Burlington's Pioneer Villages - Salem
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Introduction. Salem may have been another pioneer community in the northern parts of Nelson Township. It is also possible that Salem was an extension of the nearby Zimmerman settlement which was only 2.1 kilometers down the road.


One of the earliest families to settle in this area were the Bridgmans who arrived in 1813. The Salem Methodist Church was built on property donated by the Bridgman family on the NE corner of Walkers Line and No2 Side Road. Room was set aside for Salem Cemetery and annual church meetings were held at Salem Camp.
Business/Employment. Several pioneers settled in this area and found employment or business opportunities in Zimmerman. Burwell Bridgman became well known in Zimmerman.
Cemeteries. Where did Zimmerman bury its dead? Except for the small Campbell - Davidson Cemetery on Appleby Line there are no other known cemeteries in Zimmerman. The large Salem Cemetery is just down the road from Zimmerman. The size of this cemetery could be an indication that Salem was more than just a place to worship, that it indeed was a pioneer community.
Churches. Salem Methodist Church was one of five churches in the Zimmerman area. Most of the Zimmerman residents attended this church. In 1822 Salem joined forced with Bethesda Methodist Church. A new brick building was built in 1891on the SW corner of Appleby Line and No2 Side Road at a cost of $2,900 to become the Zimmerman Methodist Church. The old Salem Church was purchased in 1905 by the residents of Kilbride to serve as their community hall.
Location. Walkers Line and No2 Side Road area.
(Text printed in black: Compiled from "Pathway to Skyway" by Claire Emery Machan and "Burlington, The Growing Years" by Dorthy Turcotte)

Summary. It is fair to assume that Salem was a distinct community. As a rule names of schools, churches, cemeteries, etc., were associated with a location or association. There were a good number* of pioneer families living in the immediate area. Enough to warrant the creation of
- Salem Methodist Church
- Salem Cemetery
- Salem School
- Salem Camp
* The Zimmerman School was located in Zimmerman and most likely the majority of the 80+ students lived in the Zimmerman area. Maybe up to 30 or so students lived on "the other side of the creek" (Salem territory). Based on the average number of school age children per family, up to ten pioneer families were living at one time in Salem.
Note: Distance between Salem and the Zimmerman Bridge at 12 Mile Creek is 1.6 km's while it is 0.5 km. from the creek to Zimmerman.
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Salem Pioneer Cemetery. Walkers Line and No2 Side Road.
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*5071 Walkers Line. 1843 (est.). SW corner.
Located 300 m. north of Salem Cemetery.
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*5071 Walkers Line. 1843 (est.)
Back of the barn, NE corner.

4465 Walkers Line. 1860
4465 Walkers Line. 1860
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4465 Walkers Line. 1860. Sign on barn reads: Clairdale. G.R. Sinclair & Sons. This property is located only 300 m. south of Salem Cemetery. Barn pictures: Lower left, NE corner. Lower right, SE corner.
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*5377 Walkers Line. 1853
At the entrance to Indian Wells Golf Club.
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* This property is not listed in 'City of Burlington Inventory of Heritage Resources.'
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