Tillsonburg, Ontario

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Tillsonburg, Ontario is a town in Oxford County of Ontario, Canada.

Tillsonburg is a town of 14,052[1] located about 50 kilometres southeast of London, on Highway 3 at the junction of Highway 19 (Ontario) the closest route to Highway 401 at Ingersoll, Ontario.

Contents

[edit] History

The area was settled in 1825 by George Tillson and other immigrants from Massachusetts. A forge and sawmill were erected, roads built which led to the establishment of this small community called Dereham Forge. In 1836 the village was renamed Tillsonburg in honour of its founder. It was also in this year that the main street, Broadway, was laid out to its full 100-foot width. Because the village was predominantly a logging and wood product centre, the street was constructed wide enough to accommodate turning of three team logging wagons. This width now is unique to Ontario and a tremendous asset toward handling pressures of modern day traffic, by providing the benefits of angle parking.

The mid 1800s proved to be the first step in the industrialization of this municipality. A water system was devised to not only supply pure water for domestic use, but also to provide water power to such industries as a sawmill, planing mill, grist mill, spinning mill, pottery and a tannery. Many of these new establishments were either owned, started, or financed by George Tillson.

1872 witnessed the incorporation of the village as the Town of Tillsonburg, with E.D. Tillson elected as its first Mayor. The Town of Tillsonburg reached a population of 2,000 in 1885, experienced its first church dedication, and had its first telephone installation established. Electric power was first utilized in 1912 and automobiles began to appear on the market.

In 1915, a Public Library was built with funds provided by the Carnegie Foundation, and the town's Memorial Hospital came into existence in 1925.

In the 20s, major enterprises included milk production, manufacture of shoes, tractors, textiles and an increased production of tobacco. The Tillsonburg Livingston's Basketball Team (representative of Tillsonburg's largest industry) won the Canadian Championships in 1952 and represented Canada in the Olympics at Helsinki, Finland. CKOT Radio began broadcasting operations in 1955 and the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Marketing Board opened its new auction exchange 3 years later. The Town's Centennial Year (1972) saw the opening of the new $1,000,000 Community Recreation Complex by the Governor-General of Canada, as well as the opening of the Tillsonburg Museum in the old community centre on the shores of lovely Lake Lisgar. A new 8,000 square foot Library was completed in 1975, and a second indoor skating rink was built in 1977, funded completely by donations from industry, commerce, service clubs, citizens and Wintario. In 1979, the hospital built a $7,000,000 addition for offices, improved x-ray and emergency departments, and an expanded Intensive Care Unit. A fire hall was constructed in 1979, replacing the old building which was demolished to make way for a downtown mall.

The controversial Tillsonburg Town Centre Mall opened in 1980, where the former Town Hall once stood. The mall, a joint effort of the Town and Trottier Investments, was built primarily to meet competition from out-of-town malls and keep more of the shopping dollar in town.

In 1983, two important buildings - Annandale House (built by the founding Tillson family) and the Hale Street railway station became public buildings. The former would be restored as a house museum, while the latter would become an arts and crafts center.

A major residential development geared for seniors - Hickory Hills - was announced in 1985. The development significantly added to the Town's population as well as increased the pool of volunteers for local non-profit agencies.

In 1991, a Food Bank had to be established for the community's needy and continues to be operated on a volunteer basis.

Throughout the early 1990s, volunteers were also busy on the Lake Lisgar Renaissance Project, which sought to revitalize the Lake, and make the park around the Lake more attractive with the construction of a gazebo, water fountain and walkways into the Lake.

That same period saw the closing of two major entertainment outlets: the Skylark Drive-In and the Strand movie theatre, victims of the video store arrival. To the relief of many, big screen movies came back in Tillsonburg in 1996 with the opening of Broadway Cinemas.

In 1994, the downtown area was significantly enhanced with the construction of the Rotary Club Clock Tower, which incorporated a clock from the town's former Post Office, and a bell from the demolished Town Hall. Soon, it became a community tradition (sponsored by the Rotary Club) for local residents to gather at the Clock Tower to ring in the New Year with fireworks, hot apple cider and the dropping of a ball.

[edit] Government

Tillsonburg is one of eight municipalities that make up the County of Oxford. The Mayor represents the Town as a County Councillor. The County administers social programs, ambulance services, planning, water & wastewater services, garbage & landfill operations and the County road system.

Tillsonburg is governed by an elected Mayor, Deputy Mayor and five Councillors. Council meets on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month in the Council Chambers in the Corporate Municipal Office. They over see staff and set policy for the various operations and services provided by the Town.

[edit] Education

[edit] Elementary and Secondary Schools

Tillsonburg elementary and secondary schools are under the control of two school boards, the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) and the London District Catholic School Board (LDCSB).

[edit] Annandale School

  • Established: 1995
  • Population: ~320
  • Grades: 7 - 9
  • One of the last remaining middle schools left in Ontario

[edit] Glendale High School

  • Established: 1959
  • Population: ~800
  • Grades: 10 - 12

[edit] Maple Lane Public School

  • Established: 1965
  • Population: ~300
  • Grades: JK - 6

[edit] Monsignor J.H. O'Neil Catholic School

  • Established: 1978
  • Grades: JK - 8

[edit] Rolph Street Public School

  • Established: 1913
  • Population: ~340
  • Grades: JK - 6

[edit] South Ridge Public School

  • Established: 1981
  • Population: ~420
  • Grades: JK - 6

"This is a school like no other" says Jenn, grade 6, of Mrs. FitzGerald's class"I thought it was the worst school ever, until I joined the volleyball team, and saw other schools"

[edit] St. Joseph's Roman Catholic School

  • Population: ~320
  • Grades: JK - 4

[edit] Special Service Schools

[edit] Adult Basic Literacy Program

  • Established: 1995
  • Literacy instruction is provided to any adults free of charge. Students are encouraged to purchase their books.

[edit] Tillson Avenue Education Centre

  • Established: 1995
  • Adult Day School offering credit courses, independent learning courses, basic literacy, English as a second language (ESL) and driver education.

[edit] Industry and Economy

Tillsonburg's current economy is centered around agriculture, automotive parts, and plastics industries. It saw a huge burst with the opening of the Tillsonburg Town Centre Mall in 1980, and the industrial development was influenced in 1986 by the construction of the nearby Cami plant. Tillsonburg is well known for its tobacco fields, and is home to the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Marketing Board.

[edit] Tourism

In January 2006 the National Post listed Tillsonburg as number 75 on the top 100 places to visit in Canada.

[edit] Media

[edit] Radio

[edit] Newspapers

  • The Tillsonburg News, a tri-weekly newspaper, first published in 1863.
  • Lake Shore Shopper.

[edit] Notable Tillsonburgers

[edit] Colin Campbell

Colin Campbell, is a former NHL player and now a Vice President of the league. The Colin Campbell Hockey Arena can be located at the Tillsonburg Community Center.

[edit] Harley Hotchkiss

Harley Hotchkiss is an executive with the Calgary Flames and was nominated in 2006 for the Hockey Hall of Fame.

[edit] Kevin (Matisyn) Clarkson

Lead vocals for the mainstream Rock band Evans Blue.

[edit] Albert Parsons

One-time mayor of Tillsonburg, is credited with inventing the plastic sign, after fashioning a plastic display to replace a glass sign that had been broken by drunken revellers. This accidental design proved vastly superior to the glass and neon signs of the day. The first production plastic signs were sold by his company, Parsigns, to Westinghouse. Parsons also invented the process for heating and forming the plastic to create 3 dimensional lettering. Parsons never patented his sign-making technologies, which are now used the world over. His home and workshop can still be found at the end of Pine Street. His original factory can be found north of Tillsonburg on Highway 19, currently inhabited by a cabinet store.

[edit] Joe Pitter

Plays bass for the mainstream Rock band Evans Blue.

[edit] Popular Culture

  • Irish playwright Malachy McKenna has written an award-winning play entitled "Tillsonburg".
  • Canadians Stompin' Tom Connors as well as The Cash Brothers have written songs entitled "Tillsonburg".

[edit] Clubs and Organizations

  • The Tillsonburg Linux Users Group [2]

[edit] Miscelleneous

Tillsonburg:

  • has a rather large 60 acre (243,000 m²) paintball field called "area 51 sportsfield" [3] which offers private games for patrons aged 12+
  • has one of the largest soccer parks in Southern Ontario, with a land area of 14 acres.
  • is home to "Coyle's Country Store", which is about 10-15 minutes north of Tillsonburg
  • is known as the tobacco capital of South Western Ontario
  • is home to the first all-age BPSC Scout Group in Ontario

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 42°52′N 80°44′W

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