Aylmer in Elgin County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Founding of Aylmer

Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 23, 2024

1. The Founding of Aylmer Marker

Inscription. In October, 1817, John Van Patter, an emigrant from New York State, obtained 200 acres of land and became the first settler on the site of Aylmer. During the 1830's a general store was opened and village lots sold. Originally called Tray, in 1835 it was renamed Aylmer after Lord Aylmer, then Governor-in-Chief of British North America. By 1851 local enterprises included sawmills and flour-mills powered by water from Catfish Creek. Aided by easy access to Lake Erie, Aylmer became by the mid-1860's, the marketing centre for a rich agricultural and timber producing area. Benefiting greatly from the construction of the 145-mile Canada Air Line Railway from Glencoe to Fort Erie, Aylmer became an incorporated village in 1872.

Erected by the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board, Department of Public Records and Archives of Ontario

Erected by Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1817.

Location. 42° 46.375′ N,

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80° 59.051′ W. Marker is in Aylmer, Ontario, in Elgin County. It is at the intersection of Talbot Street West and Centre Street, on the left when traveling west on Talbot Street West. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 46 Talbot St West, Aylmer ON N5H 2G4, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Southwest Ontario Area

and in Southwestern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Aylmer Cenotaph (within shouting distance of this marker); Springfield Cenotaph (approx. 7.4 kilometers away); The Founding of Springfield (approx. 7.4 kilometers away); The Founding of Sparta, 1813 (approx. 10.6 kilometers away); The Eakins Store (approx. 11 kilometers away); The Sparta House (approx. 11 kilometers

Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 23, 2024

2. The Founding of Aylmer Marker

away); The Temperance House (approx. 11 kilometers away); The Sparta Settlement (approx. 11 kilometers away).

Also see . . . Aylmer the History of a Town.

By 1886, the village had exceeded a population of 2,000 residents and therefore had qualified to be incorporated as a town. The Act of Incorporation was put into effect on January 1st, 1887. Increasing numbers of businesses began to open in Aylmer, although some industries, such as canning and tobacco grew and then declined. The town's ever-increasing population resulted in the creation of local schools and churches. The Second World War saw the coming of The Royal Canadian Air Force to Aylmer as they established a training centre within the town, which later became the site of the Ontario Police College.

(Submitted on August 26, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

The Village of Aylmer, 1864 image. Click for full size.

3. The Village of Aylmer, 1864

Source: Tremaine’s Map of the County of Elgin

Aylmer Old Town Hall, 2024 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 23, 2024

4. Aylmer Old Town Hall, 2024

Credits. This page was last revised on August 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 352 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 26, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.