Written By Carol Small, Middlesex Centre Archives
Boundary Communities of Lobo and Delaware Townships
Kilworth, the oldest community in Middlesex County, straddled both Lobo and Delaware Townships on the Thames River. Kilworth was thought to be named for Stephen Moore, Earl of Mount Cashel’s home in Ireland. Benjamin Woodhall built the first mill in 1798 with more mills being built on the Lobo side. These mills included a grist mill, sawmill, two carding mills, and a fulling mill.
By1850, there were over two hundred inhabitants, with many fleeing from the United States during the War of 1812. The population declined significantly when the Grand Trunk Railroad went to Komoka instead of Kilworth.
Located in Kilworth were a lady’s select school, a public school, a physician, two hotels, two dry goods stores, a tannery, two saddle, trunk and harness makers, one boot, shoe and leather store, two boot and shoe shops, a cooper, a tailor, a woollen mill, two cabinet makers, post office, and churches. The Kilworth United Church, built in 1850 is still in operation today.
A bridge that crossed the Thames River had extensive damage from ice build-up in 1842-43. With no bridges on the Thames for 150 miles (241.4 km) from London to Chatham, a new bridge was imperative. In 1852, a suspension bridge was built, being replace in 1910, and another in 1964. Another feature that drew visitors to the Komoka-Kilworth area was the Wishing Well located at the foot of Coldstream Road on the north bank of the Thames River. It was a natural artesian spring that cascaded over a 50-foot bluff into the Thames River. Its rich calcium carbonate water layered a limestone coating on objects that it came in contact with. The water from this area was used to make the famous Wishing Well Soda Pop. It was a poplar place for visitors, picnics etc., and people came to gather jugs of water to take home. Because of contamination the site was eventually closed.
The area was also rich in Indigenous artifacts dating to the Late Archaic period (4000 to 1000 B.C.). Artifacts included rare spears and arrowheads. Iroquoian pottery from 1500 A.D. was also found in the area.
Delaware Township
Communities
Forgotten Communities
Calder, had three locations; on two different corners of Bell and Little Church Roads and later the intersection of Carriage Road and Littlewood Drive. In later days its post office operated out of a general store until it closed in 1913.
Fielding, located at the intersection of Carriage Road and Littlewood Drive, had a post office that operated from 1875 to 1879. At that time the Caler post office operated from this location.
Southwold Station, located on the border of Delaware and Southwold Townships, was named for Southwold, Suffolk, England. It had a post office there since 1880. In 1948, the name became Southwold and is part of Elgin County.
Existing Communities
Delaware, located where the Thames River crossed an Indigenous trail (Longwoods Road), is the earliest European settlement in Middlesex County. Found by Ebenezer Allen, who also found Rochester, New York, received a grant of 2200 acres of land with conditions that he must build a grist mill and sawmill on Delaware Creek. On this land, he did build a church and some mills; however, after his death about 1813, the buildings eventually rotted away. Gideon Tiffany and his brother, Dr. Oliver Tiffany, came to Delaware where Gideon left his mark by donating land for a park (now Delaware Central School and ball diamond), the former Anglican and United Churches and a cemetery. He built his home named Belvoir. The village had a town hall, two doctors, a grist mill, a sawmill, four dry goods stores, two groceries stores, wagon maker, blacksmith, one painter and chairmaker, two cabinet makers, two tailors, four boot and shoemakers, one harness shop, a saddle and trunk maker, three churches, two hotels, and the earliest post office in Middlesex County. When the railroad was built in Komoka, the village lost a great deal of its prosperity. Over time, the village has become a bedroom community with businesses serving that clientele. There are now three schools but no churches in Delaware.
Littlewood, located on the intersection of Westminster and Delaware Townline (Westdel Bourne Road), was named for a village in North Yorkshire, England. It had a church, school, blacksmith, cheese factory, store, carpenter, wagon maker, carriage maker, post office and residences. Over time, businesses closed but Littlewood United Church and some residences still remain.
Sharon, located at the intersection of Woodhull Road and Westminster Drive, was known by two other names over the years, Raper and Howlett. Raper had a church and a post office that operated from 1878 to 1916. In 1897 the name changed to Howlett after its only postmaster. By 1916, the community was known as Sharon. Over the years, Sharon had a cheese factory, store, blacksmith and wagon maker. Today, only a church and residences make up the hamlet.
In the articles about the villages and hamlets of the Municipality of Middlesex Centre, a theme as emerged. Many early settlements had their origins around waterways that could support mills for the necessities of pioneer life–grist mill, flour mill, sawmill. General stores, tradespeople such as carpenters, shoemakers and post offices came to these centres. As roads improved and transportation became easier, some hamlets faltered and slowly declined. The railroad, the next biggest influence on these communities, was the factor that saw some villages and hamlets disappear when it by-passed them for another centre. Other communities along the roadway line prospered. As further road and communication improvements were made, more villages declined over time. Perhaps the biggest influence today on the villages and hamlets of Middlesex Centre is the Internet. People are able to work from their homes; businesses can link on various sites; people can shop online. As a result, the villages and hamlets have become bedroom communities for larger centres such as the City of London, and new businesses have evolved to service these smaller communities.
As always in history, things are always evolving and changing to meet the needs of the times. That is just the way it is. However, one must never lose site of what has gone before and learn from it, so plans will develop based on their successes and learn from and not repeat their failures. Unfortunately, society doesn’t always learn. As Anatole Farnce remarked, “Let us lose nothing of the past. It is only with the past that one builds the future.”
What has been presented is only a sketch of these villages and hamlets. To learn more about them, their people and their histories, visit the Middlesex Centre Archives. The rich history of our communities can be discovered in our many collections.
