The resting place of the early pioneers of Mono Mills.
The following description is taken from the history given on the two historical plaques at the cemetery:
The McLaughlins of Mono Mills
The McLaughlin family immigrated to Canada in 1824 from County Tyrone, Ireland, where they had been millers for generations. Francis McLaughlin and wife Allice, along with their children: Daniel, Francis, Alice, Michael, Ann Mary, and John settled in Mono Mills.
Michael built and operated grist, saw and woolen mills. Daniel was a hotel and tavern keeper. Their industry helped the village to flourish in the mid 1800’s.
Requests where made upon their arrival for a church to serve the Catholic community of the area. The request was finally granted in 1847, following a large influx of Irish settlers, a result of the potato famine in their homeland. Dedicated to the patron saint of Francis McLaughlin, Saint Francis of Assisi Church was built on the northwest corner of these grounds around 1850.
The church and surrounding cemetery served a thriving community for over thirty years, but eventually fell into disuse with the decline of Mono Mills in the 1880’s. In 1871, the village declined as a commercial centre when the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway bypassed Mono Mills. After this, the McLaughlins moved to Toronto to become grain merchants, while some stayed in the community and married into other local families.
During these years of decline, the community was served by other nearby churches, in Colgan, Wildfield and Orangeville.
The plaques at this cemetery where erected in 1980, and care of the grounds has been granted to the Mono Township Cemetery Board.
Cache is a small camo-taped lock 'n lock, easy to find year round. BYOP(Bring Your Own Pen).