History of Janetville

Janetville was named by Neil McDermid after his wife Janet who was the village's first postmistress. Robert McGill was the first settler in the area. He arrived in Janetville sometime around 1832. Around 1861, Neil and his brother John started their own milling operation. John, the sawer, cut 500,000 feet of lumber annually. Neil, the miller, produced 280 barrels of flour. By 1862, the community was populated enough for a post office. November 1, 1862 was the official opening. It opened as Janetville Post Office. S.S. #7 was built of logs and located in Lot 5, Concession 11. Laterm in 1870, a new school was built in Lot 6, Concession 12. In 1899, a second school was needed on the other end of the town due to the gross population. The school was called the north school S.S. #16. In 1909, the south school needed to be replaced and moved to Lot 5, Concession 13. The north school became the first continuation school in the township.