Top 3 Abandoned Places In Adjala-Tosorontio

There are so many abandoned places in Adjala-Tosorontio! This is a list of the top three abandoned places in Adjala-Tosorontio. Browse through all abandoned places in Adjala-Tosorontio

1. Ballycroy (ghost town)

This noted Ghost town was covered by Ron Brown in his books. Today it is a semi-ghost town as there are still about 10 families- some living in modern homes and others in the ghost town originals here in Adjala-Tosorontio Township..

The story of Ballycroy is indeed an interesting one, and while there its hard to imagine the road across from the still-standing general store could have had so much industry in its heyday. This trail seems to be in a hilly area full of trees now.

In the 1820(a)s Irish settlers came to the area and a Mr Beaty opened a chopping mill. He and his brothers expanded this operation into a sawmill, shingle maker and flour mill which lasted until the 1930s.

1870 was a boom year for the town of 200 with 2 stores, law office, millinery, post office, doctor, vet, 2 churches, blacksmith, 4 taverns/hotels, liquor store. It was a busy stopping place.

An Orange Hall opened to the chagrin of the Irish. It became the sight of brawls fueled by the Feheny(a)s tavern owners and drunk patrons.

In 1875 fire took out Small(a)s Hotel as his famly barely escaped with their lives. 3 other live-ins weren(a)t so lucky. Arson was suspected. Then in 1877 the H & NW Railway bypassed the town. Bad lucked continued as the Temperance movement ended the drinking at the taverns/hotels. The final blow happened when the roads in the area were re-alligned.

To see the historical map where everything once was located check my photo gallery.

The 1872 Gazatteer has this info:

BALLCROY - A thriving village, lot 1, 15th concession, Township
of Adjala, 37 miles from Barrie, and 9 from Bolton Station.
The River Humber affords good water-power. Population 250.

Beatty, Henry, P.M., general } Hamilton, John, baker
merchant } Hanna, George, sawyer
Beatty Bros., props. flouring mills } Harrison, Joseph, pump-maker
Beatty, Samuel, shingle factory } Hurse, James, shoemaker
Beatty, Wm., prop. saw mill } Keena, Patrick, hotel keeper
Brawley, Francis, distiller } Livingston, Wm., J.P.
Brawley, Wm., prop. steam saw } Manning Bros., harness makers
mills } Manning, Edwin, plasterer
Caldwell, Charles, farmer } Mullin, James, contractor
Carson, David, saloon keeper } Noonan, Denis, solicitor
Coolahan, Joseph, butcher } Robb, Thos., hotel keeper
Cox, Robt., farmer } Shinamen, James, watchmaker
Crisp, John, farmer } Small, Peter, general merchant
Dunham, John, M.D. } Thurston, James, miller
Evans, Robt., vet. surgeon } Walsh, J.J., teacher
Fehely, Michael, farmer } Wilson, John, blacksmith
___________

Just to the NE was another famed ghost town called Keenansville. It has a write-up too.

2. Keenansville (ghost town)

Just NE of Ballycroy in Adjala-Tosorontio Township lies this ghost town on the Keenansville Rd. New homes have been built in the picturesque location and so the ghosts and emptiness of the former ghost town have been filled.

Named after Robert Keenan, active in Township and County politics 1846 - 1858, a thriving centre developed with Post Office established 1855, followed by Saw Mill, Woollen Mill, General Store, Blacksmith(a)s Shop, Hotel, Undertaker(a)s Shop, Township Offices, Hall and Fair Grounds.

County Court was established in 1852, with Squire McManus presiding, 1865 - 1881, George Hughes published weekly newspaper, South Simcoe Observer, later Cordwall Sentinel. A public school served this area 1850 - 1912.

Decline began after 1877, when Hamilton North Western Railroad was built through Tottenham and Beeton area. By mid-20th century, Keenansville had become one of many ghost towns thus created in Simcoe County.

3. Colgan Death Farm

I've known about this place for a while but haven't had a chance to check it out until just recently. I kind of wish I hadn't. What I found in the barn, which is very dilapidated, were at least 7 dead pigs and cows. There may be even more, as there were scattered bones here and there throughout the building. These animals have been dead a long time, and some could barely be recognized. I have no idea what happened there. I would like to think that they were killed, and not just left there to die, but the positions they were in make me think otherwise.

I did not go into the hayloft, as that part was very unstable. If anyone does venture into the barn, be careful: there is long grass (and snow soon) and junk lying around underneath. The house itself has burnt to the ground and all that can be seen is a pit that was the basement and some rusting furniture. there is a shack of some sort that seems to have been an office.

It is back off the road and is hard to see unless you are looking for it. IF you are squeamish at all about this kind of thing, do not look at the photos. They can be disturbing. I was sick to my stomach the whole time I was in there, but felt I needed to document and share. I've checked out a number of abandoned places in my time but have never come across anything like this.