All about the Holly Area in Barrie, Ontario
It's easy to look around at how things are today and
assume that places, streets and structures have always been there, and always
been that way. But if you do a little bit more digging, you'll quickly find
that there are a lot of historical quirks and idiosyncrasies behind the various
places that surround people today. Take the Holly area in Barrie, Ontario as an
example. On the surface, it has many similarities to other locations throughout
Ontario. But when you stop to take a closer look, you'll find characteristics
that help this place to stand out.
How the Holly Community Got Started
The history of where this community got its name goes all
the way back to the 1870's when a post office was set up in the location and
given the name of Holly. It got its name from William Carruthers Little, who at
that time was the Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons for
Simcoe South. Little was actually born in England, and then he did work in
Australia before he settled down in Canada in the 1800's. That said; the
history of human occupation in the Holly area goes way before then.
Archaeological work in Holly has consistently found
evidence of much earlier human presence and habitation. For example, in the
late 90's, excavations in the area uncovered Iroquoian houses,
agriculture-related artefacts, ceramics, weapons, jewellery and more. Other
evidence also points to the possibility that Huron and Algonquian settlers once
lived in this area.
The Holly Community Today
This community has continued to grow and it remains
one of the most important and interesting areas in the City of Barrie. It
contains the Holly Community Centre, which is one of the largest and most
comprehensive facilities of its kind in Barrie. The centre has two pools, one
for small kids and another for older residents. That larger pool comes with its
own water slide, water cannons, diving boards, and other fixtures to make
frolicking in the pool that much more fun. The centre also has two arena areas
and each one can hold more than three hundred people, making them great for
larger sports-related activities. The list of amenities goes on, including an
air conditioned gym, several conference rooms, a multipurpose hall, fitness and
child care centres, and much more.
Holly also has much to offer people who enjoy being
out in the midst of nature. From the Holly Community Centre, you can cross the
street and start walking down a hiking trail, which offers 17 kilometres of
natural beauty in environmentally protected areas. No vehicles are allowed on
these trails, so they offer a great experience for people looking to walk or
hike in relative peace and tranquillity.
