Elgin County Archives

Elgin County Archives Elgin County Archives acquires & manages corporate records of the County of Elgin & private records of enduring importance to the history of Elgin County.

Our first feature of the day is this image of unidentified students, likely from West Elgin Secondary School in West L...
06/01/2026

Our first feature of the day is this image of unidentified students, likely from West Elgin Secondary School in West Lorne, 1985. Image is from the Harley Lashbrook Collection.

to these photographs of the Avon General Store, ca. 1970. Part of the Hugh Sims fonds.
05/29/2026

to these photographs of the Avon General Store, ca. 1970.
Part of the Hugh Sims fonds.

This photograph shows the group of women who organized the Cowal Women's Institute, ca. 1925. The founders took a cour...
05/29/2026

This photograph shows the group of women who organized the Cowal Women's Institute, ca. 1925. The founders took a course in bread making at the home of Reuben Adams, on the north-east corner of the Cowal Sideroad and the 4th Concession. During the sessions they decided to join the Women's Institute of Ontario. The organizational meeting of the Cowal Women's Institute was held in Cowal Hall on May 5, 1925.
Back row: Margaret Little, Alda (McCallum) Campbell, rest unknown.
Second row: Anna (McTavish) Campbell, Lena Whitelock, Marion (McNabb) Campbell, Margaret (Patterson) McCallum, holding Kenneth Campbell, Course Instructor Elma Paton Webster, Mary H. (McPhail) Campbell, Mrs. John (Agnes Crawford) McCallum
Front row: Gladys McCallum, Amy (McCallum) Smith, Ina (McCallum) Hudson, Eva (Stacey) McCallum, Ada (Kindree) Anderson. The two children are unknown.
Part of Cowal Women's Institute fonds and included in the Cowal Women's Institute History Vol. 1.

The interior of the J.W. Harris Pool Room and Bowling Alley, Aylmer, 1913."Mr. J.W. Harris has provided the young men of...
05/28/2026

The interior of the J.W. Harris Pool Room and Bowling Alley, Aylmer, 1913.
"Mr. J.W. Harris has provided the young men of Aylmer with a place of amusement which is a credit both to himself and the town. Nothing that has the slightest resemblance to gambling is allowed on the premises, and the rule of the place is, 'You must be a gentleman in conversation and action, or get out'." Published in Aylmer Express Industrial and Farming Number, 1913, p. 19.
Part of Elgin County Vertical File Collection.

to this photograph showing London and Port Stanley Railway car 4 and an unidentified rail car, possibly a caboose, wit...
05/28/2026

to this photograph showing London and Port Stanley Railway car 4 and an unidentified rail car, possibly a caboose, with workmen rebuilding the South Pond Mills Bridge, ca. 1955.
Part of Ken Verrell Collection.

This week's feature is this photograph of the Red and White store, which also served the community as a post office in...
05/27/2026

This week's feature is this photograph of the Red and White store, which also served the community as a post office in Talbotville, ca. 1945. The building was originally a hotel, however never received a licence to operate as one. It was built by Warren Smith ca. 1890. The building was demolished in 1953 when a new service station was built.
Part of Talbotville Women's Institute fonds.

Square dancers at Port Glasgow for the Victoria Day long weekend, on May 26, 1977.This photograph was published in the W...
05/26/2026

Square dancers at Port Glasgow for the Victoria Day long weekend, on May 26, 1977.
This photograph was published in the West Lorne Sun with the caption: "Square Dancers from all over Western Ontario held their 11th annual jamboree at Port Glasgow Park pavilion on the holiday weekend, with the largest number to date camping and dancing there. Dancing commenced Friday evening and continued Saturday morning, afternoon and evening, Sunday afternoon and evening and Monday morning. Saturday and Sunday night were "dress-up" occasions. Calling in the background is Bill Blaney of Belmont, a season camper at Lakewood."
Part of Harley Lashbrook Collection.

Port Burwell Ballet School weekly lessons held at Port Burwell Public School, ca. 1968. This photograph was published in...
05/26/2026

Port Burwell Ballet School weekly lessons held at Port Burwell Public School, ca. 1968.
This photograph was published in the St. Thomas Times-Journal on January 27, 1968, with the caption: "Junior Class- Members of the junior ballet class in Port Burwell listen intently to instructions from their teacher, Brenda Lee, a former Miss London."
Part of St. Thomas Times-Journal fonds

UPDATE: Everyone has been identified! Thank you for all your help!The group has been identified as follows:Front row, le...
05/25/2026

UPDATE: Everyone has been identified! Thank you for all your help!
The group has been identified as follows:
Front row, left to right: DJ Smale, Carol Watson, Shirley Roach, Ken Verrell, Chris Zellas, Kathy Nesbitt.
Back row, left to right: Pat Shakir, Jill Soos, Keith Kelly, Nancy Fazackerly, Roger Vandierendonk, Pat Rapelje, John Walsh, Gary Cruickshank.

Our second feature is this photograph of an unidentified group, possibly members of an unidentified organization or workplace, ca. 2000. Ken Verrell, is pictured in the front row, third from right.
Part of Ken Verrell Collection.
Let us know if you recognize anyone in the photograph!

UPDATE: The photograph has been identified as likely ca. 1956-1957. Thank you for your help! Our first feature of the ...
05/25/2026

UPDATE: The photograph has been identified as likely ca. 1956-1957. Thank you for your help!

Our first feature of the day is this unidentified photograph showing a view of Talbot Street, St. Thomas, looking east towards Hincks Streets, ca. 1950s. Can anyone help us to identify a more accurate date estimate? Along the street are signs for Wendell Holmes Book Shop, Ice Cream, the Bank of Montreal, and Andersons.
Part of Maxwell Studio fonds.

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450 Sunset Drive
Saint Thomas, ON
N5R5V1

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