Oakville: A Walk through History

Oakville's Waterfront Trail

According to  Michael who was conducting the tour at the local museum, Oakville was named after the white oaks that were used primarily in the ship building business and found in abundance on the properties of one of Oakville's,  founding fathers, Colonel William K. Chisholm. Chisolm was  born in Nova Scotia in 1788 but grew up in the Burlington Bay area. After serving in the War of 1812, he settled on a Dundas Street farm.  Not only was he a holder of great tracts of land around Oakville,  he also became a successful merchant,ship builder and ship owner. He also became a member of the House of Assembly (1820-1824)

This is the one that I would love to live in. A beautiful wrap around porch and a densely wooded lot.  It was built by Justus W. Williams in 1838. He was a general merchant.

James O'Connor, Cabinetmaker 1852

This is the inviting entrance to the Oakville Museum, operated by the Oakville Historical Society. Presently (July 2012) there is a delightful exhibit about bridesmaids gowns which is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face, from the hideous to the magnificent, all accompanied by the donours  thoughts on the dresses.  The rest of the house museum has been restored to the 1930's era and earlier and it was a wonderfully cool place to be on a hot summer day.

Erchless built by Robert Kerr Chisolm in 1838 was part of the Chisholm family holdings at the foot of Navy Street. It now houses a gem of a museum, well worth an hour of so of your time.  It includes the custom house and the main house had wings added in 1839 and 1844 to house the growing Chisholm clan.

1835 David Patterson House, Shipbuilder.  Patterson arrived from Scotland in 1826 and migrated to Oakville a year later. He married Agnes Griggs in 1835 and became the "Pathmaster" of the town (he kept records on the statute labour for the maintenance of the town streets.)

The Peter McCorquodale House at 143 Front Street is enticing and inviting with its open gate and white picket fence. Peter was a mariner and was a part owner of a schooner called the Royal Tar. His sons all became mariners, sons Robert and Duncan captained schooners and son James a steamboat captain. Arriving from his native Scotland like many of the local residents in 1830 he bought two fine lots in 1833 which at that time had a wonderful view of the lake and harbour.

Situated inside Lakeside Park, the old Post Office originally stood at the corner of Lakeshore Rd. and Navy St. The first postmaster of Oakville was William Chisholm.  This tiny structure operated as the post office until 1856, and then was turned into a blacksmiths. It was moved in 1951 and has been a part of the Oakville Museum ever since.

Built by Duncan Chilsolm, in 1852. He was a shipbuilder by trade.

One of the local residents, just cruising around.

Frontier House built by Barnett and Nancy Griggs in 1838 was a welcome change from the log house that they originally settled on about a mile from the 16. This was for a time a hotel serving steamboat passengers arriving on the lake. It was a stage stop and Inn, named the "Halfway House" It was returned to a private residence in 1870 and remained with one family until the 1940's.  It was partially separated in 1906 and a portion of it was moved to 154 King Street.

Gracing the entrance to the Oakville Montessori school

George Ewan Residence, 1839.  Carpenter

First built in 1939 by Captain William Wilson, it changed hands in 1854 and became "Glenorchy" at 29 Thomas St. owned by Peter Archibald McDougald he was a successful grain merchant and he was elected the mayor of Oakville from 1874.

This one is for sale.....2 or 3 million???

This delightful cottage belonged to a sea captain and was built in 1910 a relatively new arrival in the area.

St. Andrew's Church was built in 1847, and is located at the corner of King and Reynold's Streets. It is interesting to note that in 1841, the total population of Trafalgar Township was 4,375, of whom 1,098 were Anglicans, 1,007 Wesleyans, 963 Presbyterians yet 281 Catholics, however St. Andrew's was  still built. It is Oakville's oldest surviving church and its appearance would not startle an original parishioner, its facade has not changed since its beginnings.

 

Marlatt coach house built in 1888 for the Marlatt estate to house Mr. Marlatt's coach. He often visited Toronto and he normally took the train, but used his carriage to get to the train station.

The Marlatt house is one of the most impressive in the neighbourhood and I'd be happy living in the garage. It was built in 1888 by Cecil Gustave Marlatt. Marlatt was a keen yachtsman and was the owner of the R.C.Y.C.’s most famous boat, “Aggie”, which won many a race.“Aggie” was named after Marlatt’s wife. One of the most successful yachts launched under the R.C.Y.C. banner, she accumulated no fewer than 83 wins in the course of her long career! “Aggie” often tried, but never won the Prince of Wales Cup, however she did win the Queen’s Cup in 1897, and almost every other cup in the club more than once.

A Prime location on Reynolds Street commands an inspiring view of the lake

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An inviting entryway at 350 King Street.

It was a very hot day and these Canada Geese were cooling off in the lake. You can walk along the lakeshore on beautiful lakeside pathways.

A bandshell sits in the center of the lakefront park, harking back to times past

The George K Chisolm house circa 1859 looks like it could have been constructed yesterday it is in such pristine condition.

The John Gaillie House 1854.  He was a carpenter and joiner. A joiner was a skilled tradesman who joined pieces of wood together without the use of nails or metal of any sort.

 

This beautifully restored cottage is called Rose cottage and first belonged to Isaac Clarke (joiner) and was built in 1856. It got it's name from a latter owner, not the roses in the garden.

This stuccoed beauty was erected in 1850 by Justuce Williams , who was listed as a merchant. Williams was
a prominent citizen with his dry goods business and very  active in the Methodist church, the school board and town affairs. He died in  1875.

Built in 1874 by Mariner,  William Bond, 262 King Street. Oakville was an important hub for shipping in the region. It was also an important stop on the Underground Railroad, being the drop off point for escaped slaves crossing the lake. Many ex-slaves chose to stay and prosper in the region.