carried or consulted alongside this Cycling Without Age tour script so the pilot can visually connect each stop to the original Heritage Mississauga numbering.
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