User:Jackcphelan/sandbox

Construction of the Hastings Colonization Road began in 1854 under Mr. Robert Bird of Belleville. The road began north of Madoc, at a point known then as "Widow Kellar's Bridge;" at today's Kellars Bridge. The road followed what is now Highway 62 for roughly 5km, and from there followed what is now Old Hastings Road. Initially, the road was completed as far as the current location of Bancroft, and was later extended to a point north of Lake St. Peter. North of Bancroft, the route followed present-day Highway 62 and Highway 127.

Eventually, many of the farmers settled along the Hastings Road had left due to the poor growing conditions and rough terrain of the Canadian Shield. Along the portion of the route not followed by Highway 62 there remain several ghost towns, including Glanmire, Murphy Corners, Thanet, Ormsby, and Umphraville.

The Hastings Road met the Monck and Mississipi Roads in the area of present-day Bancroft, the Peterson Road in present-day Maynooth, and the Opeongo Road near present-day Whitney.