1803- Colonel Thomas Talbot lands at Port Talbot,
           Dunwich
1810- Davis family and brothers Daniel, Simeon& Joseph
            arrive from Albany, NY
1810- Doc Green is first doctor in area
1816- Reuben Crandell founds Aylmer Baptist Church   
1818- Mr. Ebenezer Silcox builds Aylmer’s first
           schoolhouse           
1824- Ashael B. Lewis erects wool carding and cloth  
          dressing factory
1825- Dr. Edward Dancey builds veterinary office two
            miles E. of towntown
1829- Peter Clayton erects the “Red Checkered Store”
1830- John Bemer erected John Hodgkinson’s general
           store where Bank of Montreal now stands
1831-33- Roswell Mott opens harness shop
                  James Adams opens tailor shop.
1835- Meeting held to discuss settlement name
           Troy rejected, Aylmer chosen in honour of Lord
           Aylmer
1835- Nathan Wood constructs the “North American,”  
           Aylmer’s first hotel
1836- Jamestown established and used as a centre for
           distribution of goods from Malahide.
1836- Dr. Adolphus Williams sets up practice    
1837- Philip Hodgkinson appointed first postmaster
1837- Mrs. Donald McLachlin first recorded burial in the
           Aylmer Cemetery  sp;
1837- Aylmer’s population listed as 150 residents
1837- Roswell Mott opens first harness, boot & shoe Co.
1838- First frame schoolhouse built
1840- Aaron Price opens first bakery
1841- Second hotel built was the “Union”
1842- Roswell Mott opens first livery
1842- Summers Corners established by John Summers
1843- Dr. Ezra Foote begins medical practice
1845-56- The first cabinet factory built
1846- Aylmer fair established
1847- Aylmer’s population listed at 400
1850- Malahide’s first Town Hall built on Water St.
1851- T. T. Mann opens drug store
1852- Elgin County developed (previously part of
           Middlesex) and named for the Earl of Elgin,
           Governor General of Canada
1854- Miss Talbot’s Ladies School established.
1855- Aylmer & Port Bruce Gravel road completed
1855- The Molsons Bank opens in Aylmer
1855- Major Faulds organizes the first brass band
1857- “Aylmer Herald” printing shop opened by J. W. Bates
1858- Mr. Twell begins weekly “Aylmer Warder”
1858- Philip and John Hodgkinson’s post office, store &
            early Malahide records succumb to fire
1860- T.T. Mann opens “Medical Hall” Drug store
1860’s- Area residents form “The Aylmer Petroleum
              Company” operating on Widdifield’s property, with
              capital stock of $2 000.  Oil flow stops shortly after
              drilling begins       
1861- English Church on Water St. completed
1861- Malahide Lodge No 140 A.F. & A.M. GRC.
           established
1863- Daniel Stewart opens glue factory for wagon
           builders & cabinetmakers.
1864- Fire on the southeast block of Aylmer destroys
          Clutton’s Mill, Laing’s Hotel & 2 stores
1865- Volunteer Militia erects drill shed behind first town
           hall
1867- Confederation occurs and East Elgin, formerly part
           of Middlesex County, becomes a new political
           division  
1867- N.W. Bates & Joseph Twell publish “Aylmer Herald”
1867- Dr. Peter Wooley begins vet practice south of
            Aylmer
1868- Hiram J. Brown builds first gristmill
1869- The Royal Bank of Canada opens local branch
1869- M. L. Aldrich publishes the “Aylmer Enterprise.”
1870- Joshua Doty opens an Oyster Salon
1870- J. B. Hambige opens Apple & Egg exporting
            business
1870-86- Eli Caverly appointed first constable
1871- Great Western Railway completes a branch line
           through Aylmer
1872- Smallpox scare leaves Aylmer nearly deserted; 23
          cases in Aylmer, only three deaths
1872- R.C. Wright becomes first assessor and collector
           for village
1872- Aylmer Lodge No. 94 I.O.O.F. established
1872- Aylmer is incorporated as a village.
1872- Village now has five doctors (Williams, Foote,
            Clark, McLay, Price), three druggists (Mann,
            Rushmer, Gundry), one dentist (Hughes), four  
             hotels The New England, British American,  
            Commercial, and National), one Banker (Daniel
            Stewart), one newspaper (“The Aylmer Enterprise”),
            downtown businesses Bingham and Sons Dry
            Goods Farthings Dry Goods, Murray and Finnie
            General Merchants, Dorling’s Tailor Shop, Walker
            Bros. Hardware, & Martin and Nairn’s General Store
1872- High school was established in Aylmer
1873- The Air Line Rail builds branch line through Aylmer
1873- J. C. Pankhurst begins publishing the “Aylmer
             Paper”
1874- Second Town Hall completed (John St.)
1874- George and Edward Walker’s ‘Walker’ Block is built
1874- The 25th Battalion organized & named the Aylmer    
           Brass Band
1875- Dr. Coll Sinclair takes over Dr. Ezra Foote’s practice
1877- Aylmer Chapter No. 81 R.A.M, G.R.C. established
1877- W. Brown builds organ factory at Walnut & Gravel
            Rd.
1878- Aylmer Encampment No. 42, I.O.O.F. established
1878- Aylmer Lodge No. 6, Ancient Order of United
            Workmen is organized
1879- The G.R. Christie Co. clothing store opens
1879- T.W. Michael purchases the Aylmer Paper
1880- T.W. Michael renames “Aylmer Paper” as “Aylmer
            Express”
1881- John Rowe builds organ factory at former site of W.
           Brown’s Organ Factory 
1881- Aylmer Canning & Evaporating Co. established by
          Thomas Nairn & David Marshall.
1882- Dr. Charles Marlatt begins medical practice
1882- The Aylmer Curling and Skating rink built.
1883- Fire destroys Goodfallow’s flourmills in the east end
1883- Court Elgin No. 29 Independent Order of Foresters,
            Aylmer is established
1883- Solon Doolittle establishes furniture factory     
           (South & Dufferin St.’s)
1884- Messrs. Goodfallow and Co. erect a roller mill
1884- James Herendeen & James Cann construct a
            spring bed manufacturing shop on Warren St. St.
1884- Albert White builds a roller rink next to the curling
           rink.
1884- Mr. John Low forms Canada’s first Ladies Brass
            Band
1885- Aylmer Waterworks created
1885- Michael Council No. 203 Royal Templars of
           Temperance is organized
1885- Aylmer Circle No 22 Order of Canadian Home
            Circles is organized
1886- John Richards opens “The People’s Drug Store”
1886- The Scott Act prohibits sale of intoxicating liquors
1886- Bell establishes telephone service in Aylmer
1886- Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald speaks
           at Aylmer Town Hall & two other locations
1886- Dr. P. M. Mann begins medical practice
1886- Aylmer Collegiate Institute built on grounds of
           current high school
1887- John St. bridge built
1887- Aylmer incorporated as a town.
1887- Aylmer Assembly No. 9694, Knights of Labour   
           organized
1887- Helping Hand; or Sick Benefit Society of the
            Knights of Labour established
1887- Aylmer Iron Works built (Queen & Water St.’s)
1887- The “Aylmer Sun,” becomes a new weekly
            publication
1888- M. L. Aldrich publishes “Aldrich’s Pocket
           Directory”
1888- Prince Albert Lodge No. 61 Sons of England,
            Benevolent Society is established
1888- Enos Scott builds second Pork Factory W of Elm  
            St.
1889- Aylmer’s population jumps 50% peaking at over
            2350.
1889- Methodist Church (John St. N) completed
1889- Myrtle St. bridge built over Catfish Creek
1890’s- J. Anderson, developer of the Anderson Pump
               (the best pump on the market) moves to Aylmer.

1893- George Allworth builds Condensed Milk Factory
            on John St. N.
1895- First year for “Decoration Day” at Aylmer
            cemeteries
1895- Ernest Caughell opens a drug store
1896- Incandescent lighting introduced
1896- Aylmer Electric and Manufacturing Co. formed
1897- Condensed Milk Plant bought by the Aylmer
            Canners
1891- Aylmer 493 Fire Department officially established
1897- “Souvenir of Aylmer” published by Stott Power
            Co.
1899- Laidlaw & Watson Shoe factory moves to
            vacant MacDiarmid Bending Factory building on
            Myrtle St.
1900- Aylmer Missionary Church established
1901- Lawn Bowling begins in town
1902- Dentist Dr. J.R. Woods opens practice
1902- William Wegengast opens optician service
            lasting until 1938
1902- Elijah Draper establishes Aylmer Steam Laundry
1902- Skating/roller rink erected (present Post office
            site)
1902- South Malahide & Bayham Telephone Co.
            provides telephone service to area
1905- Lawn bowling property purchased on Centre
           St. (activity continues to present day)
1907-Aylmer Iron Works renamed Aylmer Pump &
          Scale Co.

1908- Partnership formed between J.E. Richards, E.A. Richards and A.Ray Lemon for J.E. Richards and Co.

1909- An explosion at the Electric Plant & Waterworks
           kills engineer Henry Fisher; destroys the plant,  
           Brandon Shoe Factory located next door
1909- New Myrtle St. steel bridge built
1911- Office space area built onto front of Town Hall
1913- New Library and Post Office constructed
1914-1918- During WW1 53 area men were killed
1916- Aylmer Canners sells Aylmer Condensed Milk
           Factory to Carnation Company
1917- Verdun Chapter, No. 36 of the Eastern Star
             established
1918- Carl & George Allen begin funeral & furniture     
           business
1918- Benjamin Knight opens his chiropractic service
1921- Avalon Rebekah Lodge established by Bro. Frank
           Wagner
1922- Dr. W.H.F. Davis buys Dr. Augustine’s vet
           practice
1923- Verdun Chapter moves to Aylmer
1923- Dr. J.B. Clark sets up his dental practice
1924- Aylmer Cub Pack established
1925- Royal Canadian Legion, Colonel Talbot Branch
          #81 established
1925- Messrs. Durkee & Son purchase Youell & Wrong
           clothing business
1925- A Boy Scouts group established
1927- Capitol Theatre opens
1930- The Capitol Café opens next to the Capitol theatre
1931- Rotary Club becomes Aylmer’s first service club
1932- Dr. Grant Johnston opens his dental practice
1933- First Girl Guides group established
1934- The Brown House (a hotel) fire results in the
             death of three lives, Mrs. Grace Weatherall &
             daughters Stella & Dorothy, due to arson
1936- Ray Sheppard opens town’s first hamburger         
            stand, Sheppards Coffee Shoppe
1937- Dr. Maurice McNeill opens his dental practice

1937- Lemon’s Drug Store opens - A.Ray Lemon,                                    Proprietor

1938- Old high school demolished & new facility
            erected
1938- A Brownies group was formed in Aylmer

1939 – E.R. Clement opens new garage and machine  shop, located at the rear of Implement business and facing Sydenham Street

1939-1945- During WWII, 26 area men killed
1940’s- First Kingdom Hall built on John St. 

1940 – Aylmer store Huntley & Davenport appointed  representatives for Tip Top Tailors, Ltd.

1940 – Opening of James H. Barnum Funeral Home at corner of King and Pine Streets

1940- Aylmer Band Shell built behind Post Office to

            house Aylmer Boys Band activities

1941- No. 14 Service Flying Training School,
            R.C.A.F.  opened by the honourable Robert
            Mathews

1941 – Howard R. Lashbrook takes over the General Insurance Business of D.H. Connor in Aylmer and District

1941 – Richards’ Coach Lines takes over Aylmer-St. Thomas taxi route from William Graves

1941 – Mr. Charles H. Lorch purchases the late H. Huntley’s shares in Huntley and Davenport’s Men’s Clothing and Furnishing.  Huntley and Davenport is dissolved and partnership of Davenport and Lorch is created.

1941 – Announcement of organization of Junior Rifle Club in Aylmer

1941 – Byde Parker sells his butcher business to his son Gerald (Jerry) Parker

1941 – Glen Hamilton opens new Barber Shop next to Candy’s Grocery on Sydenham St.

1941 – Mr. & Mrs. W.H. Candy, of Aylmer, lease Rocabore Inn at Port Bruce.  Furnished rooms rented for $5.00 per week with kitchen service provided.

1941 – Empire Welding & Repair leaves Aylmer due to owner, L. McDermand, being called away by Government for special welding work

1941 – Erection of second standard hotel in Aylmer of not less than twenty well-furnished, modern rooms is considered.  Amendment vote to open the second standard licensed hotel is defeated.

1941 – Clifford Graham, proprietor of Central Hotel, sells building and hotel business to Benjamin Murray, of Toronto.

1941 – Angus M. Hughes, proprietor of Hughes’ Meat Market in Aylmer, opens a second shop with brother-in-law, Max Clutton, in Ingersoll

1941 – The T. Eaton Co., Ltd. opens Order Office on Talbot Street in Aylmer

1941 – Ken. Williamson sells The Aylmer Dairy to Robert McEwan of Weston

1941 – Crystaline Chemical Co. manufactures new line of cleansers and detergents in former hat factory building on Myrtle Street in Aylmer

1942 -  Dr. John Dancey begins a veterinary practice

1942 – Dr. Arthur Vogelsang announces at Aylmer Rotary Club meeting the upcoming introduction of Health Insurance

1942 – Jack Baxter opens fishing school on his farm just south of Rogers’ Corners

1942 – Aylmer restaurants are granted request of a by-law requiring them to close at 11:30pm on weekdays and 12:00 midnight on Saturdays

1942 – Roy M. Morris withdraws from position of Manager at White Drug Store and partner in firm of E.A. Caughell & Co., druggists and stationers, after twenty years

1942 – Roy Morris goes into drug store business for himself, opening a store next to the Selrite Store.  Store contains Canadian National Telegraph Office and C.N. ticket service

1942 – W.H. Candy announces selling out of big stock groceries and closure of Egg Grading Station

1942 – George W. Barnes leases Glen-Rite Hotel in Springfield to cater to the traveling public

1943- Aylmer Full Gospel Church dedicated
1944- Kinsmen Club of Aylmer chartered
1944- Reservoir converted into a swimming pool
1945- Land on #73 Hwy S. purchased for Roman
            Catholic Queen of Peace Cemetery
1946- Aylmer Toolcraft Ltd. begins operations
1946- Hills Pharmacy opens
1946- Imperial Tobacco plant opens in N. Aylmer
           Company moves to Mexico in 2006

1946- Durkee’s & Son (Stan Durkee) purchase Lemon’s Drug Store

1946- Bruce VanPatter made manager of The Aylmer Pharmacy Ltd. Formerly Lemon’s Drug Store.

1946- Royal Canadian Beauty Salon opens (opp. Aylmer Steam Laundry) later Aylmer Video.

1946- St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church organized
1946- J.W. Chapman first certified  
            optometrist practicing in Aylmer
1946- John and Godfrey Hill open Hills Pharmacy
1946- First Catholic School built in  Aylmer is
           Our Lady of Sorrows School (now Assumption)
1947- Walker Transport Ltd. started on Spruce St.
1947- Aylmer Police Force purchases first cruiser
1947- Balmoral Park created
1947- Dr. W.H. Cresswell joins Dr. J. Dancey’s practice
1947- Thayer’s Petroleum storage depot catches fire

Chief Sid Sheppard shuts off gas valve saving town

1948- Aylmer Optimist Club chartered
1950- Stan Clarke opens Clarke’s Restaurant
1950- Hamilton, Ward & Cathers open insurance business
1950- Our Lady of Sorrows CWL established
1950- Ross Munn opens Munn’s Groceteria
1950- New Aylmer Christian Reformed Church dedicated
1950- Dr. George Harrison joins Dr. Cresswell’s vet practice
1951- Ministry of Natural Resources established
1951- Catfish Creek Conservation Authority established
1951- Spicer’s Bakery opens
1951-52- East Elgin memorial community Arena on
                  Sydenham St. completed
1952- Assumption School PTA established
1952- Aylmer Figure Skating Club established
1952- Abe Loewen family becomes first Low German
           Mennonite family permanently residing in area
1954- Wiltsie Truck Bodies founded as
          “Wiltsie Woodworking” by Frank Wiltsie
1954- Immanuel Christian School completed
1954- A Low German Mennonite community
          consisting of five families is established in Malahide
1955- A Canadian Tire store opens on Queen St.
1956- Jan Verdun introduces 3-quart milk jug to Canada
1956- Knights of Columbus Aylmer  branch established
1956- Davenport school erected on Rutherford Ave.
1958- Elgin Association for Community Living established
1959- Former Aylmer druggist Roy Morris opens

Morris’ Travel

1959- Pharmacist John Ball purchases
           Morris Drug Store
1960- IGA Food market opens (now Valu-Mart)
1960- Canadian Canners Ltd. closed  Aylmer plant

1960- Fire destroys buildings housing the Bank of Montreal,  Montieth’s Hardware and

           Gunstone’s Shoe Store
1961- Herbert A. Kebbel purchases Barnum Funeral Home
1961- Cy’s Bowling Lanes established
1961- Pleasant Valley Golf Course established
1961- R.C.A.F. base closed; town  population declines

1964- Mennonite Savings and Credit Union est. by group of 22 Mennonite community members from Waterloo area.

1965- Peter Geraci starts Peter’s Pizza
1965, Feb. 26- Cities Service Gasoline truck driver tries

to aid a Central Pipe Line Co. propane truck stuck in snow at main intersection; valve breaks on propane truck, ignition sparks from gasoline truck ignite spilled fuel resulting in blaze that destroys 18 businesses & leaves 33 homeless.  Miraculously no one killed.

1966- Dr. Garry Galloway joins Dr.  Cresswell’s
            vet practice

1967- Herb Kebbel purchases Gord Hughson’s funeral home (current location)

1969- Peter’s Paving est. By Dave Peters and brothers Abe and Cornelius

1971- Pharmacist Bob Miller buys business from John Ball
1976- Steelway Building Systems established by Glen White
1976- Dick & Laurie Campbell establish Campbell’s
           Book Supplies
1976- Maria’s Beauty Salon established
1976- Terrace Lodge constructed
1977- Aylmer & District Museum established
1977- Aylmer Tire established
1977- Terrace Lodge auxiliary  established
1978- Nancy Eastbury purchases Modern Beauty Salon
1978- Aylmer and Maladhide Telephone Co. changes
           name to  Amtelecom
1978- Aylmer soccer begins with thirty registered players

1979- Peters’ Paving purchases building on Hwy.73

           S. Dorchester

1987- Peters’ Paving becomes solely owned by Dave Peters.
1980- Curling Club & Aylmer Fair Board build curling rink
1980- Harms Carpentry established by Peter Harms
1982- Kyriakopoulos family establishes Johnny’s
           Restaurant
1982- Library moves into the renovated Old Town Hall

1982- Aylmer Mennonite Community Store started by a local group of people

1983- Aylmer & District Museum establishes town’s first
           Tourist  Centre
1983- Aylmer ambulance service begins
1984- Aylmer Lioness formed
1985- Theatre area restored in Old Town Hall
1988- Jack McConnell closes McConnell’s Men’s
            wear Ltd. after 43 years
1989- Corner Cupboard established
1989- Old Colony Mennonite Order  opens Old Colony
            Mennonite school
1990- Myrtle St. bridge rebuilt
1990- Harms Carpentry relocates plant
1991- Marsha Geling becomes first female officer on
           Aylmer Police Force
1992- John St. bridge deemed unfit; new bridge constructed
1993- Aylmer Area Community Foundation established
1993- Haceinda Cafe est. By Abe Teichroeb
1996- Aylmer Shriner’s organized
1996- Advanced Stainless established by Will Enns
1997- P & T Welding established

1997- Mr. Natural established by Aganetha Reimer and brother. Later Aganetha becomes sole operator.

1998- Juvenile arsonists destroy  Everwood industries
           at N. end of Aylmer to create a diversion for    
          robbing the CIBC in the south end
2001- Second Chamber of Commerce  established
2002- Downtown area given new facelift with wider
            sidewalks, new road surface and removal of
            parking meters

2002- Mennomex relocates family business operated by Willy and Maria Martens

2004- Canada Trailers (formerly P & T Welding, est.1997) established by Peter Thiessen

2008- Grandma’s Oven opened by Mrs. Hiebert and daughter.

2010- Julie Green purchases Modern Beauty Salon and renames it Unisex Hair by Jubie and Friends.