Written By Alice Gibb
According to the 1895 Ontario Gazetteer and Directory, Ailsa Craig was a thriving community in the late 1800s. The incorporated village, “121 miles west of Toronto, on the Grand Trunk Railway,” contained saw, flax, flour and planning mills; a foundry and several other industries.
“It has Anglican, Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian churches and public schools, one chartered bank and a mechanics’ institute with a library of 2,000 volumes.” Property in the town was assessed at $140,000, and mail was dropped off daily to postmaster Christopher Walker. The population of the bustling community was 1,000 souls.
The directory lists all the businesses and professionals who practiced their callings in Ailsa Craig. James R. Anderson, John Gunn and Duncan A. Stewart were the three doctors who served the community – Stewart was also a druggist. Imagine any smaller town today being able to boast three practicing physicians!
Many businesses operating in the village relied on the railway to ship out their products. As the introduction stated, “Lumber, livestock, flaxseed, dressed flax, green tow, grain, flour and produce, staves and headings are shipped in considerable quantities.” For example, Frank Atkinson, a cooper, shipped out staves and headings, while lumber, produced at the sawmill operated by Samuel Gillies and Son, could also leave by rail. The MacArthur Brothers (James, Duncan, John and Kenneth) undoubtedly shipped their livestock by train. Duncan MacArthur also operated a livery stable and was listed as a veterinary surgeon while his brother John was a carpenter/contractor.
Because traveling salesman often called at this thriving farming community, there were two hotels in Ailsa Craig. The Queen’s Hotel was operated under the watchful eye of proprietor Peter Dewar. Opposite the Grand Trunk station, this “commercial hotel of the town” was noted for its “good sample rooms” where salesmen could display their wares. The other hotel/livery stable was operated by Angus Munro.
Ailsa Craig residents often listed more than one occupation. The postmaster, for example, also sold boots and shoes. John W. Hey not only published the town’s newspaper but was also the agent for the Bell Telephone Company.
Municipal government officials in 1895 included John Morgan, reeve; E.B. Smith, village clerk; Wm. Tweddle, tax collector and treasurer J.T. Owen. The Mechanics’ Institute (the earlier name for libraries) was operated by a board presided over by sawmill owner Samuel Gillies.
There were also several businesses which no longer exist in contemporary Ailsa Craig. James Allen sold stoves and tin ware; James and John Alexander ran an iron foundry and the barbers in town – John Bowlon and Wm. W. Low – not only cut hair, but also handled fine cigars. In 1895, the residents of Ailsa Craig could find almost anything they needed or wanted right on the main street of their incorporated village.
