Petawawa Timeline

1613   Samuel de Champlain the explorer set course up the Ottawa River.

1686   French military expedition led by Chevalier de Troyes en route to capture  English fur trading post hailed ashore by Indians at the mouth of the Petawawa River.

1763   Concept of the Township of Petawawa serving as basis for land occupancy was established in British North America.

1823   Trading posts established at Fort William across Ottawa River from CFB Petawawa.

1840   Uniting townships of Alice, Petawawa, Bucanan Rolph & Wylie introduced.

1846   James McGregor first settler in Petawawa Township.

1850   Occupancy of Renfrew County was 6,892 non-permanent class workers employed in lumbering.

1853   Construction of Mattawa Rd began and completed in 1861.

1856   Land route opened for settlers via construction of Pembroke and Mattawan Roads.

1857   Robert Hamilton completed Petawawa Township's first survey at Petawawa Point.

1859   Petawawa Post Office opened May 01; Master James Young appointed Post Master.

1861   298 people living in Petawawa Township.

1864   Township of Petawawa separates from Township of Rolph, Buchanan, Wylie and McKay and called the Municipality of Petawawa.

1865   First  council (by acclimation) for Township of Petawawa: Reeve John Mitchel,  Councilors John Rowan, James McGregor, Patrich Higgins & Jonathan  Phillips; Clerk Charles Young.  (Clerk paid $30.00/yr).

1866   First  election of Council Petawawa Township, 180 people voted. Elected James  McGregor Reeve, Councilors: John Rowan, David McLennan, Patrick Higgins  & Jonathan Phillips. Clerk Charles Young.

1867   Mount Zion United Church opens.

1870   Site for Petawawa Township surveyed, situated at what is now referred to as Petawawa Point.

1875   St John’s Lutheran’s first log church is built.

1880   St Matthew’s Lutheran Church built.

1880   Railway comes to area.

1885   Gustave Hampel one of the first Germans to settle in Petawawa Township.

1888   All Saints Anglican Church built.

1895   SS#4 Petawawa school built.

1897   St John Lutheran brick church built, old log church was turned into a school.

1899   Notre Dame de la Baie Catholic Church built at Black Bay.

1900   First bridge built to serve area north west of Petawawa River.

1905   Development of Camp Petawawa.

1905   Test flight at Camp Petawawa, J.A.D. McCurdy Silver Dart. F.W. Baldwin, Dr. Alexander Bell and Wright Brothers also present.

1910   Giesebrecht's  one of the first settlers in the Village of Petawawa, later owned and  still today operates Pepsi (soft drink) plant.

1914   1914-1916 Camp Petawawa used as prisoner of war camp for 750 German Merchant Seamen and Austrian’s.

1934   Petawawa bridge built.

1935   Once again Camp Petawawa used as Prisoner of War Camp.

1939   Roman Catholic Church builds St Lukes school.

1939   Electricity introduced to Petawawa Township.

1940   At peak of WWII 20,000 Troops were being trained at Camp Petawawa.

1951   Camp Petawawa becomes permanent base.

1952   Roman Catholic stone church built and dedicated as Our Lady of Sorrows.

1999   Silver Dart arena & Base HQ torn down, time capsule found in corner stone.

2000   Millennium project trail built; Expansion to trail up Laurention Drive.

2003   Town election Bob Sweet remains on as Mayor.

2004   Mayor of Petawawa becomes Reeve of Renfrew County.

2005   100th  Anniversary of CFB Petawawa, Time capsule placed in tank by Petawawa  Heritage Society, Heritage Society open room in Base Museum to tell   history of town prior to the Base coming.  Heritage Village broke  ground. Our Lady of Sorrows opens new school.

2006   Town  expanding, new subdivision springs up behind Moncions Grocery store,  another off Murphy Rd and new street is cleared between Laurention Dr   and Petawawa Blvd above Renfrew Street.  Base expanding with 700 more  military families arriving.

2007   Town  announces new medical clinic. Petawawa Heritage Society opens first  historical building at the Heritage Village site.  Mayor finishes term  of Reeve for Renfrew County.

2008   New  Medical Center opens on Civic Center Rd. Dianne Groehl (Leder) former  family who owned Crown Land property Center is built on.  Troops prepare  for fall rotation to Afghanistan. Giesebrecht’s celebrate 70 years as  distributors of Pepsi in Petawawa.  Canada Day Shaw’s Lumber Co.  launches replica of vintage sq. timber log raft on Ottawa River complete  with kitchen shanty.

2009   Council  announces two new schools for Petawawa, Council announces new 350,00 sq  ft commercial development, CFB Petawawa announces the base won  competition as the site for the Chinooks.  Petawawa reaches a population  of 15, 500. New Ambulance Base Station opens on Civic Center Rd. New Quality Inn opens.  Petawawa’s newest street “Leder Lane” Petawawa  Heritage Village continues to grow with 2 more log buildings (Leder Homestead & Trapper Cabin).

2010   Local environmental group try to stop council from clear cutting all the  historical white pine.  New manager for parks and recreation, Kelly  Williams, arrives.  Renfrew County announces 150th Anniversary  Celebration.

2011   Renfrew County Celebrates 150th Anniversary at Pembroke Airport in the Town of Petawawa. Construction begins on new schools.  One Catholic School Grade JK – grade 7 and one Public School JK- Grade 12.  Both schools to be  located on town property off Civic Center Rd.