History of Iron Bridge
(This history of Iron Bridge was written by Mrs.Wm. Boville in 1933)

After the First Settlers Came

Iron Bridge is a beautiful little village situated on the east bank of the Mississauga River, at the place where the bridge now crosses the river, hence its name. The vicinity round about is made up of light sandy plains, heavy clay-flats and traces of the hardships, labour, patience and perseverance of its staunch and hardy pioneers.

In the Year 1879, the Taits and Tullochs came from Lambton Country as did also William and John Warnock from Grey. The following year, 1880, saw another influx of settlers, the Allens, and Forrests from near Mount Forrest and Proton, and this same year saw the return of Isaac Nicholson, this time bringing with him his wife and three children, aged five and three and an infant, in their arms. Other settlers including the Carlyles in 1882 followed as each year rolled by.

Hardships Were Many

Their only mode of travel was by water in summer and over the ice in the winter. Very few boats called at Blind River, an odd one called at Thessalon, but most every boat called at Bruce Mines. From this point many of the settlers walked through the bush with just a blazed trail to guide them. Some of the women came to Thessalon by boat, then down Lake Huron in a large rowboat, up the Mississauga River to Mud Creek, and then up the creek to their respective homes. Others rode in sleighs to Day Mills, there being a wagon trail to that point at that time. From Day Mills they walked over the ice of Mud Lake until they reached what was to be their future homes. It might be of interest to some to know that John Howiek, a baby, was hauled across Mud Lake in a wash tub, a very unusual mode of transportation.

The First Horses

The Taits were the first people to bring in horses. These were taken off the boat at Thessalon and walked through the bush to Basswood Lake. When they arrived there the lake was open, so the problem was how to get across the water. Mr. Tait, not being accustomed to the water, left the job of taking the horses over to Jonathan Osborne, who took one at a time and had them swim to the opposite shore. After getting the horses safely landed at their home, the next problem was feed for winter. Marsh hay was very plentiful on the shore of Lake Huron, so the Taits went there, cut and stacked the hay and left it until winter. At the beginning of winter, they cut out four miles of road, to get to their hay, and then hauled it home in a hand sleigh, the road being too narrow and too rough for the horses.

The First Roads

In those days there were no roads, no churches, no schools and no post office. Mail all came to Blind River, the nearest post office. Taits and Tullochs cut out the first road leading from the one farm to the other. Shortly after the coming of the settlers the road was cut out from where the bridge now stands to Blind River, and very soon it was connected with the road already cut out from Thessalon to Day Mills. The bridge connecting the two roads was built by John Boyd in 1885, a wooden structure built straight across the river from the road now coming east from the church. This bridge went out with the flood the following spring and it is said that only two men ever drove over it. Mr. Beemer Sr. and Mr. MacLennan, a Presbyterian minister who came in from Bruce Mines and held services among the people. The next year, 1886, the new iron bridge was built by the Hamilton Bridge Co. It was in this same year that the first post office was established and Robert Arnill was appointed postmaster, a position which he held until the day of his death. At that time this place was called "Tally-Ho", but the post office authorities did not approve of that name and the name "Iron Bridge" was chosen.

First Store in 1885

The first store was opened by Mr. Boyd in 1885, when he worked on the first bridge. Afterwards it was sold to J.B. Dobie, who resold it to Robert Arnill, who operated it for about 10 years, when it was burned down. It was rebuilt by Mr. Arnill, who also built a boarding house.

The first school, a log structure, was built in 1884. The school was also used as a church. The first teacher was Miss Bella Harris.

The old school was replaced by a frame building about 1908, and was built by the late James Forrest.

About the same time that the old school was built an Orange Hall was erected, which was often used for church services. Even after the erection of the church, the hall was used by the Presbyterians for their services.

First Church Never Used

The first church built at Iron Bridge came in 1892, a frame structure which stood in almost the same place as our present one. It was never used for service, for in the fall of the same year it was burned down. A fire had to be kept in it, to keep the plastering material from freezing and from this fire the church was burned. The church was not rebuilt until about 1900. The first minister to speak to the people was a Mr. Nichol. To the Methodists belongs the honour of being the first to hold regular services in Wm. Allens's home until the first school house was built. Mr. Stephenson was the Methodist minister at this time(1883). The first Presbyterian minister was Mr. McLennan, who at that time was stationed at Bruce Mines. Mr.John Tait was the first superintendent of the Sunday School, which was started in 1882 in Wm. Allen's house. He was superintendent many years and was always in some way connected with the Sunday School . He had able and willing helpers in Mr. Ben Beemer and Mr. Gardiner.

Frame House in 1884

The first frame house at Iron Bridge was built by James Forrest about 1884. To this house goes the honour of being the first polling place for the election of a member of Parliament. Mr. J.T. Little was the deputy-returning officer and Mr. Gardiner was poll clerk, and at that time the ballot box had to be taken to the Soo. Mr. Forrest also had the first blacksmith shop in this vicinity, where he worked for a number of years and then finally gave up that work and bought a saw mill . This was most unfortunate both for himself and the farmers around as both his first and second sawmills were burned.

Fall Fair In 1888

The Agricultural Society was organised in 1888 and started with a membership of 28. The first president was Mr. Robert Arnill, the secretary Wm. Allen and the Tresaurer S.C. Gardiner. The first directors were J. Warnock, A. Elliot, A Acton, I. Nicholson and M. Beemer.

C.P.R. Came In 1887

One of the greatest events in the history of this community was in 1887, when the C.P.R. opened the Soo Line for traffic. It's true the road did not come as close to Iron Bridge as was at first hoped, as the old survey line was across the Tait and Nicholson farms.

Due to the untiring efforts of the late John Tait and James Forrest, the telephone company was organised in 1920, and our first service was on November 14, of that year. Mr. Tait was the first president of the company and Mr. Forrest the first secretary.

The first marriage in the Iron Bridge vicinity was between Mr. Nat Driver and Miss Rockwell, a sister of the late Mrs. Wm. Allen. The minister who married them had to walk all the way from Thessalon to perform the ceremony.

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