page_title: Walton, Ontario
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Walton, Ontario / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Walton is 'Motocross town' to many across Canada. The annual TransCan Grand National Championship has made the town an icon of the sport
context_page_description: Walton is a Southwestern Ontario hamlet in Huron County, Ontario, Canada,
  located at the intersection of Huron County Road 12 and Road 25, 45 km east of Goderich.
context_section_description: Situated at the junction of Morris, Grey and McKillop Townships on the Seaforth-to-Wroxeter trail, Walton, is named for the English hometown of its founders John and Anna (Button) Hewitt.  Hewitt was born in Walton in Buckinghamshire, England and married Anna Button there. They sailed for Upper Canada in 1843 after the Canada Company purchase, eventually settling in the Huron Tract They settled on Lot 1, Conc. 18 of Grey Twp. around 1859. The American Civil War (1861–1865) generated a widespread economic boom. In 1862, still governed under colonial rule, they named their new community Walton, just prior to Confederation (1867). 
  Soon there were two stores, a lodging house, a blacksmith shop and a sawmill and gristmill. There were the Rob Roy and Walton hotels and postal service began in 1862 in one of the general stores. Rural routes began in 1912 and eventually there were four. Biggar's Hotel sold many times over the years. In 1901, the adjoining house was destroyed by fire and two years later, an auction was held for the chattel of McKim's Royal Hotel and household goods. In 1919, the unused hotel was dismantled and the building materials used for area homes. The Walton Hotel was the most successful in the hamlet as it still functions as an inn and restaurant today. Charles Sage took ownership in 1868. Mrs. Sage continued to run the business until 1901.
  Through the years there were pumpmakers, butchers, barbers, jewellers, lawyers, blacksmiths, carriage makers, harness makers, livery stable operators, doctors, veterinarians, bankers, implement dealers and garages.  The Sovereign Bank operated until 1908 and the Standard Bank / Imperial Bank served customers from 1918 to 1933. Walton experienced a boom after 1907 when the Canadian Pacific Railway began running through the village. The railroad ceased to operations in 1988.
caption: The annual TransCan motocross at Walton Raceway has established Walton as a national icon to motocross devotees
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