T H E E V O L U T I O N O F There’s more to our story than the Stompin’ Tom song TILLSONBURG
In 1822, 43-year-old George Tillson left New York State and began traversing the dense woods of SouthwesternOntario in search of new economic opportunities. In 1824, he came upon the Otter Creek. Recognizing the potential of the area, he decided to invest, later establishing his own furnace, Dereham Forge. Tillson’s new settlement was sparsely populated the first 10 years, but it wouldn’t stay that way—especially once George got into the road building business. According to local lore, it was George who decided the main street should have a width of 100 feet, wide enough for a team of oxen pulling a wagon to make a U-turn.
George’s son, Edwin Delevan Tillson (pictured right), is widely credited withmaking Tillsonburg a thriving industrial town. Under his watch, a variety of mills and factories were established along the Otter including one for milling cereals oats, wheat and barley. Tillson’s innovative, “Pan- Dried Oats,” went on to great acclaim, not only in Canada, but internationally as well, with shipments sent directly to the United Kingdom, Germany, and Norway. The product is even said to have been a forerunner to Quaker Oats. Visit www.tillsonburg.ca/annandale to learn more about the Tillsons.
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