Exhibit looks at the earliest years of Tillsonburg

Sarah Lise helped put some finishing touches on the Tillsonburg 1825 display at Annandale National Historic Site. The display provides insight into life in town two centuries ago. (Jeff Helsdon Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

What was life like in southern Ontario in the 1820s?

Annandale National Historic Site’s new exhibit “Tillsonburg 1825” looks at the earliest days of the town, including what life was like for founder George Tillson when he settled here two centuries ago.

Known as Dereham Forge originally, the exhibit looks at the daily life of a settler in 1825, the founding of Tillsonburg and what the original cabin Tillson built would have looked like. Tillson came to the area from Normandale, on the shores of Lake Erie near Turkey Point, after he heard of the abundance of bog iron. Skilled in using a forge, he wanted to continue to use those skills. Two of the earliest things he built were a foundry and saw mill.

“We have a lot of the older industrial artifacts from that early time period out that we don't get out very often,” said Jen Gibson, collections and exhibitions specialist. ”So, we have things related to the blast furnace that they would've had, the forge and we also have a lot of things related to the lumber and sawmill industry. Then we have some maps of the early days and information about surveying as well.”

When Tillson settled, his log cabin was the first building in town. There weren’t many settlers in the earliest days, but eventually several mills were built in the Otter Creek valley, attracted by the potential of the water power from the Otter and the two creeks flowing into it.

Early settlers spent most of their time on survival, providing for their families, finding food, cutting and preparing wood for warmth, and in Tillson’s case, working at his businesses. The exhibit provides a picture of this.

“So basically, growing your own food, plucking your own ducks and geese and chickens - that kind of thing - the real settler lifestyle,” Gibson said, adding settlers would have to make their own tools as well.

Exhibit viewers will have a chance to see if they have what it takes to survive. A section of the exhibit has 26 items, of which 10 are needed for a settler coming to the area.

There is also a display with poems and reminiscences from the town’s early residents, describing what life was like. The exhibit also has a replica log cabin.

“It’s like a snapshot of life at that time,” Gibson said.

The exhibit opened at TurtleFest and runs until Sept. 28.