Madoc, Ontario (village)

Madoc was originally named '''MacKenzie's Mills''' after Donald MacKenzie, who built a sawmill and grist mill here around 1832. Its post office opened in 1836. When people traveled by horse and carriage during the 19th century from Toronto to Ottawa, Madoc was the halfway stop over, allowing the passengers and horses to rest. In 1854, the Hastings Colonization Road was completed, which led to increased development of the hamlet. The community separated from the namesake township in 1877, and remained an incorporated municipality until 1998. On January 25, 1998, the Village of Madoc amalgamated with Huntingdon Township to form Centre Hastings. Madoc is the largest community in the municipality. Its post office services locals with lock boxes and rural routes. In 2008, Madoc celebrated its 130th anniversary. ==Demographics==

O'Hara Mill Homestead and Conservation Area features the O'Hara Sawmill. It is reputedly the only water-powered upright frame saw left in Ontario. It has been restored to operating condition by volunteers and is a centre piece of the revitalized homestead and conservation area. Being near the junction of highways 7 and 62, it offers an intriguing rest stop to travellers. The village has a premier skateboard park with splash pad, canteen, night-time lighting with bleachers and performing arts centre with music stage made from straw-bale construction. An outdoor public swimming pool is located at 65 Queen Victoria St. W. in Madoc. It is run through the Municipality of Centre Hastings. A public boat launch at Moira Lake South of the town offers a boat launch, swimming and a beachfront. As of 2013 a boat launch revitalization project has started, led by Madoc Kiwanis Club and will feature a new boat launch, boat ramp and docking area and marshland boardwalk, safe swimming area and more parking. The Tim Hortons restaurant in Madoc pours more than 3,000 cups of coffee a day, making it one of the busiest within the chain. The Tri-Lakes Medical Centre opened in Madoc in June 2009. ==Notable people==

People born here include: • Allan Roy Dafoe, delivered and cared for the Dionne Quintuplets. • Colin Scott Dafoe, surgeon with Marshall Josip Broz Tito's Partisans in Yugoslavia during the Second World War. • John Weir Foote, awarded the Victoria Cross. ==References==