Laying the Cornerstone
July 13, 1852 was a landmark day in County history. Hundreds of residents, politicians and visitors gathered to witness the laying of the cornerstone. The Canadian Free Press, a St. Thomas newspaper recounted the event in detail in their July 15, 1852 issue.
Among the many speakers was John McKay Esq., the newly appointed Provisional County Clerk. He recounted the process for Elgin’s independence. In an excerpt from his speech he explains:
“It will be just six years next month since the first meeting was called to agitate for a division of the Southern Townships…. We were then told that our cause was a hopeless one, to attempt to separate the Talbot Street from the large and overgrown County of Middlesex…. But you expressed your willingness to agitate for it and here you have obtained it in six years…. We knew it was with the greatest reluctance that the North would part with us. When we began by petitioning the District Council they…refused to listen to our petition…. They said we wished to revolt from them and in conversation and through their newspapers… they stigmatized us as revolters. We petitioned the Parliament and set down 3000 signatures in 1847, and it was graciously received but that would have been the last of it. In 1849 we sent down another petition…. In 1850, again, and in this the third time we hoped to be successful, but we were again defeated. Again, and for a fourth time it was tried and we were successful. It was maintained that the representatives should be guided by the wish of a majority of the County – but whoever heard of a County seeking to divide itself in this way – The hon. Members justly deemed that they should be guided only by a majority of that part seeking the division. To the honorable conduct of the members of the Legislature are we indebted for our success.”
John McKay was quickly followed by Asa Howard Esq., who provided additional thanks to those involved with the proceedings of the past six years. He acknowledged:
“When the separation was first started about six years ago, it was a fearful and hazardous undertaking. But fortunately we had a few individuals who were equal to the emergency – and to them great credit was due; several of them had labored night and day…. Their thanks were justly due to the Hon. F. Hincks, to John McKay Esq., to the Township Councilors for Elgin, to the Legislature for passing the Bill – and to our noble Governor General (after whom the county was named) for his cordial assent to the Bill.”