In honour of Ontario Heritage Week, InnisfilToday will be sharing a series of stories from the Innisfil Heritage Committee on the town's early villages and settlements
The village of Gilford today consists of that area of lake front stretching from the environmentally protected lands (south of Concession 15) north past Concession #2 (Limerick Street or Ballydown Beach) and all of the land west to the 20th Sideroad.
Gilford, so named in 1863 by Mrs. Thomas Maconchy (in honour of a village in County Down Ireland), had began its development 10 years earlier when two major industries came to the area. The industries were a lumber mill and the railroad. The lumber mill was planned and built by long time Bradford area resident Thomas Maconchy who purchased 200 acres of “virgin pine forest” (lots 21 & 23) in 1853. The first train was that same year and it was from the Ontario, Simcoe and Huron Railroad Company.
From that point, progress began. The trees were cut, the lumber milled, the trains moved the lumber to market, the land was cleared, the farms began and the years went by. The Post Office was established in 1854. The first church was 1861. The first school was 1868. Gilford was surveyed into streets and lots in 1867. The community hall was built in 1874. It was a busy community which eventually boasted four hotels.
This way of life continued until all of the trees were harvested, at which time the lumber mill closed down. During the late 1800s new industries sprung up such as commercial fishing and the harvesting of ice. When those also ran their course, in the 1930s and 1940s, people began to think of tourism and development.
These industries developed nicely as the years went by. Telephone service was introduced in 1914. The 1950s saw paved roads, the 1960s saw the end of passenger train service and the relocation of the historic Gilford train station to the Simcoe County museum where it remains today in fully restored condition.
Written by John Trotter – January 2020
The rest of the story can be found on page 372 of the 2020 Historical Review – Town of Innisfil 200th Anniversary Edition. Contact the Innisfil Historical Society at [email protected] to purchase your copy of the newest Review ($25.00)
