1 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — An Isolated Township — Early Village — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

Trafalgar Township settlers lived in isolation during the early years. Travel was difficult, and there was no newspaper or postal service. But transportation and communication links were not long in coming. The first stage-coach service began . . . — — Map (db m242234) HM

2 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — Business on the “Main Street” — Downtown BIA —

The oldest commercial buildings date mostly from the 1846-57 period, when Oakville grew from a village of 500 to a newly-incorporated town of 2,000. Development of Old Oakville's commercial district started at Sixteen Mile Creek and grew east . . . — — Map (db m238571) HM

3 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — Churches Schools and Taverns — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

Oakvilles churches, schools and taverns knit the community together and created a social support network. Taverns and inns were usually the first public buildings in Upper Canadian towns. They doubled as town halls, churches and courthouses. . . . — — Map (db m238672) HM

4 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — Colonel William Chisholm — 1788-1842 —

The founder of Oakville was born in Nova Scotia of Loyalist parents who moved to Burlington Bay in 1793. William served with distinction in the militia during the War of 1812. He settled in Nelson Township in 1816 and became a successful . . . — — Map (db m237075) HM

5 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — Commercial Buildings — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

William Chisholm’s first priorities for Oakville’s economic development were developing the harbour, building a grist and sawmill, and setting up a shipyard. This activity, along with the declaration of the harbour as a Port of Entry for . . . — — Map (db m238303) HM

6 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — Early Contact Period (1610-1700) — First Nations — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

Europeans first arrived in what is now southern Ontario during the second decade of the 17th century. At the time, the area was populated by three major groups of Iroquoian-speaking people: Huron, Petun and Neutral. By 1650 these aboriginal . . . — — Map (db m241925) HM

7 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — Early Leaders — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

Oakville Heritage Trails Old Oakville Loop Early Leaders In addition to the founder William Chisholm, strong leadership from other citizens was important in developing Oakville into a town by 1857. One such person was Merrick . . . — — Map (db m237951) HM

8 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — From Wheat to Strawberries — Pioneer Industry — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

This region’s first farmers. mainly of British descent, established themselves on lots of 200 acres after the Mississauga purchase of 1805. As they cleared their land, their first products for sale were timber and potash (from the burning of trees . . . — — Map (db m242254) HM

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9 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — H.M.C.S. Oakville —

To commemorate the officers and crew of H.M.C.S. Oakville 1942 — 1945 They served in Canada's time of need — — Map (db m237943) HM

10 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — Heritage Homes of Trafalgar Road and George's Square — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

As Oakville’s population and prosperity increased, stately homes were built near George's Square. These houses represent different architectural styles and designs from various periods in the town's development. 19th Century Heritage Homes . . . — — Map (db m238721) HM

11 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — HMCS Oakville —

History The Battle of the Atlantic (September 1939 - May 1945) The Second World War began when Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Britain, France, and Canada were quick to declare war, but the enemy was strong and well equipped. By the fall of . . . — — Map (db m237096) HM

12 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — Hunter-Gatherer and Fisher People (9,000 BC to AD 500) — First Nations — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

After the ice melted away from southern Ontario, Paleo-Indians moved into the region. Southern Ontario was a treeless tundra then, like today's Arctic. The Paleo-Indians travelled widely, hunting caribou with spear points made of chert, a type . . . — — Map (db m241978) HM

13 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — Industrial Change 1810 to 1870 — Pioneer Industry — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

Water power from the Sixteen enabled the first industries to be established in Oakville. The first sawmill on the Sixteen was built near Upper Middle Road around 1810. William Chisholm built the first gristmill near the Speers Road bridge in 1833. . . . — — Map (db m242238) HM

14 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — Lakeshore Road Taverns — Downtown —

In Oakville, as in most of the area villages, the first public building to be erected was the tavern. Necessary way-stations in a land of arduous travel, taverns also provided meeting places for the new settlers to conduct business and enjoy . . . — — Map (db m241808) HM

15 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — Lakeside Park Bandstand —

Lakeside Park Bandstand - Original structure circa 1908 - The Lakeside Park Bandstand was originally located in Trafalgar Park (then known as Oakville Fair Grounds). The Bandstand was moved to Lakeside Park in the early 1950's. It . . . — — Map (db m237087) HM

16 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — Leading Citizens — Downtown —

Oakville’s early businessmen realized their success depended on the prosperity and attractiveness of the larger community. Many of them made civic affairs their business. Parks, sidewalks, road improvements, street lighting, public health and safety . . . — — Map (db m241701) HM

17 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — Life “Over the Creek” — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

Tannery Park Life "Over the Creek" West Harbors history as a working class neighborhood began in the 1830s with William Chisholm's need to raise money for his ill-fated Oakville Hydraulic Company, which was to construct a dam on the . . . — — Map (db m237434) HM

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18 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — Oakville and Trafalgar, 1806-1870 — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

The area that is present day Oakville was first settled by Europeans in 1806, after the land was purchased from the Mississauga tribe and Trafalgar Township was surveyed. Twenty-one years later, in 1827, William Chisholm bought 960 acres at . . . — — Map (db m238670) HM

19 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — Oakville’s First Industrial Era — Pioneer Industry — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

Industry prospered in Oakville during the 1840s to 1860s, with the establishment of foundries, tanneries and carriage works. In 1851 machinists John Doty and Ashley Hibberd built a foundry to manufacture sawmill equipment and steam engines. . . . — — Map (db m242252) HM

20 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — Oakville’s Meeting Hall —

On this site in 1827 Oakville's meeting hall was built, which also was used as a church on Sundays and a school on weekdays. Oakville's first library was established here when William Tassie, the town's first schoolmaster, opened a reading room. . . . — — Map (db m237948) HM

21 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — Period Homes — Sixteen Mile Creek —

The early settlers of Oakville, while full of optimism lacked formal training- there were few master builders or architects at the time. In fact, the shipbuilders who came to work for Chisholm in the shipyard also built many of the first houses . . . — — Map (db m238338) HM

22 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — Period Homes — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

Period Homes For the greater part of the nineteenth century, the centre hall Georgian plan remained popular. In the early homes, this basic form was embellished with door and window surrounds and cornice treatments. The degree of decorative . . . — — Map (db m238341) HM

23 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — The First Horticultural People (AD 500 to 1610) — First Nations — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

In the Late Woodland period (AD 500-1000) people of the Princess Point Complex introduced corn into southern Ontario. Evidence of their culture has been found at Cootes Paradise in Hamilton and along the Credit River. The Princess Point . . . — — Map (db m242013) HM

24 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — The Lock-up & Town Hall — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

An Act to incorporate the Town of Oakville was assented to on May 27th, 1857. The first council members were: Mayor G.K. Chisholm Farmer & Landowner Ward 1 R.K. Chisholm Customs Agent & Postmaster W.E. Hagaman General Merchant Ward . . . — — Map (db m238339) HM

25 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — The Lorne Scots — (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) —

Dedicated to the soldiers of The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) In honour of their 150th anniversary 1866-2016 And for their continuing service to our community and country Defence of Canada, 1812-1815 . . . — — Map (db m238723) HM WM

26 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — The Oakville Basket Company — Pioneer Industry — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

The manufacture of baskets, Oakville's longest lived industry, grew out of the area's flourishing fruit industry. Pioneer strawberry grower John Cross manufactured the first wooden berry baskets of his own design in the 1860s. John A. . . . — — Map (db m242253) HM

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27 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — The Prosperous Years — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

During the 1830s, Oakville entered a prosperous era. Shipments of wheat and lumber made the harbour a busy focus of commercial activity. Steamships and stagecoaches carried passengers, mail and freight to and from Hamilton and York. William . . . — — Map (db m238668) HM

28 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — The Tannery — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

Oakville Heritage Trails Tannery Park Few enterprises influenced the lives of ordinary Oakville residents like the Marlatt & Armstrong Leather Co. did at the turn of the 20th Century. If you didn't work for the tannery, you smelled its . . . — — Map (db m237297) HM

29 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — The Temperance Movement — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

Oakville Heritage Trails Tannery Park The Temperance Movement Oakville was a hotbed of temperance activity in the 1800s. In 1889, West Harbour found itself at the centre of it as the site of what was to that point the largest temperance . . . — — Map (db m237726) HM

30 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — The Treaty Period (1801-1847) — First Nations — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

Under the Royal Proclamation of 1763, European settlement could not proceed without a formal treaty with the aboriginal proprietors of the land. In 1806 the Mississauga signed the treaty surrendering all the lands from Etobicoke River to Burlington . . . — — Map (db m241812) HM

31 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — The Underground Railroad — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

The Underground Railroad secretly transported fugitive slaves from the southern United States across the border to freedom in Canada. From 1820 to 1865 thousands of black slaves escaped into Canada. Although Oakville was a small terminus . . . — — Map (db m238720) HM

32 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — Then and Now — Downtown BIA —

Once, everyone from farmers to dowagers met and mingled on "Main Street." People knew all the merchants by their first names. Today, the friendliness remains, as well as much of the small-town charm, as Downtown Oakville develops its own blend of . . . — — Map (db m242154) HM

33 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — Vision for Oakville — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

The first town survey was completed in 1833, enclosing an area bounded on the west by Brock Street, on the north by Rebecca and Randall Streets, and on the east by Allan Street. Road allowances were laid out in the standard grid pattern . . . — — Map (db m238336) HM

34 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville — West Harbour — Sixteen Mile Creek Trail —

Oakville Heritage Trails Tannery Park Oakville founder William Chisholm's 1827 grant of land included about 300 acres of land west of Sixteen Mile Creek. By buying a parcel owned by James and Susannah Brock, he was able to extend the . . . — — Map (db m237941) HM

35 ► Ontario, Halton Region, Oakville, Bronte — Sovereign House (circa 1825) — The Corporation of the Town of Oakville —

Sovereign House (circa 1825) Officially opened September 23, 1995 by Her Worship Mayor Ann Mulvale The Sovereign House was the residence of Charles Sovereign; a founding father of Bronte Village. From 1911-1914, the home became the . . . — — Map (db m243012) HM

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