Aberfeldy

A post office situated on Townline of Brooke and Euphemia Townships, more correctly on lot 34, concession 6, Euphemia. It was so named by Wm. Armstrong, for many years clerk of Euphemia Township, after a place in Scotland. John Grant was the first postmaster. It is one of the few rural post offices still operating.  Home to Rickard Cemetery (Concession 6, Lot 34).

Alvinston

A village situate on the Canada Southern Railway, or what is now known as the Michigan Central Railway. It is distant about 35 miles from Sarnia, and about 10 miles almost due south from Watford, and is in the Township of Brooke. It has a population of some 800 souls, and is pleasantly situated in the center of a fine agricultural district, peopled by exceedingly thrifty families.

The history of Alvinston dates back to a period prior to 1839, when one Archibald Gardiner, uncle of the Gardiner Brothers, Hardware Merchants, of Sarnia, established a saw mill on the east side of Bear 'Creek, operating it until, with the Mormon migration, he went to Nauvoo, Illinois. At this time the place was known as Gardiner's Mill. Later on mills were built on the west side of the river and operated by a Mr. J. W. Brennan, and the place for some time was called Brennan's Mills. Following this period, the little village was named Alvinston. The best information that can be obtained is that it was so named after a village on the Isle of Wight, called Alverstone. Just why it was changed to Alvinston is not apparent. In its early days Alvinston was only a postal village on the traveled postal road which ran from Watford to Florence, and its mail service was supplied from this source.

Alvinston still remains a thriving village, with well-kept business places, comfortable homes, and fine churches.

Arkona

This history of the settlement of Arkona dates from 1821. During that year, Asa Townsend located on a tract of three hundred and ninety acres of land, which he obtained from the Government.

As early as 1859, the territory hereabout had become so thickly settled as to assume somewhat the appearance of a village. In 1876 it was created a village.

It is one of the most pleasantly situated villages in Lambton County, it is close to the Aux Sauble River and the beautiful spot known as Rock Glen, which is later described in this booklet.

Prior to 1850 it was known as Eastman's Corners. About this date an agitation arose to have the name changed, (it now being on the proposed line of the G. T. R.) A public meeting was called, and from many suggested names, Arkona was selected. If our information is correct, it was named after Akron, Ohio, but the party suggesting the name spelled it A-r-k-o-n-a, and when the proper spelling was discovered the people preferred the name as given, Arkona. The first postmaster was Joseph Hilborn, and the first post office opened in 1851. While not situated on the railroad, (the first survey being changed to run some 6 miles north), it is a very thriving village, surrounded as it is by a good farming and fruit country.

Atkin

Rural post office opened at Lot 34, Con. 2, Euphemia, in 1897. So named after the first postmaster, Richard Atkin. It passed with the coming of rural mail delivery.

Aughrim

A rural post office, first opened at what was known as Lower Aughrim, in the Township of Euphemia. The first postmaster was Andrew Bell, and was named after Aughrim in Ireland. The post office was later removed to the home of John McKune, reeve of the township of Brooke, which lay farther north. As a post office it passed out with the opening of the Aberfeldy office. At Lower Aughrim the Anglican Church alone remains to claim the name.

Aux Saubles

 The name of the river bounding the north eastern portion of Lambton County and flowing into Lake Huron at Grand Bend. The name means "The River of Sands." The scenery along the banks of this river at some points is very picturesque and at no place more so than around Arkona.

Bentpath

A post office opened on Lot 21, Con. 4, Township of Dawn, about 1898, named after a path in Scotland. John McLachlan was the first postmaster.

Birnham

A post office situate Lot 19, Con. 5, N. E. R. Township of Warwick, supposed to be named after a small place in Scotland. A Gaelic word meaning "Hero's House."

Blue Point

A somewhat pronounced point on Lake Huron, situate opposite Lot 37, Front Concession, Plympton Township. On old marine charts it was known as Point Harris. Probably bears its name from the high banks of blue clay that extend out into the lake at this point.

Bosanquet

Occupies a more northerly position than any other portion of Lambton. It is one of the east tier Townships and is isolated in its position by its bordering Lake Huron on the north west. It reduces in width and reaches a mere point at the northern extremity. Bosanquet contains about seventy-five thousand acres including two Indian Reserves, on the shore of Lake Huron, aggregating about six thousand acres. The first settlers in Bosanquet Township arrived about 1833.

For the greater part the township is rich and fertile, though having some waste portions as it nears the northern apex. It's shore line makes a beautiful drive from Kettle Point to Port Frank, the sands of the beach being so firm as to make a beautiful roadway. It was named after Mr. Charles Bosanquet, who was the first President of the Canada Company, which Company owned a goodly portion of this Township. It's population in 1921 was twenty-three hundred and thirty-two.

Brewster

The name at one time borne by the Lambton section of Grand Bend, called after a Mr. Brewster, a mill owner at the point. It operated for some time as a post office.

Cairo

A village in the Township of Euphemia. Until recent years it bore the name Sutherland's Corners, after the Sutherland family. The length of this name caused a petition to be sent to the Postal Department for a change of name. Cairo was the name finally given, probably after Cairo, Egypt, or Cairo, Missouri, just which is not made clear in the records before us.

Camlachie

A small village in the Township of Plympton, on the C. N. R., some twenty miles from Sarnia. It was founded by one Duncan McDonald in 1862, and named after his birthplace in Scotland, now a ward or part of the City of Glasgow.

This village contains three churches, several stores and many cosy comfortable homes, and caters splendidly to the needs of a thrifty community.

Egremont

The name borne by a road running from a point a few miles west of Camlachie to London.
When Lord Egremont, an Englishman, brought to this country a colony of settlers, arriving at London, Ontario, from that point west to Lake Huron he found no road save only an Indian trail. This trail was followed, chopping it out and building a passable road as they moved along. This road, from Warwick east to London, is now the main highway over which thousands of tourists pass annually. It has from the date of the above settlement until the present, retained its original name, Egremont.

Errol

With the coming of the above settlers, a town site was laid out on the shores of Lake Huron, of no mean pretensions. The plans filed in the County Registry Office show streets and avenues covering many acres, but the dreams of these early pioneers failed to be realized as it never attained much size. It was, however, for years a post office, serving the people as far north as Kettle Point. The first post office was opened in 1840, a Mr. Toulman being the first postmaster. He was followed by Thos. Laing, who. in turn was succeeded by George Whiting. A graveyard today is practically the only remaining reminder of this dream city.

It is interesting to note that the first newspaper published in this county was printed in this village. It was called "The Saminel" Erol was named after a small village on the Firth of Tay, Scotland.

Euphemia

The most south easterly township of the County, and in point of acreage, the smallest, containing thirty-nine thousand, six hundred acres of land.

The Sydenham River enters the township at its extreme north at Aberfeldy, and winds easterly and south until it emerges from the Township at Florence. All this western portion of the township is very fertile land. It is essentially and strictly an agricultural community. The lands of the eastern and southern portion are inclined to be sandy loam, the surface being more or less undulated, while to the north and west a general flatness distinguishes the topography, and the soil being much heavier. The western portion is splendidly adapted for grain growing, while the eastern portion is more adapted for grazing and fruit growing.

The township was set apart from Zone about 1848, but the original survey of the township was performed in 1822 by Samuel Smith. The first settler in the township was David Fancher, in 1825. The township was named after Mrs. Euphemia Cameron, mother of the Honourable Malcolm Cameron, who at that time represented the district in the Baldwin-Lafontaine Government.

Euphemia is a Greek word meaning "good language" "silence" "praise."

The Dominion census of 1921 gives its population as 1521.

Fancher

The name given to an old road cut out from Newbury to Florence, winding its way across the entire Township of Euphemia and for a goodly portion of that way following or being adjacent to a creek bearing the same name.

The road and creek bear their name from an early settler, one David Fancher, who settled there in 1822 and he was largely responsible for the building of the road.

The descendants of David Fancher still reside in Euphemia, a great grandson, B. W. Fancher being the member of Parliament for East Lambton at the present time.

The word Fancher is of French origin.

Florence

A pleasant little village on the Sydenham River in the Township of Euphemia, some 8 miles from Bothwell on the C. N. R., from which point it receives its mail.

Colonel George R. Kirby was the first postmaster of this center, then known as Zone Mills, appointed January 6th, 1840, but with the formation of Lambton County and the setting apart of Euphemia as a township, the name Zone Mills was changed to Victoria, after the late Queen, but continual confusion in mail of Victoria and Vittoria, a village in Norfolk County, the name was again changed to Florence, after a place of the same name in Italy.

Grand Bend

At this point the Aux Sable enters Lake Huron, after a bend of great length and from this the name was given the settlement. Today, particularly in the summer months, it is a busy place, being a summering spot of no mean pretensions, many cottages, dance halls and three hotels indicate its popularity. It lies partly in the County of Lambton and partly in Huron County. The Lambton side of this village was formerly called Brewster.

Grand Bend might well be called the watering place of all that interior portion of Western Ontario within a radius reachable by auto.

Heather

A post office on the 7th Con. Brooke, near east boundary, opened in 1889 with Donald McIntyre as first postmaster, so named from the heather plant so dear to every Scotchman, and this was distinctly a Scotch settlement.

Hillsborough

The name borne today by that hilly part of the shore of Lake Huron, lying just at the north west corner of Plympton township. It is more or less of a summer resort, and in common with many other points of this shore line is very pleasing to the eye. At one time a post office was opened here, probably about 1865, with Thomas Hill as first postmaster, from whom it bears its name.

Inwood

The only surviving village in Lambton County that sprung up as a result of the lumbering and stave mills. It is now the center of a good agriculture district and is a fairly busy village. Contrary to the accepted belief that it obtained its name by reason of being built up in the center of a dense wooded district, it was really named by C. H. Moore, one of the members of the stave mill firm, after a pretty town on the Hudson River, New York State.

Ipperwash

The name given to the Beach lying along the shore of Lake Huron between Kettle Point and Stoney Point. Many cottages of the summer colony are here, and in summer months presents a gala scene. The drive on the sands of the beach at this point can be followed for some miles and is one of the most pleasant to be found anywhere. As far as can be ascertained the name has no historic meaning, but means "upper wash."

Jericho

A post office located on Lot 14, Concession 8, Township of Bosanquet, and bears its name from the Bible reference to the place near Jerusalem. It is about 2 miles south and west of Thedford, and was expected to be the station point on the Grand Trunk Railway instead of Thedford, it being on a high ridge, but difficulty over securing the land for the station site, was located where Thedford now stands.

Jura

A post office opened at Lot 4, Con. 8, Bosanquet Township, in 1866, with James McCordic as first postmaster, and called after one of the Hebride Islands.

Kertch

At one time a post office on Lot 26, Con. 5 (London Road), but has not operated for some time. This post office was opened shortly after the close of the Crimean war and was no doubt called after Kertch, a strait separating Crimea from the mainland.

Kettle Point

A point seven miles almost due north from Forest on Lake Huron, and so named from the peculiar formation of stone found imbedded in the shale. These stones are perfectly rounded, varying in size from probably a foot in diameter to many times that size. Geologists and scientists have so far failed to explain this seeming freak of nature.

Another peculiar formation on the shore line at this place is the appearance of the shale which forms the banks. Its regularity in shapes of long oblong blocks, give it the appearance of modern mason work.
The Kettle Point Reservation occupies the land lying along this portion of the lake, covering an area of two thousand one hundred acres.

Kimball

A post office and station on the M. C. R., Moore Township, named after James Kimball, the first postmaster, and proprietor of the store, when the Canada Southern Railway was built. It has at the present writing, two stores and is a thrifty hamlet.

Kinnaird

A post office opened at Lot 12, Concession 11, Bosanquet, and named after a village near Dundee in Scotland, of the same name, and means "at the head of the height." It operated for a number of years but is now closed.

Kingscourt

Arthur J. Kingston, County Longford, Ireland, was the owner of a large tract of land in Warwick. Township, developing what is known as the Ellarton Salt Plant, and later constructed a tram way to intersect the then Grand Trunk Railway. Mr. Kingston's Estate in Ireland, was known as Kingscourt and the Railroad in compliment to him, gave the Junction the name.

Lake Smith

A small lake situate in the Township of Bosanquet, between Thedford and Grand Bend, in close proximity to what is known as the Klondike Road: It has no importance other than being a mecca for duck shooting in season.

Lambton Celery Gardens

No history of Lambton would be complete that did not mention this area. Many acres of extremely fertile land having been reclaimed by the drainage system between Thedford and Port Frank was found to be wonderfully adapted for celery growing, and has developed into a real industry, many car loads of choicest celery being shipped from Thedford annually from these fields. The sight as one drives through these gardens during the summer months is pleasing to the eye, and at the same time a revelation.

Mccready

A post office opened on Lot 30, Con. 9, Euphemia, in 1880. So called after James McCready, for many years Reeve of the Township. Duncan Ross was later postmaster for some eighteen years.

Mosside

A post office in Euphemia Township, opened about 1885, with James McCabe as postmaster. So called after Mosley, a place near Sligo, Ireland.

Nauvoo

The main road from Alvinston to Watford. So named after Nauvoo in the state of Illinois. About 1840 a Mormon preacher named John Borrowman, came from the East. In and around Gardiner's Mills, now Alvinston, he secured several converts to that faith; whether from objection taken to this faith or for some other reasons, these Mormon converts decided to go to Nauvoo, Ill., and the line of their "trek" to the London Road was the road above mentioned and it has borne the name "Nauvoo" ever since. It is one of the pleasant driveways of Lambton County.

Oban

A post office opened on Lot 3, Con. 5, Plympton. The first postmaster was a Mr. Brown. Named after a place. in Scotland.

Ogemah

An Indian word meaning "Chief' and the name borne by a post office opened in 1877, about three miles further north than Errol on the lake shore road, with T. R. K. Scott, one of the pioneer settlers, as postmaster. Mr. Scott was succeeded in 1882 by George Symington, as postmaster.

An interesting feature in connection with all these lake shore post offices in these early days was, their mail service was given by two men named Church and Haskell, who traveled on horseback from Sarnia to Bayfield, leaving and collecting the mail as they came and went.

Pine Hill

At one time a little village lying a mile or two from the present Village of Thedford: and named after the growth of pine on this elevation. The post office at this point was called Widder.

At one time a saw mill was operated there by Edward Proctor, who afterwards became Registrar of Deeds for Lambton County.

Plympton

Plympton is the most northern of the center tier of Lambton County townships and is bounded on the north by a portion of Bosanquet and on the north west by Lake Huron.

It is the second largest township in the county, having 76080 acres. The settlement of Plympton dates back from 1833 in which year a large number of immigrants located along the Egremont Road in the 5th and 6th ,Concessions. They came out from Europe under the patronage of Lord Egremont. There was also a settlement at Camlachie the same year. The land there was settled in 1833 by old country men and in 1835 and 36 a considerable number of Scotch settlers came to the southern part of the township from Lanark county. When the settlement was effected along the lake there was no way of communicating with Sarnia, then a straggling hamlet containing only one store, except by boats on the lake.

Plympton was named after a town in Devonshire, England, on the Plym River, near which was "Beechwood" the beautiful home of Sir John Colborne, Governor of Canada, when Plympton was surveyed.

It will be seen that it is one of the oldest townships in Lambton and today is a splendid agricultural district peopled by a thrifty, contented industrious people. Its population in 1921 was two thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine.

Port Frank

A pleasant summer resort situated on Lake Huron just above Stoney Point. It has a hotel, a store and many summer homes and splendid bathing facilities, and in summer months has quite a population.

It was named after 'Charles Frank, vice-president of the Canada Company in 1835, which Company owned the land along the lake.

Ravenswood

A post office first opened at lot 61, L. R. E., Bosanquet, in 1853 John Rawlings being the first postmaster. Later it was removed to lot 55, L. R. E. It was named after a place mentioned in Sir Walter Scott's poems, yet an old settler states this post office was named from the fact that in the days when this shore line was densely wooded with pine the crows and ravens infested these woods, feeding on the carrion fish in the bay, and the woods was then known as Crow's Wood or Ravenswood. It may be this was the source of the name.

Rock Glen

The name borne by one of the beauty spots of Lambton County, situate on the Aux Sauble River near Arkona.
The river at this point winds its way between high hills densely wooded with its primeval growth of timber and with the waters rushing over the dam constructed here lends a scene many tourists go miles to gaze upon.

At this point Hydro power is developed and lights the adjoining village and furnishes power to the mills and plants in, the vicinity.

Rokeby

A post office opened in 1890 at lot twenty-five, concession nine, Broke Township, with Archibald Campbell as first postmaster. Mr. Campbell died in 1891 and his wife, Mrs. Margaret Campbell, became post mistress and remained as such until with rural mail service the post office was closed. Named after one of Sir Walter Scott's poems, "Rokeby."

Shetland

Originally known as Dobbyn's Mills, but on the opening of a post office there, with John Drew as postmaster, it was named Shetland by the Postal Department, after the Shetland Islands. The post office no longer operates, but a store, school, church, flour mill and several homes comprise the village. It is situate on Lot 24, Con. 2, Euphemia Township, and close by the Sydenham river.

Stoney Point

A point projecting itself into the waters of Lake Huron, a short distance above Kettle Point. and so called from its stony surface. The Stoney Point reservation of Chippewa Indians, numbering about forty, occupy the twenty-five hundred and ninety acres lying adjacent to this point.

Sutorville

A post office situated on Lot 14, Concession 13, Township of Brooke, opened in 1891. The first post master was James Davis and the post office bore its name from a Mr. Sutor who owned and operated a stave mill there for some years.

The post office has passed out of existence and an Anglican church alone remains to mark the place which at one time had one or two stores and a stave mill operating.

Sydenham

A river, the two branches of which with their tributaries, meander over the greater part of the centre and southern portion of Lambton County, furnishing practically the natural outlet for this section of the county.

The southern branch takes its rise in Warwick Township, flowing southward where it is joined by Bear Creek which enters the County about the center of Brooke Township's eastern boundary. From there it flows south and east, entering Euphemia Township's northern boundary about the center; wanders in a south easterly course across this township into the Township of Dawn, emerging from the county at the south eastern corner of this last mentioned township. It then follows a winding course across the county of Kent, joining the northern branch at Wallaceburg.

The northern branch of this river also finds its source in the township of Warwick, and joined by other numerous streams or creeks lying in the territory adjacent to the town line between Enniskillen and Moore, flows southward, being swollen by many other little rivulets including Black Creek or Bear Creek; until as it reaches Wilkesport, Sombra Township, it has assumed the proportion of a real river. From there on it flows south and west into the county of Kent and joins the south branch as above stated at Wallaceburg. The now united streams form the parent river, which from this point follows on in its ever varying course, eventually emptying its waters into Lake St. Clair. From the lake as far as Wallaceburg, the river is navigable for moderate sized vessels, and both branches for further distances for small craft.

The river was named after Charles Edward Poulett-Thompson, Governor-General of Canada in 1839 and whose landed title in England was Lord Sydenham.

Thedford

A thriving village situate on the Canadian National Railway some thirty-five miles east of Sarnia and lying in the Township of Bosanquet.

Nelson Southworth, a native of the State of Vermont, gave to the Railway officials the station site, the condition being he was to have the privilege of naming the station Thedford, after a place of that name in Vermont. This village of some 524 souls is the center of a well developed fruit area. Its places of business are well kept and supply the needs of a thrifty community.

Tancred

A post office situate on Lot 16, Con. 2, Brooke Township, opened in 1890 and named by the Department after a character in Scott's novel, "The Talisman." The first postmaster was Angus McKinIay.

Uttoxeter

A small village, and for years a post office on 24th side road, Plympton. A blacksmith shop, church, orange hall; and a few residences today comprise the village. It was named by Thos. Doherty, one of the residents, when the post office was opened, given its name after a place in England.

Walnut

A post office on Lot 15, Con. 9, Township of Brooke, opened in 1877, with Isaac Ayers as first postmaster and so called from the growth of Walnut timber in that locality.

Wanstead

A small village on the C. N. R. some seventeen miles east of Sarnia. This village was surveyed by E. R. Jones, Land Surveyor, in 1858 and filed in the Registry Office by Henry C. R. Beecher, the then owner of the land ,in 1859. It remains a station on the C. N. R., has one store, church, and a population of about one hundred.

Wanstead, in all probability, was named after a suburban village of London, England. This village dates back to the time of the Saxons and means "Woden's Place."

Warwick

One of the eastern tier of townships of Lambton County, named after one of the inland counties of England. Both branches of the Sydenham River take their rise in this township. The surface of the township is in great part almost entirely level, though much of it approaches the gently undulating, varying as in other townships of the county to the comparatively level flat lands in the vicinity of the water courses.

Its soil is very fertile and well adapted for agricultural pursuits. The survey of the township took place in 1832. Peter Carl being the engineer who accomplished it, and the earliest settlement within its limits was effected during the same year. It is comprised of about seventy thousand acres.

Its first school, and the first church in the township was built in Warwick Village, the former in 1840, and the latter, the Episcopal church, (still standing), in 1843.

Today, this township presents a scene pleasing to the eye. A scene of fine farms and homesteads which show the industry and thrift of its people. Taken as a whole township, it ranks with the first in the Province. In 1921 its population was two thousand, three hundred and seventy-six.

Warwick Village

A village in the Township of Warwick. At one time it was quite a center of the farming community, but not being on the railroad, it has rather diminished in population. It is prettily located on the Egremont road, some 24 miles from Sarnia.

Watford

A thriving village in the Township of Warwick, on the C. N. R., 30 miles distant from Sarnia, surrounded by a splendid farming district.

In 1853 one Richard Brown opened a store where Watford now stands. It was known as Brown's corners. The next year, 1854, he was appointed postmaster of the post office now being opened, and Brown's Corners was named Watford after a place in England. Its homes, places of business and public buildings would be a credit to larger centers than Watford.

Widder

This was the name given to Pine Hill post office in 1856, after Mr. Widder who owned the property there. The postmaster was Utrick Chester.

Widder Station

This was the first name of the post office where Thedford now stands. The post office was opened in 1862, with Robert Rae as postmaster. The post offices of Widder and Widder Station were some miles apart.

Wisbeach

A post office situate on Lot 28, Con. 1, S. E. R., Warwick. It was opened in 1854. First located on Lot 30, Con. 1, S. E. R. Mr. Bowes was first postmaster and on his death Mrs. Bowes received the appointment and held the position until the closing of the office. It was named after a place called Wisbeach in England.