A University is Born

Pre-Trent Land Usage & Ownership

Native peoples are known to have inhabited the Peterborough area as early as 1000 A.D. It is believed that over the many centuries, various tribes lived in the area, and that several periods of conflict and warfare occurred. With the arrival of Europeans in the later part of the 18th Century, the British authorities made a treaty with the Mississauga natives who were the inhabitants of the area at that time. This treaty, dated 1784, resulted in a large district stretching along Lake Ontario and as far north as the Rideau Lakes, Rice Lake, and Lake Scugog being given to the Crown. In 1854, Charles Perry, a former Peterborough mayor, established one of his famous "red mills," a saw mill, at Nassau Mills, current site of Trent University. Subsequently, Canadian General Electric acquired the property and the first power plant was built on the west side of the Otonabee in 1901. A new power plant and dam were constructed by R.B. Rogers, superintending engineer of the Trent Canal system, in 1921. C.G.E. donated the core 100 acres of Trent property, Nassau Mills, to the University in 1962. The University currently owns 1450 acres of land surrounding the old Nassau Mills. Some of the additional acreage acquired was farmland. This land was purchased from private farmers and landowners by the University prior to the commencement of construction. The site of the new University was named Nassau Campus. In 1994, Nassau Campus was renamed Symons Campus in honour of founding President, Thomas H.B. Symons.

Aerial view of the Trent University site prior to construction, 1964

Photo credit: Parks

The site is situated roughly two miles from the downtown area of Peterborough in a shallow draw formed by the Otonabee River, in an exceedingly beautiful region on the southern limit of the Canadian Shield... It seemed reasonable under the circumstances to make the Otonabee River the central feature of the campus...

Ron Thom, Architecture and the College, p.4

The Founding Fathers: Their Vision for Trent

"To meet the increasing demands a new University is founded"

Vision and Determination

The first permanent building on a beautiful campus overlooking a 4,000 foot stretch of the Otonabee River, three miles north of Peterborough, at Nassau, will be ready for occupancy in the fall of 1966. Older residents of Peterborough will recall the spot as the location of the "Red Mills".

The site of the University - of which the core was a gift from the Canadian General Electric Co. Ltd. - contains several hundred acres of wooded hills, and tablelands whose pleasing contours inspire the creation of one of Canada's most attractive university campuses.

The new University stems from the vision and the determination of a small band of public-spirited citizens, who, with the encouragement of the Provincial Government, have won the whole-hearted support of leaders in business, industry, labour, the professions, politics, civic organization and all religious denominations in the community.

(taken from Trent University pamphlet: To meet the increasing demands a new University is founded [1964])

For a long time, the City of Peterborough and the surrounding areas has felt the need of an institution of Higher Education. This subject has been a popular and consistent topic of discussion for years.

In 1957 when the City sold its gas utility to a private company, it was suggested by some citizens that part of this money be devoted to the establishment of a college.

This suggestion met with such instantaneous and enthusiastic support from all sections of the community, the Mayor appointed a committee to investigate the need and possibilities of such an enterprise.

This committee, which now largely makes up the Board of Directors of Trent University, includes representatives of Labour, Chamber of Commerce, Service Clubs, Women's Organizations, Manufacturers Association, City Council, etc, and members of the Protestant, Roman Catholic and Jewish religions.

During the past four years this committee of far-sighted, dedicated and determined individuals, by hard work and careful planning and study, has brought a dream to a point of practical reality.

In 1960 Trent College was incorporated under the Ontario Companies Act. The University of Toronto, Queen's University and the University of Western Ontario have appointed senior members of their Faculties as an informal advisory committee to maintain liaison between their Universities and Trent and the City of Peterborough turned over $100,000 to the Directors of the College.

A President of the University has been selected with the assistance of the Presidents of Toronto, Queen's and Western Universities. A site has been obtained and temporary quarters arranged. A professional fund raising analysis has been made and also a survey of student possibilities and need.

(taken from Trent University pamphlet: Trent University, [1964])