New Eden

New Eden was a small hamlet at the corner of Road 96 and the 25th Line. In earlier times, it boasted a Methodist Church and a Public School. A small section of land on the northeast corner of Lot 30 Concession 12 was severed from William McKim’s farm in 1851 to build a log school. In 1871, it was replaced by a new brick known as McKim’s S.S. # 11. This brick school continued to serve this northern part of East Nissouri until the mid-1960s when a new central school was built.

On an opposite corner in 1861, another small piece of land was severed from Lot 31 Concession 13 from another farm belonging to William McKim. About a year later, McKim’s Episcopal Methodist Church was constructed. Some names listed on the deed were Andrew McKim, Sylvester Rounds and W.H. Gregory. This church closed in 1915 when it amalgamated with the Townline Methodist church to form the Lakeside Methodist church, which became Lakeside United church because of the church union.