A photo from the Sifton Family Photo Album showing a group of people with a pine tree cart in front of a home in Wallacetown. One of the family members, Ellis Wellwood Sifton, lived in Wallacetown and received a posthumous Victoria Cross during the First World War.
The citation for his Victoria Cross reads:
"For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. During the attack in enemy trenches Sjt. Sifton's company was held up by machine gun fire which inflicted many casualties. Having located the gun he charged it single-handed, killing all the crew. A small enemy party advanced down the trench, but he succeeded keeping these off till our men had gained the position. In carrying out this gallant act he was killed, but his conspicuous valour undoubtedly saved many lives and contributed largely to the success of the operation."

A view of the west side of Dutton's Main Street at the north side of town. From left to right the businesses you can see are McPhee's Billiard Hall, Mr. John Barnbridge's Jeweller Shop, Ed Robert's Grocery Store, CIL Paint Shop, a barber shop, Downey's, K & L Grocers, and Jack Knight's Barber Shop.

A quarter view of the Old School Baptist Church in Wallacetown, built in 1911.

This home is known as the old Conn residence. This image is from an article in the St. Thomas Times-Journal. The accompanying caption reads:
"West of Port Talbot toward Wallacetown, along the Lake Road, home on north side of road. Built about 1848, the big front room was originally planned as a Methodist meeting place."

This building was once the Union School Section #3 Aldborough School, often known as the "Townline" school, serving students from Dunwich and Aldborough. It was built in 1913 and remained open until 1965. Ever since it has served as the Crinan Community Centre.

This building has a long history as a car service station. The Elgin Motors Tire and Towing Service was started in this building in 1922 by Sam Davy. At the time this historic photo was taken it was owned by Alvin and John Good.

A view of the stately Duff Presbyterian Church, located at Largie in North Dunwich.

A view of Dutton's new expanded high school in the 1930s. The high school has since been expanded again.

A photo from the Highland Games in Dutton. This was from a set of photos published in the St. Thomas Times Journal on August 5, 1958. The caption for this image reads:
"Massed Bands - With almost a hundred pipers playing and the drums throbbing, these nine bands prepare to step forward for the march-past which highlighted Monday's annual Highland Games of the West Elgin Caledonia Society held on the Sons of Scotland Park at Dutton. A crowd of about 6,000 people watched as they marched the length of the Games arena. Leading the parade was Drum Major Keith Dewar of the R.C.A.F. 400 Sqdn. Band from Toronto."

A photo of the general store in winter time, with two horse-drawn sleighs, and a horse-drawn wagon parked outside. The store also doubled as the community's post office.

An image of the Lucas House on Talbot Road in Dunwich. This photograph was one of a series of glass lantern slides created by Reverend Canon Norman Morris to document the heritage buildings of West Elgin.

The Lumley & Co. General Store in Iona. The store was built in 1888 and also has the distinction of becoming in 1923 the first telephone office of the Southwold & Dunwich Telephone Association. The switchboard was run on the second floor by Lumley's daughter, Mrs. F. H. Silcox, until it was moved to Shedden in 1966.

A front view of the Wallacetown Methodist Church at the corner of Gordon and Argyle. The church was built in 1875.

Local officials pose for a photo at the unveiling of what was described by the St. Thomas Times-Journal as an "Unusual Plaque." The three ton round stone was created to honour John E. Pearce, who had donated the land for this provincial park, and after whom the John E. Pearce Provincial Park is named.

The South Dunwich Community Hall in Wallacetown. It was built in 1947.

This is St. Peter's Anglican Church in Tyrconnell. The heritage plaque erected at the site by the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board of Ontario reads:
"A fine example of early Gothic Revival architecture, this Anglican church lies in the midst of the original 'Talbot Settlement.' The nave was erected by the congregation in 1827. The belfry and tower, added in 1845 to accommodate a bell donated by the Earl of Galloway, adhered to the original style. In 1849 Bishop John Strachan consecrated the church, and two years later the Reverend James Stewart became first resident priest of the parish. Charlotte Simcoe, a daughter of the province's first lieutenant-governor, gave St. Peter's a silver communion service in 1844. The nearby burying ground contains the graves of some of the area's earliest settlers, including that of Col. Thomas Talbot, founder of the 'Talbot Settlement'."

Tombstones in St. Peter's Cemetery in Tyrconnell.

Willey's School as seen from the street. Today it is a private home.

Soldiers from the 91st Battalion march down Dutton's Main Street in February 1916. This was part of a week long recruitment march from St. Thomas to Rodney and back, passing through Dutton along the way.
The 91st Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force was recruited from Elgin County and based in St. Thomas. Once these troops were dispatched to France the battalion would be broken up and the troops sent to other units to replace the dead and wounded. During the First World War, seven men from Dutton would be killed in action.

This home was built by Andrew Backus, and at the time this photo was taken it was occupied by a Mr. and Mrs. Page. This image is from an article in the St. Thomas Times-Journal. The accompanying caption reads:
"West of Port Talbot toward Wallacetown, along the Lake Road, north side, west of Stephen Backus residence. Built about 1849. Steph Backus' daughter, Mary Storey, owned the house after her father. She donated the land from the farm for the site of St. Peter's Church."

The tombs of Colonel Mahlon Burwell and his wife in St. Stephen's Churchyard at Burwell's Corners. Mahlon Burwell was a Loyalist from New Jersey who came to Upper Canada with his family in 1796 at the age of 13.
He became a surveyor for the colonial government and was responsible for surveying Port Talbot, and later large parts of Kent and Essex Counties along the Talbot Road. In 1830 he laid out the plan for the lakeside community that now bears his name. He also served stints in the Parliament of Upper Canada and in other political positions from 1812 until the 1830s. He died at Port Burwell in 1846.

A quarter view of Dutton's Town Hall.

A postcard showing a group of women posing for a photo outside Dutton's old High School.

A hand-coloured postcard view of Dutton's High School. THe postcard was dated October 22, 1910.

The first post office in Iona. This photograph was one of a series of glass lantern slides created by Reverend Canon Norman Morris to document the heritage buildings of West Elgin.

A photo from the Highland Games in Dutton. This was from a set of photos published in the St. Thomas Times Journal on August 5, 1958. The caption for this image reads:
"Fanfare Opening - The Trumpet Band of the Elgin Regiment, proudly wearing the Bruce Tartan, march into the Games arena at the head of the official opening party. Having escorted Games officials to the platform, they marched to and fro across the arena, giving a fanfare opening to the games. They received a true Scots roar of welcome from the large crowd packing the wood-plank seats of the ampitheatre."

A photo from the Highland Games in Dutton. This was from a set of photos published in the St. Thomas Times Journal on August 5, 1958. The caption for this image reads:
"Up but not Over - Pipe Major Henry Brown of the Chatham Canadian Legion heaves the heavy caber into the air, but it falls without having been "tossed" in the traditional manner. Several tried to toss the caber, seeking for the $2 prize awaiting anyone who was successful. All failed."

A photo from the 1984 Highland Games in Dutton. This was from a set of photos published in the Rodney Mercury on August 9, 1984. The caption for this image reads:
“Dutton’s Highland Games did not attract the usual big crowd Monday, but the picture shows the west side of the Sons of Scotland Park with many people watching the bagpipe bands, dancing and sport events such as throwing the caber, heavy hammers, weights and other competitions. Donald C. Leitch stated the future of the games is in doubt unless something can be done to attract larger crowds, because expenses are too high compared to gate and other receipts. Ninety-degree Fahrenheit, high humidity and threatening rain could have combined to limit the crowd.”

This is the Iona Hall. It was originally built as the Free Will Baptist Church in 1862 by Coates Keillor and John Lumley. The congregation shrank however, and the church closed in 1900. It was purchased in 1909 by the Church of Christ Disciples and the loca Women's Institute got their permission to hold their meetings here. In 1913 it became Iona's Community Hall. It has been extensively restored by its owners, the Iona Community Preservation Association, and is one of the last examples of the Classical Revival style in Elgin County.

The Keillor family standing outside the Wallacetown Cheese Factory, which was owned and operated by Alvro Keillor, who is shown propping up one of his children on the fence. His wife Ada is standing behind the fence to the left.
James Small, seen standing on the wagon at the weigh stand, for many years gathered milk from neighbouring farms for delivery to the factory. According to notes included in the Wallacetown Women's Institute Tweedsmuir History, Volume 1, Alvro Keillor purchased the factory in 1883 from J.S. Pearce, who started the business in 1865. Keillor operated the factory until 1918 when he sold the business to R.E. Fraser of the Dutton Creamery. Mr. Keillor and his son Stanley then went into poultry raising and converted the former factory building into a chick hatchery.

A view of the tree-lined boulevard of Wallacetown's Main Street, showing the Leeming's Grocery Store and Post Office at right.

This home was built by Stephen Backus. This image is from an article in the St. Thomas Times-Journal. The accompanying caption reads:
"West of Port Talbot toward Wallacetown, along the Lake Road, north side, west of Conn residence. Built about 1844."

The home of Donald McGugan, located on the 200 acre McGugan Farm at Coynes Corners. The farm was first purchased by Donald McGugan in 1820.

A yellowed photo showing a crowd of people standing in front of the McIntyre Hotel on Dutton's Main Street.

A quarter view of the Wallacetown Methodist Church at the corner of Gordon and Argyle. The church was built in 1875.

The Wallacetown Post Office, with postmistress Mrs. Gertrude Sloan posing for the photographer in front.

This photo shows the Ontario House Hotel (right) and Cameron's General Store (left) at the corner of Talbot Street and Currie Road in Wallacetown. The hotel was eventually destroyed by fire. The store was run by the Cameron Family from 1882 to 1935. The local lodge of the International Order of Foresters held their monthly meetings on the store's second floor.

Willey's School as seen from the rear. Today it is a private home.