When the original Native People's earliest villages are thought of, for many people a tipi on the bank of a river comes to mind. But that was not at all how Iroquois speaking people lived in West Hill. "Iroquois" was the name given to them by their enemies, the Iroquois called themselves "The People of the Longhouse"--and for good reason.

The massive interior of these Longhouses provided enough room for five or more families. The size and ventilation of these buildings helped keep them cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Smoke from the many hearths was ventilated through the roof.

Here you can see the earliest stages of the construction of a new longhouse beside one of the existing structures. These pictures were taken of a reconstructed Iroquois Village at Crawford Lake near Guelph. Several comparable village were located along Highland Creek in West Hill.

Beyond hunting and agriculture, village life consisted of crafts such as canoe building, pottery and making clothes. The Longhouses and fortified walls of the village were also requiring frequent repair.

In size and comfort, the Longhouses were very similar to, but much larger than, the dwellings of many ordinary European farmers at the time.

For more on the Aboriginal Past of West Hill Click Here