This village was founded in 1832 by David Bell, who settled on Lot 20, on the north side of what was then a corduroy road (a timber track made by placing logs perpendicular to the direction of the road). It was known as Bell’s Corners until 1852, when it was renamed Shakespeare.
Why?
At that date a post office was opened in the village. This led to the discovery of another Bell’s Corners (Nepean Township, now amalgamated with Ottawa), this one named for Hugh Bell.