Elora, Ont.
over the
Years
BEGINNING YEARS:
The first white settler to come to Elora was a man by the name of Rosewell Matthews, in the year of 1817. During the first few years Matthews cleared nearly 30 acres on the south bank of the river which is now known to be the area from McNab street all the way to the river. In 1832 Captain William Gilkison discovered and admired the land claimed by Matthews. He decided to buy the south west half of the Township of Nichol to Hon, the main attraction of his purchase being the great falls which Gilkison hoped to use to provide water power to run the mills. He named his new village Elora, after his brothers ship (which was actually named after the beautiful caves in India). The first map of the new village was created in 1832, depicting the village center that was laid out on McNab St.[1]
[1] Roberta Allan. History of Elora. Elora Women’s Institute, Elora, Ont., 1982
A NEW START:
After the death of Captain William Gilkison in 1842, the village of Elora came to a halt. There was no longer money to continue development, that is until Mr. Charles Allan, a settler of Fergus, partnered up with Alex Watt, James and Arthur Ross. Together they bought the water rights on the Grand River and the land up as far as present day town center. The first addition they included into the town was the construction of a dam and a new sawmill. In 1843 work was started on a large frame flour mill. [1]
[1] Allan, History of Elora.
THE HISTORY OF ELORA
A GROWING ECONOMY:
Throughout the mid 19th century Elora began to be known as one of the most “go ahead backwoods villages”. This meant that the small village began to use its resources in order to boost its economy. In 1852, Lord Elgin, the Governor of Canada, granted permission for Elora to hold a cattle market on the first Thursday of April and September of each year. This lasted until the year of 1859 when the Council then decided to hold a fair on the first Tuesday of each month instead. Elora was quite known for their fairs at this time and succeeded in bringing in a decent revenue. At first only cattle were sold but over time many introduced horses and sheep as well, even breeders from Britain were making an appearance.[1]
[1] Allan, History of Elora.
IMPROVING THE INFRASTRUCTURE:
Development continued to flourish within the small village and the construction of the railway took place in 1870. The railway cut through the village and veered east to Fergus. This of course improved transportation of goods and services and broadened Elora’s trading. It should also be noted that tourists began to visit Elora even at this day in age, not only for their fairs but also to marvel at the rocky Gorge along the Grand River. At this time Elora was considered to be a part of the Nichol Township and wasn’t officially considered a village until 1858. It remained this way until 1999 when it amalgamated with Fergus, Eramosa, Nichol and West Garafraxa Townships to form Centre Wellington.[1]
[1] John Robert Connon. The Early History of Elora, Ontario and Vicinity.1930
Expanding Into a Tourist Town:
It wasn’t until the 1960’s when Elora first began to establish itself as a tourist destination. Craftspeople and artisans took up residence in the downtown area, converting historic buildings into shops and galleries which attracted people from all around. Unfortunately there are not many recordings of the actual transformations that occurred during the 20th to 21st century which is why it is crucial to study and compare maps and photographs to gain a better understanding of how the town altered. By the early 21st Century Elora had expanded to a population of 4,546 and the outskirts began to meet up with Aboyne, Ont. Current day Elora is now not only known for its marvelous views, hospitality and old-fashioned buildings but also for its musical and theatrical involvement, adventurous attractions such as zip lining and adorable bed and breakfasts.[1]
Pamphlet Map of 1845 Elora, Ont.
Image of the Elora Mill, mid 19th century
Center of town, mid 19th century
Railway turn about outside Bergin house, mid 19th century
Downtown strip, 1960
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