The Central portion of Elgin County includes the Municipality of Central Elgin and the Township of Southwold. The southern portion of Central Elgin, particularly around the Village of Sparta, was settled by Quakers in the early 19th century. The 1865 Quaker Meeting House is still in use today. Port Stanley became Elgin County’s major shipping port beginning in the 1830s and a well-traveled road was built between Port Stanley and London. The London & Port Stanley Railway was constructed to carry passengers and freight between Port Stanley and London. By the turn of the century, the Port was also a major London resort. Eventually known as the Coney Island of Canada, Port Stanley attracted thousands of visitors each weekend to sunbathe on the shores of Lake Erie and dance the night away at the famous Stork Club Dance Hall. Other communities developed in Central Elgin including New Sarum, Union and Belmont, which was incorporated as a village in 1961.
The neighbouring Township of Southwold is home to the Southwold Earthworks, the site of a village occupied by 800 to 900 Attawandarons for approximately 20 years in the early 16th century. The early communities of Fingal and Iona were built on the original Talbot Road. In the 1870s other communities such as Shedden and Iona Station appeared on the Canada Southern Railway Line. Elgin County Administrative Building and Gunnery School located outside Fingal was in operation from November 1940 to February 1945. This unit was one of 105 Canadian and British Air Schools that were a part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in Canada.
The Sparta House
46342 Sparta Line, Sparta
When the Sparta House was constructed in 1838-1840 by David Mills, it was considered to be a grand structure with its double decked verandah and colonial trappings.
The building was first used as a hotel, then an undertaking and hardware store business. The Sparta House has been restored to its former glory and is ready to once again welcome its local customers.
Elgin County Administrative Building
450 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas
This Art Deco style building was constructed in 1939 and housed the Nurses’ residence for the St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital. The building was purchased by the County of Elgin in 1985.
The carved wings over the front door represent the occupation of the building by Royal Canadian Air Force officers during the time that the Psychiatric hospital was used as a training facility during WWII. Provincial plaque located on opposite side of road.
Patterson Cabin
Patterson Conservation Area
Highbury Ave, St. Thomas
Alexander Patterson, his wife and family left their ancestral home in the parish of Croy, Inverness Scotland in 1832. The journey to North America took seven weeks.
Patterson was a carpenter and built this log house with an upstairs. A replica water tower and windmill have also been located on this site.
Hiram Smith's Tailor Shop
6137 Hiram Smith Lane, Sparta
Hiram Smith’s Tailoring business began in the 1830s. The 1846 brick store is made of small handmade bricks and features a scooped awning to keep rain away from the
foundation. The counter, brass yard measure, shelves, cash drawer and pressed metal ceiling are original.
Manuel Payne House
205 Main Street, Port Stanley
Payne was the customs officer for Port Stanley whose office once stood near the road in front of this house. He also operated the post office and a telegraph line from his home. The building is currently occupied by the Telegraph House B & B and Harbourtown Fudge.
Russell House
211 Main Street, Port Stanley
Russell House Apparel occupies the main floor of a beautiful historic building on Main Street, Port Stanley.
Built in the early 1870s with locally made strawberry bricks, the building has since been used as a stagecoach hotel, bank, clothing store, and more.
Kettle Creek Inn
216 Joseph Street, Port Stanley
Built as a summer home for the local Port Stanley Justice of the Peace in 1849, the main building first became an inn in 1918. The buildings were significantly restored in 1983 and 1990 by the present owners. English style gardens, a folksy gazebo, and the two cozy dining rooms all provide old world charm.
The Shepard House
324 Smith Street, Port Stanley
Situated in the heart of Port Stanley, the Shepard House(circa 1854) was built by Samuel Shepard, a prominent business man and grain merchant. The house has been tastefully restored to become the Windjammer Inn featuring relaxed, comfortable rooms, with award winning cuisine.