The Roots of the Community

The community of Portal Village is situated on the lands formerly owned by the Canada Cement Company. The roadway into Portal Village today is called Elgin Street, although it used to be known as Maple Avenue. Maple Avenue was built in the early 1900's with the skills of the day. The property where the community of Portal Village now stands is where many of the senior managers of the plant once lived. Lavish homes with fishponds, outdoor gardens and pictureque properties were established alongside Maple Avenue. Today, you will find many of the same traits of these distinguished lands present throughout the community. The original cement fence posts protecting the community have been preserved and are still as effective as the day they were built. The managers fishpond still exists and is used as a picnic place today along with many other historical memories. In order to maintain the past glories, maples trees have been planted alongside the main road into the community in the hope of linking Maple Avenue with today's active community of Portal Village.