Home of H. H. Dickson in Pakenham

February 3 1882-

On Friday of last week the building in Pakenham known as Dickson’s Hall was burnt to the ground. The fire occurred between two and three o’clock in the afternoon, and had its origin in a defective flue. On the alarm being given a large number gathered and organized themselves into an old fashioned bucket brigade, and worked with a will, but to no purpose, as the fire had gained too much headway.

By the efforts of the citizens the surrounding buildings were saved. Two families lived in the basement, but these saved most of their household effects. The building was owned by Mr. H. H. Dickson, and was insured for $1300.

historicalnotes

John Powell and Robert Harvey settled in 1823. They built a log cabin and a grist mill on the riverbank, calling the site Little Falls. Because of the mill, the place was soon called Harvey’s Mills.
In 1831 Andrew Dickson arrived and bought a mill and for a time the community was called Dickson’s Mills. The post office was established in 1832 and called Pakenham Mills, taking its name from the township.
Packenham T. honours Gen. Sir Edward M. Pakenham, brother-in-law of the Duke of Wellington, who was killed in 1815 at the Battle of New Orleans. In 1856 The ‘Mills’ was dropped from the name.
A limestone bridge across a series of rapids in the Mississippi R., built here at the turn of the century, is believed to be the only five-span stone bridge in North America.
DICKSON, H. H.; Postmaster of Pakenham-The building currently housing the Centennial Restaurant was built for H. H. Dickson in the late 1800s. It was once a post office where H. H. was postmaster
Perth Courier, May 14, 1880

Licenses—The License Commissioner of Lanark decided to grant no additional licenses and to renew all the old ones – the holders of which not having had any complaints lodged against them. They are:
Pakenham: Mr. P. Palister , Mr. G. O’Brien, Mr. H.H. Dickson and J. & M. Foley.
Perth Courier January 19, 1872
Mansfield-Dickson—Married, on the 27^th Dec., at the residence of the bride’s brother, H.H. Dickson, by the Rev. Alex Mann, James Mansfied, Esq., Drummond, to Miss Carrie Dickson, youngest daughter of the late Samuel Dickson, Esq., Pakenham.