History

Fishers Glen has a rich history as outlined by Ron Brown in his book The Lake Erie Shore: Ontario’s Forgotten South Coast (available here) Images Added from the escapetodover.com Norfolk County Then Gallery #2 (available here)

“A short distance west of Port Ryerse, another wooded gully cuts into the Lake Erie shore cliff. Like any other water-power site, the valley attracted and early mill. First named Newport, it later became Finch’s Mills. As in Port Ryerse and Port Dover, the invading force of Americans burned the mill. In 1825, Finch sold the property to Thomas Cross and Don Fisher and the community began to ship out lumber, giving it the name Cross and Fisher’s Landing.

But the decision to put a railway in Port Dover put an end to the shipping. In 1882, recognizing the growing appeal of the Lake Erie shores for vacationers a three storey hotel was built, complete with water fountains miniature lakes and waterfalls. Tourists began to seek out what is now called Fishers Glen, with its tennis courts, croquet pitches, and merry-go-round.

Today the little gully is lined with summer cottages and permanent homes, where private lanes now trace the old roads to the shore. Where todays road circles the head of the gully, an older house and small parkette mark the site of the early mills.”