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Southwold

Quaint Hamlets & Bustling Villages


The Township of Southwold is part of Elgin County and lies just to the west of the city of St. Thomas. Indigenous peoples have lived on this land for thousands of years, and one can visit the Southwold Earthworks, a major pre-contact fortified village site of the Neutral people from about 1450 to 1550 CE. Today it is a National Historic Site. Southwold was surveyed and in 1792 named after a town in Suffolk, England. The region's rich soils supported the growth of hamlets and villages in the 19th Century, like Fingal, Talbotville, Iona, Shedden, and Paynes Mills. Today Southwold has a population of around 4,500 and retains its agricultural roots. Many beautiful heritage buildings have been carefully preserved in all of its villages and hamlets. These buildings, combined with the bucolic landscape, illustrate the strong bonds of rural community that shaped the region's history, and make Southwold an absolute pleasure to explore by car or bike.

This project is a partnership with the Township of Southwold and the Elgin County Museum & Archives.

We respectfully acknowledge that the Township of Southwold is within the traditional territory of the Oneida, Munsee Delaware, Anishnabek, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), and Ojibway/Chippewa peoples. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties.

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 Southwold

Then and Now Photos

Hovey House


Hovey House Hovey House
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Elgin County Archives 2002-26

1877

Drawing of the Matthias Hovey house in Fingal. The house survives today.

Francis Blacksmith


Francis Blacksmith Francis Blacksmith
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Elgin County Archives 2018-58

ca. 1885

This is the John Doan Francis Blacksmith Shop in Shedden. The home in the background belonged to John Doan Francis, who is also in the photo seated third from right.

Knox Presbyterian


Knox Presbyterian Knox Presbyterian
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Elgin County Archives 2018-58

ca. 1890

The Knox Presbyterian Church in Fingal. A large congregation wearing their Sunday best have gathered outside.

Fingal Farmers' Inn


Fingal Farmers' Inn Fingal Farmers' Inn
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Elgin County Archives 022.028.003

ca. 1890s

A number of men, women, and children pose for a photo on the patio of the Fingal Farmers' Inn. There's also a boy standing with his bicycle. The photo's accompanying caption reads:
" The Farmer's Inn, Located in Fingal on the Union Road was built about 1860. After 1865, it was owned by John Partridge, who also ran a stage coach business running from Wallacetown to St. Thomas. This picture shows the hitching rail outside the open barroom door."

Fordham House


Fordham House Fordham House
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Elgin County Archives 022.028.001

ca. 1900

Five young barefoot boys and a woman pose for a photo at the corner of Union Road and Fingal Line in Fingal. At the time the building in the background served as the Merchants Bank of Canada. Today it is a private residence known as the Fordham House.

Horton's General Store


Horton's General Store Horton's General Store
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Elgin County Archives 2003-18

ca. 1915

Horton's General Store and Post Office in Shedden. Standing on the patio are Manson Horton, the store's proprietor, and Lola Sells Baker, an employee at the store. Horton's three-year-old daughter Elda Mae is also visible.

Talbotville Methodist


Talbotville Methodist Talbotville Methodist
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Elgin County Archives 2005-26

ca. 1915

A colourized postcard view of the Methodist Church in Talbotville. A woman in a horse-drawn buggy and a small boy stand in the street at right.

Woman on Talbot Line


Woman on Talbot Line Woman on Talbot Line
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Elgin County Archives 40878

ca. 1920s

A woman in white on the sidewalk in front of some homes in Shedden along the Talbot Line.

Talbot Road East


Talbot Road East Talbot Road East
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Elgin County Archives 2005-26

ca. 1925

A view of Talbot Road East in Shedden, showing trees, and a business block with a car parked out front.

Chauncey Lewis House


Chauncey Lewis House Chauncey Lewis House
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Elgin County Archives 2007-19

ca. 1933

The Chauncey Lewis House in Fingal. This photo was part of a collection of lantern slides created by Canon Reverend Norman Morris to highlight historic homes in East Elgin.

MacNish House


MacNish House MacNish House
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Elgin County Archives R7 S2 Sh3 B2 F21

ca. 1933

The Duncan MacNish home. This photo was part of a collection of lantern slides created by Canon Reverend Norman Morris to highlight historic homes in West Elgin.

Red & White Store


Red & White Store Red & White Store
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Elgin County Archives R6 S1 Sh3 B2 F2 92

ca. 1945

The Red & White Store in Talbotville. It was originally built as a hotel in 1890 by Warren Smith, but never received a license to operate as one. It was demolished in 1953 to make way for the service station you see today.

Amasa Wood Home


Amasa Wood Home Amasa Wood Home
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Elgin County Archives 2018-57

1949

The Fingal home of Amasa Wood, a prominent local merchant.

Shedden Bank of Commerce


Shedden Bank of Commerce Shedden Bank of Commerce
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Elgin County Archives 2018-57

1951

The Bank of Commerce in Shedden.

Glasgow House


Glasgow House Glasgow House
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Elgin County Archives R6 S5 Sh1 B2 F1 2

ca. 1970

This home in Fingal is known as the Glasgow House. The Southwold Township Fingal History Tour says this of the house:
"William Glasgow, one of the partners in the MacPherson, Glasgow & Co, owned this house. As a young man Mr. Glasgow immigrated to America and found his way to Lockport, New York. He worked for a number of years and then made the acquaintance of another young Scotsman named MacPherson. Being ambitious young Scotsmen, they decided to go into the foundry business for themselves."

Fulton House


Fulton House Fulton House
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Elgin County Archives R6 S5 Sh1 B2 F4 15

1987

The Robert & Samuel Fulton House in Fingal after it's heritage restoration in 1987.

All Sorts Furniture


All Sorts Furniture All Sorts Furniture
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Elgin County Archives 40878

1988

This was the site of the All Sorts Unlimited New and Used Furniture store in Shedden.


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