Erin's History

Established in the late 1820s by founder Daniel McMillan (namesake of McMillan Park), the village, originally known as McMillan’s Mills, grew from the power and sustenance afforded by the Credit River, which runs through its downtown.

As the village grew, the McMillan brothers constructed several mills, bringing jobs, and new residents to the village. With a growing population, several churches, a schoolhouse and hotels became part of Erin’s landscape.

Following the death of its founder, the village was renamed Erinsville – a reflection of the Irish heritage of many of its inhabitants.

Erin has long been a destination for tourism, recreation and leisure. In the 1890s, Stanley Park, at the North end of the village, was home to a horse powered merry-go-round, a boathouse, and rowboats. The park also boasted a large ballroom, as well as a racetrack used for bicycle, foot and horse races – all attractions popular with summer vacationers from the city.

For more information on the history of the Village of Erin, download A Brief History of Erin Village, by Steve Revell, and take a self guided walking tour of  historic downtown Erin!