Official Name: | New Prussia |
Settlement Type: | Unincorporated rural community |
Pushpin Map: | CAN ON Waterloo#Canada Southern Ontario |
Pushpin Label Position: | right |
Coordinates: | 43.4536°N -80.7569°W |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | Canada |
Subdivision Type1: | Province |
Subdivision Name1: | Ontario |
Subdivision Type2: | Region |
Subdivision Name2: | Waterloo |
Subdivision Type3: | Township |
Subdivision Name3: | Wilmot |
Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
Utc Offset: | -5 |
Timezone Dst: | EDT |
Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
Postal Code Type: | Forward sortation area |
Postal Code: | N0B |
Area Code: | 519 and 226 |
Blank1 Name: | GNBC Code |
Blank1 Info: | FEAOH[1] |
New Prussia is an unincorporated rural community in the township of Wilmot, Region of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.[1] [2]
The Nith River flows a short distance east of the settlement.
New Prussia prospered during the mid-1800s, though little remains today of the former settlement.
New Prussia was settled by Roman Catholic immigrants from the Rhine Province of Prussia.[3] Early Catholic church services were held by itinerant Jesuits.[4]
A school was erected in 1859 and named "SS#18, New Prussia School". An addition was added in 1952. The school closed in 1966, and was converted into a commercial property. The extant school building has been described as "one of the last physical remnants of the settlement" of New Prussia.[5]
In 1863, the Guenther House was built, and has remained one of the longest continually run century farms in the area. The house is listed on the Wilmot Township Heritage Register.[6]
The population of New Prussia declined during the late 1800s when many German immigrants in Waterloo County moved west to Bruce County to purchase inexpensive Crown land. This westward movement of German immigrants was called "Saugeen fever", after the Saugeen River which flows through Bruce County.[3] [7] [8]
The Wellesley Alliance Church is today located in New Prussia.[9]