that he was seeing the 'golden valley' as he observed it below, ablaze with the golden colours of autumn. The post office was opened ten years later. Hardy Township was named in 1887 for Arthur Sturgis Hardy (1837–1901), provincial secretary, 1877–89, commissioner of crown lands, 1889–96, and Premier of Ontario, 1896-9. Loring was first known in the mid-1870s as McConkey Corners after McConkey Township. It was renamed in 1884 by William Edward O'Brien (1831–1914), Conservative member for Muskoka in the House of Commons, 1882–96, for his wife, Elizabeth (Loring) Harris, whom he had married in 1864. She was the daughter of Colonel Robert Roberts Loring (1789-1848), a descendant of United Empire Loyalist Joshua Loring. She was the widow of J.F. Harris of London, Ont. Port Loring was named so in 1922. McConkey Township was named in 1878 for Thomas David McConkey (1815–90), Liberal member for Simcoe North in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada, 1863-7, and in the House of Commons, 1867–72, after which he was appointed sheriff of Simcoe County. Wilson Township was named in 1877 for Sir Adam Wilson (1814–91), a Reform politician who became chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas, 1878–84, and of the Court of Queen's Bench, 1884-7. Images See also List of townships in Ontario References External links Local Services Board of Loring, Port Loring and District Port Loring's weather station Port Loring Ontario, Almaguin Highlands Region and Communities in Ontario Communities in Parry Sound District Local services boards in Ontario