The tiny community of St. Johns is a good starting point for many a tour through the Short Hills. It is hard to believe that the tiny, sleepy hamlet of St. John was once a thriving, bustling community.
The village formed around a sawmill that was built on Twelve Mile Creek in 1792. A post office was established in 1831, at which time the village boasted a woollen factory, a tannery, a foundry, stores, and several mills. Sadly, the village declined to almost nothing when the early water power of Short Hills was replaced by the greater resources and transportation convenience of the Welland Canal. The hamlet, although greatly reduced in size from its hey day, has retained its picturesque charm.
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