Felton, Ontario

Felton, is a hamlet roughly five kilometers south of the town of Russell, in eastern Ontario, Canada in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell.

History

Felton began as a farming community entirely independent of Russell - complete with its own grocery store, post office, townhouse school etc... Over time, these establishments were lost (for various reasons - the school, for example, simply burnt down and was never rebuilt), and Felton accepted integration with Russell.However, some citizens of Felton continue to feel that they are separate and distinct from Russell. The three most evident reasons for this sense of alienation are:

* Five kilometers of farmland and forest separate Felton from Russell.
* The atmosphere and lifestyle of Felton is extremely different from that of Russell
* Felton does not receive the same services as Russell, including water from the Russell water-tower, cable, high-speed internet access, etc...

While some seniors currently living in Felton fondly remember the old public school and heritage of the hamlet, the proximity to Russell makes the rebuilding and reconstitution of the hamlet extremely unlikely, if not absolutely impossible. However, some citizens have shown clear interest in defining cultural boundaries with Russell, by reasserting their distinct status (which was never officially revoked). The first goal outlined by these citizens is the installment of Felton signs around the borders. Which brings up a whole other issue...

Defining Boundaries

There exists today a 'Felton Crescent', which is generally accepted to be the heart of Felton. But determining just how far Felton stretches beyond the Crescent is a difficult matter. There is currently no consensus as to the boundaries of Felton, although it is agreed that the boundaries "do" stretch, somehow, beyond the Crescent.

Because no clear boundaries exist, data concerning population etc... cannot be drawn. There are roughly 21 households on the Crescent, and, ballpark, 60 residents. Depending on how far the boundaries stretch, the population might not change dramatically, or it might more than double. It should also be mentioned that each household on the Crescent is separated by a wall of woods.