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16 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday February 17, 2007 How it all began - a brief history From it's humble beginnings to the Town we all know and love ­ Oakville has always been a place people wanted to live. With a rich history and a prosporous future, it is no wonder our residents are so happy to call Oakville home. As we embark on Oakville's 150th Birthday, it is a great time to learn a little about the history of Oakville and how it all began. How Oakville Began: A brief history of the founding of Oakville. Back in the 1700s, the town we now know as Oakville was home to the Mississauga First Nation who farmed on the fertile lands around Sixteen Mile Creek. · 1793 - military road (now Dundas Street) linking lakes Ontario, Erie, St. Clair and Huron, was proposed by Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe. Around this time, a growing number of United Empire Loyalists were moving to the area, fleeing the United States after the American Revolution. · 1805 - with an increasing demand for land, the Crown purchased the land from Etobicoke Creek through to Burlington Bay from the Mississauga First Nation. Known as the Mississauga Purchase, it left the Mississauga First Nation with blocks of land around the mouths of the three rivers, including 960 acres at Sixteen Mile Creek. · 1806 - The Crown surveyed the lands and created the townships of Trafalgar, Nelson and Toronto. Using Dundas Street as a reference line, the land was split into 200-acre lots. Oakville's first settlers were predominantly Irish, English and Scottish. · 1820, the Mississauga First Nation sold its remaining lands to the Crown. That area would soon catch the interest of a successful businessman, shipbuilder and politician named William Chisholm who lived in nearby Burlington Bay. William was the son of George Chisholm, a United Empire Loyalist who had moved his family from Nova Scotia to Burlington Bay in 1794. William fought as a lieutenant in the War of 1812. After the war, Chisholm resumed his business and was purchasing timber and white oak staves throughout the district between Burlington Bay and the Credit. · 1827 - With a keen interest in developing the lovely natural harbour, he purchased 960 acres of land around the mouth of Sixteen Mile Creek in 1827 and immediately began construction on the first privately owned harbour in Upper Canada. The village was named Oakville, and it soon had a ship yard, sawmill, grist mill and warehouse. · 1832 ­ Colborne Street, now Lakeshore Road, is put through · 1834 - William placed his son, Robert Kerr Chisholm, and his brother-in-law, Merrick Thomas, in charge of laying out and building the new town. In 1834, Oakville was declared a port of entry. A Customs House was established. Upon William's death in 1842, Robert Kerr ran the Customs House as well as the post office from the Erchless house he constructed at the foot of Navy Street. This is also the time the Village of Bronte is founded. · 1857 - The village continued to prosper and in 1857 was incorporated as a town. George King Chisholm, the eldest son of founder William, was its first mayor. · 1892 ­ Electricity comes to the town, thanks to he coal-powered generator at the Electric Light Cottage on Front Street. · 1939 ­ The QEW officially opens through Oakville. Located on what was originally know as Middle Road. · 1962 ­ The town of Oakville and the Township of Trafalgar, including Bronte, Sheridan and Palermo, amalagate to become the Town of Oakville. · 1967 ­ During this, Canada's centennial year, GO train commuter service begins. Oakville Municipal Building is completed. Sheridan College opens. Oakville Member of Provincial Parliament Kevin Flynn invites you to join him for tea and refreshments in celebration of Heritage Week. ADMISSION IS FREE!! Learn about Oakville's rich history through former Mayor of Oakville Harry Barrett and Barbara Ann McAlpine, former president of the Bronte Historical Society, as they present the lifestyles and leisure of yesterday. At the close of the afternoon guests will be invited to take a guided tour of the Gallery's exhibit, featuring the artwork of Canadian born David Altmejd. j Date: Wednesday February 21, 2007 Time: 1:00-3:00 p.m. (Speakers begin at 1:30 p.m.) Location: Oakville Gallery, Gairloch Gardens, Education Centre 1306 Lakeshore Road East Oakville, ON L6J 1L6 Congratulations to all those who contributed to the Heritage of our Community. BROWN M P, OAKVILLE Bonnie Phone: 905-827-2077 Fax: 905-827-7516 e-mail: brownb@parl.gc.ca We're putting life-saving AED's in more public places in your community. Spaces are limited! Please R.S.V.P to: kflynn.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org or (905) 827-5141 Community Office Unit 2, 2330 Lakeshore Rd. W. Oakville, ON L6L 1H3 THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT YOUR HEART INTO IT.TM www.heartandstroke.ca