[Editor’s comment: Click on maps for enlarged images. Even in this 1879 historical atlas, it’s not difficult to see that there is definitely a concentration of housing situated on smaller acreages stretched out along both sides of the boundary road between Hay and Stephen Townships; today known as Dashwood Road, west of the village of Dashwood. North is “up” on both of these maps. On page 308 of Susan Muriel Mack’s “History of Stephen Township”, Mack attributes this concentration to housing being utilized by employees of the expanding sawmill located further to the west along the present day Dashwood Road , just east of “Smoky Hollow”. The location of the mill itself is indicated on the lower left of the Hay Township map, just above the roman numeral “XVII”, by an asterisk and three small square dots. Take note of the relative lack of development in the 1870’s occurring in both Hay and Stephen Township on the adjacent 16th and 17th Concession side-roads (Shipka Line). It wouldn’t be until the 1890’s, when enough farmers had settled on these concessions, that the population would be great enough to warrant opening “Smoky Hollow” school. The school was eventually built on part of Lot 34 Hay Township, just west of the location of the sawmill, in 1894.]

(below) top map, Hay Township, south boundary, west of Dashwood in 1879.

(below) Stephen Township, north boundary, west of Dashwood in 1879.

Source of maps: Illustrated historical atlas of the County of Huron, Ont.
Toronto : H. Belden & Co., 1879.