One of our current projects is the history of Cobalt’s Silverland Cemetery located on HWY 11B in Bucke Township.
We’ve found many maps, but unfortunately, not all are great quality. Especially the one we found on the Archives Ontario site. Before Christmas, we wrote AO to ask for a better copy.
Today, I received a reply and cannot wait to let everyone know!
Below is what the Senior Archivist wrote:
Happy New Year!
We’ve recently partnered with the University of Toronto to host very high-resolution copies of the patent plans through their Map and Data Library.
You can find more information about the project and search the list of patent plans or view the interactive patent plan map on our Crown land – Patents web page.
Senior Archivist, Archives of Ontario
So many blue dots! These are a fraction of what’s available from the Ontario Patent Plan Access Index.
The majority of the townships that interest us are vintage ca 1887 basemaps. But based on a cursory study of the notations added in later years, we’ve found details dating to the mid-19-teens.
Some maps are VERY messy, like Bucke, above, or Coleman. But because they are high resolution, we don’t mind.
Not one bit!
Happy New Year indeed!