In 1792, Governor Simcoe declared all of Rondeau Bay as "ordnance land" which reserved the waters and peninsula for naval and military purposes.
Shrewsbury was surveyed as a future naval base and prospective capital of the "Western District".
A channel to the lake was dredged through the bay and through the sandy islands where the present village of Erieau now stands.
A long wharf was constructed along the Shrewsbury shoreline to accommodate large sailing vessels.
Because a common school could be started where there were at least 20 students, the Raglan community petitioned for its own schoolhouse, to be known as S.S. No.