Settlers of Fell’s Station and Bury’s Green
January 15, 2025
St. John's Church, Bury's Green
By Guy Scott
The boundary road between Somerville and Verulam Townships attracted many of the earliest settlers the area. Access was gained via the Bobcaygeon Road and soon a rough track extended along the boundary all the way to the Burnt River Valley south of Burnt River Village. The road was called the Bury’s Green Road after the principal hamlet along the road. From the main Bury’s Green Road, which ran east-west, several side roads or concession roads both north into Somerville and south into Verulam Townships. Some of these side roads were through roads, but others just dead ended into swamps. Further north, the 3rd Concession Road of Somerville Township was opened throughout the entire width of Somerville, even if it was broken by the Burnt River. But this road also crossed some inhospitable swamps and today is not entirely maintained. The feeder side roads on the Verulam side opened much better land and are mostly used today.
One of the first settlers to this area was Squire John Fell who arrived from Yorkshire, England in 1857. The Fell family moved west of the Bobcaygeon Road and settled on lots 13 and 14 in the first concession of Somerville. This area had the best farmland along the road. Neighbours along the Somerville side included the Hopkins brothers: Edward, Albert, Thomas and Fred in the 2nd and 3rd concessions, as well as the Howie brothers Thomas and James. Other early settlers along the Bury’s Green Road included Thomas and Malcolm Smith (lots 11 and 12 in concession 1), John Schell (also lot 11), George Cavanaugh (lot 10). Also settling in this area were the Hilyer, Pogue, Armstrong and Golden families. Settlers along the Verulam side included Abraham Grandsden, several Telford families and James Flett.
The most famous pioneer in the area was Squire John Fell. Squire is an old English term meaning “gentleman.” A squire was also likely to have a larger landholding in the community and also denote a community leader in such fields as religion and politics. Squire Fell carried these traditions to the new world. He was elected Reeve of Somerville Township on many occasions. He served as Warden of Victoria County in 1869, 1874 and 1876. From there he went on to the Ontario Legislature elected the MPP for Victoria North from 1883-1894. He named the little hamlet Bury’s Green after a hamlet back in England where the Fell family dwelt for generations. When a post office was opened in 1862, John Fell was the post master. He operated a saw mill on Brandon’s Creek where it flowed through the community on its way to Burnt River. The water flow was rather “seasonal” and sawing had to be done during the spring freshet. Squire Fell died in 1901 and was buried in St. Peter’s Anglican Church on the Verulam side of the community.
Bury’s Green also contained another church, St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church, located on lot 13, concession 1 of Somerville, right in the heart of the Fell Settlement. The church was opened in 1874 and still stands. It hosts a remembrance service once a year and still has burials in the attached cemetery. It is kept up by community volunteers. Bury’s Green never had a formal town site. Its businesses included a blacksmith, harness maker, general store and cheese factory, but the businesses straggled along the road for several miles. The post office formally closed in 1913 and rural mail delivery replaced it. Blacksmiths included Robert Ellis, David Lee and Alexander Connell. The general store was operated by the James Walker family until it closed around 1900. The cheese factory was on the Verulam side of the community as well as the Anglican Church.
In 1876, the Victoria Railway passed through the western corner of the community along the valley of the Burnt River. A station called Fell’s Station (after the post prominent citizen of the time) was opened on lot 20, concession 1 of Somerville. It was a section station with a large waiting room and accommodations for the section foreman and family. It had its own siding and shipped cream and wood products. Later Superior Propane set up a central depot at the site where it could access the railway. Fell’s Station was eventually torn down and the track abandoned.
Today, Bury’s Green is strictly a rural community containing no businesses, but a number of farms. Residents travel to Bobcaygeon or Fenelon Falls for services.
