The former Village of Edenvale is a ghost town in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It was located on Ontario Highway 26 in Springwater Township, along the Nottawasaga River, in Simcoe County. At present, Edenvale is simply a small blue sign along Highway 26 between Barrie and Stayner.
The village was named by pioneer settler John Culham, who described the surrounding countryside as the Garden of Eden. Other names from the early days of Edenvale include Giffen, McNabb, Walker, Campbell, Thompson, Richardson and Robertson.
Although Edenvale was not settled until 1867, a contingent of soldiers led by LCol McDougall spent a winter encamped at what was then called Glengarry Landing during the War of 1812. The soldiers were making the arduous journey from Kingston to the British post on Michilimackinac Island.
The first permanent inhabitants of Edenvale in 1867 were the Coughlin, Lavery and Nicholson families. At the time, Edenvale extended south to the Minesing Swamp, west to the Vespra-Sunnidale Town line, north to Concession 2 of Flos Township and east to Concession 11 of Vespra Township. Edenvale had very fertile soil, producing wheat, grain, clover seeds and peas, as well as supporting livestock and a flourishing lumber industry.
In 1876, a fire destroyed a significant part of Edenvale and many homes constructed after that time were built with lumber that had noticeable burn scars on them.
Several lumber mills sprung up in Edenvale. The Keeley family established Keeley's Mill in 1881 on the Nottawasaga River north of the Vespra-Flos Townline. The Methodist church in the village was built with lumber milled and donated by the Keeley family. The mill burned down in 1888.
In 1886, John Pilkey opened a shingle mill in Edenvale. Two years later, a sawmill was also opened east of Sideroad 25-26. The mill burned to the ground three times between 1890 and 1929 and was not rebuilt after the last fire. Carter's Mill was opened by the Carter Brothers in 1895. Situated on the south side of the Edenvale bridge over the Nottawasaga River, it operated until 1906. Other industries and businesses included Lovering's Mill (a winter operation only), Tallman's Cheese Factory, Bennett's Creamery, Graham Blacksmith Shop and Campbell Slaughterhouse.