Aultsville
The Nineteenth Century
Aultsville had its beginnings in the late 1700's after five disbanded soldiers from the King's Royal Regiment received land grants from the British government. The five original soldiers, William Impey, Francis Albrant, Abraham Freeze, Alexander Rose and Michael Ault named their fledgling settlement Charlesville and then slowly began the hard work of establishing a real community.
Charlesville's first store and tavern was opened around 1787 by another Loyalist settler, Richard Loucks, who received a 400-acre land grant just west of the original town site. The Loucks Tavern, sometimes known as the Lunenberg Inn, also had the distinction of serving as the first Court Chambers for the District of Lunenberg. The tavern included a pillory so prisoners could be padlocked just in case they tried to escape. A post office operated by Joseph Bockus was known to have existed as early as 1832.
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The Ault store and residence [ca. 1870's]
Nicholas N. Ault was a military man who fought against the Americans during the war of 1812. Outgoing and popular, he enjoyed hosting banquets and entertaining members of the militia at his home. His son, Nicholas J. Ault, was an entrepreneur who dammed the creek and then built a sawmill close to the river. In addition to shipping lumber to Montreal, he also became a merchant, opening a store directly across the street from the sawmill. His sons, Samuel, Simeon and Isaiah continued to operate the business under the name Ault Brothers Ltd. Isaiah was the store keeper, doing everything from issuing marriage licences, acting as Justice of the Peace and operating the post office.
Along with their business interests, Samuel and Isaiah Ault were both active in politics. In 1867, Samuel went on to become an MP in Canada's first parliament. Isaiah became Reeve of the Township of Osnabruck and in 1891 assumed the title of Warden of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry. In the mid nineteenth century, the village was renamed Aultsville in recognition of Samuel Ault as well as the entire family's many contributions to the community.
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Isaiah Ault [ca. 1870's]
Aultsville was fortunate to be situated in a region where there was an abundance of riverbank clay. This led to the establishment of one of Aultsville's most important early industries, Elliott's Clay and Brickworks, operated by brothers John and William Elliott. The Elliotts produced various types of dishes, jugs, crocks and pots that were sold as far north as Ottawa. The brickworks also contributed to Aultsville's reputation as the prettiest of all the lost villages, a result of the prevalence of handsome brick homes and buildings.
In the mid 1840's Aultsville had about 120 residents and one tavern. The arrival of the Grand Trunk Railway in 1856 opened a new period of growth and prosperity for Aultsville. By the 1870's the village's population had jumped to 400. In addition to the railway, there was also a rather crude 'passenger ferry' operating between Aultsville and Louisville Landing, New York during the summer. The village continued to grow adding a second brickyard, owned by Thomas McConnell, the Riverview Hotel and a general store and cheese factory operated by John Croils and Alexander McCullough. Butter and cheese from Croils'and McCulloughs' factory, located near the railway station, was frequently shipped to Montreal for sale. An elementary school was built in 1864.
Notwithstanding its deep roots in confederation, Aultsville contributed in a surprising way to Canada's agricultural history. In 1881 farmer Michael Cook imported the first Holstein-Friesian cattle, nine cows and one bull, to Canada. Today, about 95 per cent of all dairy products produced in this country originate either from Holsteins or cattle with Holstein mix. Aultsville was also privileged to have two physicians, Dr. Samuel Hickey and Dr. Edward D'Arcy Ault, the son of Samuel Ault. Dr. Ault was also active in both the Masons and St. Matthews Presbyterian Church at Woodlands.
The late 1880's saw a number of long-term changes that would play important parts in Aultsville's future. After Aultsville outgrew its old railway station, a new station, with separate waiting rooms for the gents and ladies, was constructed in 1889. The village also gained a new church when St. Peter's Anglican Church was established. A new chapter was opened with the arrival of one family who would later figure very prominently in the community, the Jarvis family.
James Jarvis and his large family arrived from Harbour Grace Newfoundland around 1887. In 1890 he purchased the store from John Croil and Alexander McCullough. Then he moved into a two-storey home, with a long rambling porch, that was adjacent to the railway and facing the highway. Although the Jarvis home hardly qualified as prime residential real estate, it proved to be an excellent location for a new business. After James' son Doug purchased a new home, the old family home was converted into a general store, operating under the name of James D. Jarvis and Son.